Saku Saku: Love Blooms with the Cherry Blossoms
- October 2, 2017
- PALETTE
- 20h 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 and artwork are stunning, with dynamic sprites and beautiful backgrounds that enhance the visual experience.
- The story features a mix of light-hearted moments and serious themes, making it engaging and emotionally impactful, especially in certain routes.
- Voice acting and music are top-notch, contributing to the overall enjoyment and immersion in the game.
- The writing quality is inconsistent, with awkward phrasing and translation issues that detract from the overall experience.
- Some routes feel underdeveloped or clichéd, leading to a lack of depth in character relationships and story arcs.
- The pacing can be slow, particularly in the common route, which may lead to moments of boredom for players.
- story72 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story of "Saku Saku: Love Blooms with the Cherry Blossoms" is a blend of romantic comedy and slice-of-life elements, featuring engaging characters and humorous dialogue, though it suffers from predictability and occasional forced conflict. While some players appreciate the heartfelt moments and character development, others find the plot lacks depth and meaningful direction compared to other visual novels. Overall, it offers a decent narrative experience, particularly for fans of lighthearted romance with a touch of fantasy.
“The main story and the different routes held my interest most of the time.”
“It’s a lot more wholesome than it seems at first glance, and a bit of fantasy element did a good job spicing up the story.”
“This game is stunning visually, and quite amazing story-wise as well.”
“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 resulting drama serviceably drives the plot of the heroine routes, but compared to other romance/slice of life visual novels, Saku Saku doesn't have much depth or nuance in this regard.”
- music28 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising the quality and emotional fit of the soundtrack, particularly the opening and ending songs, while others find it generic or unmemorable. Several users noted that while the background music is pleasant and well-mastered, it can become repetitive or boring over time. Overall, the music complements the game's atmosphere but may not stand out for 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.”
“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.”
“The music is great!”
“For some reason, I felt that the music was 'off'.”
“I don't know why, but I just never really vibed with the music.”
“The soundtrack was, like most other slice of life visual novels, bland.”
- graphics17 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising the superb artwork, character designs, and detailed backgrounds. The combination of chibi art and traditional styles has been particularly well-received, contributing to a visually stunning experience that enhances the overall narrative. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, elevating the game's appeal significantly.
“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 character sprites are top-notch, making the game very attractive to showcase on profiles.”
“The graphics are outdated and lack the polish expected from modern games.”
“The character models look stiff and lifeless, making it hard to connect with the story.”
“The environments feel bland and uninspired, lacking detail and depth.”
- humor16 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in this visual novel is frequently highlighted as a strong point, featuring a mix of witty dialogue, funny scenarios, and memorable moments that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the blend of cute characters and comedic situations, such as absurd incidents and playful antics, which contribute to a lighthearted and entertaining narrative. The inclusion of chibi art and expressive animations further amplifies the humor, making it a delightful aspect of the game.
“The scenario is sweet, funny, and touched my heart.”
“There are five hilarious plotlines and lots of memorable moments.”
“It was funny; full of incidents involving perverted cats, dents in shogi boards, ditches, and dirty jokes in school cafeterias!”
- emotional13 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game elicits a range of responses, with many players experiencing genuine tears and heartfelt moments, particularly in specific character routes like Tina and Mio. While some critiques point to clichéd writing and a lack of depth compared to more profound visual novels, the overall sentiment remains positive, highlighting the game's ability to deliver earnest and heartwarming narratives that resonate with players. The accompanying music further enhances these emotional experiences, making the storytelling feel more impactful.
“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.”
“Tina's route is so touching, it brought me to tears.”
- character development9 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 11 % neutral mentions
- 22 % negative mentions
Character development in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising the vibrant character designs and animations that enhance the experience, while others criticize the subtlety of character growth, particularly in Yuri's route. While certain routes, like Ann's, offer more pronounced and comedic development, overall, players feel that the depth of character development is lacking compared to the game's impressive visuals.
“The character designs and art are beautiful.”
“Saku Saku looks good, with character designs that give off a sense of whimsy and little animations that add a touch of life to the reading experience.”
“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.”
“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.”
- gameplay5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The gameplay offers extensive content with each romance option providing an additional 6-10 hours of unique story arcs, totaling over 20 hours of gameplay. However, some routes feel underdeveloped, with minimal character involvement for certain options, leading to a lack of impactful choices. Despite these criticisms, players are finding enjoyment in the overall experience, likening it to a rollercoaster ride.
“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.”
“5 choices, over 20 hours of gameplay.”
“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.”
“They introduce them early on, and proceed to do nothing with them for 7 hours of gameplay (at least in Yuri's route; very little involvement in Konami's route).”
“The story doesn't really have an effect on the gameplay experience, and it leads me to believe that a goal would have seriously benefitted this aspect.”
“But to be honest, with my 20 hours and counting of gameplay and me just finishing Tina's route, I have got to say that I'm actually enjoying this visual novel right now due to the fact it's taking me on a rollercoaster.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is well-received, featuring a diverse range of heroine types typical of galge, complemented by a subtle supernatural element that enhances rather than overshadows the core experience. Players recommend titles like Da Capo III and Dal Segno for an even richer atmospheric experience.
“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 overshadow the galge aspect of the game.”
“If you're looking 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.”
“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.”
“The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth that would make the world feel alive.”
“Despite the game's potential, the atmosphere is disappointingly generic and fails to immerse the player.”
