Line #37 VideoGame/SakuraWarsSoLongMyLove


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11	[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/stvart.png]]
12	[[caption-width-right:300:''"New York Combat Revue! Let's do it!"''[[note]]Top to bottom, left to right: [[RulesLawyer Cheiron Archer]], [[ActionGirl Gemini Sunrise]], [[LittleMissBadass Rosarita "Rosita" Aries]], [[TheHero Shinjiro Taiga]], [[AmbiguousGender Subaru Kujo]], and Diana Caprice.[[/note]]]]
13
14	->''"Bang! To the rooftops!"''
15	-->-- '''{{Tagline}}'''
16
17	''Sakura Wars V: So Long, My Love'' is the fifth main installment of Creator/{{Sega}}'s ''VideoGame/SakuraWars'' series and the only one on the Platform/PlayStation2 and the Platform/{{Wii}} (as well as the first to be officially released in English). This is also the final entry to feature character art and cutscene animation by Creator/ProductionIG, joined this time around by Creator/{{AIC}}.
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19	Picking up one year after the events of ''VideoGame/SakuraWars4FallInLoveMaidens'', Navy Lieutenant Shinjiro Taiga, an in-training samurai from Tokyo, is summoned to New York to join the New York Combat Revue Star Division, a squad of vigilantes who, behind the disguise of a musical troupe, use their TransformingMecha to protect New York from the threat of mysterious invading robots animated by a force known as "Dark Pneuma". The game focuses on Shinjiro acquainting himself with his new home, opening up to his teammates, and leading the Star Division against the Dark Pneuma's forces. Fighting by his side are Texan samurai Gemini Sunrise, Harlemite gangster-turned-lawyer Cheiron Archer[[note]]Sagitta Weinberg in the original Japanese[[/note]], kind-hearted nurse Diana Caprice, Mexican bounty huntress Rosita Aries[[note]]Rikarita Aries in the original Japanese[[/note]], and androgynous savant Subaru Kujo.
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21	Like the rest of the series, ''So Long, My Love'' is split between visual novel and turn-based strategy, where the actions in the former will affect the performances of each character in the latter.
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23	''So Long, My Love'' was the final main ''Sakura Wars'' game to be co-developed by Creator/RedEntertainment before their co-ownership rights were bought by Sega in 2017. It was also the final game to feature Satoru Akahori as the scenario writer, Ohji Hiroi as the general producer, and Creator/KosukeFujishima and Hidenori Matsubara as the character designers.
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25	''So Long, My Love'' is also the final ''Sakura Wars'' entry to feature Akiko Kuno as Ratchet Altair[[note]]outside of the stage shows from 2008 to 2014[[/note]] before she died in 2022.
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27	The game is followed chronologically by ''Anime/SakuraWarsNewYorkNY'', ''VideoGame/SakuraWarsBecauseYouWereThere'', ''Literature/ShinSakuraTaisenTheNovelHizakuraNoKoro'' and ''VideoGame/SakuraWars2019''. ''VideoGame/SakuraWarsVEpisode0SamuraiDaughterOfTheWild'' functions as a prequel to Gemini Sunrise's situation in the game.
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29	----
30	!!This game provides examples of:
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32	%%* ActionBomb: The Kamikaze and Floating Bomb enemy.
33	* AllYourBaseAreBelongToUs: Towards the end of the game, Nobunaga and Ranmaru's forces launch a full scale assault on the Littlelip Theater.
34	* AlwaysClose: It doesn't matter if you break Enten's Pneuma tank (which is about to turn your allies to stone permanently) right away, or after several turns: the messages about having three or one minute left will only pop up when it reaches certain thresholds of damage, and in the following cutscene it will be destroyed as the last second ticks down.
35	%%* AnimeThemeSong: Earth Warriors.
36	* BloodlessCarnage: No blood is seen in many scenes where it would make sense, including Shinjiro striking down Tsugarubi on foot, and getting shot through the chest by Nobunaga.
37	%%* BokeAndTsukkomiRoutine: Dokurobo attempts to do this with Shinjiro. ''In the middle of their battle''. If Shin takes him seriously, he gets infuriated and lampshades it.
38	* CallBack:
39	** The opening of the game takes place in Tokyo, which is the setting for ''Sakura Wars'', ''Sakura Wars 2'' and ''Sakura Wars 4'', as well as the film.
40	** Yuichi Kayama first appears playing a musical instrument, this time playing the ukulele.
