Birushana: Winds of Fate Review (Nintendo Switch)

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Birushana: Winds of Fate Review (Nintendo Switch)

Release Date: May 26, 2026 (North America)
Developers:  Otomate, RED
Publishers:  Idea Factory International
Platforms: Nintendo Switch
ESRB Rating: T

DISCLAIMER:

Birushana: Winds of Fate is the fandisc for the original game, Birushana: Rising Flower of Genpei. As the stories and events in this game continue the narrative from the “love endings” of its predecessor, it is generally recommended to play the first installment before diving into its fandisc to better understand the game’s lore and story.

There Are Two Segments In This Fandisc:

• What Comes After (Epilogue Routes) – these are after-stories that unfold after the “love endings” of the main character routes from the previous game.
• Turning a New Leaf (IF Routes for new LIs) – these are the main “IF Routes” of the new love interests: Shigehira, Tsugunobu, Tadanobu and Takatsuna.

SYNOPSIS

Epilogues:

With the war over, peace has finally returned to the land.

After our heroine carved out a new fate,
these sweet epilogues tell the story of what happened after the events of the first game.

What does the future have in store for a girl who was born to fight?

Main Routes:

New stories await our heroine…

The youngest child of the Genji, Shanao,
has been driven out of Kyoto by the Heike.

What fate awaits her as she strives to hide
her identity and live as a man in a world torn apart by war?

ART AND MUSIC

Illustrator/Artist: Koji Haneda, (main character design), Mozu Toku (CG art), Aki Tanaka (CG art), HLAM (Chibi)Director:Ai ItoScenario:Ai Ito, Fuji Iohara, Yoshichika HarumoriOST:Amatsuki (vocals, lyrics), Takahiro Minato (Composition), Takuya Watanabe (Composition)BGM:Ryo Kurata, Tomoaki Oga

Koji Haneda is the main illustrator for Birushana, who’s responsible for the game’s overall character designs. The stills and CG art for this game, however, were done by the illustrators Mozu Toku and Aki Tanaka.

To me, all of the in-game CGs were gorgeous as heck, that even sometimes I just had to pause the game to look at some of them for a hot minute. Another thing I really enjoyed was the abundance of sprite variations. There were so many! I especially loved seeing Shanao with such a wide variety of outfits. She has her princess attire, her commoner’s kimono, her Heian shirabyoshi attire, as well as her male-Yoshitsune kimono and battle gear.

UNBOXING THE PLUS EDITION

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdjnokZoYfc

VOICE ACTING

Kengo Kawanishi as “Noritsune“ – Rhodes (The Red Bell’s Lament), Harumi (Lover Pretend), Rosho Tsutsujimori (Hypnosis Mic), Nansen Ichimonji (Touken Ranbu), Gen Asagiri (Dr. Stone), Munakata (Hiiro no Kakera), Muichiro Tokito (Demon Slayer), Roland Fortis (The Case Study of Vanitas), Adventurine (HSR)

Yuichiro Umehara as “Benkei” – Emmanuel (Volontes), Lowd (Neon Clash), Alfred (Mistonia’s Hope), Paschalia (Radiant Tale), Serge (Genso Manege), Kohei Minato (Sympathy Kiss), Canus Espada (Café Enchanté), Enishi (Jack Jeanne), Demento (Period Cube), Shingen Takeda (IkeSen), Sage (Nekopara Catboys Paradise), Rain (Shiro to Kuro no Alice), Oochidori (Touken Ranbu)

Soma Saito as “Shungen” – Awayuki (Illusion of Itehari), Yves (Virche), Kiku (Tengoku Struggle), Mineo (CollarxMalice), Tsurumaru/Namazuo (Touken Ranbu), Levi (Psychedelica AH), Yumeno Gentaro (Hypnosis Mic), Ohtaro (Winter’s Wish), Takuma (Kitty Love), Akase (Charade Maniacs), YOFY (Sympathy Kiss)

Makoto Furukawa as “Yoritomo“ – Josephy (Temirana), Hokuto (Him, the Smile and Bloom), Allan Melville (Cupid Parasite), Crius Castlerock (Even if Tempest), Lugus (Psychedelica of the Ashen Hawk), Shaw (MLQC), Adage (Steam Prison), Ookurikara (Touken Ranbu), Kyle Ash (IkeRev), Kazuma Kamikubo (Lover Pretend), Dazai (Charade Maniacs)

Jun Fukuyama as “Tomomori“ – Shiyu (Otome Daoshi), Sodyk Mun (Neon Clash), Ascot (Mistonia’s Hope), Karatachi (Illusion of Itehari), Mizuchi (Hana Awase), Vyn Richter (Tears of Themis), Mozu (BUSTFELLOWS), Goro Fujita (Meiji Tokyo Renka), Liberta (Arcana Famiglia), Rin (Togainu no Chi), Aido (Vampire Knight), Tokiwa Etsuya (Dairoku), Goke Kanimitsu (Touken Ranbu)

Takashi Kondo as “Tsugunobu” – ♡Jinia (Radiant Tale), ♡Kogitsunemaru (Touken Ranbu), Majima (Chou no Doku), Shiba (EPHEMERAL), Subaru (Diabolik Lovers), Miki Saburo (Hakuoki), Kuro Usagi (ALICE=ALICE), Rufus (Bravely Default), Aaron (Buddy Mission Bond), Kazunari Tono (Journal with Witch)

Katsuyuki Konishi as “Tadanobu“ – Isanyudo Miyoshi (Homura the Crimson Warriors), Avido Crudele (Code Realize), Gaoshun (Apothecary Diaries), Tetsuya Niwa (Gakuen Heaven), Keisuke Yamanami (Bakumatsu Renka Shinsengumi), Reiji (Diabolik Lovers), Xeno Gerald (MidCin), Cyril Avain (Re:Cord NOAH)

Ryota Osaka as “Shigehira“ – Shuu (Dairoku), Suzukake (Ken ga Kimi), Shishiou (Touken Ranbu), Hisui Hoshikawa (Nil Admirari), Kai (Princess Closet), Ibara Saegusa (Ensemble Stars!!), Brian (Angelique Retour), Danji (Daemons of the Shadow Realm), Gyutaro (Demon Slayer), Bennett (Genshin Impact)

Amatsuki as “Takatsuna” – Tohdoh (Mecha-Ude: Mechanical Arms), Hanakura Ayumi (Kiratto Pri☆chan), Masayori (Masamune Datenicle), Vespa (Kami no Tou Koubou-sen)

CHARACTERS, AFTER STORIES & IF ROUTES

As this is the fandisc of Birushana: Rising Flower of Genpei, there are no recommended route orders, and you should be able to play either the After Stories or the IF Routes without worrying about if one route/story will spoil another.

Walkthroughs:

• Takatsuna
• Shigehira
• Tsugunobu
• Tadanobu

Note: The CGs shown below are promotional images for the game, Birushana: Winds of Fate (the ones you can see on the game’s eshop page, and its official website). All spoiler-related content in this review will be hidden behind a spoiler drop-down, that you can choose to view at your own discretion.

~AFTER STORIES~

The After Stories are sweet, fluffy stories that follow the heroine, Shanao, and her chosen love interest from the main game. These stories continue from each main character’s “Love Ending” in the first game and expand on their relationship from there.

***There are no choices in these routes, so you can simply sit back, relax, and enjoy all the fluff and the promised spice!

BENKEI

• yearning king
• gentle giant husbando

I started with Benkei’s route on a whim because I was desperately looking for something to satiate my obsession with size-gap couples, and gosh, this after-story did not disappoint! At the same time, I was just so wowed by how fluffy and spicy Benkei’s after-story was! TBH, I thought it was perfect. Congratulations to all the Benkei enjoyers, you are going to be eating absolute gourmet food here!

⬇️ Spoilers

Look, whoever hated on Benkei in the first game for petty reasons does not deserve him in his fandisc! This man is literally so precious. He can do no wrong in my eyes.

In his After Story, he and Shanao travel to Hiraizumi to apologize to Lord Hidehira for lying about Shanao’s gender. Since they were also planning to reveal their relationship to everyone, Kakunichi advised them against it, saying Lord Hidehira is a deeply devout person and might not easily accept a romantic relationship between a lord and her vassal. Their difference in status also complicates things further, with Shanao being the princess of the Genji clan while Benkei is merely her retainer, not to mention a monk! Because of this, the two decided to keep their relationship a secret for the time being.

The thing I really loved about this After Story, and was completely over the moon for, was seeing Benkei struggle between his love and devotion for Shanao and holding back his desires for her, thus inch by inch revealing this more insatiable masculine side of him. Every time he finds himself getting a little too *ravenous* whenever they kiss or make out, he immediately stops himself, which only ends up riling up Shanao because she apparently yearns for that side of Benkei too. LOL. Like, I mean, yessss girl, I get you! I totally do! (laughs) 🤭

And goodness, their kiss and make-out scenes were just sooo sweet, not to mention hot af! Umehara really worked his wonders here, fr!

Route Enjoyment: 9/10
Fan Service: 9/10

YORITOMO MINAMOTO

• aniue 👁🫦👁
• beach sex 🏖️

Yoritomo is just the ultimate kuudere. As we know him from the first game, this man rarely engages in idle convos. He’s very taciturn and doesn’t talk that much, so whenever he cracks even the simplest joke, it somehow feels quite rewarding (laughs). Of course, even more rewarding when he flirts!👀 The sexy times here are insane, though, so if you’re a Yoritomo stan, I hope you’re prepared for a feast.

⬇️ Spoilers

In this After Story, Kyoto is finally at peace, and Shanao is living at Yoritomo’s estate while recovering from the wounds she sustained during the previous battle against the Heike. Meanwhile, the ever-slimy Emperor Go-Shirakawa pressures Yoritomo into taking a wife so the Genji clan can strengthen its ties with the Imperial court.

Yoritomo has absolutely no interest in marrying another woman since he only has eyes for Shanao. With the help of the ever-kindhearted Lord Hidehira of Hiraizumi, a neutral state, Yoritomo devices this plan of having Lord Hidehira adopt Shanao, (who in this After Story is publicly known to have no ties to the Genji clan). This allows Yoritomo to marry her, effectively killing two birds with one stone: he gets to be with the woman he loves, plus their marriage also strengthens the Genji clan’s political ties through their connection to the neutral state of Hiraizumi.

Plot-wise, it’s rather simple and even a little silly with how Lord Hidehira ends up playing the role of this game’s ultimate YES man. TBH, across all the routes, he really is this game’s number one Shanao-enabler with how unbelievably generous and kindhearted he is, who always favors Shanao’s decision whatever they may be. SRSLY, Bless him.

That aside, I think Yoritomo has the most fan service in the entire game because WDYM he gets so many kissing CGs and spicy scenes! Haha, not that I’m complaining. I love it when the taciturn kuudere anuie suddenly gets horny on main. I mean, I practically devoured all of the fanservice here in one sitting. (cackles)

Route Enjoyment: 8/10
Fan Service: 10/10

SHUNGEN

• best childhood friend
• a good husbando

Contrary to popular opinion, I believe I’m one of the few who really loved Shungen’s route in the first game. Admittedly, I’m also very fond of the childhood friend trope, and Shungen is one of the childhood friend LIs that pleasantly surprised me.

That hasn’t changed at all in this fandisk. I still very much enjoyed Shanao and Shungen’s dynamic. I absolutely love how Shanao can just be comfortable being herself around Shungen. There’s something about Shungen’s presence that feels like a safe space for her, and the way he takes care of and supports her makes their relationship positively soothing for some reason. On top of that, this route also exclusively showcases one of Shanao’s best sprites in the game!

⬇️ Spoilers

In the first game, it is revealed that Shungen is the real Minamoto no Yoshitsune, the heir of the Genji clan and Yoritomo’s younger brother. During the final battle against the Heike, Shungen and Shanao, with the help of Yoritomo, stage their deaths, which allowed them to escape the war and its aftermath. After that, they leave everything behind and settle into a quiet life around Buzen Province, far from Kyoto.

In order for them to safely pass through areas controlled by Genji forces, they join a traveling performance troupe called Izayoi. Within the troupe, Shanao performs her sword dance while Shungen plays the flute. Together they become a popular duo and over time, they gain enough recognition that many spectators begin eagerly looking forward to their performances each day.

Shungen was already portrayed (in the 1st game) as brilliantly sharp-minded, especially with how he could devise battle plans and strategies alongside Yoritomo during the height of the Genpei War. Here, Shungen is just as smart as ever, consistently finding effective solutions whenever he and Shanao run into a slight pickle. I thought the exorcism and seance scenes were outrageous, but all at the same time I had such a good time w/ it (laughs).😂 I kind of understood what Benkei meant here, when he said that not seeing them was probably for the best, since it would only make saying goodbye harder for both sides. And I’m pretty sure Shanao and Shungen feel the same way, too. The ending feels somewhat bittersweet though, given that they never got to properly see their friends again.🥲

On another note, I also found it curious how Shungen introduces Shanao here as “Chitose,” which was supposedly the name of the author of The Tale of the Heike.🤔

Route Enjoyment: 8/10
Fan Service: 8/10

TOMOMORI TAIRA

• Tomohorny 😮‍💨
• o b s e s s e d

My brothers in christ, all this man wants to do is to be with his wife all day, and make love to her all day long! That’s it! That’s the route! 🤣Just kidding! ….or am I? 👀

The *conflict* of Tomomori’s after-story was kind of a nothing burger, honestly, but I live for the campy drama!😂 This route was actually pretty hilarious and just so uberly silly that I couldn’t help but cackle whenever Tomomori starts on his constant laments and daily “wife woes.” What an absolutely doting, obsessive, clingy husband! I love it! I’m glad he is just as crazy as he was in the first game. I’m sure all the Tomomori truthers are going to have a blast with this route. (laughs)

⬇️ Spoilers

So in this After Story, Tomomori and Shanao are married as a symbol of peace between the Genji and Heike clans, effectively bringing the Genpei War to an end. Shanao now lives at Tomomori’s estate as his wife, far removed from her former life as a samurai warrior. She practically lives in luxury now as a Taira princess, surrounded by lots of lady-in-waiting and servants. She is however, mostly confined within Tomomori’s private mansion and does not go out into town much.

Because Tomomori is a very possessive husband, Shanao is not allowed to see her Genji friends unless he accompanies her. Though despite this, he still wants her to be happy and does allow her to meet them under certain conditions. One day, however, Shanao begins acting strangely, especially in the bedroom, and starts turning down Tomomori’s advances. This leaves Tomomori to have blue balls, so he is increasingly worried and troubled. Thus, prompting him to seek advice from his cousin Noritsune.😂 His concerns even worsens when Tsugunobu and the others call him out for being overly clingy and possessive. (cackles)

I thought it was really hilarious that Tomomori was seeking love advises to Noritsune,😂 of all people!

I was mad cackling during this part! lmao

Their whole misunderstanding was so dumb and silly I was laughing the whole time. I’m so glad Tomomori is just as unhinged as in the first game, but it was also surprising to actually see him get humbled when he realizes that his paranoia was all for naught and that he never really needed to doubt Shanao’s love for him.

In a way, both Tomomori and Shanao also learn an important lesson here: that they need to communicate properly, especially when it comes to things that matter most in their relationship. I think this route proves that both of them have learned (albeit the hard way), and still have a lot to learn when it comes to understanding how important it is to communicate effectively with the people they love.

Route Enjoyment: 7.5/10, (The tomfoolery is 10/10 though…)
Fan Service: 8.5/10

NORITSUNE TAIRA

• drinks respect women’s juice
• soft 🥺

Noritsune’s was probably my favorite After Story among them all, and that’s saying a lot, given how much I really enjoyed all the route epilogues in this fandisk. Again, just like the conflicts in the other LI’s stories, Noritsune’s epilogue was also very cute and silly, had plenty of hilarious scenes that’ll have you grinning and cackling, back to back. But besides the comedy, their bonds as husband-and-wife, and all their lovey-dovey moments as a couple just really hit the spot! I love these two so much, they are just so perfect for each other! 😭

I was also kind of stunned to see Noritsune reveal such a surprisingly rare side of himself, which we get to discover more of in this route.

⬇️ Spoilers

After the Genpei War, Shanao and Noritsune, who now goes by the name Takahito, live peacefully in a remote village far away from Kyoto. The two take turns doing chores and do their best to learn how to fish and farm in order to adapt to their quiet new life. Seeing that the couple is new to the village, the townspeople warmly lend them a hand whenever they can, like, sharing extra harvests or helping them with daily necessities. In return, Noritsune helps their neighbors with house repairs and other physical work around the village.

