Sakura Sakura (visual novel)
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese adult
visual novel
developed by Haikuo Soft
. It was released on June 26, 2009 for the PC
as a DVD after making several postponements. The game is described by the development team as a . The gameplay in Sakura Sakura follows a linear plot line, which offers pre-determined scenarios and courses of interaction, and focuses on the appeal of the female main characters.
in Sakura Sakura requires little player interaction as most of the duration of the game is spent on simply reading the text that appears on the screen, which represents either dialogue between characters, or the inner thoughts of the protagonists. Similar to 2D platformers
, Sakura Sakura allows the player to navigate through the dormitory from a profile side-view perspective. Every so often, the player will come to a "decision point" where he or she is given the chance to choose from options that are displayed on the screen, typically two to three at a time. Gameplay pauses at these points until the player makes a choice, and depending on which choice the player makes, the plot will progress in a specific direction. There are multiple plot lines that the player will have the chance to experience. To view all of the plot lines, the player will need to replay the game multiple times, access different areas and make different choices to progress the plot in an alternate direction. One of the goals of the gameplay is to view the hentai scenes
, depicting one of the protagonists having sexual intercourse
with one of the heroines.
The story begins with Tōru Inaba, a second-year high school student transferring into the . On his first day of school, Tōru discovers that all the empty rooms at the school dormitory, Maison Lune, was arranged for only first-year students, and he has no choice but to move into a second, smaller school dormitory named . There, he meets two residents of the dormitory, Akira Shinden, a short-tempered, aggressive member of the gymnastics club, and Naoki Fuse, an easy-going kendo
club member who shows no interests in education, which resulted in him often being referred as a NEET
. Both of them attempts to recruit Tōru into the club they respectively belong to, but is interrupted by Nanako Sakura, a soft-spoken, caring teacher and the dormitory's matron, who falls into Tōru's arms, while trying to stop the two.
. Much of the development team is composed of the staff that has previously developed Yotsunoha. The scenario was provided by Tatomu and Keikei. Art direction and character designs were headed by three people, Akira Kasukabe, Xsara, and Yukari Higa, who has previously illustrated the manga series Shina Dark
, with cut-in graphics provided by Mako Aboshi. The music used in Sakura Sakura was composed entirely by Ryō Kyōna.
of Sakura Sakura was released online on June 6, 2008, which gives the player a glimpse into the story and gameplay of Sakura Sakura. The full game was released on June 26, 2009 as a DVD
playable only on a Microsoft Windows
PC
. Sakura Sakura suffered several postponements since its original announcement. The development team acknowledged the game's postponement by a year, and has stated that scenario writing and voice recording is still taking place. An all-ages version of the game, titled Sakura Sakura: Haru Urara, was released on August 26, 2010 for the PlayStation Portable
by GN Software
.
, composed by Ryō Kyōna, and written by Keikei. The ending theme was "Place", performed by Yuiko.
Prior to the release of the game, an image song
single titled was released on May 28, 2008. It was sung by Izumi Maki
and Yukari Aoyama, two voice actress who voiced Nanako Sakura and Sakura Kirishima in the visual novel respectively.
Eroge
An or Ero-ga is a Japanese video or computer game that features erotic content, usually in the form of anime-style artwork. Eroge originated from galge, but unlike galge, they feature erotic/pornographic content.-History:...
visual novel
Visual novel
A is an interactive fiction game featuring mostly static graphics, usually with anime-style art, or occasionally live-action stills or video footage...
developed by Haikuo Soft
Haikuo Soft
is a Japanese visual novel studio known for creating adult-oriented bishōjo games. The company began in 2001 as a dōjin soft circle named and created six games in that time...
. It was released on June 26, 2009 for the PC
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
as a DVD after making several postponements. The game is described by the development team as a . The gameplay in Sakura Sakura follows a linear plot line, which offers pre-determined scenarios and courses of interaction, and focuses on the appeal of the female main characters.
Gameplay
The gameplayGameplay
Gameplay is the specific way in which players interact with a game, and in particular with video games. Gameplay is the pattern defined through the game rules, connection between player and the game, challenges and overcoming them, plot and player's connection with it...
in Sakura Sakura requires little player interaction as most of the duration of the game is spent on simply reading the text that appears on the screen, which represents either dialogue between characters, or the inner thoughts of the protagonists. Similar to 2D platformers
Platform game
A platform game is a video game characterized by requiring the player to jump to and from suspended platforms or over obstacles . It must be possible to control these jumps and to fall from platforms or miss jumps...
, Sakura Sakura allows the player to navigate through the dormitory from a profile side-view perspective. Every so often, the player will come to a "decision point" where he or she is given the chance to choose from options that are displayed on the screen, typically two to three at a time. Gameplay pauses at these points until the player makes a choice, and depending on which choice the player makes, the plot will progress in a specific direction. There are multiple plot lines that the player will have the chance to experience. To view all of the plot lines, the player will need to replay the game multiple times, access different areas and make different choices to progress the plot in an alternate direction. One of the goals of the gameplay is to view the hentai scenes
Hentai
is a Japanese word that, in the West, is used when referring to sexually explicit or pornographic comics and animation, particularly those of Japanese origin such as anime, manga, and computer games. The word hentai is a kanji compound of 変 and 態...
