Sakura MMO 3 Review – A Terrific Trilogy Of Titillation

Aaaaand we’re back with part 3 of this outstanding visual novel series. With so many highs and barely a low to complain about, it’s been a series well worth visiting. A good visual novel really is hard to find, and Sakura MMO has really been getting the job done. Let’s return to the sexy adventures of the dark witch Viola and her ever-growing harem of anime hotties.

Introduction

Sakura MMO 3 is a direct sequel to Sakura MMO and Sakura MMO 2, continuing the story of Viola the dark witch shortly after the events of the previous chapter. It is the third of four entries in its self-contained series of Winged Cloud’s ongoing ‘Sakura’ pretty anime girl games. It is intended to be the final chapter in the main story-arc trilogy.

The game continues the regular theme of fan-service throughout the adventure. Again, it is a short visual novel which includes another easy platinum trophy. The game was developed by Winged Cloud and published by ecchi visual novel specialist Gamuzumi, arriving on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 as a cross-buy title on 4th November, 2022.

Sakura MMO 3 takes on a heck of a lot from a narrative standpoint. We have five very different endings to choose from, with each alternative route shaping not only Viola’s outcome during the final battle, but also her future within the world of Asaph and beyond. She could even find true love among her harem of hotties.

Story

It’s now been a few months since former lawyer Kotone abandoned her boring old life and became Viola, her avatar in her favourite MMORPG, Asaph Online. Once a cruel and ruthless mistress, Viola has found joy in the companionship she shares with the growing number of beautiful girls recruited into her harem, while also exploring her wildest and most intimate fantasies with them.

Now embracing the spirit of adventure that Asaph provides, Viola and her group have made some shocking new discoveries by exploring the far reaches of Asaph. A mysterious fellow witch named Gardenia has revealed that she was the one who summoned Viola and Eleri into Asaph’s world in order to rally an army to combat a powerful new threat to this world.

Previously trapped in the underworld beneath Asaph, the fallen goddess Iona has begun to stir, plotting to bring an end to Asaph for good. Viola and her entourage may be immensely powerful, but can they stand up to the power of a goddess? Our decisions in preparation for this upcoming battle have never been more important.

Progression

In the same style as its predecessors, Sakura MMO 3 utilises a single-button interface to move the text forward. Tapping the Cross button will move the text on to the next line or paragraph, while tapping L1 allows you to rewind to the last line. Pressing the Square button will let the text auto-play, while R1 acts as a fast-forward option, allowing you to skip ahead at a vastly accelerated rate.

Text display speed can be adjusted from the main menu. A genuine playthrough will likely take around two hours, as is the norm for the series, but the additional endings this time and bonus epilogue chapter will likely double or even triple your playtime. As before, the game features an easy platinum trophy, though you’ll need to think a little more strategically than before.

If you wish, you can skip all dialogue entirely, flashing through text instantly to get your platinum trophy in as little as ten minutes. There are five different endings to see this time, and so you’ll either want to make five separate playthroughs to explore every dialogue route, or utilise some save-file manipulation to jump back to key dialogue route choices.

Graphics/Sound

Like the previous chapters, Sakura MMO 3 features some of Winged Cloud’s prettiest artwork, though some still images and returning character sprites are often reused here and there. Characters are bright, colourful, and expressive from scene to scene. As per usual for ecchi-themed developer Winged Cloud, full focus is placed on the all-female cast of characters, with the featured ladies always being beautiful, and sporting a variety of sexy outfits.

Again, characters aren’t animated and will only move or gesture as their sprites are regenerated after each line of dialogue advances, with no independent blinking or lip-syncing, however characters in the Sakura series are not voiced anyway. This is another lower-budget visual novel, and so it’s fully text-based. The atmospheric soundtrack returns to accompany the brilliantly detailed backdrop images and gorgeous anime girls.

Conclusion

Don’t worry, if finding true love among an entourage of sexy followers doesn’t feel quite right for Viola, then the harem route has you covered. Dialogue choices make more of an impact in relationships than ever before. Eleri, Neve, and Fion are all collectively lovers now, but player choices are required to keep them that way. It’s finally time to choose polygamy or monogamy, and it’s a surprisingly tough decision.

Its not all sex and girly banter though, as we now have far more of a globetrotting adventure than we’ve seen before. It’s also an adventure that cuts back on the filler to deliver a truly enthralling experience. We’ll reunite with every character we’ve met along the way, and several others too, and everyone is packed full of charm and unique identity.

Sakura MMO 3 is a superb adventure that’s wrapped up nicely in its ending routes. It delivers a stunning narrative which ups the spirit of adventure factor without compromising on character arcs and emotional twists. I’m left increasingly curious about what goes on behind the scenes in the uncensored version of the game, yet we retain enough raw sexuality here to deliver a fresh and compelling tale.