I think it was sooooo refreshing seeing Noritsune this much more relaxed and at ease. It was such a welcome change seeing him no longer as intense as he was in the first game. He’s practically just living a peaceful, laid-back life as Shanao’s husband, and I thought, it really suited him!

The part where Noritsune refuses to do the deed with Shanao was so funny because at first I thought maybe he just wasn’t ready yet or perhaps had no idea what to do in bed. So it completely caught me off guard when the real reason turned out to be that he wanted to do things properly and traditionally. Nauuur! 🥺

I did a little googling on the Mikanomochi ritual, and apparently it was a very important custom during the Heian period that symbolized the official consummation between a husband and wife, which kinda explains why Noritsune took it so seriously. 😂 Tbf, this actually feels very in character for him. It’s such a classic Noritsune thing to do, if you ask me! 🤣

I also laughed when Shigehira and Tomomori said they had always seen Noritsune as a total meathead, so they were shocked that he could actually be traditionally romantic like this. Ha! His banter with his Taira cousins was also a lot of fun here. On top of that, I thought the romance between Noritsune and Shanao felt so naturally genuine. They are so sweeet together! Like, the way they complement each other and fit together like a glove is just so satisfying to see. I will probably replay this route one day purely for healing and serotonin purposes!🥺

Route Enjoyment: 10/10
Fan Service: 8.5/10

~IF ROUTES~

The IF Routes are the main routes for the characters, Shigehira, Tsugunobu, Tadanobu, and Takatsuna, branching off midway through the events of the first game. They are completely new stories, each featuring two endings: True Love Ending and Tragic Love Ending.

TAKATSUNA SASAKI

• not a shota

Takatsuna is the son of Hideyoshi Sasaki, who once served under Yoritomo and Shanao’s father. Takatsuna was ordered to follow in his father’s footsteps and serve as a vassal to Lord Yoritomo. Despite his young age, he has shown a strong ability to serve the Genji on and off the battlefield. His bright and innocent smile is known to bring joy to all who see it.

As one of the Genji leader’s closest aides, he is highly efficient and always carries out his missions successfully, which makes him seem remarkably mature for his age. Personally, I thought this route was cute. His first few chapters, I definitely enjoyed, especially their first meeting and the way Takatsuna starts off a little assertive, only to gradually transform into his more puppy-like persona once he warms up to the heroine.

However, I do think that out of all the IF routes, this one felt the weakest in terms of romance. A lot of the sweeter bonding moments between him and Shanao were mostly bogged down by the heavier political discussions in his story, which I thought was quite a letdown.

⬇️ Spoilers

Both Shanao and Takatsuna hold Yoritomo in such high esteem that their ideals of a peaceful world were pretty much in sync.

I had fun with their reconnaissance mission in Kyoto, where Shanao dresses in women’s clothing as part of her disguise. I thought it was pretty funny when Takatsuna suggested they should pretend to be a married couple, only for Shanao to immediately shut the idea down, saying they feel more like siblings than lovers.😭 (dude got brotherzoned real quick lol) Nonetheless, Takatsuna plays along with the charade and slips into the role of her “younger brother,” that wants to be doted by his お姉さん older sister (laughs)🤣 I thought Takatsuna’s playful side really shone here, but I also liked those small instances where he expresses his desire for her to see him as a man. I believe this adds a nice contrast to his otherwise cheerful, & youthful side that he usually carries in other routes.

When I think about it, this route was honestly not bad at all. It’s just that I enjoyed the other IF routes a bit more overall.

SHIGEHIRA TAIRA

• crazy chaotic gremlin to loverboy
• also gay for Shanao

Shigehira is the fifth child of Kiyomori Taira and the younger brother of Tomomori. Despite his regal appearance and renowned abilities in the arts, Shigehira has a sinister side as well, particularly on the battlefield. Concerned less with victory and more with the blood he spills, Shigehira has a reputation for taking delight in carnage. He also loves and respects his brother Tomomori.

Shigehira is definitely a character I felt pretty lukewarm about in the first game, but damn, he completely stole the show in this fandisk. I mean, just wow… what a route! I haven’t had this much fun in a while. I completely understand why his merch resale prices always end up skyrocketing and why he’s such a popular character. I get it now. This route was it!

***On a completely different but rather important note, his bad ending was such good food for the 3P enjoyers! 👅

⬇️ Spoilers

It was hilariously unexpected to realize Shigehira can’t hold his liquor. Who knew this crazy man is apparently a lightweight? 🤣 The thing that’s so adorable about Shigehira is that he’s such a simpleton and is also very easy to please. Just a small compliment from Shanao and he’s basically wagging his tail, albeit obnoxiously.

I loved their sparring session with Shanao and the gang. Reminds me of how small kids play and share their snacks while excluding that one kid they don’t like at school. I was hacking and cackling the whole time! 🤣🤣🤣 Also, the fact that Shigehira is afraid of ghosts because Tomomori used to tell him scary stories when he was young so growing up, it really stuck with him, was so amusing!😭

However, jokes aside, the moment Shigehira does a complete 180 from a crazy chaotic gremlin to the sweetest loverboy was literally the icing on the cake! How he slowly develops feelings for Shanao (without even caring about her gender) and then realizes they are destined to be enemies leading him to think about and confront what he truly wants for the first time in his life, was just sooo good.

I love the fact that he grapples with of wanting to defeat his beloved brother Tomomori for the sake of Shanao. It becomes a real turning point for him, especially considering how much he has always loved and looked up to Tomomori. Their scene at the cliff, and how Tomomori actually shows a bit of heart here by taking his own life to spare Shigehira from the trauma of having to kill his own brother, was absolute cinema to me. Shigehira’s development and character growth is one of the best things in this fandisk fr! I had such a blast!

Lastly, his tragic ending was such a guilty pleasure, that I unapologetically and shameless inhaled it so quickly! Ha! 🙈

TSUGUNOBU SATO

• also drinks respect womens juice
• best boi (accdg to me lol) 😝

Tsugunobu is a highly regarded samurai in service of the Fujiwara clan of Oshu. Upon orders from Lord Hidehira Fujiwara, Tsugunobu joins Shanao on her journey and vows to serve her with his life.

As a disclaimer, I am completely biased towards any characters voiced by Takashi Kondo, so obviously, I found Tsugunobu’s route one of my highly anticipated routes for this year.🤣 And even after playing, I was chuffed to find that it absolutely did not disappoint. I’m such a sucker for the loyal, gentle vassal-turned-lover trope, so this route was an easy win for me.

On top of that, there is just something very comforting about Tsugunobu.🥺 How devoted he is to Shanao, how much he values their time together, and how he vows to serve her with everything he has, despite having feelings for her and knowing that, as a vassal, that may be all he can ever be to her. There is a bit of angst here, but overall my feelings for this entire route is like being wrapped in a warm hug. 10/10 would replay again!

⬇️ Spoilers

Tsugunobu, for one, really has a way with words. His gentle demeanor and caring gestures for Shanao are what practically won her over. I loved how at first, he tried to create some distance and establish boundaries after Shanao’s genpuku ceremony. After pledging himself to serve her as her vassal, he wanted their relationship to become more formal, but when Shanao asked him to remain casual with her, he ultimately relented.

Although I’d say that despite Tsugunobu’s gentlemanly nature, whenever he’s actually alone with Shanao, like during their date scene, he can become a little canny as well. Kudos to him for being honest about his feelings and admitting that, while he wants Shanao to live freely as a woman, part of him is conflicted because he also doesn’t want the rest of the world to see her charm. Idk about you, but I always love it when an LI tries to gatekeep his woman from the masses, so I was quite surprised to see this slightly possessive side of Tsugunobu here.

The part where Shanao nurses Tsugunobu back to health, and he realizes that his relationship with her may forever remain that of a loyal vassal, and how he looked so sad knowing he may never be with her romantically broke me.😭 There’s also a bit of ambiguity surrounding their relationship since Shanao remains oblivious to her own feelings, despite them having already blossomed for quite some time. She just doesn’t know how to put a label on them yet.

I thought his Happy Ending was so true to his character, especially with how he comforts Shanao after she learns the truth about her birth and discovers that she is not an actual Genji. I really loved the scene where he tells her that since she has always wanted a family, then he would gladly, wholeheartedly become her family. He said it so naturally and sincerely that it made me tear up a little bit. Im just so happy for both of them.😭

TADANOBU SATO

• the lovable idiot
• 100% himbo

Tadanobu is Tsugunobu’s younger brother and fellow vassal of Lord Hidehira and later, Shanao. Brave to a fault, his presence on the battlefield always leaves his enemies defeated, and his allies inspired. Though not the sharpest tool in the shed, Tadanobu has a bright, cheery personality, one that occasionally leads him to speak too plainly to his Lord Shanao.

Tadanobu’s route was also loads of fun. Just like his older brother Tsugunobu, he is an extremely loyal vassal who would gladly devote his life to protecting his lord’s honor. However, in many ways, he is the complete opposite of Tsugunobu. While his brother is refined and genteel, Tadanobu is more brusque and rough around the edges. He’s the classic loveable idiot character, and if you’re fond of this trope, it’s honestly hard not to instantly like him.

⬇️ Spoilers

Of course, Tadanobu gets the classic *accidental-peepingtom* trope! This was perhaps one of the funniest gender reveal scenes for Shanao out of all the LIs.🤣 Tadanobu was so flustered and completely beside himself right after. I was cackling over the fact that he absolutely could not be normal around her anymore after that whole run-in fiasco. You could tell he was really trying his best, but the man was just so hopeless, it’s adorably funny!

I also loved how Tsugunobu immediately caught on that Tadanobu must’ve been crushing on someone the instant he started acting like a fool around everyone. He really does know his otoutokun best! LOL. I think the Sato brothers fundamentally share a lot of the same qualities. They’re both loyal, good-natured, down-to-earth, and they both want what’s best for Shanao, but the way they express those feelings is so wildly different that its both hilarious and endearing at the same time.

In Tsugunobu’s route, Shanao asks to leave the army after fulfilling the mission entrusted to her by Yoritomo, which was to defeat the Heike and retrieve the sacred treasures. Tsugunobu wholeheartedly supports her and sees to it that she fulfills this task so she can finally live at peace in Hiraizumi and have the free life she has always desired. It’s such a fitting approach for someone as gentlemanly and prim & proper as Tsugunobu.

Tadanobu, on the other hand, being a bit of a rough-edged man that he is. His big brain move to free Shanao from her duties as a Genji princess and help her avoid a political marriage is to literally steal her away and elope with her.😭 I cackled so hard at this because it was such a very Tadanobu move! Bless him. 😭

I wasn’t expecting his Happy Ending to turn out that way, but I was glad everything worked out for them in the end. It was a little on the bittersweet side for sure, but at the same time, I feel like it was really nice seeing Shanao and Tadanobu live a peaceful life in China for a change, far away from the turmoil of the Genpei War.

SHANAO | YOSHITSUNE (Main Heroine)

Shanao is one of my fav. otome heroines of all time, and in this fandisk, it was really nice seeing her finally live the peaceful life she has long wished for as a woman, doing ordinary lady-things, free from the responsibilities and burdens of being the heir to the Genji clan.

She shows so many new sides of herself in the After Stories, which was such a treat if you’re a Shanao enjoyer like me. The girl can get clingy, desperate, jealous, and even downright thirsty for her LI most of the time.🤣 It was also refreshing to see her doing normal, everyday things and living the kind of ordinary life she had always dreamed of. So even when she makes silly mistakes or jumps to ridiculous conclusions, I still found it charming because, in a way, she’s finally getting to experience the kind of life and feel the kind of emotions a young maiden her age during that period should have been able to enjoy in the first place.

It was also delightful seeing how varied Shanao’s dynamics are with each of her LIs. For example, with more subservient LIs like Benkei, she has to be especially clear and direct about both her affection and her desire for physical intimacy with him. Meanwhile, with more assertive and dominant personalities like Tomomori and Yoritomo, she is more deferential toward them. Shungen and Noritsune, on the other hand, (given they are closer to her age), their relationships feel much more on equal footing, with both sides learning and growing together. It’s quite a feat seeing how Shanao manages to have chemistry with all of her LIs, albeit in very different ways!

SYSTEM AND LOCALIZATION

PROS:

• Mouth movements, blinking sprites
• Heroine’s Name Customization
• Heroine side sprite image
• Flowchart
• DICTIONARY
• Love Catch System
• SKIP to the Next Choice function
• Skip READ function
• Quick Save/Quick Load
• Translated Voice Lines on MENU screen
• CG Gallery
• BGM Library
• Movie Library
• Backlog and Rewind function
  

CONS:

• Heroine not voiced
• No EXTRA section
  

Localization

I believe the localization was also an improvement over the previous installment of Birushana. There were some typos, but they were few and far in between. Humor-wise, I thought the game handled its comedic tone very well, though there were times when certain unique phrases did not feel entirely faithful to the original material. That being said, I think this ultimately comes down to personal preference and how picky you are when it comes to localization choices. Personally, this wasn’t a deal-breaker to me, and I’d say the overall quality was still pretty decent.

TRAILER

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6b7zFFQL_U

OVERALL THOUGHTS

It took me around 30-35 hours to finish the entire game. Although admittedly, I certainly took my time with this title and even replayed my favorite LI’s (Tsugunobu’s) route twice, so my overall playtime was pushing 40 hours. Ha!🤣 The game is of decent length, though it may feel partially on the shorter side. The After Stories are only three chapters long, so they can be finished in about 2 and a half hours at most. The Main Routes (IF routes), however, are longer at five chapters each, which you can probably complete in about 4 hours, give or take.

A Feast of Fan Service and Kiss CGs!

If you feel like the first game deprived you of romance, or that it felt overshadowed by the heavy war-focused plot that took precedence, this fandisk definitely makes up for it.

I was completely blindsided by how immeasurably sweet and fluffy (not to mention, spicy) the after-stories are. They’re all fun, simple, and silly little glimpses into the new life of Shanao and her chosen love interest after the Genpei War. There are no weighty, plot-driven obstacles or major events here. Just pure fluff goodness. And, you know what, personally, I love my otome fandisks this way. I prefer the sweet, happy slice-of-life date scenes over the angst-driven story machinations. Please save all those plot twists, death scenes, and burning buildings for the sequel, thank you very much! 😝

When babe raws you so hard, walking becomes a challenge after….

Then again, if you’re the type who prefers the gritty, dramatic scenarios in your otome FDs and don’t really care much for fan service, then you probably won’t enjoy the After Stories as much since they tilt very heavily into romance and gratuitous content for the fans. The main IF Routes, however, will definitely provide the meatier narrative you might be looking for, as these stories continue during the events of the first game, back when the characters were still in the midst of the Genpei War. So it still features plenty of action-packed scenes with Shanao, while also giving the new love interests their own moments to shine within the story.

Everybody Whipped For Shanao!

What I especially loved about this fandisk is how whipped everyone is for Shanao! (as they should) I mean, they pretty much already are in the first game, but this fandisk really takes their doting to a whole other level. Every LI in every route (sometimes even outside of their own) is just completely head over heels for our girl. Regardless of what gender she takes in the story, Shanao just naturally draws people in. Even the esteemed Lord Hidehira, the game’s number one Shanao-enabler, was absolutely whipped for our queen!😭

Behold, Lord TomoHORNY’s words of wisdom!

I was rather pleased with the majority of the main routes and epilogue after-stories in this title, though I should probably mention that I am a huuuge fan of the first game, so my opinion may be a little biased if anything. The epilogues were definitely much more romantically inclined. However, the stories themselves were a bit short and generally more silly & lighthearted rather than serious, so I think it’s best to enjoy them for what they are and go in with moderate expectations. Noritsune definitely had my favorite epilogue story, followed closely by Benkei’s.

Tsugunobu’s was my favorite IF story, though that was very much expected given how utterly fond I am of the character’s VA. (laughs)😅 I think it was Shigehira that absolutely won me over the most in terms of overall enjoyment, though. His route was definitely the one that left the strongest impression on me. To be completely honest, I considered most of the IF routes fairly good, sans Takatsuna’s route. Not that his route was bad (it really wasn’t), but it tipped more heavily into war politics, which didn’t hold my interest quite as much and ended up overshadowing a lot of his romantic development with Shanao.

