Richard E. Rae (76174.1410@COMPUSERVE.COM)
Fri, 25 Sep 1998 22:45:42 -0400
Date: Fri, 25 Sep 1998 22:45:42 -0400 From: "Richard E. Rae" <76174.1410@COMPUSERVE.COM> Subject: Introduction
Date: 25-Sep-98 21:20 EST
From: Richard E. Rae > [76174,1410]
Subj: Daiteikokugekijou Youkoso!
Greetings to all list members. Here goes my Sakura Taisen history and
introduction...
I'm Richard E. Rae. I've played Sakura Taisen since December of 1997, when I
got it along with a Japanese Saturn based on the enthusiastic recommendation of
my Japanese anime sensei. I became instantly hooked, and haven't stopped since.
In short order, I finished the game first with Kouran, then finished with all 6
endings (and got the special "congratulations" screen). I then explored
further, going through the alternate story of episode 4 (to get this, you have
to be negative and make Iris run away- and then not chase after her at the end,
fighting the battle with Rasetsu without Iris OR Sakura), trying different
right/wrong LIPS choices (for fun, get Iris to number 1 at episode 8, then
reject her when she asks for the date!! And the others...)
I searched for, and found, all 7 shower scenes, and then pretty much exhausted
everything in Sakura Taisen 1- got all the minigames (which I love), answered
all of Ayame's questions and got the Hanafuda tournament, etc.
In March 1997, I received, then exhausted the Hanagumi Tsushin fan disk (not
too hard to do, but it's still fun for the fact that it keeps track of what the
date and time of day is in its introductions and announces whose birthday it is
when it comes around!). Best things on this disk are the interviews with the
seiyuu and Chisa Yokoyama's stage performance.
Book-wise, about this time I got the Aspect Ren'ai and Combat guides to see if
there was anything else I should look for (and then found even more things)-
and continued experimenting with the main game. I also got the Softbank
artbook, and later the incredible Famitsu "Blue book" with the LIPS logic paths
all diagrammed out.
I then got the ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL Sakura Hanagumi Taisen Columns game (which
every true fan should get, because it has nine more stories in it , the
"Cinderella" competition with 6 different endings, and lots of insight into the
characters- a must-have). This is full of as much value as the main game, and
is smooth as silk. The Hanagumi Tsushin disk seemed "rushed", compared with
this marvelous package.
The "Sakura Taisen Steam Radio Show" fan disk set is also a must-have- the
radio shows the characters do are fun, the commercials the Sannin do are
hilarious, the minigames are a blast, and the "ren'ai" story building up to one
of 6 character dates and a "film" of "Ai Yueni" is truly marvelous. Another
great value, and more insight into our favorite Teigeki members.
Then comes Sakura Taisen 2- and another story which is definitely darker and
more grim than the first story, with (IMHO) a tougher set of villains in the
Kokki-kai Gogyoushuu and Kyougoku Keigo, and even more wonderful surprises in
store for everyone.
I admittedly haven't finished all 8 endings of Sakura 2, but I've certainly
explored and will do even more with time. (As an excuse, I'd just finished
Grandia after 80 hours total, then after I finished ST2 once, I got worn out.
Then came Utena, and Grandia Digital Museum... sigh). I've gotten the
incredible Haoh Game Special ST2 guidebooks, too.
Besides collecting the alread-painted Sega Real Models of Sakura, Kouran, and
Iris (with CDs), I also got the LM model of Sakura by Bandai, the "Petit
Hanagumi" figurines, the Sega Selection Model of Iris, and I just completed my
own masterwork, the Kaiyodo garage kit figure of Maria Tachibana.
Music and video-wise, I got the first Vocal Collection CD soon after finishing
the main game, and then the 2 disk original soundtrack (orchestral on one disk,
game music on the other, and a bonus multimedia program. I've enjoyed the "Ai
Yueni", "Ai wa Dia", and "Cinderella" Teigeki drama CDs, the "Sakura Taisen
Kayou Show Ai Yueni" live stage production CD, and also own and enjoy the
entire terrific live stage show (clips are included on the "Steam Radio Show"
CD-ROM set) on video. (If you don't know of this, it has almost every seiyuu
from the game performing in character and in costume on stage, singing their
character's songs and telling a great story which fills in some gaps). I've
also gotten the marvelous complete song collection for Sakura Taisen 2 on CD,
but haven't yet sprung for the OST. I've also gotten the Sakura Taisen OAV
series, which fills in the gaps in the story that ST missed or only referred
to, and which ST2 continues with. (I haven't seen Part 4 yet, but I should have
the opportunity soon).
I've evangelized Sakura Taisen on the Compuserve Anime/Manga forum, and I
believe I've talked at least 6 or 7 people into buying a Saturn just to play
Sakura Taisen- and they've all become as hooked as I have. Some friends were so
enthusiastic, they finished ST2 before I did, and I got it two weeks before
they did... <g>.
My 8 year old daughter is also a Sakura Taisen fan, and she actually has played
all the way through episode 5 all by herself and with no real knowledge of
Japanese. And, her top character is Iris <g>. She has gotten absorbed in the
story and characters just as heavily as she has with Sailor Moon and other
great anime series, and we have fun with it together.
So, that's my background, and I look forward to discussing this wonderful game
and phenomenon with the members of the list, and feel free to e-mail me
otherwise directly. Looking forward to being here!
--Richard E. Rae 76174.1410@compuserve.com