サクラ大戦 (Sakura Taisen / Sakura Wars)
The year is 1923, everything is powered by steam, and Tokyo is enjoying the peace and prosperity. Howver, darkness once again appears. In order to protect the capital, a group of chosen young maidens are entrust with the task...
Fresh from the naval academy, ensign Ohgami Ichiro thought he will have the chance to serve his country with his first posting. Instead he is assigned to the Imperial Theatre, as a "do-it-all" employee. Just when he thought he will quit, he is handed the captaincy of the Imperial Floral Assault Force - Flower Division. Can he lead the maidens properly and protect the capital from the evil forces??
サクラ大戦 was originally a game released by SEGA in 1996, with the story written by 広井 王子(Hiroi Ouji), and character designed by 藤島康介 (Fujishima Kosuke). Since then, 4 video game sequels were released, along with numerous "fun" video game releases for both PC and various platforms. In 2003, 7 years after the first release, a new version of the first game, retitled サクラ大戦 ～熱き血潮に～ is released for PS2, the de facto platform for all future releases.
5 OVAs, 1 TV series and 1 movie were made along the way as the success of the franchise grows, along with yearly live stage productions done by the CVs.
Links:
サクラ大戦.com (Official Site, Japanese)
A quick guide for the games...
サクラ大戦
(1996 for PC, SEGA SATURN, Dreamcast)
Playing as Ohgami Ichiro, you must lead the girls into battle and defeat the evil forces. Before that though, you better be ready to earn the girls' trusts through daily conversions.
サクラ大戦２ ～君、死にたもうことなかれ～
(1998 for PC, SEGA SATURN, Dreamcast)
Year 1925, the evil forces has gathered once again, and as Ohgami Ichiro, you will need to lead the girls again to defend the capital. This time, two members from the disbanded "Star division" will join your team, can you keep the team together??
サクラ大戦３ ～巴里は燃えているか～
(2001 for PC, Dreamcast, PS2)
After the end of the last game, as Ohgami Ichiro, you have been assigned to Paris for "studying", but you ended up being asked to lead a new Paris Assault Force. Can you get this team working, with one of them was a ex-criminal??
サクラ大戦４ ～恋せよ乙女～
(2002 for PC, Dreamcast, PS2)
Featuring all members from both Tokyo and Paris Assault Force, can you, as Ohgami, keep the girls in line and defeat the the evil forces looming against Tokyo??
サクラ大戦 ～熱き血潮に～
(2003, PS2)
As mentioned before, a new verison of the original game ported to PS2 with new CG and re-recorded audio done by the original CVs.
サクラ大戦物語 ～ミステリアス巴里～
(2004, PS2)
A new story for the Paris Assault Force, set 6 months after サクラ大戦４ ～恋せよ乙女～. The first story in the franchise not featuring Ohgami as the lead character.
Also the first game to be released on one platform only...
サクラ大戦Ｖ EPISODE 0 ～荒野のサムライ娘～
(2004, PS2)
A prequel for サクラ大戦Ｖ. Set in America, 1927, your character is on a long journey from Texas to... New York?!
サクラ大戦Ｖ ～さらば愛しき人よ～
(2005, PS2)
Set in New York, 1928. As Taiga Shinjiro, you are assigned to the new New York Assault Force. Guess what will happen next...
サクラ大戦 桜華絢爛 (1997 - 1998)
4-episodes OVA
Before watching it, better make sure you have a little bit of understanding to the story first, because the series is mostly an extended version for the background story. Mostly catered towards the fans.
Dino's Rating: 6
Will Girls Like It: Maybe
サクラ大戦 轟華絢爛 (1999 - 2000)
6-episodes OVA
A bunch of "flashback" episodes from Ohgami's perspectives before his assignment to Paris, they foucs more on character development than actions, though there are still lots of actions...
Dino's Rating: 7
Will Girls Like It: Maybe
サクラ大戦 (2000)
25-episodes TV
A "alternate" version to the game and the first OVA. More suitable for people who have never played the game nor heard about the story before.
Dino's Rating: 7
Will Girls Like It: Maybe
サクラ大戦 活動写真 (2001)
80-minute movie
Set at the end of サクラ大戦３, while Ohgami is coming back to Tokyo from Paris, things are not going smoothly for the Imperial Assault Force...
The first ever movie for the franchise, with crisp animation and CG. Simply one of the best.
Dino's Rating: 8
Will Girls Like It: Possible
『サクラ大戦』～神崎すみれ引退記念～「す・み・れ」 (2002)
1-episode OVA
When 富沢 美智恵 (Tomizawa Michie) decided she will "retired" from the live stage performance for サクラ大戦, the creators decided to give her a final send-off live performance, as well as OVA treatment for her character, Kanzaki Sumire. The result is this OVA.
It is pretty rare for an anime character to get this kind of treatment, then again, it will be hard for them to find a replacement...
Dino's Rating: 8
Will Girls Like It: Maybe
サクラ大戦『エコール･ド･巴里』 (2003)
3-episodes OVA
The first episode covers the early beginnings of the Paris Assault Force, with the girls being introduced. The second episode centered on Lobelia before joining the Force, and the final episode shows one of the main villains for the first time.
Pretty good production based on the 3rd game. The CG fight sequence for the Korbu was eye-poping! Too bad the OVA still assumes you have played the PS2 game before, but it is still OK.
Dino's Rating: 7
Will Girls Like It: Maybe
サクラ大戦『ル・ヌーヴォー・巴里』 (2004 - 2005)
3-episodes OVA
I have not watch it yet...
サクラ大戦
?-volume manga
I will post the review once I finished reading them all...