Sakura MMO Review – Unleash Your Inner Witch

The Isekai or ‘fish out of water’ genre of writing has dominated the world of anime since its inception. The simulated videogame world is a popular offshoot of this genre, featuring in multiple game series such as .hack and Death end re;Quest. Today, we take a look at a game where living in a virtual game world provides a fun new lease on life.

Introduction

Sakura MMO is a short visual novel which includes an 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 12th August, 2022. It is the first entry in a spin-off mini series of Winged Cloud and Gamuzumi’s ongoing ‘Sakura’ pretty anime girl games.

The game is mostly set in the medieval fantasy world of Asaph. Kotone and her alternative persona Viola are our protagonist, as Viola decides to shed her previous antisocial nature and indulge in her yuri fantasy of forming a harem of beautiful girls under her control. The fiercely loyal servant Neve, the bumbling thief Fion, and the stoic knight Eleri are all in Viola’s sights.

Story

After discovering the magical MMO world of Asaph Online, filled with fantastical creatures and frightening monsters, Kotone fantasises about living in such a world permanently. Kotone is your average twenty-something woman who works a tiring city job as a lawyer, disconnected from her old friends and family. She lives a largely boring, uneventful, and lonely existence, or at least she did.

Asaph Online soon becomes more than just a game, as a mysterious force summons Kotone into this world. Now, Kotone isn’t simply Kotone anymore, but now her avatar: the dark witch Viola. Freed from her past obligations, she finally decides to have some fun, and become the powerful enchantress she always secretly wanted to be.

Kotone tries to embrace Viola’s appearance, her magical powers, and her menacing reputation. She may have been a deeply sadistic woman once, but even she has a soft side. Enslaving other adventurers into being her devoted minions, her growing entourage of allies might just help her find a more satisfying balance between heroism and villainy, and maybe find love along the way.

Progression

Sakura MMO 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 feature, allowing you to jump ahead or skip through the game entirely if you’re so inclined. Text display speed can be adjusted from the main menu.

The game doubles as one of those notoriously easy-to-platinum games. You can skip all dialogue entirely, flashing through text instantly to get your platinum trophy in as little as ten minutes. You’ll need three playthroughs (more or less) to unlock every dialogue choice option and every trophy. For a genuine playthrough, expect a good couple of hours of content.

Graphics/Sound

Sakura MMO features some of Winged Cloud’s very best artwork to date. Characters are bright, colourful, and expressive from scene to scene. As per usual for ecchi-themed developer Winged Cloud, focus is placed on the all-female cast of characters, with the featured ladies always being unapologetically gorgeous. Characters aren’t animated and will only move or gesture as their sprites are regenerated after each line of dialogue advances.

Sadly, there are no independent blinking or lip-syncing attempts, not that the characters are voiced anyway. This is another lower-budget visual novel, and so it’s fully text-based. Fortunately, there is a beautifully atmospheric soundtrack throughout to accompany the brilliantly detailed backdrop images and cute anime girls.

Conclusion

Sakura MMO isn’t your usual Isekai story. This isn’t simply a case of a lost soul stepping out of their comfort zone and trying to find a way home, but rather embracing a new home and a new life, becoming a liberated version of one’s self in nothing less than pure fantasy fulfillment.

Kotone, or rather Viola, is a great protagonist. She’s the embodiment of wish-fulfillment as she tries and largely succeeds in unleashing her playful, villainous side, but deep down, she has a lot of love to give. There is absolutely a powerful love story here as Viola finds a kindred spirit among a new entourage of friends.

Viola displays a charming confidence and desire which only grow as the story progresses. There’s a raw, sexual undercurrent that builds throughout, and depending on the route chosen, might just be unleashed by the end. Expect a delicious display of fan-service which works surprisingly well, and could actually benefit from less censorship rather than more.