In a remarkable development for enthusiasts of the Sakura Wars franchise, the English fan translation of Sakura Wars 2: Thou Shalt Not Die has finally been completed after nearly two decades. Originally launched in 1998 for the SEGA Saturn, this sequel continues the saga of the Imperial Combat Revue’s Flower Division as they confront demonic menaces threatening Tokyo. The newly available translation patch can be obtained from various repositories, with an additional Portuguese version crafted by a team led by Gopicolo, collaborating closely with the English team.
Project Background
Over the years, Sakura Wars has captivated audiences through its unique amalgamation of tactical RPG elements and visual novel storytelling, enriched by character interactions set against a Taisho-era steampunk backdrop. This sequel not only introduces fresh characters but also enhances the depth of strategic gameplay, providing more intricate ways for players to engage with the narrative.
Voice Acting Opportunities
Alongside the translation news, auditions have commenced for an original English dubbing of the Sakura Wars OVAs 1 and 2, led by the user known as burntends. Aspiring voice actors can currently submit their auditions for this exciting project, which broadens the reach of the series even further.
Translation Team Contributions
The successful localization effort was made possible by a dedicated group of contributors, each playing a pivotal role in the project’s completion:
- Project Lead: NoahSteam
- Reverse Engineering, Programming, and Tools: NoahSteam, TrekkiesUnite118
- Translation Leads: MattoBii, CrouchingMouse
- Translation Team: Natsume38, Neko, MatatabiMitsu
- Lead Editor: BowlOfLentils
- Editors: Burntends, CrouchingMouse, MattoBii, Natsume38
- Graphics Modification: Dyn0muTT, Joqu, Gong Xian, TrekkiesUnite118, NoahSteam, MattoBii, SaturnDave
- Movie Subtitles: TrekkiesUnite118
- Testers: BowlOfLentils, cj_iwakura, TrekkiesUnite118
- Talent Recruitment: Burntends
- Trailer Production: Edited by TrekkiesUnite118, Audio Mixing by Shadowmask, VO by CrouchingMouse
Future Developments
With the translations of both mainline Sakura Wars titles and additional entries like Hanagumi Taisen Columns 2 and Sakura Wars GB now fully realized, attention is shifting towards the third installment, Sakura Wars 3: Is Paris Burning?, which remains under active development.