Sakura Spirit
- July 9, 2014
- Winged Cloud
- 4h median play time
An Exercise in apathy, neither solid nor liquid. Not exactly bad, but not very good either. Just a bit 'meh,' really.
Get on Steam"Sakura Spirit" is a visual novel adventure game where a high schooler, named Gushiken Takahiro, is transported to a mysterious land filled with fox spirits. To find his way back home, Takahiro must help the fox spirits and solve their problems while navigating through complex relationships and decisions. The game features romantic encounters, engaging storylines, and beautiful anime-style artwork.
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Reviews
- story3,487 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The story of "Sakura Spirit" is generally described as lighthearted and cute, featuring a young judo practitioner who finds himself in a fantasy world filled with spirits. However, many reviewers criticize it for being overly simplistic, with only one meaningful choice that has little impact on the overall narrative, leading to a feeling of linearity and lack of depth. While some players appreciate the charming characters and artwork, the consensus is that the story is too short and lacks the complexity and engagement typically expected from visual novels.
“I love the story in this game!”
“The story is lighthearted and fairly short overall, clocking in at roughly 3 hours.”
“The story was very engaging and the characters were well written and believable!”
“[*] The story was so boring and generic that I couldn't even read it all, just clicked through most of it, waiting for some interaction that never came.”
“The story is very short and very generic.”
“The story is boring as hell, it’s like reading a book, a bad one.”
- graphics516 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are generally praised for their high quality and appealing art style, with many reviewers highlighting the beautiful character designs and backgrounds. However, some players noted a lack of variety in character models and a tendency for the visuals to lean heavily on suggestive themes without explicit content. Overall, while the artwork is a standout feature, the game's short length and limited interactivity may leave some players wanting more.
“The visuals and audio harmonize to create the perfect ambience.”
“The story is well done and the visuals are exceptional.”
“The artwork is fantastic, however, so it is worth clicking through if you get the 'game' as a gift or on sale.”
“If you want to page through endless paragraphs of drivel with colorful but childish graphics, this is for you.”
“The artworks are of extremely low quality, the model of NPCs simplistic, and as for the girls, well, you have one model of body, and only two things change: eye colors and haircut.”
“The visuals are plain and the background music quickly becomes annoying and repetitive, despite an extremely short playtime.”
- music440 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its calming and atmospheric qualities, particularly the traditional Japanese influences that fit the story well. However, many also criticize the soundtrack for being repetitive and generic, with a limited number of tracks that can become annoying over time. Overall, while the music enhances the experience for some, others find it forgettable or distracting.
“We are accompanied by an adapted typical Japanese music which fits very well the story.”
“The music was really well composed and I like how it changed to fit the scene, like how it gets more intense during action scenes.”
“The music is lovely to listen to, relaxing and also has very few sound effects.”
“The music can get annoying, to the point my cat would leave me forever alone whenever I'd open the game.”
“Everything said about it is right: the story is nothing, the music is godawful, the art is so limited and dull that you're nearly falling asleep.”
“Music was really repetitive and started to get annoying.”
- humor274 mentions
- 98 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The humor in this visual novel is a mixed bag, with many players finding it amusing and light-hearted, featuring funny moments, quirky characters, and playful innuendos. However, some reviews criticize the humor as repetitive or forced, with a reliance on clichés and pop culture references that can become tedious. Overall, while the game offers a blend of humor and fanservice, its comedic effectiveness varies widely among players.
“The story is fun, we have some ecchi fanservice with hilarious scenes, some action, and a lot of strange situations we have to face always accidentally.”
“I definitely recommend because the dialogue kept me laughing to myself and smiling at bits...and just transported me to a world of voluptuous fox girls.”
“The situations are very funny and sometimes so absurd that you can't not laugh.”
“The characters are flat (I mean character trait-wise, otherwise they are anything but...), the story is practically nonexistent and the comedy is just tedious, forced, and unfunny.”
“Comedy is obviously a very subjective thing, but as far as I'm concerned, this is not funny.”
“It doesn't commit to the cheesecake (and beyond) enough for the pervs. It's not funny enough to tie all these shortcomings into something more.”
- gameplay166 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 77 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay aspect of this title has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many users stating that it lacks meaningful interaction and is primarily a visual novel with minimal choices. Players often describe the experience as repetitive and dull, primarily involving clicking through text with little to no impact on the story. Overall, the consensus is that the game does not deliver on gameplay expectations, feeling more like an interactive story than a traditional game.
“Amazing gameplay”
“The plot line was spectacular and the gameplay was even better!”
“Possibly the greatest game I have ever played... the gameplay is so smooth and the storyline is like no other.”
“Boring story, cookie cutter characters, godawful dialog, no gameplay except click click click to advance the text.”
“You can't even call it gameplay because quite frankly there is no gameplay.”
“However, sakura spirit falls far under my already low expectations for it: there is very little diversity between the female cast of characters and there isn't much gameplay to be found at all—in fact, there is only one choice to make in the whole entire thing.”
