Hakuoki: Edo Blossoms

Hakuoki: Edo Blossoms for PC and PSV is a visual novel belonging to the Hakuoki series, which has been developed by Idea Factory.

Plot

The game is a continuation to Hakuoki: Kyoto Winds (2017). Chizuru Yukimura – a young woman that appeared in the previous installment, searches for her father, who disappeared in mysterious circumstances. To find him, she goes to Kyoto, where she meets Shinsengumi captains (Shogun's special police force), who decide to help the woman. The protagonist spends four years in this town, above all, taking part in the battle of Toba-Fushimi. Unfortunately, the battle is lost, and the defeated Shinsengumi must return to their homeland, that is, Edo. That is where further adventures of the woman and the warriors take place. They have to cope with huge changes happening in the nineteenth-century Japan.

Mechanics

Hakuoki: Edo Blossoms for PC and PSV is a typical visual novel. Games belonging to this genre are known for their specific approach to gameplay, which is practically based solely on watching static pictures (or with a bit of animation) and reading texts. The player gets acquainted with the story and details concerning the main characters – apart from Chizuru Yukimura, those are twelve Shinsengumi captains bearing the names of real-life warriors that once lived in Japan (though the story combines historical fiction with elements of fantasy). Throughout the story, the player comes across a lot of attractions and twists, and the plot involves romance, friendship or betrayal – everything is affected by the player's choices. The game features nearly 30 endings, encouraging the player to do multiple playthroughs and make different choices.

Technical aspects

In terms of the visuals, Hakuoki: Edo Blossoms for PC and PSV is not much different from the previous installment. The game is set in a different town of course, so the pictures present other places, but when it comes to the graphic style itself, this new installment retains high quality of presentation.

Last updated on 25 January 2018