Sakura Beach 2
- November 5, 2015
- Winged Cloud
- 5h median play time
In Sakura Beach 2, Seiji reunites with his childhood friends for a relaxing vacation after a hectic schedule. However, the arrival of a space-obsessed girl introduces new romantic complications, creating a memorable and lighthearted visual novel experience. Players can enjoy beach activities, deepen relationships, and explore the emotions of Seiji and his companions. This game is a sequel to the first Sakura Beach, offering continuity while introducing new characters and narratives.
Reviews
- The game features a sweet and wholesome harem story that many players found enjoyable.
- The addition of a new character, Nene, adds some freshness to the narrative, making it more engaging for fans of the series.
- The artwork and character designs are praised for their quality, contributing to the overall appeal of the game.
- Many players felt that the game recycled content from the first installment, lacking significant new material or improvements.
- The choices in the game are largely meaningless, with only the final decision affecting the outcome, leading to a sense of frustration among players.
- The writing and plot were criticized for being dull and predictable, failing to deliver a compelling story compared to other visual novels.
- story124 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The story of "Sakura Beach 2" continues the narrative from the first game, featuring familiar characters and a new addition, Nene, which some players found refreshing. While the writing is noted to be more mature and less cringeworthy, many reviews criticize the plot for being dull and repetitive, with choices having minimal impact on the outcome. Overall, the game is seen as a light, entertaining visual novel, but it lacks the depth and innovation of its predecessor.
“I can't stress enough how immersive the story is and how much it really pulls at your heartstrings.”
“You once again managed to stun me with the amazing character personality, spectacular background art, and out of this world storytelling.”
“The story picks up a few months after the first Sakura Beach where the three friends return to the same beach to have fun.”
“Honestly, this is one of Winged Cloud's visual novels that didn't need a sequel, and the story isn't as deep as the first one.”
“All the same jokes are used (and reused), it follows the exact same story, it takes place in the exact same location, the two original female leads are still abusive, and the main character learns from his mistakes about as well as a block of lead.”
“The best that can be said about Sakura Beach 2 is that it is longer than the first one by about an hour and a half; however, this turns out to not be a positive thing as the story is appallingly bad.”
- music32 mentions
- 9 % positive mentions
- 81 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game has been largely criticized for its lack of originality, as it recycles the same tracks from the first installment, with no new songs or voice acting introduced. While some players find the existing soundtrack enjoyable and fitting for emotional moments, many suggest turning it off in favor of personal music due to its repetitiveness. Overall, the music is seen as a missed opportunity for innovation, despite being pleasant and not intrusive.
“There are emotional moments and the music underscores this.”
“Asides from the writing/story quirks, the art and music are always a big highlight and are enjoyable from the many beautiful fan service scenes of bikini shots and some other amusing scenes to the relaxing and mischievous tunes that played during scenes.”
“The music from the first one still holds up as well.”
“Just about all of the background music and background images seem to be reused from the first.”
“To show lack of effort, the music is also the same.”
“I have not noticed any new songs and there is no voice acting again.”
- graphics30 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the unique and intuitive artwork, character design, and overall visual fidelity. However, some users expressed disappointment over the lack of new background artwork and character models, suggesting that the game sacrificed certain features for improved performance. Overall, while the visuals are generally considered impressive, they may not meet the expectations of long-time fans seeking more variety.
“However, the R17 CG and artwork here are good, and I bought the game because of it.”
“It's artwork is also very intuitive and special.”
“Not much to say after that, amazing visuals and character design.”
“There's no additional background artwork, no new music tracks, Momoko and Ayumi have exactly the same character models as they did in the last game...”
“I feel as if Sakura Beach 2 sacrificed many features in the old games for better FPS and graphics fidelity in this one.”
“For anyone other than that demographic, look elsewhere for entertainment.”
- humor16 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by absurd situations and ridiculous character behavior, often leading to laughter despite the reliance on familiar archetypes. While some players find the frequent comedic elements entertaining, others feel that the humor can become repetitive and lacks the charm of unintentional hilarity found in similar titles. Overall, it offers a mix of funny and sexy hijinks that can be enjoyable for those seeking a lighthearted experience.
“I did, however, laugh at the surprise harem ending; although I can only think it will end badly—with Seiji ending up a spare tire in an otherwise three-way romance between the girls—it still made me laugh for the absurdity of it all.”
“People might criticize the characters for being rehashed archetypes, but I personally find myself just laughing at their ridiculous behavior or the silly situations they get themselves into.”
“Funny and sexy hijinks ensue and are then brought to a conclusion at the end.”
- emotional12 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its emotional depth, featuring touching moments and a soundtrack that enhances the experience. While players found the story and character development rewarding, some felt it took too long to form a strong emotional attachment, suggesting that initial connections could have been stronger. Overall, it is described as a sweet and wholesome experience that leaves a lasting impact.
“There are emotional moments and the music underscores this.”
“The best touching game, best story ever. I hope there's a Sakura Beach 3.”
“2 out of 4 of the endings almost had me shed a tear, but once again, close but no cigar.”
- gameplay8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The gameplay builds on the mechanics of the first game, introducing a new character, which many players find enjoyable. However, some users feel that while the gameplay can be challenging, it ultimately lacks depth and content, as evidenced by the ability to complete the game in a very short time. The impact of choices from the previous game on gameplay routes remains unclear.
“Very good gameplay!”
“I was able to speed run this game in 3 minutes and 20 seconds on my first attempt. I feel like it lacks content, and the gameplay, although challenging at times, lacks any real depth.”
“It takes the mechanics of the first game and adds another girl.”
“[spoiler] It basically asks who you chose in the end of the first game, but I'm unsure as of now if it affects the route of gameplay.”
- character development4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is criticized for its lack of creativity and depth, with most characters described as bland and generic. The only character that stands out, Nene, is noted as the most interesting, but overall, the character design fails to impress.
“The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
“The story arcs are predictable and fail to provide any meaningful growth for the characters.”
“The characters are one-dimensional and their motivations are poorly explained, leaving them feeling unrelatable.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as a blatant cash grab, indicating a lack of value and effort in its design.
“It's clear that this game is a cheap cash grab.”