Richard E. Rae (76174.1410@COMPUSERVE.COM)
Wed, 6 Jan 1999 23:34:51 -0500
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1999 23:34:51 -0500 From: "Richard E. Rae" <76174.1410@COMPUSERVE.COM> Subject: Teigeki Graph Review
Today I finally got my copy of the new 2 CD-ROM Sakura Taisen "fan disc" set
for Saturn,"Teigeki Graph in Sakura Wars". This set is published directly by
RED, and lacks the Sega "ownership" label so prominently featured with the
previous products. Once again, though, this product is more than just a "fan
disc" set, having lots to keep a player and fan coming back again and again.
All player choices are presented as "tickets" on the menu screen, and you
choose the option you want based on what ticket you choose (it's stamped and
one of the Teigeki character's familiar voices will randomly greet you).
Disc 1 features a new, somewhat scripted Hanagumi adventure, with periodic
discovery of new minigames as the story progresses. Our favorite theater troupe
decides to put on a production of "Sleeping Beauty", and, true to form, the
progression of the storyline and who will star in what roles will depend on how
well you'll do with the different minigames the characters present you as the
tale unfolds. Some are easy games, some are a bit harder. Since it's a regular
length "episode" you actually have up to 8 save positions available to you
using the same "book" format as that used in Sakura Taisen 2. Character ranking
tiles for all 8 are once again present... during my first game, Sakura and
Sumire liked me the most, but Orihime and Kouran weren't so happy with me. I
slipped up with Orihime, who asked Oogami if he knew the theme of "Sleeping
Beauty", and accidentally picking the wrong kanji ("yume" as opposed to "ai")
really cost me there <g>.
The story doesn't have a lot of the "LIPS" dialogue boxes one might expect,
though the clock first featured in ST2 reappears to let you know how long you
can "roam" before you get moved to the next event. All of your favorite major
and minor characters are back, though it's up to you to run into them <g>. Even
the Baragumi are there...
Ultimately, your top character will take on the starring role of "Princess
Aurora", with the other roles doled out appropriately <g>. Then, you actually
get to watch (and hear) the Teigeki perform their version of "Sleeping Beauty"
in a terrific, cute, and at times HILARIOUS production featuring the "sprite"
versions of all their characters in costumes and on stage! (In my first run,
Sakura played the role of "Aurora"!) Without spoiling the "play", one can't
help but note a tiny bit of Disney influence in the characters of the three
fairies <g>, and there's a particular twist in the demise of the Witch (played
by Sumire in this run) that is all Teigeki and terribly funny! You also get to
earn a portrait of the "top character" as you finish each run of the "Sleeping
Beauty" story (much as with the Hanagumi Columns game).
Two other "tickets" are provided initially besides the game... they present the
player with a "cinematron" as in Sakura Taisen 2, and one allows the player to
see stills of all the Fujishima artwork and posters for the games, CDs, and
OAVs. The second provides a VERY comprehensive encyclopedia covering all the
characters, events, and equipment categorized by game or story- and the kanji
names are all secondarily transliterated into Kana, which helps immensely.
There's bio data on all the characters, and background on the plays, equipment,
etc. Very, very nice!
There's room for another "ticket", and after you complete the main "episode"
once through, that one will allow access to a familiar "post-game" extras mode,
containing the games you've discovered and other goodies, as well as some new
challenges! Tsubaki throws a quiz at you, and it happens to run under the
"timed LIPS" engine from ST2. One miss, and you're out... and have to start
again! Some new game options (apparently connected to Tsubaki, Yuri, and
Kasumi) aren't released to you until you ace the quiz, as Yuri will politely
inform you <g>. Yoneda even has a game this time, which is like "Teigeki
Stratego". If you like Stratego, you'll love this one. There's even more I
haven't discovered yet... and even Saki makes an appearance <g>.
Disc 2 is a bit different, and is all video choices. It has three "tickets" for
the player/fan.
The first one again presents the player with a "cinematron" as in Sakura Taisen
2 (complete with current time and date), and one uses it to access all the TV
commercials (both 15 second and 30 second spots) for Sakura Taisen, Sakura
Taisen 2, and the OAVs and videos. There are quite a few options, as all the
player needs to do is select the category of film clips then flip the
Cinematron knob to different channels to access the different clips available.
One of my favorites is a live-action one featuring Chisa Yokoyama in Sakura
costume <g>.
The second option presents a new set of live-action interviews with all the
major Teigeki seiyuu, including Orikasa Ai and the seiyuu for Reni and Orihime.
In a departure from the usual interview format, after the seiyuu cheerfully
greets you, you get a LIPS box which allows you to "ask" one question... what
is their favorite food? Do they have a boyfriend? How about dating? Some of the
replies are rather cute, to say the least <g>.
A third shows the credits, with the ED theme of Sakura Taisen 2 playing in the
background. A relatively unexciting credit sequence, I should add.
As a BONUS with the game package... and maybe it was a "first edition" bonus...
the "Teigeki Graph" set comes with a full, tabloid sized MAGAZINE! The "Teigeki
Graph" is full of lots of background data, character features (including a
2-page article on "Shonen Red"), full color representations of all the "lobby
posters" for the Hanagumi's plays, a full map and "walking tour" of the Asakusa
and Ginza area as featured in the game, schema of the steam vehicles, a number
of fake (and some real) advertisements, etc. Lovely color and B/W artwork,
marvelous pictures and "ads" and lots to read and interpret <g>. To maintain
the period flavor, BTW, all the Japanese text is read from right to left/up and
down (first clue- the magazine isn't titled "furagu kigeite" <g>).
Once again, another "must have" for all Sakura Taisen fans- and yet another
value-packed product that will continually have new surprises and extended
"revisit" value!
--Richard E. Rae 76174.1410@compuserve.com