Sakura Beach 2
- November 5, 2015
- Winged Cloud
- 5h median play time
Get on SteamIn 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
- Sakura Beach 2 is a charming continuation of the first game, featuring lovable characters and a light-hearted story that many players found enjoyable.
- The addition of a new character, Nene, adds a fresh dynamic to the existing love triangle, making the narrative more engaging for fans of the series.
- The artwork and character designs are praised for their quality, and the game provides a decent amount of choices, leading to multiple endings.
- Many players felt that the game recycled content from the first installment, including backgrounds, music, and character designs, leading to a sense of laziness in development.
- The choices in the game often felt meaningless, with only the final decision impacting the outcome, which disappointed players looking for a more interactive experience.
- Some reviews criticized the writing quality and character development, describing the protagonist as irritating and the overall story as predictable and uninspired.
- story62 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 5 % 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 reviewers felt the plot was dull and repetitive, with choices having minimal impact on the story's progression. Overall, the game is seen as a light, entertaining visual novel, but it lacks the depth and engagement 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.”
“The writing is more mature, there is less cringe, though overall the plot is dull.”
“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.”
- music16 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The music in the game has been criticized for being largely recycled from the first installment, with no new tracks or voice acting introduced. While some players find the existing soundtrack enjoyable and fitting for emotional moments, others suggest turning it off in favor of personal music due to its repetitiveness. Overall, the music remains a mixed aspect, appreciated by some for its nostalgic value but seen as a lack of effort by others.
“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.”
- graphics15 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the unique and high-quality artwork, character design, and animation. However, some users noted a lack of new background artwork and character models compared to previous installments, suggesting that the game may have prioritized graphical fidelity and performance over content variety. Overall, while the visuals are generally well-received, there are concerns about the depth and innovation in the artwork.
“However the R17 CG and artwork here are good and I bought the game because of it.”
“Not much to say after that, amazing visuals and character design.”
“They made two of the best damn games out there; the story is so good and the artwork is very unique. I highly suggest this game to the entire population of this planet.”
“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.”
“If you want just the ecchi artwork, you could save your money and look at what others have posted online.”
- humor8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a mix of absurdity and silliness, with moments that elicit genuine laughter, particularly from unexpected plot twists like a harem ending. While some players appreciate the comedic value of the characters' ridiculous behaviors and situations, others feel that the humor can become repetitive and lacks the charm of previous titles in the genre. Overall, it offers a light-hearted experience with funny and sexy hijinks, appealing to those looking for a short, entertaining read.
“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.”
“I would have liked to see more of these two weeks at sea, but even so, everything that was shown was very funny.”
“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.”
- emotional6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its emotional depth, featuring touching moments and a compelling story that resonates with players, enhanced by its music. While some players found themselves deeply attached to the characters, it took two games for this connection to fully develop, suggesting that initial engagement could be improved for a stronger emotional impact from the start. Overall, it offers a wholesome experience that can evoke genuine feelings, though it may not fully achieve its emotional potential until later in the series.
“There are emotional moments and the music underscores this.”
“The best touching game, best story ever. I hope there's a Sakura Beach 3.”
“Even though I finally came to love the characters and became more attached to them, it wasn't good that it took two games for me to love them so much. I should love the characters from the beginning so I care so much at an emotional level by the end.”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The gameplay builds on the mechanics of the first game by introducing a new character, which users find enjoyable. However, some players feel it lacks depth and content, with one noting they completed it in just over three minutes, suggesting a potential lack of challenge despite some moments of difficulty.
“Very good gameplay!”
“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 if it affects the route of gameplay.”
“It takes the mechanics of the first game and adds another character.”
“[spoiler] It basically asks who you chose at the end of the first game, but I'm unsure if it affects the gameplay route.”
- character development2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is criticized for its lack of creativity and depth, with most character designs being described as bland and generic. The only character that stands out is Nene, but even that is considered underwhelming.
“The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with any of the characters.”
“The story arcs are predictable and fail to provide any meaningful growth for the characters.”
“Along with that, the character design is really bland and not creative; it's very generic.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game is perceived as exploitative, with many users labeling it a "cheap cash grab."
“It's clear that this game is a cheap cash grab.”
“The monetization system feels exploitative and heavily favors players who spend money.”
“I feel pressured to spend money just to enjoy the game fully.”
