well this is on my do not play list, but thanks for the review, gives me a general idea that I probably won't ever be playing this one. I have enough dealings with pricks in real life, to deal with a video game too, just not my taste. I will give most things a try, but it was about the time of the h-scene comments that kept me from this, and finding it on the shelves will possibly avoid even picking up. thanks to another great review z, that left me ever slightly more engrossed in knowledge about a visual novel and their diversity :D
Sengoku Rance game Review
Story & Playability
Story Introduction
The player takes control of Rance whom came from a distant country to Japan to aid Nobunaga Oda in the Feudal Era of
Japan.
Rance would have to battle through various Clans and meet up with various characters along his way , capturing and
perhaps convincing them to join him in his conquest of the country.
Main Character Introduction
Rance
A self-centered , selfish , somewhat arrogant but unbelievably lucky prick whom does bear some potential as a
warlord.
Whilst he is indeed a prick on many occasions , he is still not entirely without of morals and a conscience - at most he
is not as bad as those on the "other side" but at the worse , his still just a prick.
Story Overview
For those whom are familiar with Shin Koihime ought to know how this story is going to be like - some of the male
generals are turned into beautiful women whilst the men... are still men actually.
For one , I nearly toppled off my chair when my faction encountered Uesugi Kenshi , the well known leader of the Uesugi
Clan - to think they've turned her into a beautiful woman whom literally panicked at the sight of her first love
was really... well , amusing in it's own way.
The story is in itself unique - not entirely so as genderbent historical characters aren't exactly that uncommon anymore , not to mention the personality of the characters aren't quite fitting to that of history but it is still interesting to see how they intergrate some of the existing elements of history into the game itself - no matter how warped the settings had become.
Still , expect the plotline to go awry from history. There are many possibilities in how the plot can go - whilst the
storyline isn't firm nor particularly amazing the one definitive trait of Sengoku Rance is the flexibility of the
storyline even in Visual Novel standards.
One is not fixed to go down a particular path and the player can always attack which ever Clan he feels like attacking
first , as well as moving the story as he sees fit.
Another issue of the game is the main character himself. I'm not sure about you guys but I'm not fond of
controlling a prick whom seems to have indecent thoughts in both day and night.
He can be forceful at times but at the very least , he doesn't use violence for it.
The fact that Rance is likeable is probably because the enemy faction have pricks whom are more of a prick than
Rance.
In short , you can only like Rance as a protaginist because the enemies are being even more of an arse than he is.
Ironic , isn't it!?
Well , like I said , the storyline isn't all too fascinating as a whole nor are the characters well-made. Their personalities aren't well reinforced and the fact that the elements from historical facts were hardly used detoriates it even further - well , only if you had read up on the Feudal Era of Japan anyway.
Whilst the story does have it fun moments and times , the fact that the protaginist is a prick ( How many times have I said it? ) , the lack of realistic conversations and characters and some of the elements of the storyline itself kinda depreciates it's value as a whole. Not to mention the fact that the game had intergrated some... forceful interactions into it's plotline. It may be avoidable but it's not predictable.
The only definitive trait of it's plotline is the flexibility and how one can change the entire course of the war and story to his will. One's actions can heavily affect the plotline and it requires MANY , MANY playthroughs to complete the game as it is not quite possible to get everything on the first go.
Rating:
Graphics
Artwork Review
First thing's first , the sprites of the characters.
The sprites of the characters were actually pretty well-made as it is always possible to find a distinct difference
between the characters within the game itself - and that's saying something as the game contains tons of
characters.
Amusingly enough , most of the girls wears costumes which reveals little or dons suit of armor for combat - which
contradicts the fact that this game contains more ero than plotline - but I suppose it's a logical and welcome
contradiction. ( Who on Earth wears skimpy clothing in combat? )
I wouldn't say that the lightning and shadowing of the characters are remarkable but the coloring scheme is
unusually soothing to the eyes despite the lack of luster in it's color tone.
There is little quality inconsistency as well as the coloring scheme of both the character sprites and the CGs are
similar and the artwork is about just as smooth in comparison.
Rating:
Sound
Music Review
The music is good - but not exactly distinct nor remarkable.
Whilst it does enchance the mood as a whole it does not exactly help raise the emotional levels of a scenario.
Certainly , without the music this whole game would be as stale as the white bread on my table but the music in this
game is only capable of sugar coating it but not fully deliver it's flavours as a whole... and heck , why am I
using food as an analogy?
