Sakura Spirit

Sakura Spirit is a visual novel about a young judoka Gushiken Takahiro, who has an important fight ahead of him. He needs to recover from injury and with only two weeks left until the match, the outcome will determine whether his career will continue. Two twin girls come to help the hero, and this is where the main part of the story begins: conversations, training and the choice of lines that affect the relationship. The narrative is told in the first person, and decisions change not only the tone of communication, but also what scenes will open. The format is simple: illustrations, text, saves, several forks. Some of the materials are intended for an adult audience, as stated in advance. The game is short and can be completed in a couple of evenings. Separately, it is worth noting that decisions in dialogues have a shallow, but noticeable effect: they determine which scenes will open and how the hero will appear to his interlocutors. There is a gallery and saves at key points, and the design is kept in light colors. For a project of this scale, the work with the scenes is neat: the story is easy to read and ends clearly. It is also worth noting that the intonation of the story is friendly: there is no rudeness or dark themes, and conflicts are resolved through conversations. Those who are familiar with the series will recognize the usual presentation - short chapters, bright illustrations and gentle humor. For the first acquaintance with the genre, this is a suitable option: it does not require anything from the player and does not punish for haste. Don't look for a serious martial arts simulator here - this is a story about a man on the verge of an important choice. For fans of the genre, the Sakura Spirit remains one of the recognizable representatives of its series.