CGRundertow SAKURA WARS: SO LONG, MY LOVE for Nintendo Wii Video Game Review

Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love Review. Classic Game Room presents a CGRundertow video game review of Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love, a hybrid dating sim / tactical mecha combat simulator developed by Sega and Idea Factory and published in 2010 by Nippon-Ichi for the Wii and PlayStation 2. Love conquers all... except maybe giant robots terrorizing New York City. For that, you need mecha. Fortunately, Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love brings both to the table, in a strange melange of romance and tactical combat. Hey, love is a battlefield after all. This CGRundertow video game review features video gameplay footage of Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love for the Wii and audio commentary from Classic Game Room's TJ.
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[@jediknightgeo]

This is ABSOLUTELY a hidden gem on the Wii (PS2) as well. Holy crap I did know what to really expect when I picked this up but DAMN is this game AWESOME. Seriously if you want a sweet tactical RPG mixed with dating simulation(!?...it TOTALLY works) with some sweet graphics, very nice anime cutscenes, and funny character's and dialogue PICK THIS UP. Without a doubt one of Sega's best developed games in a LONG time.

[@ajtstvandmusicarchivechann1585]

jediknightgeo it is an amazing game. I spent over a year looking for this game. It was worth the wait.

[@albertsmith99]

i hope it stays hidden

[@swarthybullxxx]

The weirdest thing is took 5 years for this game to get localized. By the time it came out, the PS2 was already considered retro and was pretty much rare on release from what I remember.

[@nr2676]

Even funnier, 17 moders translated Sakura Wars 2 in 1,5 year (they told most of game is translated now), not only SW2 have 2x more text than SW5, but they translated game on much harder in programming / moding SEGA SATURN !!! What the hell NISA did in 5 years with translating this game ???

[@Oriko-Magica]

I just know this game from project xzone

[@Mamaspeeder]

I kinda knew of the series before, but PxZ sparked my interest of the series again and I emulated this game recently, and holy shit it's great. I'm going to be buying my own copy for my wii, it's so much fun.

[@Kuce]

I actually suggested this game to them. I'm glad he gave it a nice fair review. Thanks CGRundertow!

[@bentiancai]

I never know this game has released on wii, glad to see it

[@micumouse]

The first sakura wars was epic...

[@street6565]

That´s because the game is made that way. A real visual novel only contains the cut-scenes and no battles at all. Besides, it´s on the cut-scenes that this game truly shines.

[@treasurehunter3369]

best intro music ever...the channel, not the game

[@pennypeach7616]

If this is anywhere near as great as Valkyria Chronicles, I'll totally buy it.

[@street6565]

I have been into character and storydriven games for a long time. I have nothing to learn since these are good characters. The dialogue is very well made, and while clichés exist, these are few and covered in a good way. I do know what good characters and compelling story is, thank you very much. I think it is you who should learn, before you go and bash a perfectly good game. This game is good and very well made. Fact. Many more likes it than dislikes it, so it´s probably something on your part

[@EnvyMizuhashi]

If there's anyone who hasn't played a visual novel, look no further than this game. You'll be glad that it's your first. And by the time I engaged in battle with all the girls at my side, my first thought was the Power Rangers theme. And by that time, I couldn't get it out of my head.....is that so wrong?

[@cirmothe9]

It's really unfortunate the older sakura wars games didn't make it over here. Especially considering the anime and movie made it here, but not the game. There is work on english patches but they're not that far along. If they did some HD rerelease, then there might be some chance of them coming stateside, but I doubt So long my love sold well enough for the publishers to consider it.

[@MFDOOOOM]

The Sega Saturn original has been fully patched 😀

[@halimahali6179]

ps2 or wii version? heard the ps2 is nice

[@JoshuaJacobs83]

I have no idea how every obscure game I want to know about is covered by this channel

[@dalmain77]

I really enjoyed this game. I have the PS2 version. I really wish the other games in the series would make it to the states. But very unlikely.

[@street6565]

That is a matter of opinion. I love the cut-scenes, and I find them very well made.

