Sakura Wars - Easy Allies Preview

[@mhee12]

This is an amazing preview. Even without the studio, the chemistry is strong with you two. Getting me more hyped for this game!

[@treebush]

If anyone's interested in this series history i really recommend Chronicles KZbin video on the Sakura Series " Sakura Wars : A blooming series Complete History

[@charoleawood]

Brad was very engaged, asked pointed questions, made it feel like a good interview of Ben Moor's anime spirit

[@hdmewtwohd]

Ben Moore is a Treasure

[@RurouniZel]

It's basically a visual novel with some combat to break up the pacing. And I love it to bits.

[@pirajacinto4]

Thank you SO much Ben for giving this game coverage! I just had to support it as been wanting Sakura Wars since I was a child. And you are for sure the right person for the job!

[@Chagogo]

I didn’t realize I was worried about this, but it’s relieving to see that the protag will show a lot of character when you make your choices.

[@tonymack]

I am glad to see this game getting some coverage. I'm afraid it's going to get lost in the shuffle of FF7 and P5R.. but I suppose its primary audience is going to get it either way. I am saddened they didnt stick with srpg for the battles. Hopefully they can pull it off.

[@Natsumi170]

This game was developed by the Valkyria Chronicles team. If they wanted tactical combat, there was no better team for it.

[@shkpotter9844]

what is srpg?

[@tonymack]

@@shkpotter9844 strategy rpg. Fire emblem, final fantasy tactics style stuff.

[@madz3531]

it's a ps4 exclusive right?

[@nr2676]

@@Natsumi170 PS4 game was developed by Team Sonic (CS2) with some help of Rya Ga Gotoku Studio (Nagoshi as a game producer, they created new battle system for this game which sucks, and on engine cutscenes). Valkyria Team is now known as Sega GE2 (former Sega WoW). Original 5 games and PS2 remake of first game, were created by Valkyria Chronicles / Skies of Arcadia team (Overworks, later known as Sega WoW) and Red Company.

[@Exxcalibur186]

Honestly this format feels just like the other previews pre-quarantine, feel like you guys didn't miss a beat, good job!

[@HylianTicipated]

Good sound, cam & edits. Workin' with what you got and it's great content, guys! L&R

[@Banditolore]

Great work on adjusting to the new format. You guys are doing great, hope you continue to have meaningful and interesting gaming conversations.

[@DuwangKaizer]

For those who don't know about Sakura Wars, Sakura Wars (Sakura Taisen) is a series of JRPGs with Dating Sim and Visual Novel gameplay elements that's been running for 24 Years. In Japan, the series is one of Sega's biggest and most popular franchises. The first Sakura Wars game was released on the SEGA Saturn in 1996 and was followed by five sequels, the fifth game, Sakura Wars 5: So Long My Love (Released in 2005) was the first game in the series to get an English release in 2010, five years after its original Japanese release. After the 2005 release of Sakura Wars 5, the series went on a fourteen-year hiatus until the announcement of Sakura Wars (New Sakura Wars (Shin Sakura Taisen)), the sixth Installment in the Sakura Wars series which serves as a soft reboot to the Series. It's also the second game to be given an official English release. The First Five Games Used a Tactical RPG Battle System while the new game uses an Action RPG Battle System. Outside of the games, The series was adapted into multiple anime series (Six OVA series, Two TV Anime and an Anime movie), multiple light novels, a manga, radio dramas and Live stage shows that's been running since 1997. Fun Fact: The first five Sakura Wars games featured character designs by Kōsuke Fujishima, The Creator of the Oh My Goddess! manga and character designer for eight of Bandai Namco's Tales of games (Including Tales of Phantasia, Zestiria and Berseria). Fun Fact 2: The Active and Real-time Machine System (ARMS) Battle System used from Sakura Wars 3 to 5 would later be the basis for the battle system used in the Valkyria Chronicles series, which is developed by much of the same team.

[@thebigbient8736]

Fun Fact, Bandai is releasing and has released model kits of the mechs and characters.

