Saku Saku: Love Blooms with the Cherry Blossoms
- October 2, 2017
- PALETTE
- 60h median play time
Get on Steam"Saku Saku: Love Blooms with the Cherry Blossoms" is a visual novel following the protagonist, Yuu, as they navigate their final year of high school in Japan. The story centers around making choices that will determine Yuu's friendships, romantic relationships, and future plans, all while beautiful cherry blossoms bloom in the background. With multiple endings and a vibrant cast of characters, the game offers a heartwarming and engaging experience.
PC
Playstation 4
Windows
PlayStation
Reviews
- The character designs, voice acting, and music are top-notch, contributing to an overall enjoyable experience.
- The game features a variety of routes, with some being particularly well-written and emotionally impactful, especially Ann's and Konami's routes.
- The visuals are stunning, with beautiful artwork and dynamic animations that enhance the storytelling.
- The translation quality is inconsistent, with awkward phrasing and errors that detract from the overall narrative experience.
- Some routes feel underdeveloped or forced, leading to predictable outcomes and a lack of meaningful character growth.
- The protagonist lacks depth and personality, making it difficult for players to connect with him or find the story engaging.
- story100 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of "Saku Saku: Love Blooms with the Cherry Blossoms" is a blend of romantic comedy and light fantasy, featuring engaging characters and humorous dialogue, though it suffers from predictability and forced conflicts at times. While some players appreciate the wholesome elements and character development across various routes, others criticize the lack of meaningful direction and the reliance on melodramatic plot devices. Overall, the narrative is enjoyable for those seeking a light-hearted visual novel experience, but may not satisfy those looking for a more serious or story-rich adventure.
“The main story and the different routes held my interest most of the time.”
“A very nicely put together story which was very memorable to me.”
“The story is superb!”
“A lot of the story becomes pretty predictable, and half of the conflict in the routes feels really forced.”
“Sometimes, it feels like plot devices change for the convenience of melodrama.”
“The plot lacks meaningful direction.”
- music42 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising the quality of the soundtrack, particularly the opening and ending songs, as well as the background music that enhances emotional moments. However, some players found the music to be generic or "off," leading them to turn off the background music in favor of their own. Overall, while the music is generally well-received, it does not resonate with all players.
“The art was superb as well and sometimes I found myself sitting and just listening to the background music because it was relaxing and composed nicely.”
“As for the content itself, the artwork is utterly superb, large amount of backgrounds, amazing soundtrack, and the voice acting is amazing.”
“The background music is also pleasant and appropriate to match the multitude of emotional moments in the game with great theme songs in the opening and ending movies.”
“I don't know why, but I just never really vibed with the music.”
“The music is kind of generic, unfortunately.”
“I found myself turning the BGM off and listening to other music, which is a bad sign for a visual novel.”
- graphics30 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics in this visual novel are widely praised for their superb execution, featuring stunning artwork, well-designed character sprites, and a rich variety of backgrounds. Reviewers highlight the appealing art style, particularly that of Izumi Tsubasu, and commend the game's ability to maintain visual interest throughout, making it a standout in the genre. Overall, the visuals contribute significantly to the game's immersive experience, with many considering it among the best in visual novels.
“The visuals were well executed, and the characters felt fairly logical considering their personalities.”
“As for the content itself, the artwork is utterly superb, with a large amount of backgrounds, an amazing soundtrack, and excellent voice acting.”
“Artwork, backgrounds, and CGs: with the developer having a name as Palette, it appears fitting given that all the character sprites, background art, CGs, game cover, badges, emoticons, and profile backgrounds in this game are top-notch, making the game very attractive to showcase on profile.”
“The artwork, backgrounds, and CGs are top-notch, making the game very attractive to showcase on profile.”
“The art is fine by me, the SD graphics are cute as ever, and character designs are normal.”
“The title screen will change from a morning scene to a night-time scene of Yuma's house and eventually to the game artwork cover upon completing all endings.”
- humor26 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is frequently highlighted as a strong point, featuring a mix of witty dialogue, amusing situations, and memorable character antics. Players appreciate the blend of lighthearted moments, such as quirky incidents and playful interactions, alongside a solid narrative that keeps the tone engaging. Overall, the humor contributes significantly to the game's charm, making it both entertaining and enjoyable.
“There are five hilarious plotlines and lots of memorable moments.”
“We did get some funny moments, like when Ann found a pair of handcuffs in the lost property box and tried to put them on Yuma to test them out; apparently, the PMC could make good use of this, she said!”
“It was funny; full of incidents involving perverted cats, dents in shogi boards, ditches, and dirty jokes in school cafeterias!”
- character development16 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is a mixed bag, with some routes offering subtle growth, particularly in Yuri's storyline, which some players found lacking. In contrast, Ann's route features more overt and comedic character development that leaves a lasting impression. While the game's art and voice acting are praised, many reviewers feel that the depth of character development does not match the high-quality visuals.
“The game's art looks absolutely gorgeous; it's colorful, and the character design and backgrounds look amazing.”
“It took us all the way into June, and while it was a great route, the one thing that disappointed me was that Yuri's character development is a bit subtle for my liking.”
“Ann's route had all kinds of comedy and all sorts of unsubtle character development, which makes me never able to look at her the same way again.”
- emotional14 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game elicits strong reactions, with many players reporting moments that made them cry and feel deeply connected to the story. While some narratives are criticized for relying on clichéd emotional scenes, others are praised for their heartwarming and impactful storytelling, enhanced by fitting background music. Overall, the game successfully balances wholesome and heartbreaking elements, creating a memorable emotional experience.
“Made me cry, I suggest you play this with the patch.”
“The whole route felt special and very emotional, making me tear up a lot.”
“For me, this route was the most heartwarming and heartbreaking one in the game all at the same time.”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The gameplay offers extensive replayability, with each romance option providing an additional 6-10 hours of unique story arcs, including routes for characters like Mio, Yuri, Konami, Ann, and Tina. Players have reported enjoying the engaging narrative and emotional depth, making for a captivating experience that can extend well beyond 20 hours.
“Each romance option, once chosen, gives you another 6-10 hours of gameplay in individual story arcs, including Mio, Yuri, Konami, Ann, and finally, the Tina route is unlocked once you finish the Ann route.”
“With 20 hours and counting of gameplay, and having just finished Tina's route, I have to say that I'm actually enjoying this visual novel right now due to the fact it's taking me on a rollercoaster.”
“Each romance option, once chosen, gives you another 6-10 hours of gameplay in individual story arcs, including Mio, Yuri, Konami, Ann, and finally the Tina route, which is unlocked once you finish the Ann route.”
“But to be honest, with my 20 hours and counting of gameplay and just finishing Tina's route, I have to say that I'm actually enjoying this visual novel right now due to the fact it's taking me on a rollercoaster.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is well-received, featuring a variety of heroine types typical of galge while incorporating supernatural elements that enhance rather than overshadow the core experience. Players are encouraged to explore titles like Da Capo III or Dal Segno for an even richer atmospheric experience that aligns with their expectations from the game's presentation.
“The atmosphere is nice; you get most of the heroine types you'd ever want in a galge, and the supernatural addition does not overly cover the galge part of the game.”
“If you're up for an even better experience with an atmosphere that you probably imagined this game has just by looking at its store page, you should pick up Da Capo III or Dal Segno.”