[@street6565]

Feel free to do so. This is a discussion, not an argument.

[@dalmain77]

The PS2 version has a Japanese and English voice disc.

[@goodall1bay]

I saw this game for sale today and boy is it expensive.

[@maxbyer]

Really need to pick this up, always liked the premise but somehow missed out on the Wii version. PS. I miss this channel

[@street6565]

You do understand that when I say influences with anime, I dont mean the artwork, right? I am also not takling about generic shonen stuff like bleach and naruto (which are obviously the only kind you know about). The way Japan makes their storys and characters are similiar to how you do it in anime. Also, I have already finished them all. As I said before, just because a character looks and talks good, doens´t mean he is well made. Also, once again, they were weak. (not Shenmue and FF)

[@street6565]

Yeah, Clannad is amazing. I did sell rather well actually, so you have failed. You know what? Why dont you try to play trough the first freaking minute of the game, and then judge it?

[@BobbyHo2022]

I sold my wii but i would buy this today.

[@Mrcapo100]

I didn't even knew this existed.

[@warmslurm]

So? I don't care if they have relations to anime (and Shenmue hardly does, if at all, so obviously you have not played it). I don't hate anime. And obviously you have played neither, because both of them have well-written, witty, likeable and interesting characters, along with a great plot that is actually thought out, detailed, well-written (especially Lost Odyssey's Thousand Year Dream sequences) and paced very well with twists and the like. Try them.

[@street6565]

I am repeating myself now when I am once again saying that I think the dialogue is very well made just like the characters. And I also think the game has a good pacing. But, we won´t get anywhere like this. Let´s just stop and part ways instead.

[@pestro87]

I lol'd pretty hard at the Madden joke :D!!! Excellent review btw!

[@EnvyMizuhashi]

@pippo17173 From a console and/or broad standpoint, yes. Aksys Games is going to release one of the Hakuoki otome visual novels for the PSP as well.

[@nintendogeek1896]

...And that is just a fucking shame. IT IS FANTASTIC!

[@ckgta11]

just another great cgrundertow review

[@oofthisisgay4097]

I wanna know why it's so expensive, I've got it for the wii in nearly mint condition and was looking to sell it. I looked up the price, and now I'm confused. Does anyone know???

[@BongOfDestiny]

A reboot of the first game came out over here for PS4 a few months ago, and I think the good word of mouth has spiked demand for the wii/ps2 games

[@roleemack1535]

@@BongOfDestiny well then all the more reason to port to current consoles

[@nr2676]

Bad sales and very late release date, Sakura Wars 5 So Long My Love was LAST game published on PS2 in West (this game was released in the same week with ... Final Fantasy XIII on PS3). Only 150 000 copies of PS2 version was released in West, like their another game Skies of Arcadia on Sega Dreamcast (and both games use same engine). Wii version sold much better in West, thats why it's a lot cheaper.

[@nr2676]

@@roleemack1535 PS4 game, like this game sold very bad in West. Sadly, West don't want play Visual Novels / Dating Sim, especially on Playstation.

[@street6565]

Funny that you named Shenmue and Final Fantasy, who both are created in Japan and have relations with anime. Especially Final Fantasy, who is full of influences. Also, how can you know about what I know about storys, when I haven´t said a single thing about what defines a good one? I think it it is you who need to play games with REALLY good storys and characters. NIER? Lost Odyssey? Really? You haven´t played enough games with good story... Both of these games plots and characters are weak.

[@street6565]

Almost extinct? The genre "Visual Novel" is like this. What you are complaining about right now, can be compared with complaining about a book having too much text. Your facts seems pretty invalid to me...

[@warmslurm]

Believe me, I played through most of this shit hoping it'd get better. You have to go for about one hour (or more, probably) at a time w/o saving or doing anything other than reading badly written dialogue between piss poor characters and it just drags like a mother. There's something called pacing that I think this game doesn't understand the concept of.

[@DesperadoBloo]

still need to finish this game, very little challenge gets boring fast though :/

[@tigersingh63]

I can't tell if you like the game or not

[@warmslurm]

It's a matter of opinion that Twilight isn't well-written but everyone knows it's crap. Kinda the same thing here.

