Ray Huang (jhuang@UCLA.EDU)
Tue, 26 Jan 1999 10:37:20 -0800
X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.5 [en] (Win95; I) Message-ID: <36AE0B60.78D48828@ben2.ucla.edu> Date: Tue, 26 Jan 1999 10:37:20 -0800 From: Ray Huang <jhuang@UCLA.EDU> Subject: Re: Teigeki Graph Review
Well, I finally tried out my copy last night ... ^_^
> 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.
RED had their introduction logo redone. I thought it was very nice with
the 3D-fx with the cute kid say "RED Company."
> 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
I found it interesting that the Japanese title was "Nemurareru Mori no
Bijou" which translated means "Beautiful Girl of the Forest that
Sleeps." (Note, it's not a Sleeping Forest. Another translation would
be "The Forest's Beautiful Girl that Sleeps.")
> 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
Well, bowling through the game in a couple of hours (had to because of
sleep), I found Maria's and Orihime's minigames the most difficult. I
didn't bother to read what you're supposed to do in Maria's minigame so
that was a problem. ^^; I was never good at Parapapa (PS Rapping
Game), so I screwed up in Orihime's minigame.
> length "episode" you actually have up to 8 save positions available to
you
4 if your system RAM is filled. And mine's is filled with Sakura Taisen
saves...
> 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...
Oh, it was so wonderful to Saki again! ;)
> 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
Tiny bit! It was rather blatant with the fairies. But Disney can't sue
RED 'cause what of Maria does (at least my version of the play). It
qualifies it as parody, and I found it absolutely hilarious!!! BTW, the
play is done in SD style. Motto kawaii!
> 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).
Oh really? Hehe, I screwed up a couple of times (need to brush up on my
Japanese), but I didn't get any omake pics yet ... =( In fact, I'm
wondering how the hell you're suppose to get them, but I've only played
a forthnight.
> 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!
I agree. I thought it was a wonderful addition. Only problem I had was
to get all the pictures to show. Now, I'm wondering is it tied to the
other Sakura games like how you get the special heads in Hanagumi
Columns if you finish all the endings in ST? If it is, I have a lot of
playing ahead of me ... O_o ^_^
> 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
Oh, I found it very challenging esp. when my Japanese was out of
practice. Didn't take me too long though to figure out all the answers.
> 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
Yuri didn't tell me a thing.... Hmmm. And I finish the game in 20 secs.
> 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>.
Well, I just took a look at it this morning. Hehe. My roommate and I
think it's a variation of shogi (Japanese chess). I find out tonite.
Richard, you forgot to mention that if you go to the Salon, there's Koi
Koi Taisen 2 in which you play Hanafuda (cards now altered with cute
Sakura char pics - I found it sometimes difficult to remember which card
was what) against ... well, everybody. @_@ You even play against Yuri,
Kasumi, and Tsubaki, not to mention Kaeda, Yoneda, and Kayama (hope I
got that right, I tend to forget Oogami's naval buddy).
> Disc 2 is a bit different, and is all video choices. It has three
"tickets" for
> the player/fan.
Haven't had a chance to take a look at the 2nd disc yet.
> 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>).
I dunno if this would be a period flavor as Japanese (and esp. Chinese)
is still written in tatagaki (up and down) read from right to left.
> 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!
I agree.
Ray