Japanator Recommends: Hakuoki DotFB

11:00 AM on 02.02.2012   |   Michelle Rodanes

Visual novels can be a really tough sell. For the most part, the genre is known for featuring static images and very little action --that is unless you are playing an Eroge. The prospect of sitting through an endless wall of text can be somewhat daunting, especially if the story in question is not any good.  Every so often, however, a visual novel comes along that makes the genre worthwhile. Hakuoki: Demon of the Fleeting Blossom is one of those games. I was fortunate enough to get a chance to play Hakuoki prior to it hitting U.S stores and I must say, it is pretty lovely.

Hakuoki: Demon of the Fleeting Blossom takes place during the last few years of Japan's Edo period. Amid ongoing political unrest the game's protagonist, Chizuru Yakimura, must navigate the dangerous streets of Kyoto in search of her lost father. Taken hostage by a group of Ronin soldiers, Yakimura inevitably finds herself involved in a web of political intrigue. As she struggles to resume her quest, Yakimura learns a thing or two about her family's role in the ongoing crisis --it involves romance and supernatural entities. And that is about all I can tell you without spoiling the story! 

Hakuoki: Demon of the Fleeting Blossom - PSP
Developer:  Idea Factory/Design Factory
Publisher: Aksys Games
Release Date: February 15th, 2012
MSRP: $29.96 standard edition/$39.99 special edition (available for pre-order)

Storyline

Hakuoki's storyline was very well put together --it was definitely the strongest part of the game. While the story did contain a handful of pretty cheesy tropes they were all introduced in a charming and engaging manner. Supernatural elements were an important aspect of the story but most of the narration focused around the political intrigue. The game certainly read more like an idealized historical thriller than a romance novel. This to me was a breath of fresh air.

I was particularly impressed by Hakuoki's setting. A lot of thought went into the exposition of the conflicts between different political factions. The motivations behind all parties were developed with great attention to detail and none of the characters was portrayed as simply "good" or "bad". As a matter of fact, most of the characters in the story had a hybrid political alignment. Sometimes things got so complicated that it actually merited the use of the game's encyclopedia feature.

Even though Hakuoki's story was somewhat dense it was also surprisingly entertaining. Never in the game was there a point where I was no longer enjoying myself. Dramatic sequences always alternated with lighthearted slice-of-life scenes. These everyday life segments were often used for the purpose of character development. In many cases, the protagonist took these occasions as an opportunity to socialize with remaining characters. 

Character development

All characters in the story were moderately interesting. While a little bit lacking in personality, Hakuoki's cast was certainly more intriguing than that in your average visual novel. I find that the main problem that the game had, in this respect, is that not much time was spent in developing the characters' individual stories. Even though each character had a complex political identity, the writers tell us very little about where they come from. 

I found that, ironically enough, so much of the writers' focus went into the characters' politics that they became a little bit un-personable. Given that the game also has a romance element, I feel like the writers should have shared with us a bit more about what the characters valued emotionally. I found myself having a somewhat difficult time connecting with the cast. In the end, I wish I could have gotten to know everyone a little better.

Artwork

Hakuoki's artwork was probably its second strongest point --it was absolutely beautiful. The game featured picturesque exteriors and a very expressive cast. For the most part, character designs really captured each of the cast members' persona. When multiple characters appeared on the screen, it was easy for me to tell who was talking to me --something people often take for granted when playing a visual novel. The game's cut-scenes were also very well put together.

There was a reasonable amount of variety as far as sets and character reaction images goes. Backgrounds were pretty evocative of the game's setting. In addition to regular illustrations, Hakuoki comes equipped with a handful of "rare" images that can be unlocked via completing certain routes in the game. Most of these images are scenes featuring the protagonist's chosen love interest. As the images are unlocked they are made accessible through the game's gallery feature.

Interface

I would say that the game's interface was satisfactory --aesthetically speaking, it could have been better but it did the job. The main reason for my complaint lies in the fact that the rest of the game was so breathtakingly beautiful. When you have a visual novel with background and character illustrations so polished, you cannot help but to wish for an equally elegant interface. 

My other complaint about the interface is that it could have been better organized. Certain game features are only accessible via the opening screen and other were not very well categorized. As far as controls go, I was pretty happy with them. The game includes nifty rewind, fast forward, quick save, and quick load features. These really come in handy.

Music & voice acting

Hakuoki's soundtrack was alright --it didn't blow me away, but it didn't bother me either. The game featured a very limited selection of tracks, with some of the best ones being used only during one or two occasions. The "standard" theme that you hear for the majority of the game was pretty inoffensive, but I kinda grew to hate the default battle track. Overall, I wish there would have been a little more variety in the game's music.

The game's voice acting was quite good. Hakuoki retained its original Japanese voice acting, which is great given that voice overs are so easy to f*ck up. Each character in the cast had his own unique voice. Aside from fitting the characters quite well, voices conveyed a reasonable range of emotion. I was very satisfied with the way in which the script was delivered. On a bit of a tangent, Hakuoki's text translation to English was also very, very good. 

Romance content

Surprisingly, the romance content in this game was very limited. Out of nine chapters in the game you only get to go with your chosen love interest for about two. Most of the actual "romancing" occurs towards the very end of the game. This "romancing" mostly consists of pats on the head, hugs, and the occasional kiss. In other words, no one will ever get lewd with you. This is not that kind of game, you pervs!

I completed most of all available romance routes prior to writing this review, and I must say I was somewhat disappointed. Aside from the lack of "action" I found that none of the love interest were really all that fascinating --attractive, yes; but only on a superficial level. Normally I would not call this a problem, but Hakuoki's storyline was so mature that I was expecting a little more depth --or tentacles.

Verdict - 8.0 Great

Hakuoki's setting and storyline were great. I was also extremely pleased with the game's voice acting, artwork, and text translation. I was somewhat disappointed with the romance aspect of the game --but while not my cup of tea, I must admit that it was satisfactorily put together. Overall, Hakuoki: Demon of the Fleeting Blossom was beautiful to look at and very nicely executed. I would definitely recommend it!

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