[@DillonTaylorVA]

Thank you for the preview guys! This game looks really interesting. I like that it has a battle system even if it's not the focus of the game because it will give you a little more context than the usual SFX and intense music that might normally accompany a battle scene in a visual novel. The production values also seem surprisingly high, at least from a visual standpoint. Anything that Ben describes as "chill Rune Factory/Persona-ish vibes" is immediately worth looking at for me, lol.

[@CRedd9830]

I really wish this game was a SRPG with the ARMS System like Sakura Wars 3 - 5 and In Hot Blood (Remake of 1). The battles in Sakura Wars 3 for example were really fun and unique, but I still can't wait to play the latest entry in one of my favorite video game franchises of all time. I hope this succeeds and leads to a HD collection and a remake of 2 with the ARMS System.

[@MarshallElite1]

It being Action opens up new potential fans. Because most people love Action Combat.

[@ARadicalDream]

Should have been SRPG, indeed.

[@corywashington9580]

@@MarshallElite1 I don't know if it is a great idea to abandon a core gameplay element that helps define a franchise in hopes of appealing to a larger audience. You just run the risk of losing your core base and not convincing any new players to come either. For example, fire emblem kept its strategy rpg gameplay even when the series was going to be killed by Nintendo. They reinvigorated the franchise by adding new elements and accessibility options while maintaining its core gameplay. Now it is a popular franchise again.

[@i_Am_Synergy]

@@corywashington9580 Very valid point. If you take away core gameplay elements, you do run the risk of losing the core fanbase. However, look at Final Fantasy 15. A game known for turn based combat went action RPG and it was a success!

[@LastMinuteGuess]

Wow I wasn;t't expecting this. I guess April is officially my JRPG month. Persona 5 Royal comes out literally the last day of March but then there will be Final Fantasy VII Remake, Trials of Mana, and now Sakura Wars. What a pretty hype JRPG month.

[@BigBarkleyValley]

I was introduced to the Sakura Wars series with So Long My Love when it was localized and loved it to bits. I imported the first game when the fan translation was nearing release but haven't really put much time into it. I was very excited when this game was announced and seeing this preview has only increased my hype even further! Great job Ben and Brad. Hope to hear you guys talk about this game more in the future.

[@radiantgaming2515]

This was a awesome look at the game, thank you so much. Honestly if we were not going to count Final Fantasy 7 Remake or Persona 5 Royal this is the game I was most excited for this year. Seeing as how we only got one game in the west and knowing how big it was in Japan I was immediatly interested and wanting more, I did buy the game that came out on the Wii here but have yet to play it. Mix between life and too many games and so little time but with the current events Im more motivated more than ever to play it before this launches. I did get 1st Class FF7R and P5R Collectors Edition early but well.... my PS4 broke last month so now is a good time to go back to the old Sakura Wars. Still ordering this one as I am excited and hope to see more of the series come out here and I doubt itll make as big as an impact here than it did in Japan, like with what Ben said, there have been games that have this formula here already. Speaking for myself though regardless of the impact this series has here I already have fallen in love with this series and will support it in hopes we can get more of it. Thank you for the review :3

[@gbzmr]

Excellent job with this given the circumstances. Felt almost no different as a viewer then if you guys were in the actual studio. Love that you guys are still trying to produce as much as you can remote. L&R

[@FortyPerc]

Always been interested in trying the series due to Kohei Tanaka being the main composer for the series. Always loved his work on both the Gunbuster series’ as well as Gravity Rush games. His work in this seems just as amazing too.

[@legendofkailia5596]

I am on the fence on pre-ordering this. Was looking for a preview and this just popped up. How cool

[@Lloydo111]

This is a really big franchise that did all the social aspects before the games we got today so happy it got revived & so happy the west will finally know how charming it is! So excited

[@colinanthony2011]

I’m excited for this. Always down for “anime as shit” games. Always wanted to get into the franchise, hope we get more of the games localized for the West. edit: on the format, it seemed like the audio was synced where you guys were overlapping each other, but not a big deal. Worked fine overall!