❤️ LI Ranking: Tsugunobu > Shigehira = Noritsune > Benkei = Tomomori = Tadanobu > Shungen = Yoritomo >>>> Takatsuna

📝❤️ After Story Ranking: Noritsune > Benkei > Yoritomo > Shungen > Tomomori

📝 IF Routes Ranking: Shigehira > Tsugunobu > Tadanobu >>>> Takatsuna

Do I recommend this game? YES.
The fan service in this title was pretty up there! And if you’re a big fan of the first game like myself, loved its cast, and wanted more stories along with sweet, happy instances with Shanao and her love interests, then this fandisk certainly delivers exactly that in spades. The four new LIs were also such a nice addition to Birushana’s husbando roster and will definitely sate anyone who’s hit the side-character syndrome in the first installment.

Birushana: Winds of Fate was certainly made with Birushana fans in mind, offering precisely the kind of fluff and romantic fulfillment the devoted fans will absolutely devour. Overall, if you thoroughly enjoyed the first game, this fandisk is a hard “must-play.” And if you’re new to otome games and enjoy the historical fantasy genre, this is definitely a series worth recommending!

#birushanaReview #BirushanaWindsOfFate #BirushanaWindsOfFateReview #BirushanaWOF #IdeaFactoryInternational #nintendoSwitch #otomate #OtomeGameReview

Court of Darkness: Captivation’s Kiss Review (Nintendo Switch)

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://otomekitten.com/2026/05/15/court-of-darkness-captivations-kiss-review-nintendo-switch/

Court of Darkness: Captivation’s Kiss Review (Nintendo Switch)

Release Date: April 24, 2026 (Worldwide)
Developers:  Voltage Inc.
Publishers:  Voltage Inc.
Platforms: Nintendo Switch
ESRB Rating: T (Teen)

SYNOPSIS

The night of a crimson crescent moon, you find yourself transported to a realm called Saligia.
Far removed from your everyday life, you’re in a world where magic is commonplace.

In the midst of your confusion, before you appear five beautiful princes.
They crave the power your kiss can bestow, and will scheme to get it.

But what they seek is not just your power.
They want your heart as well…

ART AND MUSIC

Director: Takeshi Kimura (Voltage Inc.), Kaori Narumi (Voltage Inc.)Artist: Futaba Hazuki (main), Murashige (chibis)Scenario: Voltage Inc.BGM/Soundtrack: Voltage Inc.

CHARACTERS AND ROUTES

Court of Darkness: Captivation’s Kiss follows the exact same common route as the first volume, Court of Darkness: Temptation’s Kiss. Much like the first volume, the game also follows the typical structure of most Voltage Inc. mobile titles, which allows you to immediately choose a character’s route right after completing the prologue and common route.

Since each prince’s story is standalone and doesn’t spoil another, there’s no recommended route order for playing this game. However, (just pointing this out there, for good measure), Lou’s route does explore some lore surrounding the heroine’s identity, so if you’d prefer to save him for last, feel free to do so. Personally, though, I don’t think it matters either way.

Note: The CGs shown below are promotional images for the game, Court of Darkness: Captivation’s Kiss (the ones you can see on the game’s eshop page). All spoiler-related content in this review will be hidden behind a spoiler drop-down, that you can choose to view at your own discretion.

LANCE IRA

• soft tsun

Lance is a student who often skips classes and is rumored to be a “delinquent.” His rank is also unusually low for a prince, being only C-rank. He’s a man of few words with a cold exterior, so no one really dares to approach him, and he usually keeps to himself.

Lance was clearly eye candy in the key art, so I decided to play his route first. His story kind of reminded me a little of Toa’s route in the first volume, except he’s in a very different set of circumstances (I’ll explain more in the spoiler section). What’s kind of funny about Lance is that he always has this scowl on his face, so whenever he says “Tch…” it feels like I can actually hear it on screen despite him being unvoiced, lol. I think personality-wise, that’s what got me to warm up to him pretty quickly.😆

Unfortunately, this route took a hot minute to get interesting for me, and I’m guessing the slow pacing was meant to build up Lance and the MC’s relationship, which I can at least appreciate. I did end up liking it more during the later parts once Lance let his guard down around MC and things actually started getting interesting near the end.

As a side and unrelated note, Lance’s dad was objectively, criminally hot. The moment he showed up on screen, it was over for me (cackles). Sorry, Lance!

⬇️ Spoilers

Lance’s story plays out a little similarly to Toa’s (in volume 1), where he ends up returning to his kingdom due to political circumstances. With Toa, he was forced to do it for the sake of his kingdom. Lance, however, returns because of blackmail, or rather, a scheme he can’t refuse. I say this because under no circumstances would he actually want to go back to a kingdom that somehow made it seem like he had betrayed his own people, and had caused unrest and an uprising among the citizens.

It’s also revealed early on that, unlike the other princes’ kingdoms, Lance’s kingdom is poor, and their only valuable resource are these special(?) type of crystal stones. It wasn’t really clear to me why his father wanted to start a war, nor what his actual motivation was outside of, well… wanting power. Maybe I was too distracted by the severity of the man’s sex appeal that I completely missed this part (cackling). 😝

I was also kind of frustrated with MC here. She insists on following Lance to his kingdom despite knowing how dangerous it is. Then she gets to the kingdom Ira and asks questions like, “Is it really dangerous out here?” Like yeah, no shit, sherlock!🫩 She wanders off completely unguarded, ends up becoming a hostage of the rebels, and even gets her teacher (who is a fine older man, if I may add) dragged into her mess. Anywho…..

Lance’s mischief ending made up for all my gripes though! (laughs) Who knew the man can be so docile in bed! Aha!😋

RIO VOLERI

• certified himbo
• bottomless appetite
• genki

Rio is the prince of Voleri. Has a huge appetite and an even bigger heart. With his bright personality and infectious warmth, he naturally brings sunshine to everyone around him.

Rio stood out to me in Volume 1 as one of the more memorable side characters. I mean, how could he not when he’s literally the game’s resident genki himbo? He’s always sooo cheerful and constantly acting as the heroine’s helping hand. And despite being a massive airhead that he is, the guy is just plain adorable!

To me, the whole game was definitely worth it for Rio! I loved his route! I love how innocent and oblivious he is in matters of love, but once he finally realizes and comes to terms with his own emotions, he really turns into an absolute winner of an LI. Truly, a delightful sunshine boi! 🥹 My only complaint here is that his “Mischief Ending” was a complete cockblock 😭 but aside from that, this route was crazy sweet & fun. Highly recommend!

⬇️ Spoilers

Although Rio is the prince of the kingdom, Voleri, he doesn’t exactly act like the other princes, who tend to have this high and dignified air around them. Rio is more like a big ball ray of shunshine. Always cheerful and brightening up the mood of everyone around him. His kingdom thrives on agriculture, so the citizens are known for being fond of growing crops and vegetables. Even Rio himself has cultivated a crop field at the academy, which he takes care of together with his attendant, Thoma.

In Rio’s story, MC needs to be paired with S-rank princes (so she can awaken her true powers that’ll help her return to her world). Being only C-rank, Rio asks the headmaster if he could become a higher-ranked prince so he can stay by her side. Thus, he undergoes into this trial, which leaves him all bruised and battered up. MC, while nursing him back to health unknowingly touches and kisses him during the process. This causes Rio to heal his wounds much faster, and the next day (after they’ve gotten even closer) his powers and strength amplifies, causing his magic to go haywire and wreak havoc in the crop field he and Thoma worked so hard to maintain. Because of this, he has to distance himself from MC until he learns how to control his unstable powers.

***For context, if you’ve played Volume 1, MC is known to have some sort of power where, whenever she touches (or kisses) a prince, they emit a glowing light around them and their magic becomes stronger, allowing them to use ancient, powerful magic that is banned at the academy.

Anyway, back to Rio…. This was actually a very simple, tropey route, but with Rio being the absolute pure goofy genki that he is, I really enjoyed it. MC also wasn’t annoying here and was actually very proactive in helping Rio with his struggles. I also found it adorable how Rio was completely oblivious to the fact that MC is pretty much head over heels for him, but after they kiss, it probably hit him (and his hormones lol) all at once where he was like, “damn, can I have some more?” 😂😂😂 (cackles) I love me a clueless himbo who can also get horny on main!

LOU

• vanilla but…

Lou is the headmaster of the Royal Academy of Concordia and the most magically powerful person in the realm. He is someone respected by all the S-rank princes. However, his private life remains shrouded in mystery.

I liked Lou’s route because it felt different from the rest. In a way, it actually gives us more background on the magical realm and expands a lot on the magical world’s lore, as well as MC’s true identity, something most of the other routes have yet to properly reveal or explore.

⬇️ Spoilers

I had heard through the grapevine that Lou’s route wasn’t particularly well-liked, so I went into this route expecting the worst. Surprisingly though, this route was actually pretty decent?

Lou’s route came off a bit cryptic at first. Much like the others, this route starts off with a lot of slice of life bits; Lou takes on mentoring MC so she can awaken her true powers, and MC in turn, cooks fried rice for Lou, as a way to thank him lol.

I believe the gritty parts of this route unfolds mid-chapters, when MC (w/ the help of her rando friend from the library) learns about the existence of Vanum and Vane. It is eventually revealed that Vanum is Lou’s reincarnation, while Vane is the MC herself. The two were once lovers and among the most powerful beings in the magical realm.

Although this wasn’t my favorite route, I liked that these reveals finally explained most of the mysteries surrounding why the MC was isekai’d into this world in the first place, so I ended up feeling pretty satisfied with it overall. To add, the romance here was also fairly decent, though admittedly a bit hackneyed sometimes.

DIA AKEDIA

• singing diva

An aristocrat of Akedia. Despite possessing a voice as beautiful as his face, he avoids other people at all costs.

I’m gonna be honest, I wasn’t very fond of Dia’s route. I unfortunately just don’t enjoy the trope where the heroine has to keep chasing after a standoffish guy with barely any payoff. Dia clearly wants MC to leave him alone, and tbh, if it were me, I would’ve just respected that and moved on. There’s no point forcing yourself onto someone who clearly doesn’t want you around, ya know?😭I defo admire MC’s dedication here.

It also took him forever to actually warm up to the protagonist and open up. His story probably didn’t start getting interesting until around Chapter 20-ish, but unfortunately, by that point, I was already mentally checked out of his route.

⬇️ Spoilers

The game also seems to rely pretty heavily on the “evil parents/guardian” trope. We saw a lot of this trope back in Volume 1 with Guy’s and Toa’s routes, and now it shows up again with Lance, Dia, and Aquia.

Ngl, I’m not really a fan of this trope to begin with, so seeing it reused this many times started to feel a bit repetitive and tiring after a while.

AQUIA AVARI

• bestie vibe

Avari’s second-born prince who struggles with magic and is only a C-rank, and has thus always done what others tell him to compensate.

This was unfortunately another route that was a hard sell for me. I didn’t really care much for Aquia back in Volume 1, and that didn’t really change here either. He was somewhat of a pushover in the first volume, that aspect of him didn’t improve much in this route either.. er, well, at the very least, during the first few chapters.

Don’t get me wrong though, Aquia is no doubt a good LI, and I’d even say he’s very well-suited for MC in terms of how easy-going and determined he is to learn and improve his rank. I feel like their bond as friends (and eventually something more) felt very genuine and also, quite sincere. He’s just not really my cup of tea, is all!

⬇️ Spoilers

Aquia definitely suffers from a lot of inferiority complex due to being Guy’s younger brother. With Guy already being the all-powerful first prince of Avari, Aquia unconsciously compares himself and ends up seeing himself as subpar, which is honestly kind of sad. But at the same time, I don’t think Aquia truly wants to be like Guy. He just wants to live normally and be accepted for who he is without the pressure that comes with being a prince of Avari (me thinks).

What’s funny to me is that Guy’s familiar in his route was this mighty, intimidating giant dragon, while Aquia’s familiar was… a….hamster! LOL. You can really see the contrast between the two brothers through that tiny detail alone! (cackles) 😂

I think part of the reason I wasn’t very into this route was because Aquia’s mother, who’s an absolute scumbag, plays a major role in the story again. And my god, this woman was literally insufferable during Guy’s route, so whenever she showed up here, I pretty much skipped through a lot of her scenes. Oof.

MAYU SEKIGUCHI (Main Heroine)

The protagonist in COD: Captivation’s Kiss is still as sassy as ever. I definitely enjoyed her more in Rio’s and Lou’s routes, though she admittedly grated on me quite a bit during certain parts of Lance’s and Aquia’s routes, mainly for the reason of how recklessly she tends to jump into action without any sort of concrete plan. Her likability scale for me definitely fluctuated depending on which route I was playing.

***PS: I change the heroine’s name into my name so I can take this particular screenshot~! 🤣

MOOD! Gonna start using this as my reaction meme for 2026!

SYSTEM AND LOCALIZATION

Similar to the first volume, the user interface is different from AmuLit’s original console titles. The UI for Court of Darkness: Captivation’s Kiss mirrors the mobile app version, but without the other mobile features such as Daily Lessons, the Battle screen, avatar screens, etc., and definitely no microtransactions.

Consort Perspectives
These are scenarios in certain chapters that play out from the LIs’ perspectives. You can view them by selecting an LI of your choice on the title screen, and instead of going to their Book 1 story, you choose “Consort Perspectives” to see their POV in some chapters.

PROS:

• Rewind Feature
• Log Views
• Heroine’s Name Customization
• Chapter Select
• Skip READ function
• CG Gallery
• New opening movie exclusively for the switch version (playable in the EXTRA section)
  

CONS:

• The game is not voiced
• No heroine side image sprite
• No Dictionary
• No Love Catch System
• No Music Gallery
• No Skip to the Next Choice Function
• You have to hold the ZL button to use SKIP read
• There are only 5 CGs per route
• No end credits that play after each ending
• The CGs are displayed in a zoomed-in landscape format. Since the original CGs were made for mobile and meant to be viewed in portrait mode, the in-story versions for the Switch end up cropped. The only way to see the full, uncropped CGs is by viewing them in the gallery.
  

Localization
The localization was fairly good as well, as with most Voltage mobile game ports. There was one instance, however, where the protagonist’s name changed into “{/first_name}” in either Dia’s or Aquia’s route. I’d imagine this might’ve just been a programming blip, but I’ve only spotted this once, and other than that, I thought the overall localization and the game’s translations, + tones were pretty good!

TRAILER

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fyb2E5LoVxU

OVERALL THOUGHTS

I was surprised to see that I only clocked around 15 hours for this game on my Switch. I wasn’t however, playing it on auto-mode this time, and since the game is unvoiced, I was able to read through the dialogues at a much faster pace. I also sped through quite a bit of Dia’s and Aquia’s routes (laughs), so that probably contributed to why I finished the game a little speedier than usual. I think around 15–18 hours, give or take, is a pretty fair completion time if you read at a slower pace.

There Will Always Be an LI for Everyone in Court of Darkness!

My enjoyment level for COD: Captivation’s Kiss was very much the same as it was for Temptation’s Kiss, where I ended up loving (3/5) three out of the five LIs. In the first volume, I enjoyed Guy tremendously (laughs), and I also loved Roy and Toa.😘

In Captivation’s Kiss, my favs were Rio, Lance, and Lou, while I felt mostly indifferent toward Dia’s and Aquia’s routes. Rio’s route, in particular, was an absolute hoot, and as a love interest, he ticks all my boxes for that good ol’ classic “lovable idiot” trope, so basically, he ended up being best boy in my book here.

❤️ LI Ranking: Rio > Lance = Lou >>>> Aquia > Dia

📝 Route Ranking: Rio > Lou > Lance > Aquia > Dia

Then again, what’s really great about this game, and most Voltage mobile ports in general, is that there will always be an LI that will suit everyone’s tastes. We all like what we like, and dislike what we don’t, after all. I think this series did a considerably amazing job offering a wide variety of LIs with vastly different personalities, so one way or another, there’s bound to be a character who ends up becoming someone’s favorite!

The structure of the stories here is also very self-contained. Just like the first volume, there aren’t really any central plotlines that unravel on each route, so it’s the kind of game where you can simply pick whichever LI you want to start with without worrying too much about spoilers across the board. And mirroring my review for Temptation’s Kiss, this title also doesn’t aim for the large-scale storytelling found in AmuLit’s original console titles like Even If Tempest, Neon Clash, etc. so it’s definitely best to keep expectations fairly modest going in.