- emotional147 mentions
- 89 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its heartwarming and touching story, which resonates deeply with players, often leading to tears and strong attachments to the characters. While some reviews criticize the overall narrative as boring or cliché, many praise the emotional depth and impactful moments, particularly towards the end, making it a memorable experience for those who appreciate a blend of comedy, drama, and emotional storytelling. Overall, the game is recommended for those seeking a heartfelt journey, despite its simplistic gameplay and limited choices.
“The ending made me cry and I rarely ever cry.”
“It truly is a heartwarming story for the ages about coming of age and dealing with all the hardships you face in life.”
“I laughed, I cried, it moved me.”
“Boring story, cookie cutter characters, godawful dialog, no gameplay except click click click to advance the text.”
“Cliché boring story, I could have wasted my money and time on something better than this...”
“There's absolutely no interaction and a boring story.”
- character development83 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
Character development in this visual novel is largely criticized for being minimal and reliant on standard tropes, resulting in shallow portrayals that fail to evolve throughout the story. While some players appreciated the character designs and found moments of decent development, many felt that the lack of depth and meaningful growth left the narrative feeling incomplete and unsatisfying. Overall, the game is seen as prioritizing fanservice over substantial character arcs, leading to a mixed reception regarding its storytelling.
“This visual novel was incredibly fun to play and I'm glad I did; the story and character development were amazing, much more than what I expected going into this.”
“The art style is great and the character development is top notch.”
“This game has a fantastic plot and amazing character development.”
“Characters see little to no character development, leading to some of the situations coming out weird or plain out of place, even if you don't take the visual novel seriously.”
“If you've seen a single manga, anime, or visual novel in your life, you'll probably pinpoint what character belongs to which stereotype after their very first line, and you'll have absolutely no character development beyond that ever.”
“The game is more or less a collection of goofy and slightly erotic scenes as opposed to a novel with plot and character development.”
- replayability56 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is largely criticized, with many reviewers noting a significant lack of choices and branching storylines, resulting in minimal incentive to replay. While some mention the potential for unlocking gallery content, the overall sentiment is that the game feels more like a linear visual novel than an interactive experience, leading to low replay value ratings. A few users express a desire for more gameplay elements, such as multiple endings or combat, to enhance replayability.
“10/10 high replay value”
“High replay value, and very useful unlockables that can be used in real life.”
“It is infinitely more rewarding, has a wider range of art, and a much, much better story with replayability.”
“There is nearly zero replay value, as the game contains only one choice.”
“I really enjoyed the game, but I wish there was more replayability; the lack of choices and the amount of time you can spend with the game is just too little.”
“Rating: 3.8/10. There's no replayability here - as once you've read through it once, that's it.”
- atmosphere20 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is generally praised for its well-crafted music and graphics, creating a relaxing and immersive experience. However, some players feel that the inclusion of fan service disrupts the overall mood, and while the atmosphere can be engaging, it may not resonate with everyone, particularly those seeking deeper narrative or character development. Overall, it offers a mix of playful and atmospheric elements, though the limited number of songs is noted as a drawback.
“The music is atmospheric, the graphics are very well made, and the story isn't half bad.”
“Although Sakura Spirit doesn't really bring anything new to the table, it has a nice and relaxing atmosphere.”
“Do you like an immersive atmosphere that will make you rethink your entire life and question reality itself?”
“Sometimes it got the mood right, but then comes the fan service which really disturbs the atmosphere of the story.”
“I originally did not want this as I am not a fan of graphic novels nor am I a fan of the ultra-flamboyant colors and atmospheres advertised by this game.”
“However, if you value story, character depth and development or atmosphere, then you would do well avoiding this title.”
- monetization12 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy for this game has been criticized for relying heavily on misleading advertisements that emphasize superficial elements rather than the actual gameplay experience. Many users feel that the game is a cash grab, with a lack of meaningful content and choices, leading to disappointment in its value.
“This book is just a cash grab anime book.”
“The ads are highly misleading that you actually have any choice or control over the storyline.”
“The story description intrigued me but the screenshots were advertising the game as softcore eye-candy and not a compelling experience.”
- grinding6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, with a lack of engaging story and character development. The reliance on lowbrow humor and pop culture references initially provides some amusement, but this quickly wears thin, leading to a frustrating experience. Overall, the grinding feels unnecessary and detracts from the enjoyment of the game.
“The game relies heavily on pop culture references, lowbrow humor, and the overuse of common character tropes, all of which earns minor chuckles at the beginning of the game, but grows somewhat tedious later on.”
“If you're looking for cheap thrills and the chance to ogle 'kitsune' or 'samurai' characters, hit up one of the many booru sites; they've got plenty more and with none of the painful misspellings and unnecessary tediousness this game provides.”
“The characters are flat (I mean character trait-wise, otherwise they are anything but...), the story is practically nonexistent, and the comedy is just tedious, forced, and unfunny.”
- stability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, users report a stable experience with no noticeable bugs or glitches, contributing to a smooth gameplay experience. The art style is considered acceptable by some, but it does not detract from the game's stability.
“There are no glitches either that I have found.”
“Good things are that it has no bugs or glitches that I have found and its art style is okay for some.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game is reported to run smoothly, providing a stable experience despite its shallow and uneventful story. While the narrative lacks depth and character development, the overall performance is deemed acceptable, allowing players to enjoy the visuals without significant technical issues.