41	** In ''Sakura Wars: The Movie'', Ratchet's Eisenkleid gets destroyed by the BigBad, Brent Furlong. In this game, her STAR gets destroyed by Ranmaru.
42	** In the first two games, the Imperial Combat Revue uses the ''Mikasa'' to ram it into the FinalBoss's fortress to fight them. Here, the New York Combat Revue rams the ''Ahab'' into the Azuchi Castle just before the FinalBattle.
43	** Epic battles where the combat revues fight the FinalBoss in the EvilTowerOfOminousness. This time around, the Imperial Combat Revue fights Nobunaga in Azuchi Castle.
44	* CallingYourAttacks: The special attack chants all follow the same structure: A sentence that defines the unit's personal characteristics; three meaningful terms PunctuatedForEmphasis; and the attack's name itself.
45	--> '''Shinjiro:''' Raging tiger. Heaven! Earth! Man! Here I come; Tiger Fang!
46	--> '''Gemini:''' Mifune sword style. Secret! Blade! Skill! It's the Rumbling Wheel!
47	* TheCameo: Creator/ChisaYokoyama and Akio Suyama once again cameo as the respective voices of Sakura Shinguji and Ichiro Ogami in the prologue.
48	* CarFu: Cheiron's first attempt to take down Kokuryuu is smashing her motorcycle into her. Unfortunately, [[NoSell it doesn't work so well]].
49	* CastingGag:
50	** ''So Long, My Love'' isn't the first time Creator/JurotaKosugi's voiced [[VideoGame/SamuraiWarriors Oda Nobunaga]].
51	** Hilariously enough, the game brings back Creator/NaoyaUchida, who played Tetsuma Shinguji in the ''Anime/{{Sakura Wars\|2000}}'' TV adaptation, as Michael Sunnyside. Bonus points for Tetsuma and Sunnyside being the uncles of their respective characters, Sakura Shinguji and Diana Caprice.
52	** The game also brings back a few actors from the [[Anime/SakuraWarsTheMovie film]]'s English dub. Creator/DaveWittenberg, who played Ichiro Ogami in this game and the film, also plays Michael Sunnyside. Creator/MelissaFahn, Orihime Soletta's actress, provides the voice for Rosita. Creator/LiamOBrien, Kotone Seiryuin's VA in the film, voices Tsugarubi. Creator/PhileceSampler and Creator/KarenStrassman, who voiced Tsubaki Takamura and Kasumi Fujii, return as Yumedono and Diana Caprice.
53	* AChildShallLeadThem: Shin's colleagues initially make fun of this trope when he gets promoted to Captain, in spite of Shin being actually 19 years old.
54	* ChristmasEpisode: Chapters 7 and 8 take place between Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.
55	* CognizantLimbs: The point of every boss fight is to figure out the order to take them out in to keep the team alive.
56	* CollectionSidequest:
57	** Many of them in the Extra Chapter, which involve seeing cutscenes, Super Moves, and photos.
58	** In the main game, submitting a scenery photo and buying a postcard in every chapter will unlock an exclusive photo.
59	* ColonyDrop: Nobunaga summons a massive meteor, named the "Sixth Heaven", to drop upon New York.
60	%%* CoolAirship: The ''Ahab''.
61	* ContinuityNod:
62	** Sakura meets up with Taiga after his transfer to Tokyo from the Imperial Japanese Navy's academy prior to meeting with the "commander" of the Imperial Combat Revue. Back in the original 1996 game, Sakura meets Ogami in the same way.
63	** Gemini mentions that she once saved America with the help of some friends back home some time before that game started. Assuming she's referring to the events of ''Episode V-0'', Western players are unlikely to get the reference.
64	** In Subaru's backstory, Ratchet wore the same battle uniform when she was a member of the European Star Division in Berlin ''and'' a temporary member of the Imperial Combat Revue in Tokyo. Further, Leni and Orihime were permanent members of both divisions.
65	* CourtroomEpisode: The second half of Chapter 2 takes place at an informal outdoor court, where Shinjiro is representing the Harlemites who oppose [[MegaCorp Steam Frontier]]'s attempted gentrification of their neighborhood, while his own teammate, Cheiron, is representing Steam Frontier.
66	* DangerousForbiddenTechnique: The Five-Ring Mandala can seal a demon away for several centuries but at the cost of the life of one of its casters.