I griped about this aspect in the first volume, as none of the princes’ stories really explored the heroine’s backstory. But we finally get some answers here! The only route that actually puts more emphasis on MC’s true identity, who she really is, and why she was pulled into the magical realm was Lou’s. Which is why I found Lou’s route pretty interesting.

On another note, I liked that the game takes its time building up the romance between the MC and her chosen LI. So before the story meanders into its grittier parts, the heroine and her chosen love interest already had some established emotional connection. Although, if you aren’t particularly invested in the LI, these bits of slice-of-life scenes can occasionally feel somewhat of a drab. Some of the stories were interesting, while others felt like they reused certain plot points from routes in the first volume. I do want to say, however, that the Mischief Endings, which are basically the game’s “spicy” endings, are certainly worth unlocking if you enjoy a bit of heat in your consort soup! ha!

LOL I thought it’s the other way around? 🤣

Do I recommend this game? YES.
Court of Darkness: Captivation’s Kiss is volume two of the COD series, which features the routes of Lance, Rio, Lou, Dia, and Aquia. Each of these LIs has varying personalities that will surely strike someone’s fancy, so if any of them seem like they fit your preferred LI mold, I’d definitely recommend checking this title out. Just like the previous volume, this is a very lighthearted and fun game to pick up whenever you’re in the mood for something easygoing and old-school.

PS: All of the routes here still cover Book 1 of the consorts’ paths, and I’m still crossing my fingers Voltage Inc. will eventually release Book 2 for all ten available routes on the Switch soon!

#AmuLit #CourtOfDarkness #CourtOfDarknessCaptivationSKissReview #CourtOfDarknessReview #CourtOfDarknessVolume2 #nintendoSwitch #OtomeGameReview #Voltage #VoltageInc

Volontés Review (Nintendo Switch)

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://otomekitten.com/2026/04/11/volontes-review-nintendo-switch/

Volontés Review (Nintendo Switch)

Release Date: March 26, 2026 (North America)
Developers:  Loca Games
Publishers:  Loca Games, G-MODE
Platforms: Nintendo Switch
ESRB Rating: M (Mature)

SYNOPSIS

It is an era shrouded in darkness — the world sealed off, and a deadly plague ravaging the land. A peaceful village is ruthlessly attacked by a knightly order, leaving your home in ruins and your family slain.

Saved by a mysterious figure, you are led to a magical city floating upon the sea. There, the stranger proclaims you to be the Moon Witch, destined to guide the people toward prosperity. But amidst your newfound safety and status, turmoil begins to brew. Friends turn on one another, alliances falter, and blades begin to clash.

You wish to end this tragedy. To take root in this land and live on. Who will you trust…? Who will you choose to face the end with?

ART AND MUSIC

Scenario: YuliusArt & Character Design: Somate StudioBG Artist: Hehudojnik, Bojan TemunovicSoundtrack: Alec Shea (OST), Amelia Jones (Vocals)OP Theme: Yumi Suzuha (Lyrics & Music)

UNBOXING THE LIMITED EDITION

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32ehZobhagc

Voice Acting

Kazuyuki Okitsu as “Olivier Paquet“ – Saizo (Homura: The Crimson Warriors), Yuan Gonglu (Neon Clash), Ankou (Virche Evermore), Yoji Kobase (Sympathy Kiss), Atsushi Daikoku (B-PROJECT), Tsukuyomi (Olympia Soiree), Epilogi (Café Enchanté), Hachisuka Kotetsu (Touken Ranbu), Dante (Jack Jeanne), Ray (EPHEMERAL), Kuya (NU Carnival),  Kyrie (Ozmafia!!), Keith Knight (Iris School of Wizardry)

Souma Yamoto as “Ismail“ – Pewrep (Yukar of the Abyss), Narrator (The Neuroscience of Hallucinations)

Yuichiro Umehara as “Emmanuel de Beaumont” – Lowd Gante (Neon Clash), Alfred (Mistonia’s Hope), Paschalia (Radiant Tale), Serge (Genso Manege), Kohei Minato (Sympathy Kiss), Benkei (Birushana), Canus Espada (Café Enchanté), Enishi (Jack Jeanne), Demento (Period Cube), Shingen Takeda (IkeSen), Sage (Nekopara Catboys Paradise), Rain (Shiro to Kuro no Alice), Oochidori (Touken Ranbu)

Tatsuhisa Suzuki as “Melodie“ – Alan Stuart (My Next Life as a Villainess), Yukito Sena (Lover Pretend), Akuroou (Dairoku), Ranmaru (Uta no Prince Sama), Ban (7 Deadly Sins), Prosciutto (Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure), Mitsuru Hinase (Shinigami to Shoujo), Yuma Mukami (Diabolik Lovers), Daisuke Anayama (Shinobi Koi), Kakouton (Juuzaengi), Itsuki (Sword Art Online), Aegis Alver (Tales of Crestoria)

CHARACTERS AND ROUTES

Only Emmanuel and Ismail’s routes are playable from the start. Melodie’s route unlocks after clearing Ismail’s Happy End, and Olivier’s route will be playable after finishing the Happy Ends for Emmanuel, Ismail, and Melodie.

The game has an overarching storyline, w/ each route gradually revealing key plot points one after another. If you want to play the game with the best story flow in mind, starting from the routes that give you the least spoilers to the most, I highly recommend following this order: Emmanuel → Ismail → Melodie → Olivier. This order was also the official hard recommended order given by the devs.

If you also plan to unlock the Plunder and Tragedy endings, I definitely advise sticking to this route order as well, as those endings contain even more plot hints and reveals that build up to a more impactful finale.

Walkthroughs

• Emmanuel
• Ismail
• Melodie
• Olivier

Note: All explicit spoiler-related content in this review will be hidden behind a spoiler drop-down, that you can choose to view at your own discretion.

⬇️ Click to view Content Warnings Violence, war, blood, murder, mass murder, death, poison, village destruction, betrayal, attempted sexual assault, incest, torture, NTR/partner being stolen, dubcon, manipulation, gaslighting.

EMMANUEL DE BEAUMONT

• tyrant kuudere
• sometimes soft but…

Emmanuel is a diligent and reserved domestic affairs official, devoid of magical abilities. Since he rarely makes appearances at social gatherings, most nobles are unaware of his existence. All that’s known about him is that he harbors an abundance of secrets.

Initially, I played Emmanuel’s route in JP last year and was actually caught by surprise at how interesting this route turned out to be. Lots of unexpected things I didn’t see coming, which got me even more pumped up in the game, especially since this was the route the devs recommend to start with.

The romance, however, felt a little too time-pressed to fully land for me by the end. His last chapter had a lot going on, leading to an overhaul in focus that somewhat overshadowed his budding relationship with Fiena (me thinks). Conversely, I still ended up liking them as a couple. BUT (and in all honesty), it was another route’s “Plunder End” that made me actually love Emmanuel as an LI.👀

⬇️ Spoilers

***SPOILERS FOR MELODIE’S ROUTE*** What really stood out to me is that Emmanuel’s role, whether he’s an ally or a foe, depends on the route you’re in, and I really like this complexity in his personality. Emmanuel is a very calculated individual, so it feels more like if your decisions favor him, he becomes your ally or lends you a hand, but when they don’t, he turns into a very cold enemy who wouldn’t blink an eye to castigate those who oppose him. I mean, we see a lot of his tyranny in Melodie’s route. He really didn’t give two flying shits about poor Mel and his grandpa.😭

Although personally speaking, I’d say that Melodie’s ‘Plunder End’ made Emmanuel a more appealing LI than his actual route. The fact that he didn’t touch Fiena until she gave her consent makes it clear that the awful things he did previously, (like kissing Fiena in front of Mel in his prisoner’s cell) were only meant to provoke Melodie into striking a deal with him. It’s also in this ending that we see he still has a bit of heart left in him, as he develops feelings for the heroine and asks her to be his queen, even though he knows her heart will always belong to Melodie. He doesn’t force her and even complies with her wish for a small, simple wedding away from the public eye. His treating Fiena right in the end is probably his way of repenting for all the suffering he’s caused her, but by then, it’s already too late.

ISMAIL

• the hawt doctor 🔥🔥🔥
• the best “deed” lol 🤭

As a magical medical practitioner, Ismail serves as the royal physician to the king. Kind to everyone, he holds no interest in the power struggles within the castle. Strangely, he attracts women effortlessly yet maintains an emotional distance from others.

I thought he was kind of sus at first, like there’s no way a man that perfect doesn’t have skeletons in his closet, but nope! Ish is just ultimately, a great guy (w/ a whole lotta sex appeal lol). Since he isn’t interested in the power struggle in Ombrelle, he remains neutral in the country’s political conflict and is only committed to his research as a magical doctor. Tbh, I like how he just minds his own business and doesn’t really take sides in any kind of disputes, despite having good relations with both Emmanuel and Olivier.

I guess, this is also probably one of the routes where the romance actually has some buildup, and comes across more convincingly.

⬇️ Spoilers

….To add, the romance between Ish and Fiena would’ve certainly been TONS better if he hadn’t stayed locked up in prison for like half of his route! What a shame. The instance the story finally gives you some fluff, they take it away by having the LI absent for almost an entire chapter. Guess you really can’t have em all, huh? At least, the game compensates this by having them immediately do the deed the moment he’s released (laughs).😋

On a different note, I did enjoy how Fiena was pretty proactive here in practicing and refining her necromancy magic. And although she didn’t really get to utilize it as much compared to the later routes (aka Olivier’s), I still like how her strange ability to see ghosts was naturally explored.

MELODIE

• hot headed tsun
• 👁👁

Melodie serves as a court bard, entertaining the palace with his tales, yet is devoid of any magical abilities. Additionally, he is also a member of the knightly order. His sharp tongue has left him with few friends.

Melodie was my favorite LI in the game, and I’d even say that, much like Ish’s route, this one is just as romantically inclined, albeit in a different way. Perhaps it’s because they’re closer in age, his dynamic with Fiena was sort of delightful to witness. That, or maybe I just have a huge penchant for tsunderes. Ha! 😆

As for his route, as much as I love it and my guy Melodie, his story was just really depressing. Even in other routes, Mel always seems to get the short end of the stick! I feel so bad for him all the time.😭 His HAPPY End’s epilogue was definitely a nice breather after everything he’s been through, but I really wish there was more to it. He and Fiena deserve to be happy, seriously!

⬇️ Spoilers

I also loved how Fiena was the first one to initiate getting close to Mel, and how he responds to it, is so gauche but cute, its funny! Him sending her awkward letters to meet up is too adorbs, oh no! I love tsuns, so this is probably my bias talking lol. 🤣

On a different note, my poor, sweet Mel, Michao! I can’t believe I sat through his whole torture scene, plus his grandpa’s, which made it even worse. His entire situation was just doomed from the start, it was so stressful! Being a spy ordered to assassinate the king already robs him of an unscathed ending in other routes.

He got smoked real quick in Emmanuel’s route, tortured in his own route and Ish’s, and even executed publicly in Olivier’s.😥 Plus, he was casted with some sort of mind-control spell that makes him automatically harm anyone who suspects his true identity, forcing him to switch personalities against his will, on top of his memories getting erased over and over again. OH MY POOR BOY COULDN’T CATCH A BREAK!! Mel was legit the only LI among everyone that suffered enormously in this game!😭 #JusticeforMel

Lastly, the attempted SA on Ish’s route was kinda out of pocket… but Im glad he only did it to provoke Fiena to kill him (and his other mind controlled persona) which makes sense after realizing his assassinating the king already predetermines his doom.

OLIVIER PAQUET

• 🚩🚩🚩
• no filter

Olivier stands as the highest-ranking mage and cleric in the Kingdom of Ombrelle. A self-assured individual, well aware of his unrivaled magical prowess. While presenting himself with dignity as a cleric in public, he shows his unrestrained side in the company of those he trusts.

Final boss of Volontés, who happens to be poster boy too!, and deservedly so given that his route is locked as the finale. Olivier’s route is where everything culminates, and a lot of the lingering mysteries from previous storylines are finally answered here as well. I had a total blast with this one! And even though the romance was a little shafted, I thought it was a great final route! ***Just be cautious when treading into the Plunder and Bad ends, as they can get a little disturbing quick.

⬇️ Spoilers

Olivier is basically Jesus in this game. I mean, no matter which route you’re in, he’s literally untouchable. No one can best him unless he wills it to. They coined him as “demon lord” to which I thought he really was a spawn of the underworld. lol

While he becomes one of the big bads in most routes, I love that he generally doesn’t harm Fiena and even sometimes acts as her ally, despite her being on the opposing side from his stance/beliefs. We also finally get to learn more about Fiena’s background, the mark on her back, why Olivier was so fixated on her, as well as the mystery surrounding the common route. If you played Ish’s Tragedy ending, you can kind of connect the dots and figure out that St. Pierre was indeed her brother Florent, but I certainly didn’t expect the time difference between the outside world and what was within the Grand Cloche. Although, I do remember the game hinting at it several times lol (I guess I was just slow to catch on! haha)

I’m not sure how I feel about Nil though. It was certainly interesting that his existence explains more about why Fiena can see ghosts and use necromancy magic, but I wish his storyline had been a little longer and included more varying degrees of events, rather than repeating the same sequences of Nil teaching her how to use necromancy magic correctly, or how to eliminate the Fantomes for good.

Still, all in all, I did find the ending satisfying in terms of both romance and story. My biggest gripe here is that everyone gets to live happily except my boy Melodie! Bruh, why does my guy have to suffer so much, man!😭😭😭

FIENA (Main Heroine)

• axe-wielding heroine

Fiena’s a very straightforward heroine. Mature, hardworking, very practical, sometimes even a little too cynical for her own good, but it makes sense. Having hit rock bottom once, she lives with the mindset of relishing the present because she knows she could lose everything at any given moment.

I believe having this kind of lifeline and desperation to stay alive makes her count her blessings each day and really builds her resilience as an individual. That’s why whenever tragedy strikes, she remains sharp, even though she admits she’s absolutely terrified. Fiena is also very used to hardship, so it’s pretty much a knee-jerk reaction for her to go into survival mode whenever she’s in peril. She’s certainly a heroine who can adapt to any situation that befalls her.

Her self-preservation and strong will to survive, combined with her pragmatic attitude, are traits I can definitely relate to, so her self-journey as a protagonist was very satisfying to watch.

Fiena is also a mage, but wields an axe imbued with magical stones, and it would’ve been really cool if we got a solo CG of her in her full battle gear. Although we did get a glimpse of her battle attire and weapon of choice in Mel’s and Olivier’s routes.

SYSTEM AND LOCALIZATION

PROS:

• Heroine’s Name Customization
• Love Catch System
• Short Stories in the EXTRA section
• Character Profiles in the EXTRA section
• Skip READ function
• Quick Save/Quick Load
• Dictionary
• CG Gallery
• Music Library
• Movie Library
• Chapter Select & Ending List
• Backlog and Rewind function
  

CONS:

• Heroine not voiced
• No Heroine side sprite
• Loading Screen is atrociously slow
• No SKIP to the next choice function
• Lingering voice lines after a dialogue
• Untranslated text on BGM Gallery
• Untranslated Game Credits
• Very Few Save Slots
  

Localization

I wish the game credits had been translated as well when you switch the language to English, but apart from that, I don’t think I had any issues with the game’s localization. I thought the translations, phrasings, and tone preservation of the game were pretty well done. Spotted a few typos, and a slightly mistranslated phrase (“you” was used instead of “I” in one of the passing dialogues), though there weren’t a lot and they were not a deterrent to my gaming experience, so I thought it was a solid localization overall.

TRAILER

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5poFuaYchk

OVERALL THOUGHTS

The game is short. It took me 25-30 hours to finish everything, mostly in auto mode. The common route has five chapters and is of decent length, while each route also has five chapters, which you can probably finish in about three hours, tops!

A Dark Fantasy Tale Full of Surprises

Volontés is a dark fantasy title through and through. The game fully commits to its rather grim tone and doesn’t recoil from pushing its darker themes even further as the story progresses. I thought the prologue and lore introduction were handled really well! There’s this strong sense of urgency in the narrative from the beginning that gives it a certain hook; like it’s constantly building toward something more foreboding and unsettling, if that makes sense.