[@anthonyc2977]

Great Preview! You convinced me to try out Sakura wars. Persona-esh with mechs and theater building,that got me in already. As for the skype previews i dont mind it. its gives off a cozy/ intimate conversation and feeling

[@SStyle5]

Thanks for covering this

[@acquiescence5331]

Can't wait to try this out. It looks gorgeous.

[@laggingdaze]

I just love Tite Kubo’s art and style, #Bleach2020 !

[@rotmirerob]

This is a great preview guys! Another win for anime.

[@robertdfinzel]

As far as I am concerned, the Allies need not worry about the format change, through these strange times. I still have fond memories of podcasts done in the garage. 😁

[@Chaos2Frozen]

Ben Moore is a brave man trying to explain Sakura Wars

[@tyron256]

just for the record for those unaware, this game was always used a tactics based combat system in the main line games (at least to my knowledge anyway) and the action oriented dynasty warrior esque system is new to this game. personally i think i prefer it as a TRPG but i have a bias towards them to begin with so i cant say. Either way, im on my 3rd playthrough to get the platinum and i can say for sure that this is a great addition to the series.

[@platonicdescartes]

Worth having the homestyle Preview for such an underrated upcoming game.

[@g0g2151]

I'm keeping an eye on this game for sure, never played this series before 😁.

[@Schluckebierd]

Quick Suggestion for the 'at-home' format of EZA - try shrinking the face cams and put both on screen at once. I think it would make it appear more conversational to see you both and also its a little jarring to have yall's heads take up so much of the screen space. L&R

[@kephalai]

i truly don't understand why they don't show all the face cams of the people talking at once on the bottom like any other games show/podcast. really really weird editing style

[@Sp00nRX78]

I played the ps2 one, was pretty fun. I really like how you build relations with all the characters. I did not Ike how you couldn’t level grind the mechs.

[@Ruko]

I have a PS2 copy of Sakura Wars: So Long my Love in my collection but still haven't played it, i like Kosuke Fujishima's art more tbh, as well as the SRPG battle system was more appealing, but still totally down for this, gotta suport the series and all the sim aspects seem really fun.

[@IkeSan]

Sucks that there is no dub though. I really like that SEGA is reviving some of their old franchises in one way or another.

[@ZekeAxel]

Those Bleach expressions are GOLD

[@DankDoggo]

I like how this looks. Although, to be honest, I didn’t hear about this game until this video.

[@hippy3000]

Ben, get some light on your head!

[@treebush]

It's sad they changed it to action battle combat the old series combat was basically a really unique Front Mission tactics Rpgs but atleast the relationship aspect and the writing for the character is still great like the old series from what I've heard

[@CRedd9830]

The Front Mission series has the best SRPG combat ever IMO. 2 & 5 especially have wonderful battle systems.

[@jone.g7142]

1:46 haha Ben saying it's, anime as shit. Someone tell Sega to put that on the box

[@Ersanven]

Hand holding? How dare they peddle such filth on a console!

[@amurter19]

Might be just what I associate most with Sega now, but I'd really like to walk around this setting like a Yakuza game.

[@Taesomethingawful]

The yakuza team along with the valkyria team collabed on this.

[@AndddLegacy]

i really need ports of the first two games (ps2 and psp versions)

[@OtakuUnderground92]

Ben you’re not supposed to say the virus name! Hope y’all don’t get demonetized.

[@EriesAston]

It´s enough to just say virus to get demonetized. It´s stupid.

[@treebush]

KZbin has changed the policy on saying or mention Vovid 19 now

[@flygger6250]

Put that on the box: “It’s anime as shit” :)

[@faidou9954]

How come they never got Yoshitaka Amano or Akira Toriyama on board?

Great preview, consider me interested!

[@BubbleBuals]

this actually looks kiiiiiiind of interesting. Really hope it comes to pc and doesn't just stay on the ps4

[@zygreal]

Animal crossing, sakura wars, ff7remake... I feel like 15 again!

