Today Sega released a new English trailer and a batch of screenshots of Sakura Wars, known in Japan as Shin Sakura Taisen and previously code-named Project Sakura Wars.
The trailer focuses on the world of the game and on the characters that we’ll meet, also showcasing a glimpse at localized gameplay.
The same can be said about the screenshots, that you can enjoy just below the video, showing all the playable characters and a hint at the localization.
Here’s what Sega itself says about it.
“From the large clock tower atop Ginza train station, dominating the city skyline, to the captivating Imperial Theater standing tall at the heart of Tokyo, Sakura Wars exudes a world rich in historical inspiration and enriched with fantastical steampunk technology.
The Taisho era represents a time of prosperity and optimism for Japan, an intersection of eastern and western cultures that creates a vibrant framework in which to take on the mantle of Seijuro Kamiyama and bring the Imperial Combat Revue back to glory!
Sakura Wars is a reboot that retains many of the features that made the genre-defining series such a hit in Japan, including a poetic vision, a strong cast, and a compelling story filled with intrigue, action, and romance. Our latest trailer puts this portrayal of 1940s Tokyo front and center as it introduces your mission to restore your squad and the theater to prestige.”
Since we’re talking about characters, here’s a quick description for each.
Speaking of the cast, we also get official English descriptions for the main characters.
Seijuro Kamiyama
VO: Yohei AzakamiFormerly a captain of an auxiliary ship in the navy, he was reassigned to the Imperial Combat Revue to oversee the reformation of the Flower Division.
Sakura Amamiya
VO: Ayane SakuraA novice stage performer who joined the Flower Division to follow in the footsteps of her idol, onetime mega-star Sakura Shinguji (star of the original trilogy). She believes strongly in defending Tokyo and lifting the spirits of the populace and fervently prays the theater will eventually be restored to its former glory.
Hatsuho Shinonome
VO: Maaya UchidaA shrine maiden whose beauty draws visitors to her family’s historic Shinonome Shrine. Born in the working-class neighborhoods of central Tokyo, she’s a true child of the city who loves her people, her festivals, and everyone in the capital. Despite her brash exterior, she’s a dependable comrade.
Clarissa “Claris” Snowflake
VO: Saori HayamiA sweet, intellectual girl from Luxembourg who always has her nose in a book. Her ferocious curiosity about the world drives her to read every day and learn about all kinds of topics.
Azami Mochizuki
VO: Hibiku YamamuraA descendant of the Mochizuki clan of ninja, she displayed a tremendous aptitude for martial arts, battle tactics, and weapon-handling from a very young age. Thanks to the strict training she has undergone her entire life, she believes unquestioningly in the 108 Village Rules passed down by her clan, striving to obey them at all times.
Anastasia Palma
VO: Ayaka FukuharaStar of the European stage who hails from Greece. She recently transferred to the Tokyo revue after spending time in various revues around the globe. A world-class singer and actor, she has the charisma and confidence to play everything from the male lead to the bewitching temptress.
If you’re unfamiliar with the game, here’s what you can expect from it.
- Dramatic Character Interplay—Engage with a colorful cast through the dynamic LIPS dialogue system where what you say and how you say it has a profound impact on relationships off and on the battlefield.
- Exciting Combat Payoffs—Your bonds with team members flow into the high-energy combat finale of each episode, featuring action-packed fights with giant steam-powered mecha.
- Brilliant Anime Production—Gorgeous animated sequences, a lush soundtrack, and characters designed by anime and JRPG luminaries will transport you into a vibrant 1940s steampunk Tokyo.
While the main character designer is Bleach’s mangaka Tite Kubo, there are plenty of popular guest artists who contributed, including Yukiko Horiguchi, BUNBUN, Fumikane Shimada, Ken Sugimori, Noizi Ito, and Shigenori Soejima.
Sakura Wars is already available in Japan and it will launch in the west on April 28, 2020, exclusively for PS4.
If you want to see more about the game, can also check out some gameplay showing Claris in action, another trailer, the previous gameplay and more trailers, more screenshots, the first trailer of the character design series featuring Bleach creator Tite Kubo, the previous gallery of screenshots, the one before, another batch of images focusing on romance, another reveal with two new characters and videos, and the beautiful anime opening cutscene,
We also have a music video dedicated to Sakura, one featuring Hatsuho one focusing on Elise, one showcasing Lancelot, one featuring Anastasia Palma, another starring Huang Yui, one showing Claris, 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.
If you’re unfamiliar with the Sakura Wars series, you should take a look at my dedicated article explaining what it’s all about and why you should care.
