Sakura Nova
- October 20, 2016
- Winged Cloud
- 5h median play time
Get on Steam"Sakura Nova" is a visual novel game featuring sci-fi and fantasy elements. The story follows a group of cadets at a military academy, with the protagonist being a transfer student who possesses unique abilities. The game contains romantic storylines and choices that affect the player's relationships with the other characters.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Playstation 4
Playstation 5
Windows
Linux
PlayStation
Reviews
- The game features cute characters with distinct personalities and good voice acting.
- The story, while simple, has multiple endings and player choices that impact the outcome.
- The artwork is beautiful, and the addition of an adult patch enhances the experience.
- The writing is often criticized as being poor and disjointed, with some scenes feeling rushed or lacking depth.
- There are bugs present, such as certain CGs in the gallery that cannot be unlocked.
- The game is considered short and may not justify its price for some players, especially those looking for more substantial content.
- story139 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the character development and intriguing plotlines, while others criticize it for being disjointed, cliché, or lacking depth. Many highlight the balance between fanservice and narrative, noting that while the story can be enjoyable, it often feels secondary to the adult content. Overall, the game offers a variety of routes and endings, but opinions vary widely on its execution and memorability.
“A well-developed, pretty, and superb story.”
“Sakura nova has a brilliant story; it starts off with Mikage who wants to become a knight, even stronger and better than his dad, the legendary Zero, and on this journey, he has two teammates, Kaguya and Arisa.”
“The story and plot is written like a romantic comedy with a share of humor and fanservice and has 3 nice happy endings; the background music is great and overall presentation is also nicely done.”
“The story is highly disjointed.”
“The story basically lacked any sort of depth and it had some of the absolute worst pacing I've ever seen in a visual novel.”
“The plot is all over the place and the dialogues are shocking.”
- graphics32 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are widely praised for their high quality and beautiful artwork, with many reviewers noting the stunning visuals that enhance the overall experience. While the art style is consistent with previous titles from Winged Cloud, some players feel it can become repetitive. Despite some criticisms regarding the integration of adult content and occasional awkwardness in character designs, the overall consensus is that the graphics are solid and visually appealing, making it a strong aspect of the game.
“The artwork is high quality, like most of Winged Cloud's games.”
“The art work is absolutely beautiful with the Japanese voiceover to go with it... I cannot express how important these two traits are in these types of novels, it brings the whole story to life!”
“And one thing that everyone will definitely enjoy are the graphics that are amazingly well drawn and downright comparable to real life.”
“The artwork can certainly feel repetitive if you've played other games by Winged Cloud; they're all very similar looking.”
“The story is high fantasy but the background artwork is a future colony in space, what a weird combination.”
“Wanaca's character artwork is not the best here (seems lazily done, understandably, for a hastily finished, short game), and the R18 scenes are hilariously awkward with no transition or build-up, whatsoever.”
- music30 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising the catchy and well-composed soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience, while others find it average or forgettable. Many players appreciate the ambient sounds that complement specific scenes, although some feel that the music lacks variety and memorability. Overall, the soundtrack is generally seen as fitting for the game's atmosphere, with a few standout tracks noted by players.
“The music is really good (though I like the normal music a lot more than the battle music) and all endings felt good to read.”
“This time around we have rather pleasant background music that really compliments the gameplay; it's soothing and not overbearing as some of the previous titles' accompanied music.”
“I like the music that is in it; I feel like it matches pretty well with the situations that you are in.”
“The 3 tracks can be labeled as 'somewhat exciting things are happening', 'neutral sounds while people talk' and 'frickin' music'.”
“Music is rather non-extensive, but sufficient to carry the storyline.”
“Soundtrack: forgettable”
- gameplay12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some praising its soothing soundtrack and ambient sounds that enhance the experience, while others criticize it for being overly simplistic and lacking depth. While some players find the gameplay enjoyable and addictive, others suggest there are better alternatives available that offer more engaging mechanics. Overall, the gameplay is seen as a blend of basic interaction and narrative-driven elements, appealing to those who prioritize story over complexity.
“This time around we have rather pleasant background music that really complements the gameplay; it's soothing and not overbearing like some of the previous titles' music.”
“Further increasing the overall gameplay is the ambient music we have, with each scene or event in the game having a unique ambient sound that really livens up the story in those specific moments.”
“Someone may enjoy the infectiously catchy soundtrack, while another may enjoy the amazingly addictive and infinitely replayable gameplay.”
“The gameplay in Sakura Nova is so simplistic, so basic that every game company ever must be beating themselves up for not thinking of it first.”
“The gameplay involves reading the text, clicking, reading the next text, and then eventually having to choose from one of two options, a whole dozen times.”
“No gameplay, but hot anime chicks.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players find it highly enjoyable and infinitely replayable due to addictive gameplay, others criticize it for a lack of memorable content and low replay value, suggesting it may not be worth the full price.
“Replayability off the charts.”
“Someone may enjoy the infectiously catchy soundtrack, while another may enjoy the amazingly addictive and infinitely replayable gameplay.”
“Replay value: 7/10”
“I'm not sure if I would pay the full price for it, because of the rather low replayability. It doesn't take much time to finish and reach every ending, so maybe grab it at some kind of sale.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of action and magic, though it is often described as awkward and lacking finesse, particularly in the poorly executed R18 scenes. While some players appreciate the comedic elements, others find the character artwork and overall presentation to be subpar, detracting from the intended humor.
“It's an adventure of action, magic, and humor!”
“The R18 scenes are hilariously awkward with no transition or build-up, whatsoever.”
“I was initially planning on making something funny or witty with my review here, but no.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its surprising wholesome ending, which contrasts with its initially complex and provocative themes. While some users found the story short and lacking depth, they still appreciated the emotional journey and the game's value for its price.
“Kaguya represented a complex problem, and that ending was actually wholesome, which surprised me considering the nature of this game.”
“The story felt short and boring, lacking the emotional depth I was hoping for.”
“While the game is only $10, the emotional impact was minimal and left me wanting more.”
“I expected a more engaging emotional experience, but it fell flat and felt underdeveloped.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Character development is notably strong, with both the main character and Kaguya showcasing significant growth and complexity, highlighting their flaws and personal journeys.
“I was surprised to see character development from the main character as well as Kaguya, who is flawed in her own right.”
“The growth of the characters throughout the story is incredibly well done, making their journeys feel authentic and relatable.”
“Each character evolves in meaningful ways, showcasing their struggles and triumphs, which adds depth to the overall narrative.”
“The character development feels rushed and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the protagonists.”
“I expected more growth from the characters, but they remain stagnant throughout the game.”
“The choices you make don't seem to impact character development, leaving the story feeling linear and unengaging.”