There were also a lot of plot twists and story machinations I didn’t see coming, so the game kept me wide awake and pretty entertained. All the routes definitely held my attention (surprisingly), and I feel like the story also gives off the sense that it knows exactly where it’s going and where it wants to take the reader/player, so I was pretty satisfied with it on that front.

Lots of Time Jumps

Then again, the game is not without its own drawbacks. While the storytelling was fairly solid, as I’ve repeatedly praised above, the chapters were unfortunately too short. What I mean is, the events unfold at a rather fast pace, and utilize a lot of time jumps.

To give an example, the heroine, Fiena goes from wandering around in a near-death state to being acclaimed as Ombrelle’s esteemed Moon Witch in what feels like a very short span of time. Her ability to use magic and learn it so quickly also feels quite rushed. I also found it a bit odd how easily she picks up combat skills and becomes proficient with her magic axe on the battlefield, especially since the story largely glosses over any real training in physical combat. It occasionally left me wondering, “Wait, when did she get so good with that?”😅

If anything, I feel like the routes could’ve used a bit more filler content. Personally, I love indulging in filler chapters to get more in tune with the characters’ quirks and nuances, so I think that’s what I was missing with this title. However, if you’re the opposite type of player who prefers to get straight to the core of the plot right away, I think you’ll definitely love the pacing of this game.

The routes, however, kept surprising me, so even though I had my gripes about how short they were, the stories definitely kept me preoccupied. I enjoyed all the LIs, and interestingly enough, my opinions of them kept changing as I played from one route to the next (laughs). It’s kinda funny how the game constantly questions my loyalty and affinity for these love interests!🤣

I definitely had a love-hate relationship with Emmanuel and Olivier, depending on whichever route I was playing. Ish, on the other hand, stayed as lovely as ever; the only problem is that he’s really only prominent in his own route and seems to fade into the background in the others. While Melodie just kept getting shafted in almost every story but his…😭 (poor dude!) he’s still my favorite though!

LI Ranking:

Melodie > Olivier > Ismail > Emmanuel

Route Ranking:

Olivier > Melodie = Ismail > Emmanuel

As a side note, I actually like Emmanuel as a love interest, but his route definitely had the weakest romantic development amongst all the lads. I do want to add, that he got really good in one of the “Plunder Ends”. IDK why, but I felt like I understood his appeal way more there than in his actual route (cackles). 🤭

But why in his chambers, tho? 😛

Speaking of Plunder Ends, I definitely think they hold a lot of substance, and in some cases, even veer into lowkey, borderline NTR territory. Think of the Astray Ends in Mistonia. Barring Olivier’s Plunder ending, of course, because yeah… that one was just… yikes!

Last but not least, the romance in this title was certainly present, but it’s more on the mellow side. Having the routes very short definitely made this aspect suffer, and there are times where it feels like there simply isn’t enough room for Fienna and her chosen partner to properly bond or share more lovey-dovey date scenes. There’s a noticeable lack of fluffy scenarios, as the overarching plot takes precedence over the romance.

The good thing is that all the main characters in the game, heroine included, seem rather mature when it comes to relationships. So it’s easy to accept and believe their dynamic despite the limited buildup. Hence why I didn’t really flinch at seeing them engaging in intimate skinship within the context of the story. That, or maybe I am just starved for spice? (cackles) 🤣

Do I recommend this game? YES.
This is actually a pretty good and satisfying game, despite its short playthrough. Backed by stunning visuals, a gorgeous folk, medieval-like soundtrack, and a stellar voice cast that brought its mature characters to life, Volontés delivers a very thrilling story filled with themes of love, deception, conspiracy, death, and more. It doesn’t hold back either, especially when it comes to its cataclysmic plot twists and the sudden upheavals packed into the narrative.

If you’re craving a solid dark fantasy otome read, this one will absolutely scratch that itch. I’d recommend it to both new and seasoned otome players alike!

#DarkFantasy #LocaGames #nintendoSwitch #OtomeGameReview #VolontésReview #Volontes #VolontesReview

Homura: The Crimson Warriors Review (Nintendo Switch)

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://otomekitten.com/2026/03/31/homura-the-crimson-warriors-review-nintendo-switch/

Homura: The Crimson Warriors Review (Nintendo Switch)

Release Date: March 31, 2026 (North America)
Developers:  Otomate
Publishers:  Idea Factory International
Platforms: Nintendo Switch
ESRB Rating: T

SYNOPSIS

Fourteen years have passed since the Battle of Sekigahara split Japan in two.

Now firmly in control, the Tokugawa shogunate is scheming to eliminate the Toyotomi clan, a long-standing thorn in its side.

In response, the Toyotomi clan has decided to confront the Tokugawa head-on, using Osaka Castle as their stronghold. Calls for support were sent to daimyo throughout the nation and a mere few answered the call. One of these brave warriors was Nobushige Sanada, the second son of the Sanada family who was cast away to Mt. Kudo on house arrest after the Battle of Sekigahara.

Alongside Nobushige on his escape from Mt. Kudo are the Sanada Ten Braves, ten ninjas who serve him even after their exile. Standing in their way are the Ura Yagyu, a group comprised of assassins who have carried out many killings under orders from the shogunate, mysterious swordsmen, and mighty warriors.

This is the final chapter of the Warring States period. It is a tale of the bonds and way of life shared by the Nobushige Sanada and the Ten Braves who gather at Osaka Castle.

ART AND MUSIC

Director: Tsunekiyo FujisawaScenario: Izumi Nagano, Satomi Nakayama, Dilettantes-NestArtist: ShikisakigumiBG Artist: Izumi EjimaBGM: Yuki Sugiura (Studio Eden Inc.)OP Theme: Rico Sasaki (Vocals), Yoshizawa Teruji (Lyrics), Kouichiro Takahashi (Arrangement)ED Theme: Rico Sasaki (Vocals), Hisao Sasaki, (Arrangement)

Shiki Sakigumi, who’s the main artist for Hakuoki SSL, is also the main illustrator for Homura: The Crimson Warriors, and was responsible for the game’s character designs. That’s why, (if it isn’t already obvious), the art style in this title strongly resembles Hakuoki. The CGs here, were really gorgeous, though. I absolutely love Shiki-sensei’s art style.

Homura also has a pretty good soundtrack. The BGMs were very soothing, beautiful and fitted the game’s (period-setting) atmosphere. There were times when I would just let the game sit idle so I could listen to its bg music.😅 The full soundtrack for Homura: The Crimson Warriors is btw, available online if you get the Digital Deluxe Edition. Besides the soundtrack, this edition also includes 20 pages of digital short stories, in addition to the base game.

UNBOXING (Bonus: Making Juzo Kakei’s Itabag)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTIF9m_V75E

Voice Acting

❖Tomokazu Sugita as “Sasuke Sarutobi” – Kuroba (Olympia Soiree), Ron (Norn9), Gintoki (Gintama), Sauli (Bustafellows), Takuma (Hiiro no Kakera), Oda Nobunaga (IkeSen), Hubert (Reines des fleurs), Shion (KLAP!), Usagi-sensei (Bad Apple Wars), Pace (Arcana Famiglia), Nightmare (Spade no Kuni no Alice), Vincent Lowell (Muv-Luv), Gandamu (Danganropa), Magoroku Kanemoto (Touken Ranbu), Narrator (Otome Daoshi)

❖Kazuyuki Okitsu as “Saizo Kirigakure” – Yuan Gonglu (Neon Clash), Ankou (Virche Evermore), Yoji Kobase (Sympathy Kiss),  Atsushi Daikoku (B-PROJECT), Tsukuyomi (Olympia Soiree), Epilogi (Café Enchanté), Hachisuka Kotetsu (Touken Ranbu), Dante (Jack Jeanne), Ray (EPHEMERAL), Kuya (NU Carnival),  Kyrie (Ozmafia!!), Keith Knight (Iris School of Wizardry)

❖Soichiro Hoshi as “Kamanosuke Yuri” – Kogarasumaru (Touken Ranbu), Senri Shiki (Vampire Knight), Goro Akechi (Persona5), Homare Kanakubo (Starry Sky), Jin Tendo (TMGS), Keiichi Maebara (Higurashi When they cry), Takeru Shirogane (Muv-Luv), Mell Rhodes (The House in Fata Morgana), Sakyou Sagihara (Ken ga Kimi), Shizuka Kuki (Moshi Kami)

❖Kenichi Suzumura as “Juzo Kakei” – Rozy (My Next Life as a Villainess: Pirates), Masato (Utapri), Tomose Banjo (Charade Maniacs), Sogo Okita (Gintama), Zack (FF7R), Tsubaki (Brothers Conflict), Choun (Juzaengi), The Merchant (The House in Fata Morgana), Shou (Persona4), Shizuru Migiwa (NilAd), Shin Asuka (Gundam Seed Destiny) Korekiyo (Danganropa Series)

❖Junichi Suwabe as “Nobushige Sanada” – Sengo Murasama (Touken Ranbu), Kaoru Rindo (Cafe Enchante), Artem Wing (Tears of Themis), Van Helsing (Code Realize), Higa (Bad Apple Wars), Ren (Utapri), Kaname Asahina (Brothers Conflict), Jae-Ha (Yona of the Dawn), Shota Aizawa (MHA), Tseng (FF7R)

♦Maeno Tomoaki as “Byakuren” – Abel (Battlefield Waltz), Ebana (Charade Maniacs), Lupin (Code Realize), Riku (Lover Pretend), Yamanbagiri (Touken Ranbu), Red (TaiAli), Camus (Utapri), Radius (Period Cube), Keisuke Sanjo (CollarxMalice), Son Hak (Yona of the Dawn)

♦Yuki Ono as “Kosuke Anayama” – Alias (Battlefield Waltz), Ignis (Cafe Enchante), Saeki (CollarxMalice), Sansaburo (Tengoku Struggle), Gavin (MLQC), Ookanehira (Touken Ranbu), Hamelin (Ozmafia!!), Tsuzuramaru (Ken ga Kimi), Hajun (Dairoku), Towa (Slow Damage)

♦Ryota Takeuchi as “Jinpachi Nezu” – Gib Baltzer (DesperDrops), Hajime Morioka (CollarxMalice), Yamato Nagayama (Jack Jeanne), Akito (Yoshiwara Higanbana), Sid (MidCin), Ren (DRAMAtical Murder), Karlheinz (Diabolik Lovers), Lorenzo (Angelique Luminarise), Elias Ainsworth (The Ancient Magus Bride)

♦Katsuyuki Konishi as “Isanyudo Miyoshi”– Tadanobu (Birushana), Avido Crudele (Code Realize), Gaoshun (Apothecary Diaries), Tetsuya Niwa (Gakuen Heaven), Keisuke Yamanami (Bakumatsu Renka Shinsengumi), Reiji (Diabolik Lovers), Xeno Gerald (MidCin), Cyril Avain (Re:Cord NOAH)

♦Masaki Terasoma as “Seikainyudo Miyoshi” – Tenoji  Yugo (Steins;Gate), Satake (CollarxMalice), Sakon Shima (Toki no Kizuna), Richi Chieda (AI Somnium Files niravA),Boze (Xenoblade X) ,Lord Arundel (FE3H), Oda Nobunaga (Touken Ranbu Warriors)

♦Tarusuke Shingaki as “Rokuro Unno” – Heshikiri Hasebe (Touken Ranbu), Fin Euclase (Steam Prison), Caramia (Ozmafia!!), Kennyo (Ikemen Sengoku), Date Kaname (AI: Somnium Files), Edeni (Metaphor: ReFantazio)

CHARACTERS AND ROUTES

There are no locked routes in Homura: The Crimson Warriors, which means you can play any of the five love interests from the start. For best story progression, going from routes with fewer spoilers to those with lots of reveals, my soft recommended order is: Sasuke / Saizo → Kamanosuke → Juzo → Nobushige. I think Sasuke and Saizo are interchangeable as they make great starting routes, while the latter three have more major reveals in comparison, especially Juzo’s route.

Keep in mind, the order above is only a soft recommendation from yours truly. If you don’t mind encountering major reveals early on, you can absolutely play in any order you like.

Walkthroughs:

Sasuke Sarutobi

Saizo Kirigakure

Kamanosuke Yuri

Juzo Kakei

Nobushige Sanada

Note: The CGs shown below are promotional images for the game, Homura: The Crimson Warriors. All spoiler-related content in this review will be hidden behind a spoiler drop-down, that you can choose to view at your own discretion.

⬇️ Click to view Content Warnings Violence, gun violence, war, murder, death, blood, killings, stabbing, alcohol, age gap.

SASUKE SARUTOBI

• kuudere

The youngest among the Sanada Ten Braves, he serves Nobushige Sanada, handling intelligence and protection work. Despite his young age, he is the most skilled in ninja arts and is regarded as the strongest among the Sanada ninjas. He is a man of few words, but he also has a kindhearted side.

Sasuke is a very reserved character, and he stays that way for about 90% of his route. The remaining 10% comes from the few rare instances where he willingly opens up to the heroine, which I think is adorable, …just that, I would’ve loved to see more of those “aww” moments between the two.

Because of his overly taciturn nature, a lot of their romantic interactions to me, come across as a mix of cute and awkward. This is probably also due to how plot-heavy his route is, which imo gives little room for their relationship to grow and develop. I do wanna say, his kiss CG was legit off the rails and is probably one of the best in the game!

⬇️ Spoilers

As for his route’s plot, I do love the appearance of Benkei here as one of the main antagonists. Although there were a few instances where the narrative pacing felt off which made it harder for me to fully empathize with his regret over not being there when Masayuki was assassinated at Mt. Kudo. ***There was meant to be a heart-rending scene where Awanokami sacrifices himself while Sasuke and Mutsumi try to escape the Ura Yagyu, but it didn’t quite land for me emotionally. I’m sorry, Sasuke!

His split personality also wasn’t explored properly in this route. It felt weird how, after he realizes his feelings for Mutsumi and finds his resolve, the “other” Sasuke just fizzles out, and they continue on as if nothing happened lol.

Also, a fun fact for Sasuke, (and Sengoku nerds probably already know this), but his name “Sarutobi” (猿飛) means “leaping monkey,” that’s why his portrayals in media will always involve some kind of “monkey” references. (In here, he has a pet monkey! aww)🥺

SAIZO KIRIGAKURE

• Saizo not a trashbando 🫶
• 👅

Formerly an Iga ninja, he left the Iga clan for personal reasons and set out to make a name for himself by challenging renowned warriors. He eventually joined the Sanada ninjas. Confident in both swordsmanship and ninja arts, he often resorts to ruthless tactics to achieve his goals.

Y’know, at first, before coming into this route, I thought Saizo was going to be the game’s resident trashmanhoe… I mean, he does come across as one in the common route, no? (laughs).😂 But much to my surprise, he…is…NOT??😳 I’m shook! He’s very arrogant but also highly capable; it’s no wonder Nobushige and the rest of the Ten Braves trust him to come through on the most difficult tasks/missions. He’s a reliable comrade, even more reliable than Kamanosuke or Juzo (which is saying a lot).

I like Saizo because he actually makes use of the heroine right away. He gives her orders, understands her strengths, what she’s capable of, and uses that to his advantage. I also enjoyed his chemistry with Mutsumi, their bickering, and him constantly insisting and claiming she’s his kunoichi, added a really nice flavor to their romance.

⬇️ Spoilers

I love it when a character seems irreprehensible at first but turns out to be one of the softest love interests in the game’s roster! That’s exactly what Saizo is. On the outside, he’s this flirty schmuck, but deep down he’s the softest, fluffiest green flag there is! Him constantly claiming the heroine as his kunoichi, until she can no longer refute it because she’s already fallen for him, was sooo gooood!

I also enjoyed the storyline involving Goemon Ishikawa, and his lingering regret over never being able to steal his greatest treasure, which was apparently Lady Yodo (who knew they had a thing going in the past), I thought that was a fun reveal, actually!

Mutsumi hinting she’s pregnant at the end, kinda took me by surprise, but at the same time, its kind of obvious how Saizo strongly feels for her by the end of the game. It’s just kind of funny how the most brutal Sanada ninja of the bunch, at the end, became a retired family man. And hey, I greatly support that lifestyle! 😂

Also, as a fun fact, Saizo of the Ten Braves in other media (like games, books, anime, etc) is widely known for his stealth, and his ninja arts are usually always centered around “the mist”. This is because his name, “Kirigakure” (霧隠れ) literally means “hidden in the mist” or “hiding in the mist”. And I love that Otomate used this reference for his Ring as a nice nod to his traditional portrayal.

