News From 07/01/02


Sakura Wars - Upcoming Series and Projects announced (GameSpot Japan, Gpara, Impress, Bloomberg)

[ GameSpot Japan1 / 2 / 3 | Gpara.com | Impress Gamewatch | Bloomberg ]
Influenza Virus.
(GameSpot Japan, Gpara.com, Impress Gamewatch, Bloomberg) Tokyo, Japan- Sega has announced today of their upcoming projects on the Sakura Taisen (Sakura Wars) series for the next three to four years. Seven new titles have been revealed, now with projection of sales outside of Japan as well.

Promotion of Sakura Taisen by expanding the title through varieties of medias are also scheduled, including Movie, TV, and Manga. No specific details on them have been released at this time. OVA and Theatrical shows will continue to be released as well.

The following are details on the upcoming software releases for the series. All titles except for Sakura Taisen 3 are announced for the PlayStation2 Console. Likewise to the Sakura Wars series on the DreamCast having mini-games for the VMU which can exchange data with the console, the Sakura Taisen series on the PS2 will take advantage of "i-mode" cellular phone internet services for play outside of the house. For images of the i-mode mini-games, check Sega Group's company, Overworks.


Sakura Taisen -Atsuki Chishio Ni- (Release Date: 2003. Drama Adventure Game)
Translates to "Sakura Wars - Of the Young Spirited Blood" in English.
Arranged version of Sakura Taisen 1, formerly released on the Sega Saturn. Additional scenarios and movie clips will be added. Details and images are available in the Official Site.

Sakura Taisen 5 -Saraba Itoshiki Hito Yo- (No release date. Drama Adventure Game)
Translates to "Sakura Wars 5 -Farewell, my loved one".
An official sequel to the Sakura Taisen series, this time taking place in New York, with the New York "Kagekidan" team. Features themes such as Broadway and Al Capone. 5 new characters have been confirmed. "Inugami" will not be the main/player character. Two hints to the designs of the new characters are "New York is the melting pot of different races" and "A samurai can't be left out". Producer Ouji Hiroi hopes for the game to be completed and released within 2004.

Sakura Taisen 5 Action (No release date. Action Game)
An action packed game which takes place in the Sakura Taisen 5 background. The title is scheduled for release afer Sakura Taisen 5 in Japan. In the States, Sakura Taisen 5 Action may be released before Sakura Taisen 5.

Sakura-Hime Nishiki Emaki (No release date. Action Game)
An action game which takes place in the Edo period prior to the Sakura Taisen series timeline, as the soul of the Sakura Wars series heroine- Sakura, time travels into a Princess back in the Era. Features an aesthetic view of Japan.

KOUMA (No release date. Action Game)
The story of the Anti-kouma (anti-demon) battalion, which led to the creation of the Sakura wars (Kagekidan) team. Features the background story to the Sakura Taisen series. An horror-isque game.

Sakura Taisen Monogatari (No release date. Drama Adventure Game)
Translates to "Sakura Wars Story". An adventure game for the fans of the series who have played the previous Saturn and Dreamcast titles. Includes two scenarios, "Teito" and "Paris".

Sakura Taisen 3 (PC, Drama Adventure Game)
PC port of Sakura Taisen 3. To be released in Japanese and Chinese for the Asian market.


Limited Edition PlayStation2 to be released, Skeleton Models (Impress GameWatch)

[ Impress Gamewatch | Article ]
Influenza Virus.
(Impress Gamewatch) SCEI has announced to release two "Year 2002 color models" of their popular video game console, Playstation 2.

The "Ocean Blue" sketelon model- scheduled for release in 7/18, is themed after the beauty of the sea. The "Zen Black" skeleton model- scheduled for release in 8/1, is themed after the spiritual culture of Japan.

A total of 50,000 limited consoles will be released, priced 30,000 Yen. Both models will come included with a PS2 stand, controller and a DVD remote control, same colour as the console. Memory cards of the same color and extra controllers will be available at 2,800 Yen.

In related news, a set of "Island Blue" and "Emerald" memory cards will be released by SCEI as well on 7/18, priced at a discount of 4,800 Yen.


Short Comment- KOF2001 Angel, Taken from Wrestler?

It wasn't long ago that I pointed out the character Angel from KOF2001 had the same She-devil pose as the wrestler Terri, from WWF/WWE. It might've been a common knowledge for core wrestling fans, but I'm not deelpy into it. [ Article Here ].

Anyway, I was checking out their web site again, noticing that the site had a good number of streaming video clips. In one of them, the wrestler was spotted again, still taking that same finger-horn pose and what seems to be a deadly similar costume to KOF's Angel.

Coincedence, or another parody-copy by the KOF staff? you decide.
[ Image1 | Image2 ] / Original Video at [ WWE.com ]

- Henry A. Moriarty