Romance & the Vampire Samurai Part I

Update: First of all it's been forever since I wrote anything on my blog, but the time has come, with the upcoming Peacemaker Kurogane movies and all the news on some actual good fan blogs: The Official Hijikata Toshizou Tumblr. I'll be the last blog you'll need for Peacemaker Kurogane news. Not that it will stop me from loving this series and writing, I'm just not a frequent writer.

Romance & the Vampire Samurai

I once before wrote how I'd give Hakuouki a try, I didn't have the chance at the time but recently I bought Hakuouki Kyoto Winds & Hakuouki Edo Blossoms for the Vita.

This is a review and I will talk about some spoilers and endings, so mind your step.
As of now, I haven't finished all the storylines yet. This going to be part one of a three-part review series I suspect.

First impressions: 

I adore the historical timeline and events following the footsteps of the Shinsengumi in a fictionalized way is why I play games like this. Now Hakuouki obviously has another ingredient: the supernatural. With the 'water of life', the dead can rise again and become 'Furies', a sort of vampire. It's interesting to note in the Japanese version they call the 'Furies': Rasetsu, which is the Japanese term for rakshasa, which are man-eating, bloodlust-maddened humanoid creatures from Hindu lore note. 
Sadly this cheapens the death of characters; there's almost always the 'saved by becoming a vampire'. Maybe I'm the dramatic kind but I like to feel stakes. Overall I've seen people call the endings bittersweet but so far they've just been sweet. More on that later. 

I'm not hugely impressed with Yukimura either she is a passive character it's kind of ridiculous sometimes especially because of spoilers; She's a demon herself, please girl get some spunk.

Currently, I've finished in both Kyoto winds and Edo blossoms: Hajime, Heisuke, Sannan, Susume and I am in the middle of Hachiro Iba's route. So I can't form a final opinion just yet. From what I've gathered Hijikata's route is well written so I'm saving it for a rainy day.
Though I'll mention the others I'll only be reviewing Heisuke and Hajime's routes in more detail. 

Toudou Heisuke

Toudou Heisuke is your angsty teenage boy, sweet, hot-headed and a little needy. He's the youngest of the comedian trio, a loudmouth and one of the few who loves you from the start. He wears his heart on his sleeve and he might have my favourite scene in Kyoto Winds.

In this scene, Heisuke has left the Shinsengumi and is with the Goryo Eji, Guards of the Emperor's tomb. He and Yukimura can no longer see each other and when they do, they have to pretend not to know each other.




'Maybe if we didn't meet through the Shinsengumi we could have met like this.. two strangers who meet in a teahouse by chance.' - Yukimura




Just like the characters, I wondered in this scene of what could have been. In my case, I dreamed of a bittersweet romance. I loath the underlining treat of death being taken away by a supernatural outcome. Heisuke dreads becoming a fury, which is understandable under the circumstances, but imagine the pain and fear in an outcome in which he dies. I wanted my historical ending instead of this retcon.
I enjoyed most of Heisuke's route, it was the first I played I am forever spoiled by the tearjerker Peacemaker Kurogane ANimix Aburanokouji Hen and nothing will ever be as right to me, so after the 'true' events going into the supernatural I was a bit turned off. Heisuke's angst for turning into a Furrie annoyed me and his whining became more noticeable.


No surprise I didn't enjoy Heisuke's part in Edo Blossom quite as much, the angsty Heisuke hated being a fury and so did I. 
Not to say I didn't still care for him but he made me wish this was a different kind of series. I wanted that game, which is unfair. Supernatural and all, compared to other routes it's good but not great.
I suppose we all have our favourites.

Saito Hajime

Saito the embodiment of the strong silent type.

Hajime Saito became the second route I played. I was looking forward to this one because I have a bit of a soft spot for almost ever rendition of the character. So note I'm biased.

I read another reviewer describing Hajime as cold and uncaring. She wasn't at all pleased with his storyline. In Kyoto winds I wasn't sure about Saito, he seems to protect you because he was ordered to do so. Mind you I like his character so I could probably bare a little more than most. I liked his departing from the Shinsengumi to join Itou (and how it connects to Edo Blossom). The snow bunny scene was adorable just like the scene in which Hajime cared for Yukimura when she was ill. The focus on his hands was prominent, which is sympathetic to me.
In Edo winds, I liked Hajime for not always being obvious and his more introspective side. If you want to be told loud and clear: "I love you", Hajime should not be your top pick since words are not his strong suit. He is subtle but sweet.
I enjoyed Hajime's route immensely. The supernatural aspect bothers me less if the character historically survives the events.

So far on the other characters:

From the original cast, I hadn't yet mentioned Kazama or Okita. I'm planning on doing Kazama's route but I haven't started yet. I'm not sure how I'll like it. But so far I'm on board with the voice actor. This Okita will never be how I like my Okita Souji. I love Peacemaker's Okita so much, it's hard to like this one at all. Honesty who knows I could change my mind, I was never romantically interested in any rendition of the character but his story might be good.
I just hope it'll be more than hearing him say: "I'm going to kill you" every other sentence. 

I was looking forward to the "Same Stuff, Different Day" crew. I finished Susume and Sanan, with Nagakura I've just finished Kyoto winds.

Susume was sweet, but nothing too special I liked the complete ending. Shinpachi was a bit disappointing in Kyoto winds. Maybe I played through it too fast but Sanan was terrible in my opinion. All together I felt little passion or chemistry with Yukimura and any of them.

The New, New. Iba, Souma, Sakamoto's routes. In Kyoto winds I've finished, Iba and Souma's. I don't feel much for Souma, I don't dislike him, I just don't care much.
But Hachiro Iba. Maybe it's by the grace of his voice actor: Miyano Mamoru. Maybe it's his gentle demeanour or his deep obvious love for Yukimura? Whatever it is I love everything about Iba. I hate to pick a none Shinsengumi member but I'm afraid depending on his story in Edo Blossoms Iba might be my favourite. He's the prince charming everyone aspires to be or to have I suppose.

I'll have to finish, Hijikata, Harada, Kazama, Iba, Souma, Shinpachi and Sakamoto to give my full opinion. So stay tuned for part II.