While Sega is about to continue the Sakura Wars franchise with Shin Sakura Taisen (or Project Sakura Wars as it’s named for now in the west), western gamers are soon going to get a new chance to experience the original game.
The team behind the fan translation of the first Sakura Wars for Sega Saturn that we reported about in April is teasing an imminent release.
To be precise, if the count down is any indication, the fan translation should come out in three days.
You can see what I mean below courtesy of NSteam and cj_iwakura.
We also get plenty of screenshots (and a couple of animated gifs) to showcase the localization.
This fan translation is extremely important considering that Sega seems to be unwilling to officially localize the series in the west.
The ability to play the original game in English will let western gamers get acquainted with the series before its sequel is released.
Of course, you should also play Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love for Wii or PS2 if you have the chance, since it’s the only game release officially in English (courtesy of NIS America). Yet, the first title is likely more relevant considering that it provides a look at the original setting, while So Long, My Love is actually the fifth game of the series and it’s set in the United States featuring only cursory appearances of the original cast.
If you’re unfamiliar with the Sakura Wars series and would like to know why it matters, you should look no further than my dedicated article explaining what it’s all about.
If you’d like to learn more about Project Sakura Wars, you can enjoy the beautiful anime opening cutscene, a music video dedicated to Sakura, one featuring Hatsuho, more trailers, the latest gameplay, latest gallery of screenshots, another gallery, the previous gameplay reveal, another one, and an earlier gallery of screenshots and art.
The game will launch in Japan exclusively for PS4 on December 12, and in the west in 2020.