Still , the music is strangely on theme with the game. Whilst it does bring about the thought of "old Japan" ,
it does also bring about the feeling that something is mixed into it - as it is supposed to be since we have someone as
ridiculous as Rance in the plotline.
Rating:
Fun
This is a Review of Sengoku
Rance
Harem game.
Yeah , that's it , Harem game.
Well , sure the game offers great flexibility in it's plotline and all but the plotline in itself isn't
exactly strong - nor are the characters remarkable in terms of their personality and traits.
The only reason why'd you ever play the game is either for the flexibility of the storyline to get the girls you
want or to get as many girls you want in a single game.
That is why this is one of the ultimate Harem games - though I have to admit strategy is involved in this game so
blindly charing into your enemy's lands is an equation to suicide and a ticket to the Game Over screen.
Preparations and a fair bit of thinking is still required out of this game and it takes a pretty long time to complete
even a single playthrough.
Overall : Others
Age Recommendation : 18+
Console : PC
Romance
.... Are you kidding me? Rance =/= Romance.
The equation is if there is Rance there is no romance and romance isn't going to be related to Rance.
This is a pure Harem game and even Uesugi's love at first sight isn't going to work on Rance's
ero-ness.
There's almost no romance to this game , or at least , Rance doesn't seem to hold much romantic feelings other
than the feelings down his navel for those girls he meet - but it may apply differently for the girls in
question.
Gameplay
This game is basically about building up your territory and army whilst using up the available action points for your
actions per turn.
Whilst it may sound simple - particularly so since it's a 2D game , much thinking is required and careful planning
is also needed for the player to reach a particular special ending if so desired.
There are multiple endings to the game and the way to get it isn't quite as easy compared to typical Visual Novels
since you need to fight through hordes of enemies , find the heroine in question , bring her to your side and gaining
her trust through flag events.
So in some ways , this isn't the typical sorts of Harem game your thinking about where the girls willingly throw
themselves to your chest and you accepting them.
You have to be the shameful one who tosses yourself at their feets , attack their country ( Or help them ) , throw them
into prison , shamelessly bring them out and make them your general.
Humor
This game does have it's occasional humor.
Nothing that would take your breath away , but it would still force you into a grin.
The general atmosphere of the game is already light-hearted - though it would force you into a darker atmosphere at
times , the general atmosphere of the game is light as the storyline is almost like a joke with a protaginist like
Rance.
Still , to truly "enjoy the game" , you have to be more open minded about things.
Some of the jokes can really turn the more "serious and upright" people into the state of discomfort.
H-Scenes
Well , there are multiple heroines per game... so... you get the idea.
Most H-Scenes are normal but there are also those of forceful interaction which may or may not be avoidable depending on
your actions - to make it worse , it's hard to predict when it would happen if it's your first time playing
the game.
Some of the "forceful interactions" are a bit hard to watch if your fond of the heroine whilst others are...
actually pretty comical but wrong in it's own way ( Usually involving Rance himself ) .
Well , if your going to play this game , you need to be more open to the idea of "forceful interactions"
otherwise your stomach may churn a bit uncomfortably even if it's displayed in a more "comical
way".
Trivia
- Sengoku Rance is the sequel of the older Rance series
Reviewer's Comment :
Now , how do I put it... I love the game and at the same time , I really hate it.
The flexibility of the storyline is one thing but the arse of a protaginist and forceful interactions between him and
the girls kinda kicks it out of my favourites.
Rating:
Final Verdict
5.8333 (average)
Reviewed by z827, Aug 01, 2011
Comments
-
angelxxuan Banned Member Aug 01, 2011
-
Caboose797 Feb 13, 2014
If you're a fan of strategy, check this one out for yourself. The game doesn't deserve the final rating given. Some people may find Rance's actions offensive or uncomfortable, but he has his moments of outrageous insanity. After all, he is a conqueror. Despite being a hentai game, this is by far one of the best strategy games I have ever played in its genre both in humor and in gameplay. Those hesitant on playing this one shouldn't be. You're truly missing out on something you may very well enjoy. It's challenging, addicting, and actually quite entertaining, but that's my opinion. What I think about the game doesn't matter. What matters is that there are many others that think so. One review like this one shouldn't deter you from making a decision without giving it a chance.
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