Sakura Wars:SLML Reviews Thread

[LoneWolf]

And We're Off!!!
GoNintendo Posts that nintendo power scored the wii version a 7.5/10
http://www.gonintendo.com/viewstory.php?id=116446

Post all online reviews you find here!!

[RedCoKid]

Not fair if you know the game as well as the reviewer but can't rebut.

If I were going to list negatives, I'd say

STV doesn't alternate between adventure and battle sections as quickly as prequels
No mini-games, character designs not as good as previous
Lip synchronization in English dub isn't up to par with Japanese dub
Text doesn't fill the boxes as neatly as in the import

Everything else... unless there are bugs (?)... there's not much to criticize IMO. It is not a game made for everyone. 50-60 though? Pfft. Someone hand me a FPS to review.

SW:SLML should be worth 80-90+

[lopez]

Not fair if you know the game as well as the reviewer but can't rebut.

If I were going to list negatives, I'd say

STV doesn't alternate between adventure and battle sections as quickly as prequels
No mini-games, character designs not as good as previous
Lip synchronization in English dub isn't up to par with Japanese dub
Text doesn't fill the boxes as neatly as in the import

Everything else... unless there are bugs (?)... there's not much to criticize IMO. It is not a game made for everyone. 50-60 though? Pfft. Someone hand me a FPS to review.

SW:SLML should be worth 80-90+

Relax Red, it's just opinions right buddy?

It sounds like the reviewers are suggesting it's more story than gameplay, which it is right?

Some people like visual novels and text-centric adventure games....so they should play this game....people who don't, or want more gameplay/action in their games should probably stay away; that's what they're suggesting right?

Like you said, it is not a game made for everyone, so don't persecute people who don't enjoy it and subsequently gave it a low score....

Side note: FPS can be amazing games with great stories too

[odinfan]

Lopez, these are reviewers we're talking about here. They aren't going to mean much to the average consumer. They are correct to assume it's made more for a Japanese crowd, and probably should have stayed their. As I've been saying, it's a very niche title. Not many people are going to see it the way Red and I do. Simple fact.

Same with Ar tonelico. Most mainstream magazines and websites didn't take that game very well. This is a more extreme case of that. The text is longer, and there is less of the tactical RPG element. The majority of your time will be spent in the former. So I can't stress enough the fact that it's only going to sell to a select number of people. Most will find it very lacking in the gameplay department, if that's what they're after.

You just can't tell most western reviewers this, they like their games twitchy. I'm not even going to say that's a stereotype now, it's fact to me, and I'm sticking with it. I'm not going to go on hoping for any spectacular scores any longer. The tables have already been turned. It truly was never a series meant to leave Japan.

[PhantomOfTheKnight]

So, the main complaint is that there isn't enough actual gameplay?

....aren't these the same guys who gave Heavy Rain 8's and 9's?

[RedCoKid]

So, the main complaint is that there isn't enough actual gameplay?

....aren't these the same guys who gave Heavy Rain 8's and 9's?

Sakura Wars' gameplay is the dialogue, like HR in a sense, yes. If a gamer doesn't recognize this nuance, they're less likely to enjoy it (and more likely to rate it low).

Like you said, it is not a game made for everyone, so don't persecute people who don't enjoy it and subsequently gave it a low score....

Side note: FPS can be amazing games with great stories too

I was hinting that magazines should choose appropriate reviewers so that the main issue shouldn't be whether someone doesn't like it because of its genre.

I've been stewing over this. Doesn't hurt to let it out once in a while.

[LoneWolf]

ONM scores Sakura Wars an 81%.
Link:
http://www.gonintendo.com/viewstory.php?id=117059

[RedCoKid]

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=389961
7 from Edge

[PhantomOfTheKnight]

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=389961
7 from Edge

...coming from Edge, I'm actually pleased.

A little side note, Edge is one of the only groups to actually use the 1-10 scale properly, where 5 is the average, whereas the vast majority of gaming groups (IGN, GameInformer, GamePro) use a 7-10 scale, where 7 is the average.

[odinfan]

Still no concrete reviews?

[odinfan]

First full text review from Justpushstart:

http://www.justpushstart.com/2010/03/13 ... ve-review/

[PhantomOfTheKnight]

...we can double post here?

[odinfan]

Only if it's important.... yes.

[PhantomOfTheKnight]

Ok; I liked the Justpushstart review, but let me be the first to say that I thought the "old" thing actually was kinda unfair...

[RedCoKid]

I get the impression that the reviewer wants to say he loved it but is too embarrassed to gush over it.