Sakura Wars (2019)

Some further first impressions of the new Sakura Wars:

• The game is gorgeous. This is what every anime-style game wishes it could look like. The character models, and the buildings and levels -- everything looks fantastic.
• The music is very nice too! I'll probably be listening to some of the calmer tunes when I need some background noise. It's some really soothing stuff. Plus there's the classic theme song still, with various renditions of it scattered throughout. Can always count on the OP to get everyone pumped up for a steampunk smackdown.
• One thing I think is a bummer is that the game is not 100% voiced. It's a shame particularly when the game is so much about performance and acting in general. All the VAs seem perfect for their roles too, so I wish they could've covered everything. Perhaps that's asking too much for what's surely a visual novel's length of text, but I would've liked Sega to pull all the stops for this long-awaited return.
• But speaking of theatrics, everyone going into this should keep in mind how much this is basically a hot-blooded shounen fighter on top of being a cute and silly romcom drama. At one point early on, the protagonist gives a long, rousing speech on how he needs to STOP giving up and just BELIEVE in himself and his squad... It's very basic stuff, but the game does feel self-aware in a campy sort of way. Like, the lights magically go dim for this scene, and afterward a spotlight shines down on him once his mech unit is promptly air-dropped. The theatrics are not confined to just the theater itself, let's put it that way.
• The gameplay has been a sticking point for some people. Maybe I'm just easy to please, but I've found it perfectly fine (once I swapped to a better button layout in-game). It's a simple sort of Warriors type of hack-and-slash. But again, it all looks stunning. Those mechs are just too cool, and the presentation for the game in general is slick too. I'll have to give the game more time, but I found the first action stage enjoyable (albeit very easy).
• And really, the action is a side dish to the main course, that being the actual story and its accompanying relationship management elements. Fans of recent Persona games should definitely be checking this one out -- at least those who were really into the day sim and romance elements.