Hakuoki: Demon of the Fleeting Blossom for PSP Reviews by Gamers

I rented this game entirely because of the weirdly titled emails Aksys was sending me about it, so I went in knowing essentially nothing about the game itself. As it turns out, that was a great decision.

Idea Factory is infamous for somewhat exaggerated marketing with their games. Hakuoki claims to be an "otome" - essentially the female version of Japanese dating sims - but in reality that element is practically nonexistent until the last two chapters and minimal even then. It's entirely possible to enjoy the game even if you're like me and entirely uninterested in those elements.

More important than gender to whether you'll enjoy this game is your patience for reading. Hakuoki's tells a very well-written story set in the Meiji Restoration period of Japan. Almost all the characters and events are based on actual people, so it's extremely interesting to play if you're into history like me.

That said, Hakuoki can only be called a game in the broadest sense of the word. It is essentially a supernatural historical fiction version of the "Choose Your Own Adventure" books. You will never directly control the protagonist at any point in the game and your control over the story is limited to choosing actions, paths, etc . The choices are generally interesting an can affect the story in a wider variety of ways than almost any other game I've ever played, but in the end that's it. If you're looking for any sort of an action game, this isn't it.

Hakuoki earns an 8 because its strong story and incredible branching. I take a point off because the game is frustratingly slow in a couple places (especially the beginning; I almost gave up) and because I would've liked to see the protagonist become a bit more combat-capable by the end.

If you're the type that's willing to exchange gameplay for a truly fascinating story, Hakuoki is for you. Otherwise, I recommend looking elsewhere.