KAMANOSUKE YURI

• loud, himbo
• Bakanosuke

A former renowned kabuki samurai, he forced his way into the famed Sanada clan to serve Nobushige Sanada. Straightforward and sincere, he values empathy, loyalty, and friendship. He sets the tone for the group and wields a massive sickle and chain. Despite his small stature, he possesses remarkable strength.

Kamanosuke would be your loud, genki himbo of the group, although in his route, much of his more mature and serious side surfaces. I can’t really say I’m a fan of his hot-headed, stubborn side though… I mean, his initial relationship with the heroine felt like taming a wild child, and I really felt for Mutsumi here; she definitely has her work cut out for her! His “wilding” was eventually toned down over time, which was, at the very least, good.

Interestingly, I actually liked this route because I loved the villain and his dynamic with Kamanosuke. Also, the bickering among the Ten Braves and how they gang up on Kamanosuke’s blunders was probably the funniest event here, I was literally mad laughing.😂 I wish I could say the same for the romance though. I like Kamanosuke as a character, but perhaps because his wayward nature isn’t really my thing, I wasn’t entirely sold on his relationship with the heroine.

⬇️ Spoilers

TBH, this was actually an interesting route. The fact that he believed the Tokugawa had betrayed the Yuri clan and caused their demise, only to learn that it was actually the Sanada, the very clan he had been fighting for, who defeated them, was a nice twist. His struggle to figure out who his true enemy was, what he was really fighting for, and what he truly believed in, and then eventually finding his right path & resolve, made for a strong character arc. That said, I did feel like it was a bit short-lived overall.

On another note, I really loved the villain Chinzei here, who’s apparently the legendary Tametomo Yoshimoto. (Side note, if we we’re doing a Birushana crossover, Chinzei is literally Shanao’s uncle *cackles*)😂 Anyway, it was kind of nice to see the villain become their actual ally in this storyline, and how much Kamanosuke valued his friendship with Chinzei. Their unexpected camaraderie and newfound brotherhood was something I was really fond of in this route.

Unfortunately, I just wasn’t sold on the romance between Kama and Mutsumi at all. To me, the heroine wasn’t really that involved in Kamanosuke’s story, apart from following him around (because she was ordered to) and acting as his personal quack doctor. (I guess you could probably say the same for Sasuke and Nobushige’s routes lol.) But idk, it just felt like she was the least of Kamanosuke’s priorities during his important battles or during the Siege of Osaka. He also lied to her so many times and even left her alone to meet w/ Byakuren. I get that he did this because he didn’t want her getting involved in his personal issues, but this is an otome game after all. It would’ve been nice for Kamanosuke to experience some sort of tension influenced by his love for the heroine vs his struggles with his personal affairs. Y’know, something that could’ve fueled their romance? On top of that, there weren’t enough “sugary” moments between him and Mutsumi to go by. So yeah, this route was by far the weakest in the romance department for me.

JUZO KAKEI

• sometimes a retainer, sometimes John Wick
• yandere for Nobushige 🤣highlight for spoiler

my man, my man, mah maaaaaan!

A former retainer of the Sanada clan and attendant to Nobushige Sanada. Juzo first served as his page before following him to Mt. Kudo during their confinement. He later became a Sanada ninja, specializing in modified firearms, explosives, and gunpowder.

Oh this lovely, beautiful man! Get your popcorns on the ready folks! This route is ’bout to get incheresting… 🍿 I love that this game not only highlights the esteemed battle tactics of the Sanada but also showcases the psychological strategies used to break and damage the morale of opposing forces on the battlefield. But that’s not really what Juzo’s route is all about, is it? This route took a completely different turn, in ways I didn’t expect, I was totally absorbed, & couldn’t tear away! Admittedly, I was a little nervous at first because Juzo’s story introduced a trope I absolutely detest, but was surprised by how well it was handled here!

By far, this ended up being my favorite route, both in terms of romance and overall storytelling. Best boy! (Memes in the spoilers section)

⬇️ Spoilers

I never though I’d see a love interest completely yandere over another love interest. Juzo’s obsessive resolve to keep Nobushige alive was definitely something that threw me for a loop. He’d probably put Nobu in a cage if he could just to ensure his safety. lol Not only that, but Juzo was incredibly manipulative towards Mutsumi. He knew she wouldn’t easily tattle on his schemes, like secretly meeting with the enemy and devising plans to keep Nobushige away from the battlefield. He made sure to frame it as being for the “noble cause of protecting their lord”, which made it harder for her to go against him. It was a very sly, cunning move on Juzo’s part. The way he kept coming up with one deceptive plan after another, even going as far as secretly aiding and orchestrating Masayuki’s assassination to prevent it from dragging Nobushige in the long run, was so crazy and made him feel even more dangerously slippery.

Everything leading up to this reveal was actually pretty good. I was so engrossed in his story that I kept eagerly anticipating what Juzo’s next move would be! Haha

On a different note, I honestly thought I was going to hate this route as well, because it introduced the “rivalry” trope w/ another woman, Gracia. But wow, I didn’t expect the heroine, Mutsumi, to completely shine here! The fact that Juzo almost sold his body & soul to Gracia in exchange for Nobushige’s survival was wild but man oh man, I love how Mustumi just stormed into the scene, yelled at him, and pulled Gracia away from Juzo! YESSS GO GET UR MAN, QUEEN! 🤣🤣🤣

There was also so much good angst here. Juzo finally realizing Mutsumi’s feelings made him much more sensible, and I think his growing affection for Mutsumi, (which eventually developed into love), gave him a new sense of resolve. I believe it was because of this that he was finally able to let go of his obsession with Nobushige’s survival and instead come to terms with respecting and trusting Nobushige’s decision to fight for his honor.

Anyway, meme time!😆

NOBUSHIGE SANADA

• vanilla 🍦

Second son of the Sanada family. He fought alongside Mitsunari Ishida at the Battle of Sekigahara. He was exiled to Mt. Kudo in Kishu with his father, Masayuki Sanada, as punishment.

As a fun fact for Nobushige, and perhaps history buffs and Sengoku fans already know this, but Nobushige is the famed Yukimura Sanada. Its just that “Nobushige” is his historically accurate name, while “Yukimura” became the name more widely used in media portrayals and plays. Saemonosuke is another name he used, as a formal court title during the Warring States period.

Anywho, Nobushige’s route felt like a condensed depiction of the Siege of Osaka from the Sanada’s POV, so there’s definitely a lot more war politics here compared to the others. It’s great if you’re a history buff, but it might get boring if you’re not. I’m a Yukimura girlie in Ikesen lol, so personally, I found this route interesting. I loved how it really highlighted Nobushige’s strengths as a renowned strategist during the Sengoku period.

As for the romance, while I did enjoy his chemistry with the heroine, it felt a bit too vanilla for my taste. That might be because I played this route right after Juzo’s, and the Juzo-brainrot was utterly no joke to me! (cackles)🤣

⬇️ Spoilers

This route also felt repetitive, which may be because I played Nobushige’s route last and most of the storyline had already been covered in the previous four routes. So all that’s really left here is a much more detailed depiction of the Tokugawa vs. Toyotomi conflict and the Siege of Osaka.

Romance-wise, I think Nobushige and Mutsumi slightly fall into the master-servant dynamic. I liked them as a couple, actually. Nobu isn’t a tyrant of a lord, in fact, he’s very kind to the heroine and all of his followers, so this trope didn’t feel unsavory to me or anything. I also think it’s worth mentioning that there’s a bit of an age gap here. The heroine starts at 16 and is around 18 when she starts having feelings for her lord, while Nobushige is perhaps depicted in the game as being in his 30s (?). Although, historically, Yukimura Sanada was in his 40s when he died in the Summer Siege of Osaka.

On another note, I was glad we finally got more deets about Byakuren. Who he was, how he came to be, and why he was so infinitely strong. I was kind of shocked that Lady Yodo performed some kind of devilish ritual (though in the game they call it a “godlike ritual” lol) so she could bear a child on her own. My horror-oriented mind immediately went to Rosemary’s Baby, and I was hella creeped out for a second there! (cackles).😅 My only gripe here is that Byakuren’s backstory was so short-lived. I loved him as a character and wished he had a route, but alas, he barely got enough redemption screentime.😭

MUTSUMI MOCHIZUKI (Main Heroine)

Mutsumi is a great MC. Calm in nature, capable in combat, can be trusted to fulfill missions as part of the Sanada Ten Braves, and best of all, she is very loyal to who she serves. Her loyalty to the Sanada clan didn’t really waver across all routes, and I certainly liked that part of her.

While not everyone accepted her as a certified ninja at first, she proved to be astoundingly skilled in the long run and showed real prowess throughout her journey. I just wish her growth had been showcased more, and we got actual scenes showing her actively training and honing her skills as a ninja (and not just during the ‘ninja system choice’, which was completely pointless). She does train in Sasuke’s route and a few routes like Saizo’s– it was briefly mentioned that she practiced her ninja arts while her LI also trained on their own, albeit this wasn’t really the focus during those scenes. I hate to say it, but I feel like overall, her development as a ninja feels underexplored and ends up being overshadowed by the LI’s personal baggage and story.

I still like Mutsumi-chan as our heroine though, I just wish she got more scenario spotlights in the game. But I think, due to the nature of her role as a ninja who serves her lord above anything else, and considering the time period, she’s more of a follower than an initiator/instigator. I believe it was only in Juzo’s route where she really took matters into her own hands. Hence, why I loved that route so much. Ha!😆

SYSTEM AND LOCALIZATION

There are two types of choices in the game. You have your standard choices (the normal choices) and the “Ninja System choices”. The latter determines your Ninja Certification at the end of each playthrough. There are three certifications you can unlock: Master Ninja, Seasoned Ninja, and Novice Ninja. These certifications also unlock entries in the CG gallery, although they aren’t exactly CGs per se.

Personally, I thought the ninja system choices were pretty gimmicky and a waste of time. Can’t say I’m a big fan of it. I probably spent a lot of hours trying to get all three certifications, it felt really tedious ngl. On top of that, needing all three to 100% the gallery was kind of a hassle. The only reward you get from it is that small bit of dialogue at the end from your LI, praising or scolding you depending on whether you aced your certification or flunked it.

PROS:

• Heroine’s Name Customization
• Chapter Select
• Affection and “Ring” Status Bar
• Love Catch System
• SKIP to Next Choice function
• Skip READ function
• Quick Save/Quick Load
• Glossary
• MAPS
• CG Gallery
• BGM Library
• Movie Library
• Backlog and Rewind function
  

CONS:

• No mouth movements, no blinking sprites
• Heroine not voiced
• No Heroine side sprite
• A few typos and naming mistakes
• Ninja System Choice & Ninja Certification – obtaining these certifications are highly repetitive.
  

Localization

The localization sometimes felt a bit stilted, and a few dialogues came across as rather casual for a period-setting game (like using the word “oof”),😂 although these were only very small instances & didn’t really bother me too much. I did, however, spot some naming mistakes, like mentioning “Tokugawa” instead of “Toyotomi,” which could confuse readers who aren’t paying close attention to the voices or what was being said audibly by the characters. There are also typography errors but were a few and far in between. The “sir” used as honorifics before names took me a while to get used to, but I eventually got the hang of it.(laughs)😆I can say that the humor and tone of the original work were definitely preserved though, which I appreciate. All in all, I though it was pretty decent.

TRAILER

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emm5V2PiQJo

OVERALL THOUGHTS

I think I spent about 50-55 hours clearing the game and unlocking all of its endings (plus, the ninja certifications). The common route stops at Chapter 3, and in Chapter 4 you enter the route of the LI you’ve gained enough affection points with. The routes themselves are of decent length as well. I believe it took me around 4-5 hours give or take, to finish one on auto mode.

The Sanada Ten Braves, and the Siege of Osaka

Not me geeking out over the Sanada’s (six-coin) official crest in every chapter.😍

Homura: The Crimson Warriors highlights the “Sanada Jyuuyushi” (Sanada Ten Braves), as well as the infamous Siege of Osaka, probably one of the most renowned, tragic events in the Sengoku era that’s frequently depicted in popular media. The title borrows heavily from these historical events, along with the tension and conflict surrounding the Tokugawa and Toyotomi clans. Our heroes belong to the Sanada clan, so basically they are on the Toyotomi side as they face the massive forces of Ieyasu Tokugawa.

One of the game’s strongest points, in my opinion, is how well it portrays the Sanada’s reputation as brilliant tacticians. And I really think it nails why they were known as one of the smartest and bravest clans of the Sengoku period.

That being said, this game also dives into the nitty-gritty of war politics. I personally like that it doesn’t just cover battlefield tactics, but also explores psychological warfare, like how the characters outwit their enemies and anticipate their next move, etc. I’m a historical fantasy girlie, so this was right up my alley!😆 The use of MAPs in the game was also greatly appreciated! It certainly made everything much easier to follow and also helped in visualizing the progression of the war. Like seeing who was fighting whom, which clans were about to clash on the battlefield, and just how dire the Sanada’s situation was, during this era.

Also, as a side note, I believe it’s worth noting that the director of Homura is Tsunekiyo Fujisawa, the producer behind every Hakuoki game, who, if I may add, has worked on nearly every title in the series. So yeah, it’s no surprise that this game definitely has the “Hakuoki formula” (you’ll definitely notice it once you start a route).

Homura: The Crimson Warriors also falls into the historical fantasy genre,so don’t expect it to be book-accurate. There are no historical records showing that the Sanada Ten Braves actually existed. The Sanada Jyuuyushi (真田十勇士) were more popularized through Japanese folklore, kabuki plays, and in fictional media. The only exception here is Yukimura (Nobushige) Sanada, who is an actual historical figure (though he isnt really part of the Ten Braves).

But on the topic of the Sanada Ten Braves, the names used in this game are the exact same names as those of the legendary Sanada Jyuuyushi, with one notable change which is Rokuro Mochizuki, who in the game is the heroine’s father.

If you’re a Sengoku fan like myself, there’s really tons of references to geek out in this game (laughs). However, if you’re not into heavy historical themes in your otomes, the narrative may bog you down fast. Since all the routes follow the same story outcome with only a few deviations based on each love interest (and their circumstances), a number of plot points are repeated throughout all routes.

The events here, also stretch across years, just like in Hakuoki. And, as with any game inspired by dramatic historical events, there’s definitely going to be some sense of hopelessness and looming doom present in every route. I mean, if you’re familiar with what happened to the Sanada and Toyotomi clans during the Summer Seige of Osaka, then yeah…that’s exactly what I’m talking about.🥲 I believe only Nobushige’s route offers a clear “happy for all” ending, so if you want to finish the game on a more positive, hopeful feeling, save his route for last!🥹

As for the characters, I’ve seemingly enjoyed all of them. Both the main and side characters play significant roles in the storytelling. I’ve become somewhat attached to all the Sanada Ten Braves,🥺 and goodness, the villains were impressive here too. I was kind of surprised by how much I ended up caring for each route’s antagonist. I think they were all written with substance, and even though their storylines were only peripheral to the main war-plot, I still really appreciated learning their backgrounds, which made them more interesting individuals rather than just cookie-cutter villains. I guess my only complaint is that the biggest, baddest (and sexiest) antagonist, who’s voiced by Maeno no less, isn’t romanceable!😭

I can’t forgive the devs, for NOT giving him a route!🔪

To me, all the LIs were also great. From my obvious squawking way up above,🤣 Juzo definitely sits on my oshi throne for this title, followed by Saizo, who’s surprisingly domestically husbando-material in every way imaginable.🤭 I liked Kamanosuke’s route for its story, but his romance was, unfortunately, by far the weakest for me.

💖LI RANKING: Juzo > Saizo >>> Sasuke > Nobushige > Kamanosuke

📝ROUTE RANKING: Juzo > Saizo > Kamanosuke > Sasuke > Nobushige

Also, since this is a mighty plot-heavy game, the romance can sometimes feel like an afterthought in some routes. There are definitely some sweet moments between the heroine and her LI, make no mistake, but there are only a handful of them, nothing particularly grand either. Some of the more sugary couple scenes are also pretty scarce. And I mean, yeah…I get it, there’s an impending war going on, so there’s not much room for romance to develop between the characters, is there? In my opinion, Juzo and Saizo’s routes hard-carried the romance in this game.(laughs) But at the very least, every character gets a kiss CG, and my god, were they hecking beautiful!