[@pippo17173]

Is this the first Visial novel that made it to the U.S?

[@street6565]

You need to read my comments more carefully. "Now I understand that you talked about Oblivion and such WRPGs." "Such" is the keyword here. Games like Oblivion and so on, haven´t focused on story. I know there are fantastic WRPGs out there with amazing story and characters. This game doesn´t focus on the world and the lore, but on the characters. Many characters may feel like they are well made, when they really aren´t. A character can be totally bad-ass, but that doesn´t make him well made.

[@street6565]

And with "them", I mean the words "at" and "least".

[@street6565]

And when you said that RPGs were your favourite genre, I thought you meant RPGs who focused on story. Mainly JRPGs and such, which also has roots and is related to anime in a way. Now I understand that you talked about Oblivion and such WRPGs. Let me tell you something: Those games are NOT story-driven. They are action-driven. There is next to no story at all in those, and the characters are blank as a paper.

[@warmslurm]

Yeah, Clannad is amazing. LOL lol, dude... no. This game probably didn't even sell a thousand copies. The developers should be thanking me for purchasing their POS game.

[@RemnantCult]

Pretty good game actually.

[@warmslurm]

Not really a fan of Oblivion, but plenty of WRPGs have fantastic characters and while a lot of them are not story-driven, they do a great job of building the world (Fallout series, for example) and giving you a ton of interesting lore. Have you even played any apart from Oblivion? lol

[@LoliconSamalik]

Oh come on! the last few Sonic games have been great!

[@cgyh68748]

Persona x Valkyria Chronicles = Sakura Wars

[@Joesfff]

Project X Zone brought me here

[@warmslurm]

Don't see any spelling errors, but your grammar is off. It's not "atleast" it's "at least." ;)

[@street6565]

"Don´t see any spelling errors, but your grammar is off." Who doesn´t see any spelling errors? Me? You? Someone else? It´s also a grammatical error to include dangling participles. You also forgot a comma after you told me that it wasn´t "atleast". Besides, my grammar isn´t off. I just missed the space between them.

[@Nadeshko]

this is an anime?

[@street6565]

No, it´s not a matter of opinion in that case. Twilight is crap, and that is a fact. The people who claims to like it are just disillusional. The fact that you don´t like this game, might just mean that you aren´t into character- and storydriven games, or perhaps just doesn´t like this particular game.

[@pattiroe1808]

I like game dude

[@STOPPEDINCOLORADO]

@radioclash84 That was some other guy...

[@warmslurm]

That'd be fine if it wasn't badly written and painstakingly slow. The cutscenes are terrible.

[@DarkWorldQ8]

i feel really sorry for you trying to talk sense into warmslurm

[@aithathlilitialatis]

hey, good review, some funny moments and gameplay and style well explained, but just an advice, sometimes you talk too much and too fast and that's where you loose me, try to keep it simple.

[@street6565]

And with weak, I mean the story and the characters. They were still good games of course, but for totally other reason. But this is simply my opinion. See how they differs from yours? We are different persons and think differently about different things. I think Sakura Wars is good, and you do not. You think NIER and Lost Odyssey have good characters and story, and I do not. It is a matter of opinion, NOT a fact. If you can´t accept this, then you are ignorant.

[@CairnAngel1]

Sakura wars is the only Wii Game that I enjoyed the most. Most of the wii games suck until the Wii U had came out. =)

[@Treetops27]

The Wii U is crap. So much worse

[@adonchristlael6301]

Is the MC Jude Mathis?

[@jinchuriki7022]

classic game

[@touijj]

I learned nothing from this review >_

[@MarcosFMolina]

Thats because this is a CGR review

[@touijj]

Risa Sardónica I've noticed that. I guess it's just part of the style and appeal and what its subscribers want/expect.

[@street6565]

He/she was probably raised in a place where the children lacks proper education. :(

[@street6565]

You know that I´m right, but you refuse to admit it and resorts to insulting me instead. Lol. Also, if you dislike anime, WHY THE HECK DID YOU BUY THIS GAME?? The cover didn´t tip you off? some people...