[@astolfo2305]

mana 3 and sakura wars in april

[@Dodalalal91]

excuse me, how did you get a copy of this game????? it's not out yet.

[@Scyon13]

Bruv u need some background music

[@xAssassin24]

Is this game a remake of an older title or is it a new story?

[@EasyAllies]

It's a soft reboot with a new story. I know very, very little about Sakura Wars and it's easy to follow. - Ben

[@saynotop2w]

Reboot. Same cast different events

[@AdmiralCapybara]

Wow, I thought it was a videogame based on the movie Summer Wars, oops.

[@ProbyWaN1337]

Great movie

[@foras592]

How long is this game?

[@youtubeisracistx]

15 hours

[@illadelph42]

I need Jones to play this

[@OtakuUnderground92]

Dang I was hoping the combat was going to be good. Haven’t gotten a good mech combat game here in the states in a minute.

[@peachesrcool]

I am getting this solely because of Tite Kubo

[@adampoole948]

while i'm glad to see Tite Kubo doing character designs and the battles being real time, rather then turn based, hearing combat is such a tiny part of the game is a bit disappointing.. and that it won't be dubbed (at least as far as i know) is also disappointing.. doesn't mean i won't buy it, but still

[@nino-simp]

Combat is pretty small but if you want they include replays for all the battles where you can improve your battle score over and over

[@JimsGameRoom]

Thankyou for the preview weeb lords x

[@paulunga]

What do you mean "Sakura Wars"? Isn't this like the sixth game? Does it need a Doom-style title reboot? I enjoyed the fifth one (with the Japanese dub) well enough after reading a couple of Something Awful let's plays in the distant past.

[@kossemoore3342]

Its actually called shin sakura wars. Bht since sakura wars has almos ni history here in the west they just change it to.sakura wars here. Its a sequel for sure. But you could see at as soft reboot. You wont be lost if you start with this game. But if youve plaed sakura wars especially the original cast, they are tons if easter eggs.

[@saynotop2w]

Sakura Wars(Taisen) was one of the unfortunate series that never topped the legendary first game that started it all. Luckily, a fan translation for the Saturn original by NoahSteam team IS available on on Romhacking.net and it's pretty good. I hope this game breaks the trend of the SW games being worse than the last.

[@CRedd9830]

I disagree so much, 2 & 3 are definitely better than 1 IMO.

[@RagnarokKaan]

Langrisser Mobile brought me here

[@CrimRui]

Unfortunately, this game will sink in a large sea of games that are coming. I am not happy with the combat, look too basic. The older Sakura Wars had turn based combat and was quite fun. However I think the character interactions based on the earlier games that I played, is going to be great. Hooe there are hilarious choices to pick from.

[@azogdefiler25]

The gameplay in the previous parts was also very mediocre. This series is not about gameplay at all.

[@CRedd9830]

@@azogdefiler25I disagree about the mediocre gameplay, Sakura Wars 3 gameplay was fun as hell and the battles were unique. The Great Oak Tree section from Sakura Wars 3 was some of the most fun gameplay I've ever experienced.

[@Jinsh1911]

I feel that this game won't be very well received by the western audiences. Especially if you haven't played the previous installments.

[@DanielForce2457]

2:13 His real name isn't "Tite." You don't have to over-pronounce it, man.

[@ninjammer726]

please do a video on genshin impact

[@prudentComments]

First Sakura Wars since forever in the west and the first withouth Kosuke Fujishima's great character designs :( Instead we get those ugly Kubo designs. Why sega, why (spoiler: It's because Fujishima had an affair with a cosplayer while married)

[@RedRamekRaze7]

BleeeeeeeaaAAACCCCHH

[@nino-simp]

Only in chapter 4 and already better narrative than TLOU2

[@rurig3608]

Played the Japanese version of this game. The game is crap. The original games are a lot better. Sega did a horrible job with this reboot.

[@M1nus_p]

Why does Sega keep bastardizing their tactical JRPG series?

[@gmanawesome5773]

CAN'T WAIT TO GET MY HANDS ON THIS GAME