, depicting one of the protagonists having sexual intercourse
Sexual intercourse
Sexual intercourse, also known as copulation or coitus, commonly refers to the act in which a male's penis enters a female's vagina for the purposes of sexual pleasure or reproduction. The entities may be of opposite sexes, or they may be hermaphroditic, as is the case with snails...
with one of the heroines.
Plot and characters
Unlike most visual novels, Sakura Sakura consists of three chapters and follows the stories of two protagonists. The first chapter follows the life of and his romantic relationship with and . The second chapter takes place a year afterwards, and follows the life of , and his romantic relationship with his childhood friends and . It is then followed by a third chapter, which continues the relationship between Tōru, Nanako and Sakura.The story begins with Tōru Inaba, a second-year high school student transferring into the . On his first day of school, Tōru discovers that all the empty rooms at the school dormitory, Maison Lune, was arranged for only first-year students, and he has no choice but to move into a second, smaller school dormitory named . There, he meets two residents of the dormitory, Akira Shinden, a short-tempered, aggressive member of the gymnastics club, and Naoki Fuse, an easy-going kendo
Kendo
, meaning "Way of The Sword", is a modern Japanese martial art of sword-fighting based on traditional Japanese swordsmanship, or kenjutsu.Kendo is a physically and mentally challenging activity that combines strong martial arts values with sport-like physical elements.-Practitioners:Practitioners...
club member who shows no interests in education, which resulted in him often being referred as a NEET
NEET
NEET is a government acronym for people currently "not in education, employment, or training". It was first used in the United Kingdom but its use has spread to other countries, including Japan, China, and South Korea...
. Both of them attempts to recruit Tōru into the club they respectively belong to, but is interrupted by Nanako Sakura, a soft-spoken, caring teacher and the dormitory's matron, who falls into Tōru's arms, while trying to stop the two.
Development
Sakura Sakura was the fifth project developed by Haikuo Soft, and was developed as an adult game like YotsunohaYotsunoha
is a Japanese visual novel developed by Haikuo Soft, and was originally released as an erotic game on January 27, 2006 for the PC as a limited edition containing a set of three CD-ROMs in Japan, followed by the regular edition, released on September 1, 2006 as a DVD for the PC...
. Much of the development team is composed of the staff that has previously developed Yotsunoha. The scenario was provided by Tatomu and Keikei. Art direction and character designs were headed by three people, Akira Kasukabe, Xsara, and Yukari Higa, who has previously illustrated the manga series Shina Dark
Shina Dark
is a Japanese fantasy and comedy manga series written by Bunjūrō Nakayama and drawn by Yukari Higa. The manga originally started serialized in ASCII Media Works' seinen manga magazine Dengeki Teioh on January 26, 2006, and ran in that magazine until November 2006 when it went on hiatus until...
, with cut-in graphics provided by Mako Aboshi. The music used in Sakura Sakura was composed entirely by Ryō Kyōna.
Release history
Before the game's release, a free game demoGame demo
A game demo is a freely distributed demonstration or preview of an upcoming or recently released video game. Demos are typically released by the game's publisher to help consumers get a feel of the game before deciding whether to buy the full version....
of Sakura Sakura was released online on June 6, 2008, which gives the player a glimpse into the story and gameplay of Sakura Sakura. The full game was released on June 26, 2009 as a DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
playable only on a Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
PC
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
. Sakura Sakura suffered several postponements since its original announcement. The development team acknowledged the game's postponement by a year, and has stated that scenario writing and voice recording is still taking place. An all-ages version of the game, titled Sakura Sakura: Haru Urara, was released on August 26, 2010 for the PlayStation Portable
PlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
by GN Software
GN Software
GN Software is a Japanese video game developer and publisher of consumer console games, mainly for the PlayStation 2. GN Software is under the parent company Good Navigate, which is also what GN stands for.-Games produced:2003*Ren'ai CHU! Happy Perfect...
.
Books and publications
Before the game's release, a book titled Sakura Sakura Prelude Book was released on October 14, 2007. The book is fully colored, and contained information on the release of the visual novel. Four A3-sized posters were included with the book, each depicting one of the four main heroines from the game.Audio CDs
The visual novel featured two pieces of theme music. The opening theme was "See-saw!", and was performed by ChataChata
is a Japanese singer who has performed theme songs for games and anime.She has also participated in various dōjin music circles. Her own private circle is called Usagi Kinoko.-History:...
, composed by Ryō Kyōna, and written by Keikei. The ending theme was "Place", performed by Yuiko.
Prior to the release of the game, an image song
Image song
An image song or character song is a song on a tie-in single or album for an anime, game or dorama that is usually sung by the seiyū or actor of a character, in character...
single titled was released on May 28, 2008. It was sung by Izumi Maki
Natsumi Yanase
is a Japanese voice actress from Tokyo, Japan. She also goes by the name when voicing adult games.-Anime:*D.C. II: Da Capo II *Debutante Detective Corps *Ef: A Tale of Memories....
and Yukari Aoyama, two voice actress who voiced Nanako Sakura and Sakura Kirishima in the visual novel respectively.