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Hakuoki: Demon of the Fleeting Blossom

Otome games? Yes, yes, and yes. 

While there are many different platforms and consoles to play games on, my favourite has definitely got to be playing on my PSP. Mainly because it's portable and I don't have to lug it around like I have to do with my laptop, and also because my phone is a piece of rock. 

But anyhow. I'm going to introduce you to one really really amazing otome game. Hakuoki: Demon of the Fleeting Blossom. Actually, that's the only one that I ever fully played through because that was also the only PSP game I managed to find that was fully in English. 

are you liking this yet?
So what's this game about? Well, Hakuoki: Demon of the Fleeting Blossom is basically a Samurai Romance visual novel set at the end of the Edo period of Japanese history. The period that witnessed the decline of the Shogunate as the ruling power in Japan. 

And as you go through the game, every decision and route you take determines your future. Which, in this case, means which gorgeous guy you're going to end up with. But it's not just about the romance. I love the main plot as well, although the plot twist was actually quite predictable. Ahhh, I'm not going to spoil anything. 

Moving on, you play the role of a young woman by the name of Chizuru Yukimura who is in search of her father, working as a doctor for the Shinsengumi (definition). When you reach your destination, however, what greets you is not your dad, but the fact that he has been missing for quite some time. 


Chizuru Yukimura

The Shinsengumi then takes you in, and looks after you while the search for your dad continues. And that's where your real adventure starts, because there's when your actions and decisions will start to take effect. 

So, there are five stunning guys in the bachelor pool. Toshizou Hijikata, Souji Okita, Hajime Saito, Heisuke Todo, and Sanosuke Harada. You can also get the main villain, Chikaga Kazama, but if i remember correctly, that route only opens when you complete the game for the first time.

Toshizo Hijikata
Souji Okita
Hajime Saito
Heisuke Todo
Sanosuke Harada
Chikaga Kazama
Okay, so let's be honest here. When you first saw their pretty pretty faces, who did you first pick? For me, I definitely went with Saito. I don't know why, I think it was because he looked the coolest. But, I didn't end up with Saito. (Side note, I didn't know Kazama was available till wayyyy later, if not I would have picked him. No contest there.)

So anyway, here's another really awesome thing about this game. You can actually check the romance stats ingame, to see who you are currently most affectionate with. Which is good, since the second half on the game branches off to different event scenes depending on who you are the closest with. The first half is fairly straightforward as you get to know all the handsome devils, but the second part, ooh that's where it gets steamy. Of course, there are the good endings and the bad endings for every route, as well as what I call the no ending. Which means you don't get anyone.


no ending
However, getting the guy that you really want like be tough, as it's quite difficult to determine which guy goes for which action. When you do pick the correct action though, the game will inform you by not so subtly showing you a falling blossom on screen. You can always go back over your saved data if you picked the wrong choice. 


I really liked this game because even though the conversation text was in English, the voice was Japanese and that just sealed the deal for me. I actually took the time to listen to every sentence, and I'm the type that loves to spam the next button. The voice actors were terrific, perfect emotion played in, and the graphics! Now it's one thing to have the right tone, but when the right tone matches up with the right expression.. Bam, goodbye heart. It also doesn't hurt that midgame, their costume changes to western clothing and woah. Just. Woah. 

yesssss
Though I will admit the one frustrating thing is that Chizuru (the character you play) comes off as weak and almost practically useless, ugh. 

Right, so the first time I played this game I just played as I would, choosing the options that I would normally take. And I'm not going to tell you who I ended up with. I will however, leave you with the descriptions of all the bachelors so you can decide if the handsome devil you've ended up with is really suitable for you. 


Hijikata: The "Demon" Vice-Commander of the Shinsengumi as well as the Titular Character & Poster-boy for the series. He's very strict, serious & almost scary at times, but as you progress through his story, he turns out to be very caring.



Okita: The sadistic, sarcastic 1st Unit Captain Psychopath who often teases or even threatens you. He holds unwavering loyalty toward Head Commander Isami Kondou & has little regard for human life. As you play through his story, you find out that he's not as cruel as he seems.


Saito: The stoic, blunt & socially inept Captain of the 3rd unit who only speaks when spoken to, He never does anything without the Vice-commander's approval & never denies his orders, which ends him in doing "dirty work". As you play through his story, you'll soon find out the reasons for his unrelenting loyalty.


Heisuke: This cheerful young man is the Captain of the 8th unit. He may be small, but what he lacks in size, he more than makes up for in heart & fighting spirit. If you play through Haisuke's story, you'll find his tale is quite different from most of the other bachelors.


Sanosuke: The optimistic 10th unit captain with a big-brother-like demeanor. Although he may be quick tempered at times, he is a warm & very gentle man with a kind heart. Sano is usually the first to comfort you in stressful or dangerous situations. As you play though his story, you find out his dreams don't lie within the sword.


Kazama: Before you can have you hunk of man-meat, you must first unlock him by playing through at least 2 of the other stories. Kazama is cold-hearted, selfish, cruel & he'll do anything to get his demony mitts on you.


So which gorgeous hunk did you end up with? 

Written by: ninetylives


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