Do I recommend this game? YES.
Admittedly, I breezed through this game pretty quickly. I’m just a sucker for historical fantasy and anything set in the Sengoku period, so Homura was definitely my cup of tea. While it’s not as grand or original as Hakuoki (which I’ve seen a lot of people compare it to), I think the story and characters have their own charm. I can say for sure, that this is definitely an otome title for the history buffs and for those who enjoy plot-heavy games with a more serious narrative, and don’t mind a lighter focus on romance.

Homura: The Crimson Warriors truly has a lot going for it, from its beautiful visuals & soundtrack to its cast of richly drawn, embellished characters and angsty, drama-filled story. Bonus treat if you’re a fan of Yukimura Sanada and the Ten Braves! I, for certain, enjoyed this game aplenty! (even hunted for Juzo merch and made an itabag for him lol). Definitely a title worth picking up, if you haven’t yet!

#HistoricalFantasy #homura #HomuraTheCrimsonWarriors #HomuraTheCrimsonWarriorsReview #IdeaFactoryInternational #otomate #OtomeGameReview

Hakuoki SSL ~Sweet School Life~ Review (Nintendo Switch)

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://otomekitten.com/2026/02/12/hakuoki-ssl-sweet-school-life-review-nintendo-switch/

Hakuoki SSL ~Sweet School Life~ Review (Nintendo Switch)

Release Date: February 12, 2026 (North America)
Developers:  Otomate
Publishers:  Eastasiasoft
Platforms: Nintendo Switch
ESRB Rating: T

ABOUT THE GAME

Hakuoki SSL ~Sweet School Life~ puts a modern spin on the Edo period romance of the main series, instead casting heroine Chizuru and the handsome warriors of the Shinsengumi as students and teachers living in modern Japan. School life antics ensue as these beloved characters hold a school festival, stress over midterms, get into watergun fights and more!

Experience a fun slice-of-life story through unlockable event scenes, engaging dialogue and beautifully illustrated character portraits, all localized in English for the first time. Explore unique endings with each character and enjoy mini-games that make this standalone entry extra special!

ART AND MUSIC

Producer:Tsunekiyo FujisawaArtist:Shiki Sakigumi (CGs & overall Illustrations), Kazuki Yone (original character designs) Takuto Sakura (Chibis)BG Artist:Cheimi Mita (quunplant inc.). Akihiro Hiraswa (quunplant inc.), Yoko Nakao (quunplant inc.)OST:Aika Yoshioka (OP & ED Artist), Yoshio Tsuru (Composer)BGM/Soundtrack:Yuki Tsuruta

UNBOXING THE LIMITED EDITION

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YMo-PmZ250

Voice Acting

Shinichirou Miki as “Toshizo Hijikata“ – Yuzuki (7Scarlet), Nesso Galland (Black Wolves Saga), Bucket-Sensei (Bad Apple Wars), Zamasu (Dragon Ball), Lina Jenkins (Tiny x Machinegun), Toshiyuki Sawada (ROBOTIC;NOTES), Tanjuro Kamado (Demon Slayer), Keisuke Yuki (Fushigi Yugi), Daihannya Nagamitsu (Touken Ranbu)

Shotaro Morikubo as“Soji Okita“ –  Toa (7Scarlet), Impey (Code Realize), Reiji (UtaPri), Gilbert Redford (Piofiore), Jocus (Period Cube), Troy (BUSTAFELLOWS), Hikaru Osari (B-PROJECT)

Kosuke Toriumi as “Hajime Saito” – Mikazuki Munechika (Touken Ranbu), Ichiya (Variable Barricade), Vlad (The Red Bell’s Lament), Higa (Sympathy Kiss), Poyo-Poyo (Period Cube), Shuu (Diabolik Lovers), Kagiha (Psychedelica BB), Rei Mikuni (CollarxMalice), Chojiro (Nightshade), Cecil (Uta no Prince sama)

Hiroyuki Yoshino as “Heisuke Todo” – Helvetica (BUSTAFELLOWS), Heishi Otomaru (Norn9), Auger (Black Wolves Saga), Ningen Mukotsu (Touken Ranbu), Franky Franklin (SpyxFamily), Debito (Arcana Famiglia), Mikage Kojiro (TMGS4)

Koji Yusa as “Sanosuke Harada” – Itsuki (NORN9), Mr. Gasmask (Bad Apple Wars), Jolly (Arcana Famiglia), Rado Dracula (Princess Nightmare), Hibari (Side Kicks!), Nier (Nier Replicant), Sakahagi (SMT3), Takehiko Kamiya (sweetpool), Hyuga Ryuya (Utapri), Lancer (Fate/Extella)

Kenjiro Tsuda as“Chikage Kazama” – Kento Nanami (Jujutsu Kaisen),  Kishibe (Chainsaw Man), Yuan (Piofiore), Hanzo (Nightshade), Shugo Monari (Jack Jeanne), Soshi Amazaki (The Charming Empire), Leonardo Da Vinci (Ikevamp) Nihongou (Touken Ranbu), Tatsu (The Way of the Househusband), Seto Kaiba (Yugioh)

Nobuo Tobita as “Keisuke Sannan” – Professor Alba (Trails in the Sky), Gordon (Disgaea), Lumiale (Angelique), 9th Man (Zero Escape The Nonary Games), Tomo (Fushigi Yuugi), Shiki Kijima(Tokyo Ghoul), Konnosuke 1 (Touken Ranbu), Dayoon (Osomatsu-san), Shogen Mamiana (Yashashime), Kamille Bidan (Robot Wars)

Tomohiro Tsuboi as “Shinpachi Nagakura“ -Izumo Kamizuki (Naruto), Taliesin (Tears to Tiara), Omi Shichijo (Gakuen Heaven), Maeda Toshiie(Sengoku Basara), Tenma Funato(Boruto)

Takayuki Suzuki as “Susumu Yamazaki” – Kyou (Hiyoku wa Azami no Kanata-e), Tsukasa Sakuma(Last Bullet), Ernesto (Record of Agarest), Gilles de Rais (Bladestorm), Satoru Kokuryu (Sorcery Jokers)

Hasumi Ito as “Kaoru Nagumo” – Aoi Tohsaka (Fate/Zero), Verlnya (Demonion 2), Kinou (Evenicle), Ondine (Jeanne at the Clock Tower), Julaus (Beat Valkyrie Ixseal)

Seki Tomukazu as “Ryunosuke Ibuki” – Futami (Charade Maniacs), Hashida Itaru (Steins;Gate), Gilgamesh (FATE/Extella), Kanji Tatsumi (P4), Melissa (KamiAso), Nenji Ogata (13 Sentinels), Yzak (Gundam Seed), Chichiri (Fushigi Yuugi), Rob Lucci (One Piece), Sanemi Shinazugawa (Demon Slayer), Shinya Kogami (Psycho-Pass)

Toru Okawa as “Isami Kondo” – Rufus Shinra (FF7R), Nyx (Neo Angelique), Jirou Tomitake (Higurashi when they Cry), Arawn (Tears to Tiara), Shirosaki Rio (DoubleScore), Masau Sera (Yakuza 0), Futsunushi (Hoshi no Oujo), Kaltz (Lamento Beyond the Void), Kiriyama Taira (Himehibi), Keiji Ukita (Root Double), Sojiro Sakaki (Gakuen Heaven)

CHARACTERS AND ROUTES

Hakuoki SSL has six main LI routes (Hijikata, Okita, Saito, Heisuke, Harada, and Kazama) and four mini routes (Sannan, Nagakura, Yamazaki, and Kaoru). Only the six main LIs have full-blown romance routes and more CGs compared to the mini routes, which at best only has two CGs and one chibi CG. Some of the mini routes also tend to be more ambiguous or platonic rather than full-fledged romances, like Kaoru’s route, for example (which to me, is basically a friendship route).

Also, since Hakuoki SSL is a spin-off of the famous Hakuoki series, the routes are mostly stand-alone, fluffy stories featuring Chizuru and the Shinsengumi boys reimagined in a fun high school setting. All the routes can be played from the start, and there’s no *central narrative* tying them together, so you can jump straight and play whichever LI you want to start with.

My personal rule of thumb when it comes to Hakuoki games is to always start with a fav and end with a fav. That said, I obviously started with Hijikata as my first route 😝 and saved Kazama for last. Ha! Too bad my oshi, Iba isn’t here!

Speaking of which, for new players who might be wondering why Iba, Souma, and Sakamoto aren’t in this game, it’s worth noting that Hakuoki SSL was released before Hakuoki Shinkai in Japan. Hakuoki Shinkai (basically, Kyoto Winds + Edo Blossom, aka Chronicles of Wind and Blossom) is the title where the latter three LIs were added, and where Sannan, Nagakura, and Yamazaki were also given full LI routes. So, it makes sense that Hakuoki SSL only includes full routes for the original six love interests from the OG base game.

Walkthroughs:

Note: The CGs shown below are promotional images for the game, Hakuoki SSL ~Sweet School Life~. All spoiler-related content in this review will be hidden behind a spoiler drop-down, that you can choose to view at your own discretion.

TOSHIZO HIJIKATA

• “Hijikata-sensei” 🤤🔥🔥

Hakuo Academy’s Classical Literature teacher and Vice Principal, he oversees most of the school’s operations in place of the principal, Isami Kondo. He is strict and is often regarded by students as the academy’s “Demon Vice Principal.”

I was already in full giddy mode going into this game, and what better way to fuel that than starting with the man of the hour, Hijikata-sensei. My goodness, what an absolute standard of a man. 🤤 Hijikata, ever so handsomely dashing and now the ever-strict teacher at Hakuo Academy?! Not sure whether him teaching classical literature is a playful jab at his fondness for writing awful haikus in the original game, but I gotta admit, this little detail was pretty funny.

Romance with Hijikata is always so satisfying because he is such a refined man, yet distant and elusive. You have to genuinely earn his love! That has always been a core part of his appeal in Hakuoki, and this spin-off absolutely nails that same dynamic (with Chizuru), I just love it so much.

⬇️ Spoilers

The part where Chizuru finds her resolve to hold back her feelings for Hijikata and save them for a time when she can truly stand beside him as his equal was so on point with their original dynamic in Hakuoki. And my god, I am in the clouds!

Chizuru literally works her way to get to where she is so she can stand beside her chosen hubby, and it is so satisfying to see Hijikata finally be forward with his feelings once Chizuru completely wins his heart. Again, (as with any route with Hijikata), this is the kind of romantic payoff that feels completely earned! Im so glad the writers preserved the very crux of their relationship in the OG game. They absolutely nailed it here.

SOJI OKITA

• sly fox
• chaotic energy only

Okita is a second-year student who loves teasing people. He looks up to the principal, Isami Kondo, who has taught him kendo since he was young and whom he basically regards as his brother. He doesn’t seem to enjoy classical literature classes, nor the teacher assigned to them, Hijikata. His latest hobby is taking lots of random photos on his smartphone.

There’s a reason why Souji Okita still tops the charts as one of the most beloved otome game husbando in Japan. It’s his playful, conniving personality, paired with the fact that he can bite back with venom when the situation calls for it. His complex layered nature also bodes really well with his chemistry with Chizuru in the original game. And I can happily report that this relationship dynamic was also preserved in SSL.

Because the base game was filled with so much angst, it’s almost instantly cathartic to see the couple naturally happy, just enjoying life as high school students. 😭 Seeing Okita exuberantly healthy (yes, i know…)😭 teasing Chizuru, and how she slowly falls for him was utterly gold. They are truly deserving of happy days ahead of them!

⬇️ Spoilers

Loved how Okita’s confession scene was so straightforward, no nonsense, completely honest, and straight to the point that he wants a romantic relationship with Chizuru. He wanted to seal the deal right away on Valentine’s Day by telling Chizuru to just admit that she gave him chocolates, so everyone could finally realize they’re dating. That is exactly very Okita-like! My heart is full!😭 Honestly, I just love seeing them both so happy, where neither of them is suffering! 😭

On a side note, its amazing how we get extra special CGs in this route from Okita’s phone! LOL Thank you Okita my dude, for giving us Megane Shinpachi~! 😆

HAJIME SAITO

• adorkable prefect
• blushy yearner

Saito is a prefect at Hakuo Academy. He is a quiet student who deeply respects his advisor, Hijikata. He is meticulous when it comes to discipline, and after school, he is usually found in the science lab, which also serves as the prefects’ club room.

When the fluff is fluffy-ing... Saito’s route is perhaps one of the fluffiest in SSL. And that’s saying a lot, considering all the routes here are already incredibly fluffy at best.

I think the prefect role really suits Saito’s by-the-book personality. He’s very prim and proper and always follows the school rules, just as he faithfully abides by the Samurai Bushido code in Hakuoki. Though beneath that genteel exterior is a huge, adorable dork who yearns for Chizuru’s affection.😭(oh my… *clutches chest*) This man gets easily flustered and turns into a complete blushing mess around Chizuru.🥹 He is just as endearing as ever and somehow even more so here. Saito fans are going to be eating good for sure!

⬇️ Spoilers

My stupid grin never left my face in this route! My goodness! Saito my boy, you are too good!😭

I miss Saito’s dorkiness from the original game, and I think that personality was really reflected here too, w/ him being a prefect and always looking out for Chizuru’s well-being. I also love how completely down bad he is for Chizuru.😭 Like my gosh, he was even trying to avoid bumping into the other boys (Okita and Heisuke) during New Year’s just so he could hog Chizuru all to himself. lol I’ve always pictured Saito as this kind of person in modern times, and I love how the essence of his og traits seeps all the way through in this spin-off. (I mean duhh) His yearning bits for Chizuru were absolutely peak!

I also adored his lovely confession scene on Valentine’s Day. It was so proper and by-the book, and very much like him! Its also cute how he struggled into letting out his feelings first until the last minute when he says Chizuru’s name clumsily (legit kicking my feet 100x).😭😭😭 Needless to say, this route was super!

HEISUKE TODO

• the og genki sunshine boi
• childhood friend

A student at Hakuo Academy who lives next door to the Yukimura family. He loves gaming and doesn’t mind staying up late to indulge in it. He’s also Chizuru’s childhood friend. Outside of gaming, he enjoys kendo and is a member of the school’s kendo club alongside Okita and Saito.

Heisuke is pretty much the epitome of the genki sunshine boy archetype. Before all other genki LIs got their genki badges, there was in fact, …Heisuke! And in this spin-off, he’s just as cheerful, friendly, and affectionate as ever. This man proudly wears his heart on his sleeve, and it’s adorable. Since Chizuru and Heisuke are closer in age, it also makes sense for Heisuke’s role here to be her childhood friend.

⬇️ Spoilers

Friends-to-lovers done right! Just like in the OG game where Chizuru and Heisuke start as good friends before becoming lovers, their relationship here mirrors Heisuke’s original route, minus the whole turning into a rasetsu (fury) and enduring Edo-period angst, of course.

I think its pretty satisfying how they utilized the childhood friend trope here. There were no messy hang-ups, or unnecessary relationship blunders from either side. It was also really pleasant to see Chizuru slowly begin to see Heisuke as a man rather than just her childhood friend.

I loved how Harada gives the heroine solid advice, when he asks her to reflect on whether she likes Heisuke as a friend or something more, and how she would feel if Heisuke found someone else to love. It was beautiful to see Chizuru finally come to the realization that she is, in fact, in love with Heisuke!🥹 Their Christmas scene with the teddy bear and the New Year’s scene on Chizuru’s patio were perhaps my fav parts in this route.

SANOSUKE HARADA

• bad teacher 🤭
• hot 🔥

Harada is a Physical Education teacher at Hakuo Academy. His easy-going personality makes him popular with students, while his level-headedness makes him a trusted and respected member of the faculty.

Oh Sano, the man that you are! I was actually very surprised at how they went about with Harada’s route in SSL. It was shockingly good and felt like a breath of fresh air compared to the previous fluffy routes of the other guys. You see, Harada brings a different kind of fluff. 🤭 Sure enough though, the brainrot was totally real here. Perhaps he’ll be a polarizing character, but this ended up being one of my favorite routes in this spin-off!

⬇️ Spoilers

In a world filled with gross men trying to degrade, disrespect, and belittle women at every chance they get, we need a Sanosuke Harada to come sweep us off our feet!