67	* DarkestHour: The beginning of the final chapter. Nobunaga leaves Shinjiro with a nearly-fatal wound which makes him bedridden for several days, the Star Division starts falling apart without his guidance, the [[ColonyDrop Sixth Sun]] threatens to obliterate all of New York, and Shin has just learned that the only way to seal Nobunaga again requires sacrificing his closest ally.
68	* DefrostingIceQueen: Cheiron and Subaru's respective chapter focus on the two learning to accept Shinjiro's leadership and become more of team players. Cheiron's breakdown is even accompanied by audio cues of ice chipping and shattering...
69	* DemotedToExtra: Compared to the previous installments as major characters, Ichiro Ogami and Sakura Shinguji's roles are relatively small, as they only appear at the beginning of the first chapter.
70	* DownerEnding: Some battles can end this way if you don't meet certain objectives. For example, chapter 5 may end with the demons taking the statues away. Failing the chapter 7 battle will result in the theater's barrier being wiped out. If you fail to defend the ''Ahab'''s engines, the ship will be utterly destroyed.
71	* DubNameChange: Some names were changed in the English translation, but in the English dub only. The original names are preserved in the script of the Japanese version, though a typo still lists Sagiita's English name on some of her bromides, as do Plum's and Rikaritta's. Her original name is also on her office door in the English disc. While the name changes were never explained, in at least the case of Sagitta and Rikaritta, it may have had to do with both characters having names wildly inaccurate for their cultural backgrounds.
72	* {{Eagleland}}: Type 1, for the most part: America is highly idealized, but is shown to have its fair share of problems.
73	* EvilTwin: Geminine, Gemini's unborn twin sister, combines this with SuperpoweredEvilSide: [[AntiHero while not evil, per se, she is utterly ruthless.]]
74	* FaceOfAThug:
75	** Turns out the Harlem Centaurs aren't so bad if you know them.
76	** The Mafia thugs who act as antagonists in several sidequests come to help Rosita guard the docks in the final chapter.
77	* FirstGirlWins: Gemini in her ending. Not only is she the first member of the team Shinjiro meets (though the last to join), but she's even the most prominent character on the game's cover art, the only one on the game disc, and [[SpoilerOpening the first character to appear in the opening]].
78	* FiveTokenBand: The New York Combat Revue consists of two Japanese (Shinjiro and Subaru), two European/White-Americans (Gemini and Diana), an African/Black-American (Cheiron), and a Mexican (Rosita).
79	* FunWithAcronyms: The mechas that the player controls are called [=STARs=], which stand for Super Telekinetic Assault Robots.
80	* GuideDangIt: To use the powerful Coupling Attacks, which the game gives you no clue of even existing until you explore the PlayableEpilogue, you have to max out the protagonist of the chapter's affection meter, then have Shinjiro stand next to her and perform a Super Move. Even harder to get is the ultimate attack Supernova, for which you have to unlock all Coupling Attacks in a single playthrough, bring all relationships (including three hidden ones) to the maximum level, and is only usable in the last chapter.
81	* HeroicSacrifice: In Gemini's backstory, Mifune attempts to take down Ranmaru by falling into the waterfall. Unfortunately, he doesn't survive, but the villain does.
82	* HoldTheLine: Two missions in the final chapter task you with protecting your HQ and airship respectively.
83	* HumongousMecha: All of the bosses ([[MyFriendsAndZoidberg except Dokurobo]]) have one of these.
84	* ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice: Shinjiro gets shot twice by Nobunaga in Chapter 7. With flaming arrows long several feet.
85	* InterfaceSpoiler: Gemini appears in your status menu from Chapter 1. [[EleventhHourRanger She doesn't become playable until the second half of chapter 6.]]
86	* JackOfAllStats: Shinjiro's Fujiyama-Star has good attack power, armor, and speed, and even though he only has one-on-one attacks, he can heal up to 2 allies at the same time.
87	* JapaneseRanguage: In Chapter 2, this is [[InvokedTrope invoked]] by Shinjiro and Subaru when they pose as {{Japanese Tourist}}s to fool a man from the mafia. He [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] this, saying that they sound like walking stereotypes, and afterward, Subaru says that she feels like an idiot.
88	* {{Leitmotif}}: One for each character, which is dominant in their respective chapters and plays during their sidequests.
89	* LevelUpAtIntimacyFive: The only way to power up Shinjiro's stats is to raise his rank (acting professionally on the field and finishing missions efficiently). To power up the other Stars, Shinjiro has to "motivate" (befriend) his companions in the days before the battle. Friendship values between characters also give them a chance to cancel an attack aimed at another, power up Joint attacks, and unlock additional sidequests.
