Sakura Taisen 2 XP Version+

Newcomers to the Sakura Taisen series have the first game available for PlayStation 2 as Atsuki Chishioh Ni, English-speakers will have the most recent home console title, Sakura Taisen V, translated and released this year, and import gamer have had Sakura Taisen III available to them for a long while now. Between these titles lies Sakura Taisen 2, and for gamers who want more of the Hanagumi the XP Version+ pack is the way to go.

While users of Vista have some extra hoops to jump through to get the game working properly, installation and running the program is poses little trouble. As the game is lifted from its original Sega Saturn incarnation, ST2 is not quite as polished graphically as the more recent games and re-makes, featuring a more rudimentary interface for dialogue, movement around the Imperial Theater, and the LIPS system. However, the game's character sprites and environs are still well-animated, and like the original its voice work and music are great. When you're not chatting up the Hanagumi and building up relations you're fighting evil forces in your Koubu on isometric tiled battlefields that should be familiar to anyone who's ever played an SRPG. Aside from the main game, the XP+ pack is loaded with extra contents and minigames.

One drawback of the ST2 XP+ pack is that playing the game is a bit less intuitive on a keyboard and mouse compared to a game controller, and you've really got to be quick-on-the-draw for those dialogue choices. Other than that, ST2 is a great game, and especially recommended for those who have already played the original Sakura Taisen or one of its re-releases/remakes.