I absolutely loved how they handled the taboo teacher × student trope in this route. Good god, I did not expect to enjoy it this much! This route was different in a sense that Chizuru is actually exploring things outside her comfort zone, even going so far as to pursue a secret relationship with Sano, fully aware that she’s treading into forbidden territory. Girliepop was literally ALL IN!🥹 (I love it!)

This route also sent me straight to brainrot hell. Sano was just too good.😭 I know a lot of folks flag him for being “traditional,” but that’s just him, that is Harada’s trope. He puts his woman first above all else. That’s just how he is.

And in this spin-off, he’s the same considerate and caring Harada we all loved from the base game. I also wasn’t expecting this route to have some kind of angst, even though it only lasted for a minute lol. The whole scene with Serizawa, as silly and cliche as it was, I absolutely devoured. (cackles) 🤣

CHIKAGE KAZAMA

• delulu is the solulu 😂

Chikage Kazama is a student at Hakuo Academy who is rumored to have already graduated from university. He is always accompanied by Shiranui and Amagiri wherever he goes. As the student council president of Hakuo Academy and the heir to a prestigious tea ceremony school, he comes from an extremely wealthy background. The Kazama family, being one of the academy’s major backers, grants him the freedom to do as he pleases, including wearing his own custom-made uniform.

Kazama is another route that I absolutely had a hoot playing. This route is literally the definition of a staple Chikage Kazama route, and I believe Kazama is one of the biggest charms of Hakuoki SSL. In addition, as brilliant as he is, TsudaKen definitely sold this role hook, line, and sinker!

⬇️ Spoilers

Kazama was actually my first fav Hakuoki LI in Demon of the Fleeting Blossoms (PSP). Back when there were only 6 Hakuoki LIs. So it was pretty refreshing to see him reclaim his oshi throne here in SSL. I mean, this route was so hilarious and unserious, yet at the same time quite endearing in how it showcased Kazama’s duality so well. With his rather composed, dignified side during the tea ceremony, and of course his chaotic side of being hilariously delusional while confidently calling Chizuru his bride.😂

I did appreciate that they explained why he choses her as his bethroded and that he is actually REALLY in love with Chizuru for who she is and not because she hails from a special bloodline (came from preeminent tea ceremonial family). It was also really nice to see Chizuru feeling a lil conflicted about her feelings, esp. after learning that Kazama’s been receiving countless marriage proposals from other prestigious families eager to marry into the Kazama lineage.

Kazama’s Christmas event was hands down my favorite out of everyone’s. The sheer confidence with which he told Chizuru it would snow, and how she was almost completely convinced, only to find out that Amagiri and Shiranui were completely decked out in the sky on a helicopter creating fake snow for the two of them (cackles). It was so out there that I was wheezing so much!🤣

Now that is what you call a CHRISTMAS PRESENT, folks!

KEISUKE SANNAN

• the hot creepy nurse 😏💉

The school nurse at Hakuo Academy who also serves as the faculty’s accountant. He has a gentle demeanor, and both teachers and students rely on him greatly, though there’s an air of mystery about him that leaves people wondering what he might be thinking beneath the surface.

Sannan, with his mysterious air and fondness for making invaluable medicinal concoctions, is now a school nurse who has his eyes on you, and is subtly hitting on you at the same time, even giving you expensive fountain pens?! Well now, I can live with that! 😝

I thought Sannan’s mini route was pretty good! It was a full-on showcase of Sannan’s rather distinctive, unique charm, something only he can pull off. I was a little sad that he only had a few CGs, but ngl, his final CG sort of made up for it, because wow! It was certainly one of the most gorgeous Sannan illustrations I’ve seen!

⬇️ Spoilers

I cackled during the Christmas scene where Chizuru ended up receiving his little red vial during the party’s gift exchange. I was immediately sus that it was going to be some sort of strange medicine for nefarious purposes. (You can never trust Sannan with red vial liquids, neverrr!) 😂LOL But turns out, it was just a nutritional drink made from berry extracts, (which explains why it was red).😂😂😂

Despite the ending being a little ambiguous about their relationship, I honestly fully enjoyed this route still!

SHINPACHI NAGAKURA

• the himboest of all himbos

The math teacher at Hakuo Academy, who always wears a tracksuit, so everyone mistakes him for the P.E. teacher. He loves betting on horse races and enjoys sake, though he’s not very good at managing his finances. He is close with Harada, as they were classmates in college. Despite his rugged appearance, he is a passionate teacher who cares deeply about his students.

Another route that surprised me! Shinpachi’s story was so hilarious, I was hooting and hollering at the crack of midnight!😭

I like how they gave Shinpachi a gap-moe persona, as it reflects the contradictions of his character from the base game. On the outside, he has a rough exterior and is always dressed in his tracksuit, but he’s actually a math teacher, which implies that the man is actually quite smart. This somewhat mirrors his original character in Hakuoki, where (when not fighting) he’s normally all about having fun and drinking his sake, yet he is also the captain of the second division, basically making him one of the strongest swordsmen in the Shinsengumi, second only to Okita.

⬇️ Spoilers

Shinpachi is basically what an irresponsible but good-natured himbo looks like, and it’s funny because this is exactly how I’d picture his modern route to be.😂 His mini-route in SSL still locks him into the “I care about you as my lil sister” trope. Although I appreciate that they didnt really fully emphasized sisterzoning Chizuru here, thank god!

His Valentine’s Day event, was a hoot and a half, it was so hilarious, I was hollering nonstop to the moon and back!😭 You could tell the writers were having a field day with this one. LOL

SUSUMU YAMAZAKI

• blushy yearner # 2
• underrated best boi

A student at Hakuo Academy who is a health committee member under the school nurse, Mr. Sannan. He also fully respects Hijikata, for being a diligent hard worker, which is something he also aspires to be.

Yamazaki is so criminally underrated as a love interest in Hakuoki that it almost upsets me he only gets a mini-route here, instead of a full blown romance route with more CGs. His chemistry with Chizuru is top-tier! They just vibe so well together.🥺 If you’re into fluff and blushy LI sprites, you cannot miss this route! I think the level of fluff in his route (at least his confession scene) was almost on par with Saito’s even. It’s such a shame it was cut short! 😭

⬇️ Spoilers

I thought Yamazaki’s Valentines event was one of the best in the game honestly! He was so pure and precious that he could barely believe Chizuru’s chocolates were meant for him.😭 He truly is the kindest, sweetest man ever, and his chemistry with Chizuru was just so good. I was a little sad that they did not officially label their relationship as boyfriend and girlfriend at the end.

It was also really funny how Yamazaki found a hidden shortcut as their escape route while being chased by the prefects at school. They really tried to pay homage to his shinobi side from the main game, and I thought that nuance was pretty neat.😆

KAORU NAGUMO

• evil gremlin energy
• actually a big tsundere

Chizuru’s twin brother. They were separated at a young age after losing their parents, and each was taken in by a different family. They had no contact with each other until Chizuru enrolled in Hakuo Academy, when they were finally able to meet.

Aww… Kaoru is really just a tsundere big brother who longs to be with family. I kind of view his brother-sister relationship with Chizuru, similar to Finis and Cardia’s in Code: Realize, except that Kaoru is probably more stern and more territorial when it comes to his twin sister. I kind of enjoyed this route because we don’t get to see much of their sibling dynamics in the main game. And considering he was almost the main antagonist in SSL, having a mini-route of his own where he could spend some family time with Chizuru was a very welcome change.

⬇️ Spoilers

Chizuru and Kaoru were always at odds with each other in the main game, so seeing them be so close in this spin-off was pretty enjoyable, to say the least. I esp. loved when Chizuru called him “onichan” during Valentine’s Day and he got completely flustered. Aww.

On a side note, I had to laugh when Okita called him a “yandere with sister complex” lmao 😭 that was such an out of pocket comment!😂

Also if you’re curious, this is not a romance route, btw. It is more of a friendship and family-focused route centered on Chizuru and her brother.

CHIZURU YUKIMURA (Main Heroine)

Chizuru is one of my favorite heroines of all time, and let me tell you how absolutely pleasant it is to see her happy and living a normal life as a high school student, free from any kind of suffering. With supportive girlfriends like Sen and Kosuzu always having her back, and a whole band of doting handsome guys looking out for her. She is living her best life! My girl is so blessed!🥹

In SSL, there are routes where she is more shy and reserved, and routes where she becomes more assertive with her feelings toward her LI. I think she has great chemistry with most of the cast as well, which makes the romance pretty much enjoyable across the board.

Haters are gonna hate, but I will always stand firm when I say that Chizuru is still one of the best otome game protagonists. She is emotionally grounded as a person and shows so much growth throughout her story. Plus, she’s actually pretty funny here too! Hakuoki simply just wouldn’t be the same beloved series without her as the MC! 🫶

SYSTEM AND LOCALIZATION

For a game released about a decade ago, the UI actually holds up pretty well, especially in this Switch port. The game’s scrapbook aesthetic is totally my kind of jam, so I really appreciated it.

Mini Games

I think the mini-games will be hit or miss for a lot of people. When I played Hakuoki SSL back on the PS Vita, I could’ve sworn I loathed the mini-games with every fiber of my being.😅 (laughs) But surprisingly, I did not mind them nearly as much on the Switch. I think most of my frustration back then stemmed from the Vita’s controls, which felt sluggish and wonky, and it made the timing on certain mini-games particularly annoying, especially in Chapter 05.

The good thing is that the mini-games can be skipped after clearing your first route, which is great for players who do not particularly want to waste time completing them every time they start a new route. I’ve also created a guide for the mini-games, so be sure to check it out if you’re ever in a pickle trying to clear them.

PROS:

• Heroine’s Name Customization
• Cross Short Story – short scenarios of the LI’s day-to-day activities.
• Happy Voice – Extra voice recordings of all the main characters
• Daily Story – LI’s POVs during the chapter stories in the game.
• Ryunosuke Shop – where you can buy all the items above through points you’ve accumulated from the mini games. (Be sure to use Ibuki’s coupons whenever they come up in the mail).
• Love Catch and Status Bar
• Skip READ function
• Quick Save/Quick Load
• Mini Games, and Gameplay
• Mini Games can be skipped! (after first run)
• Album (CG Gallery)
• Movie Library
• Backlog and Rewind function
  

CONS:

• Heroine not voiced
• No Heroine side sprite image
• No Chapter Select
• No SKIP to the Next Choice function
• No BGM List
• Some irregular bugs
• No Ending List
• Only two CGs and 1 Chibi CG for the sub-characters
  

Localization

There were only very few typos that I spotted, and they weren’t immersion-breaking or anything, as they were hardly noticeable. The translations also preserved the humor of the game, especially in Kazama’s lines, which were definitely the most hilarious. Love that they retained Kazama’s “my bride” antics with Chizuru!

TRAILER

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDJWjO3rfV4&list=RDlDJWjO3rfV4&start_radio=1

OVERALL THOUGHTS

Hakuoki SSL ~Sweet School Life~ is a rather short game. It took me around 20-25 hours to clear all the routes, plus a few extra hours replaying the mini-games in the Treasure Box section to collect some of the test answers (from Mini Game 1). I didn’t play on auto-mode this time either because of the mini-games and the “mail” system, which basically requires you to pause the story to answer some text messages from the menu screen, and collect points.

This title is also fairly linear in structure, with all the routes following the same timeline by seasons. You start with the midterm exams, followed by summer, then the school festival (in autumn), and Christmas + New Year during winter break. After that, the story resumes on Valentine’s Day, which pretty much serves as the game’s final chapter.

Hakuoki SSL is for Hakuoki Fans!

Hakuoki SSL, in its essence, is a game tailor-made for Hakuoki fans. I mean, obviously, this spin-off was born from the franchise’s popularity. So basically, if you’re a fan of Hakuoki, this game is definitely made for you.

Disclaimer: I myself am a massive Hakuoki fan. Hakuoki was perhaps one of the reasons that kickstarted my hobby of blogging about otome games. So with that said, this review may be a bit biased overall, so please keep that in mind.

This spin-off largely comprises of lighthearted stories with our Shinsengumi characters living normal lives as high school students and teachers, navigating the ups and downs of your everyday modern life. In some sense, if you’ve played the original Hakuoki games and endured all the angst, despair, and struggles these characters had to overcome, it’s almost instantly cathartic to see them living happily without being thrown into chaos and suffering at every turn. I’d say the story’s easygoing charm is essentially the centerpiece and main draw of Hakuoki SSL.

On that note, the routes here are mainly straightforward fluff, told from the perspective of the protagonist, Chizuru, as she goes through her days of high school life. There isn’t any angsty drama or major plot twists to speak of. At its core, the game embraces a charming slice-of-life romcom tone. This title is also packed with comedy and humor, which I think is one of the main selling points of Hakuoki SSL. More times than not, the chapters get hilariously unserious, and I honestly lost count of how many times I wheezed or cackled at some of these outrageous scenarios.😂

It gets even crazier during Valentine’s Day (last chapters), and I always brace myself with popcorn to see what the writers will cook up in these scenes. Shinpachi’s Valentine’s event had me dying on the floor.😂

He is such a big himbo…. I can’t!😭

Also, huge kudos to the writers for preserving the relationship dynamics of the original characters. All the cast’s personality traits and nuances remain intact in this game, some even exaggerated for comedic purposes, like Kazama’s delusions of claiming Chizuru as his bride, were dialed up a few notches, and Shinpachi’s outrageous spending habits made his route sooo incredibly tears-in-my-eyes funny. None of the characters, in my opinion, go OOC; all their quirks, and personality tones are retained, and that’s exactly what makes this spin-off so good!

I guess the only minor gripe I had was that the routes were a tad too short. I’d say they’re longer than your typical otomege FD after-story, but the title as a whole is still on the shorter side compared to the average commercial otome game. There’s plenty of extra content however, available in the“Treasure Box” section, which kinda helps make up for the shorter routes. Although I do wish the epilogues were longer, because I need more Hakuoki fluff in my system!

The Heart of Every Hakuoki Title Lies in its Lovable Characters

Apart from our beloved MC, Chizuru, I believe it is a known fact that the heart of every Hakuoki game lies with our Shinsengumi boys. To me, these characters are practically otome royalty. The Hakuoki LIs pretty much set the bar so high that they’ve become the standard for otome love interests even today, and I stand by this statement firmly. mhm!

It goes without saying that I enjoyed this title tremendously because of how fond I am of these characters. All the LIs in this spin-off were so amazing that it’s honestly hard to rank them, as each route was just as enjoyable as the next. Romance-wise, Harada and Saito were my two fav routes, with Harada being just an itty-bitty inch ahead, because I mean… it’s ✨✨Sanosuke Harada,✨✨ we’re talking about here for goodness sake. IYKYK. (cackles) 😝

Heard that! Loud and clear! 👅

Yamazaki’s mini-route also surprised me, and I feel like it’s deserving of a full romance route. The dude is just so underrated, it actually hurts! Kazama’s route, on the other hand, had the most tomfoolery, and needless to say, his antics are guaranteed to tickle everyone’s funny bone.

Can I play this game even if I haven’t played the original Hakuoki games?

Since this is a spin-off set in an alternate universe, the characters are mostly the same, but they take on different roles in this story. So yes, you can play and enjoy this game blind, without having played the original.

Even so, I personally strongly recommend playing the base game first if you want to get ten times the enjoyment out of this title. This spin-off relies heavily on the original cast’s dynamics (and some of these dynamics are spoilers for the base game, mind you), so knowing who these characters are, their quirks, and how they were in the original universe makes playing Hakuoki SSL far more rewarding. Of course, this is just my opinion!

Do I recommend this game? YES.
The green light of this review is obviously clear as day, no?😂 If you’re a Hakuoki fan, loved the previous games, can’t get enough of the characters, and are in dire need of romance and fluffy stories with the Shinsengumi guys, Hakuoki SSL ~Sweet School Life~ is a must-play! I would also readily recommend this title to all otome fans, even if you haven’t touched a single Hakuoki game in your life. Let this title be your open gate straight into Hakuoki heaven… or, hell! (whichever you prefer…ha!)

And to all my fellow Hakuoki enjoyers out there, I cannot recommend this game enough. Reward yourself this Valentine’s Day, pick up this game, and enjoy it to your heart’s content! As February is the month of love, it’s also the month for brainrotting over your favorite Hakuoki LI. Get with the program, sis, and play Hakuoki SSL! 😘

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