90	* MacrossMissileMassacre:
91	** The regular attack of the Stars in Flight Mode launches up to 5 missiles at a time. Rosita's Star's are smaller but in a bigger number.
92	** Sunnyside takes over an arsenal and launches a salvo of carp-shaped rockets at Azuchi Castle and the Sixth Heaven to buy the Star Division enough time to destroy them.
93	* MakingASplash: Diana's standard Attack is a water jet from syringe-shaped guns; in flight mode, she launches raindrop-shaped bombs. Also, her healing Super Moves make bubbles and rainbow appear.
94	* MeaningfulName: Shinjiro ''Taiga'' initiates his special attack chants by comparing his own strength to that of a raging ''tiger''.
95	* TheMedic: Diana's Star can heal several allies at the same time, and her Super Moves fully heal all allies in a wide range, but her attacks lack in power somewhat.
96	* MightyGlacier: Cheiron's Highway-Star, appropriately to her personality. It is the slowest of the team, but has very high armor and a powerful, piercing attack.
97	* {{Mockbuster}}: The book ''[[Literature/GoneWithTheWind Gone Without The Wind]]'' is pretty popular among girls.
98	* MusicalNod:
99	** The nighttime and main themes from ''VideoGame/SakuraWars1996'' are played in the opening prologue.
100	** Geminine's introduction features the main theme, "Samurai Spirits", from ''Samurai Daughter of the Wild''.
101	* NonLethalKO: When a Star ([[WeCannotGoOnWithoutYou except Shinjiro's]]) is destroyed, it is whisked out of the battle with nothing but a slight disappointment of the pilot at Shin's tactical skills. Yes, even if it was shot down from the sky, melted into a pool of otherworldly fire, or crushed beneath a meteor.
102	* OncePerEpisode:
103	** Shinjiro encounters Gemini Sunrise, the main heroine, upon his arrival in New York City.
104	** Shinjiro gets his turn as a ticket clipper in the same vein as Ichiro Ogami.
105	** The OnTheNext sequences return in this game.
106	** Ratchet's mecha gets seriously damaged. Least this time, it's not her Eisenkleid.
107	** The New York Combat Revue uses their ship to ram it into the enemy's fortress, Azuchi Castle.
108	* PaperThinDisguise: Geminine's mask is just a black pair of glasses which easily exposes her identity the moment they're knocked off.
109	* PlayableEpilogue:
110	** You can go around the city talking with characters and playing extra scenes after beating the final boss but before the ending.
111	** The "Easy and Fun Day in N.Y." takes place after the game, and unlocks more content as you unlock the endings for more companions.
112	%%* PuppyLove: The relationship between Rosita and Shinjiro, both during her chapter and in the epilogue if she is chosen as his companion, drifts towards this.
113	* QuickTimeEvent: A staple of the Dating Sim part of the game. [[DoWellButNotPerfect Some of them will net you a penalty if you complete them.]]
114	* RammingAlwaysWorks: Nobunaga responds to Sunnyside's missile launch by erecting a barrier around the castle. Shinjiro's answer is to just smash the ''Ahab'' through.
115	* ReincarnationRomance: It's implied that Shinjiro and the girl he chooses as his partner are the reincarnations of the Five-Ring Warriors leader and the nun who sacrifices her life who have fallen in love during the ordeal.
116	* RuleOfThree: The ground-based Supermove quotes for each character features quotes that include three words relevant to the combatant.
117	** Shinjiro: "Heaven! Earth! Man!"
118	** Subaru: "Snow! Moon! Flowers!"
119	** Cheiron: "[[PunctuatedForEmphasis You! Are! Guilty!]]"
120	** Rosita: "Steak! Potatoes! Burgers!"
121	** Diana: "Trees! Grass! Flowers!"
122	** Gemini: "Secret! Sword! Skill!"
123	* SchrodingersGun: The hooded girl who sacrifices herself in the flashback changes in appearance according to whose companion you choose. However, if you select Ratchet the hooded girl will always be Gemini.
124	* SequelGoesForeign: Though the prologue is set in Tokyo, ''So Long, My Love'' primarily takes place in New York City.
125	* SeriesFauxnale: For 14 years, ''So Long, My Love'' was believed to be the last mainline ''Sakura Wars'' game ever made. Come Sega's purchase of the co-ownership rights from Red in 2017, and we have since gotten the [[VideoGame/SakuraWars2019 long-awaited sequel]], some spinoff light novels, a stage play and a [[Anime/SakuraWarsTheAnimation TV series]].