[@street6565]

Who are you? Besides, you really need to learn how to reply to comments :S Why shouldn´t it matter, in a discussion ABOUT jrpg and anime? Wherever you live, the schools must suck.

[@street6565]

Now this is what I hate. People like you always have to fight. Nothing can be discussed in a friendly manner. You always have to insult others for your own satisfaction. I am not a weeaboo, and you don´t even know the meaning of that word. Also, I see the truth behind your hate now. it´s not me who gloryfies this game because it is anime-related, but you who hates on it because it is. It is really narrow-minded to say that the writing sucks just because it is. If you can´t accept it, then leave

[@albertsmith99]

okay weeaboo. Hope those 9 years helped you grow up.

[@warmslurm]

You cannot talk about "well-made" characters. Maybe you should read a book instead of playing visual novel games or something, because you really have a piss poor idea of what makes a good story. And I don't have this game because it's anime, btw. I hate it because it sucks. Again: put down the manga and anime, pick up a book (not Twilight). Or play a game with a good story. I'll name a few: Shenmue, Final Fantasy IX, Lost Odyssey, Deadly Premonition, Metal Gear Solid 3 and NIER. Try one.

[@warmslurm]

LOLOLOLOLOLOL. That's all I can say.

[@mathew633man]

i laughed so much when i played this game that it gave me headache. this is so ridiculously fruity. kind of fun and entertaining. but this must be the most fruity game out there

[@SilverArro]

Matt What a douche you are...🙄

[@warmslurm]

Of course I'm into character and storyline-driven games (RPGs and such are my favourite genre), but this game is just a badly written mediocre anime, pretty much. The dialogue is terrible, the characters are cliched beyond belief, their interactions w/ each other are awkward and in no way interesting/realistic, and the story is also completely and utterly crap. Maybe learn what good characters are and what a compelling story is before you spout that shit. Thanks. This game is balls. Fact.

[@warmslurm]

hate this game*

[@radioclash84]

ur getting better at reviews. good job. man ur sonic review stank no offence.

[@PFBM86]

what the hell did i just watch

[@supermahmoud]

Good game for Anime fans, but PS2 version is better

[@Frost_Samurai]

No, what I'm saying is that both Sakura Wars and Sonic are great games, and you must be trapped in the past if you still think Sonic's latest games suck.

[@DJDadJoke]

@TheCrimsonRift Datey-Japan-kawaii-desu-super-mecha-robot-awkward-sexual-tension-alternate-history-tactics.

[@Frost_Samurai]

...Get out.

[@pattiroe1808]

Like 👍

[@warmslurm]

This game is soooo boring. It's all cut-scenes and then some slow battles.

[@warmslurm]

I'm not gonna have a discussion with a weeaboo who thinks anything anime-related is automatically Shakespeare. Sorry. Game sucks, is all.

[@warmslurm]

You've either got terrible taste or you haven't played either of those games. I'm done, anyway.

[@albertsmith99]

it's a very cringey game. The tactical part is average at best

[@declanflynn2580]

wierd as fuuuuuuck game lol japan so silly

[@Frost_Samurai]

***** No, there's no sex at all. Fanservice, yes. Sex, no.

[@Frost_Samurai]

Real talk, the point is that Sakura Wars in general puts development of its characters before anything else. It shows that they aren't just mindless fanservice blobs. It shows us that they're human, that they all have they're flaws. Nearly each chapter is dedicated to developing a certain character, and showing a side to them that we haven't seen until that point. The main character has to help her through a situation, and occasionally there's a multiple choice response. Although it's the main character that says the phrase in the end, it's you the player that has to choose what he says. TL;DR, the point is to enjoy the game for the characters and their development, rather than plain fanservice.

[@Frost_Samurai]

Well, the story kind of takes a back-seat until the final 2 chapters, as most of the chapter's villains are just monsters of the week. Though, like I said before, the characters really shine and more than make up for everything else.