Sega announces Sakura Taisen 4 for Dreamcast

[06.25.01] » Sega holds on the to the DC for one last hurrah; two additional Sakura Taisen games on the way.

   Though Sega has been adamant that it will continue to support the Dreamcast even after its move to third party developer, most of the major Sega franchises have found their way to new platforms. The Sakura Taisen series, developed jointly Red Company and Sega's own Overworks, was previously confirmed to be on its way to the PlayStation 2 in some form. However, in a conference today in Japan, Sega announced that the sequel to Sakura Taisen 3 is in development for Dreamcast and will be released in the spring of 2002.

   Sega's support of the beleaguered console this far into the future may come as a surprise, but Sakura Taisen 3 was one of the biggest titles in the Dreamcast's short life. If any franchise can get apathetic Japanese gamers to support the DC one last time, it's Sakura Taisen. No details were given about the game, but it should maintain the same mix of strategic battles and dating that made the past games a success in Japan.

   In addition to a true sequel on the Dreamcast, Sega also announced two more Sakura Taisen games. Sakura Taisen Online (tentative title) for Dreamcast will be released this December and is listed as an "online theme park." Little is known about the game, but from the genre it will most likely not have much in common with the core series' gameplay. The other, Sakura Taisen GB 2, is coming to the Game Boy Color - not the GBA - and will likely be a direct sequel to the previous GBC Sakura Taisen game.

  A new game in one of Sega's leading franchises should should keep the system on life support well into next year. Though the game has only been announced for Dreamcast, Sega's previous announcement that they would be bringing the series to PS2 may mean an eventual port is in the works.

   Look for more info on Sakura Taisen 4 to surface soon.