126	* ShoutOut:
127	** The entirety of Cheiron's chapter is an AffectionateParody of the ''Franchise/AceAttorney'' franchise, with Shinjiro collecting clues during the first half of the day, and facing Cheiron in a trial in the second. For good measure, Cheiron can be later encountered in Central Park while she practices [[LargeHam shouting out objections]].
128	** Chapter 4 has a few parallels to ''Film/TheBirds'', as it also deals with the heroes trying to survive bird attacks after several flocks turn inexplicably violent. Unlike the film it's based on, the chapter concludes with the source of the animals' aggressions being dealt with.
129	* StealthMentor: Sunnyside puts Shin through several difficult situations so that he can strengthen the bond with his teammates and become a worthy leader, going as far as to suggest sacrificing his companion to the Five-Ring Mandala.
130	* StellarName: Each New York Combat Revue members have names based on stars and constellations:
131	** Gemini Sunrise is named after Gemini, the Twins. [[MeaningfulName This becomes meaningful in Chapter 6.]]
132	** Cheiron Archer is named after a centaur of Greek mythology. Her Japanese name, Sagitta Weinberg, is derived from Sagittarius, the Hunter. Both names also make reference to archery, as Sagittarius is oft depicted as wielding a bow.
133	** Subaru Kujo is named after Taurus, the Bull.
134	** Rosita Aries is named after Aries, the Ram.
135	** Diana Caprice is named after Capricorn, the Goat.
136	** Ratchet Altair is named after a star in the Aquila constellation.
137	* TakeYourTime: During side missions, the clock turns around and stops ticking, letting you visit many places multiple times without advancing the clock.
138	* TakenForGranite: Many civilians and most of the Star Division are petrified while attending a party held by the villain of Subaru's chapter (they get better).
139	* TalkingIsAFreeAction: Place two characters next to each other in battles for a tidbit of flavor dialogue.
140	* TimedMission:
141	** All the segments in between missions give you limited time to make all preparations and complete the day's sidequests. Failing to achieve certain objectives or running late will lower your performance for the day.
142	** Many dialogue choices are timed. Not answering in time is considered a response in and of itself.
143	* TimeLimitBoss:
144	** In chapter 7, if all of the generators aren't destroyed fast enough, the mooks will obliterate the theater's barrier and will trigger an immediate game over.
145	** If you take too long to protect the ''Ahab'''s engines from the demons, the ship will be destroyed, killing everyone instantly.
146	* TimeSkip: The game picks up one year after the events of ''Fall in Love, Maidens''. Even though each chapter in the main storyline spans a few days, one month passes between each of them.
147	* TrailersAlwaysSpoil: The promotional video trailer spoils Azuchi Castle's appearance and the Star Division's final battle with Nobunaga, namely the ''Ahab'' ramming into the castle, Ratchet covering for Shinjiro and the Star Division teaming up to form their most powerful maneuver.
148	* TransformingMecha: The [=STARs=] can transform between robot and jet forms.
149	* VideoGameCrueltyPotential: So many possibilities. You can invite the ill, vegetarian Diana to a dinner of fried chicken. You can yell at an emotionally-strained Rosita and threaten to kick her out of the team. You can make fun of Gemini's attempts to join the Star Division and mock her father figure for being a pervert. You can utterly ruin the Division's Christmas party. This will, however, make progressing in the game almost impossible, closing off most sidequests and weakening your characters significantly.
150	* WeaponBasedCharacterization: Each character's STAR is equipped with a scaled-up version of weapons they would use on-foot: TheHero Shinjiro [[DualWielding dual-wields]] katanas, OccidentalOtaku Gemini uses a single katana, reformed BadassBiker Cheiron uses a chain, YamatoNadeshiko Subaru uses fans, BountyHunter Rosita [[GunsAkimbo dual-wields pistols]], CombatMedic Diana uses syringe-shaped [[MakingASplash water cannons]], and the side-lined Ratchet uses [[DeviousDaggers throwing daggers]].
151	* WeCannotGoOnWithoutYou:
152	** If Shinjiro's STAR is destroyed, it will result in an immediate Game Over and force you to restart the battle.
153	** Justified in the story towards the final chapter: with Shinjiro in a coma, the rest of the Star Division doesn't have the coordination and willpower to fight anymore, letting the Dark Pneuma robots advance all the way to the HQ.
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Context VideoGame / SakuraWarsSoLongMyLove