Hakuoki (薄桜鬼 〜新選組奇譚〜, Hakuōki ~Shinsengumi Kitan~, Demon of the Fleeting Blossom: The Tale of the Shinsengumi) is a Japanese otome video game series by Idea Factory, first released for the PlayStation 2 on the 18th September 2008 and ported to many other platforms.
A short anime television series adaptation of a new instalment of the game, titled Hakuoki: Otogisōshi and produced by DLE, aired from April to June 2016.
Hakuoki's gameplay requires little interaction from the player as most of the game's duration is spent on reading the text that appears, representing either dialogue between the characters, narration, or the inner thoughts of the protagonist.
When interacting with the chosen heroes with the routes, an "affection meter" is created which is raised by giving them an answer that pleases them.
It also included all the basic functions such as CG Gallery, Music List, Scene Recollection, and skip options.
Once completing a route, player can unlock the ‘Record of Service’ to select exactly which chapter they would like to start the next play through on, as well as adjusting the bachelor's affection level to access the different endings.
Making sure the corruption level is low is crucial to prevent the player from reaching bad ends.
Upon learning that she is a girl and the daughter of a doctor who developed the Water of Life elixir that turns those that drink it into invincible blood lusting berserkers called Furies (羅刹, Rasetsu, lit.
Following the success of the original game, a prequel titled Hakuoki: Reimeiroku (薄桜鬼 黎明録) is released on October 28, 2010, for PlayStation 2.
Two updated versions of the game, Hakuoki: Reimeiroku Nagorigusa (薄桜鬼 黎明録 名残り草) and Hakuoki: Reimeiroku - Omouhase Kara (薄桜鬼 黎明録 思馳せ空), are released for PlayStation 3 on June 28, 2012, and PlayStation Vita on July 2, 2015, respectively.
A sequel, Hakuoki: Yuugiroku Ni – Matsuri Hayashi to Taishitachi (薄桜鬼 遊戯録弐 祭囃子と隊士達), is released on October 18, 2012, this time with the theme of games found on festival stalls.
An updated version of both games, Hakuoki: Yuugiroku Tai-shi-tachi no dai enkai (薄桜鬼 遊戯録 隊士達の大宴会), which includes both games and additional content based on Kyoto Winds and Edo Blossoms, is released on November 17, 2016, for PlayStation Vita.
The action RPG games of the series, Hakuoki: Bakumatsu Musouroku (薄桜鬼 幕末無双録) and Hakuoki: Kyoukaroku (薄桜鬼 鏡花録) are released on March 22, 2012, for PlayStation Vita and December 19, 2013, for PlayStation Vita, respectively.
Unlike the original game that requires little interactions, Urakata Hakuoki is an action RPG, in which the player plays as Kozue, moving her freely on Map Screen, exploring areas where she can get various items, and battling enemies.
The game later received an updated version titled Urakata Hakuoki: Akatsuki no Shirabe (裏語 薄桜鬼～暁の調べ～) on August 7, 2014.
Hakuoki SSL: Sweet School Life (薄桜鬼 SSL), released for PlayStation Vita on March 27, 2014, unlike the other games, the story is set in modern times with Chizuru and the other characters from the original game introduced as students or teachers going to the same school.
The first, entitled Hakuoki Junrenka, is serialized in the shōjo manga magazine Dengeki Comic SYLPH, and is an anthology of the different endings available in the video games.
The game was adapted into 22-episode anime television series split into two seasons, produced by Studio Deen and directed by Osamu Yamasaki; Hakuoki: Demon of the Fleeting Blossom aired from April 4 to June 20, 2010, and Hakuoki: Record of the Jade Blood aired from October 10 to December 12, 2010.
After the success of the TV series, Studio Deen released two anime films, which are the alternate retelling of the game.
A 12-episode short anime adaptation of a new instalment of the game, titled Hakuoki: Otogisōshi, was produced by DLE and aired from April 5 to June 28, 2016.
The musical includes aside from the usual dancing and singing also sword fights, which were supervised by Yuta Morokaji, Shinnosuke Motoyama and Yasuhiro Roppongi.
April 2023 17.→ Musical Hakuoki Shinkai - Hijikata Toshizou's route『ミュージカル『薄桜鬼 真改』～土方歳三篇～』April 2024 The blue background markes the main role
The updated remake of the game, Kyoto Winds and Edo Blossoms also received positive review.
Kyoto Winds is given the score of 83 from the same site based on 8 Critic reviews, once again praising the remake for its solid characters and story-telling.
[16] Edo Blossoms is given the score of 75, also from the same site, based on 9 Critic reviews, praising the inclusion of new characters that give fans new perceptive, but feels that the story's finale is not quite as interesting as its beginning.
The site also praised the inclusion of additional events and terminology highlighted during conversations for an easy glossary look up, though criticised the lack of interactive element within the game.
He praised the studio's way of properly integrating fantasy element into the actual history, the design of the male characters, and the music for using heavy, dark tones for its action and dramatic scenes, which "lends intensity and even an occasional amount of creepiness to the content."
However, he criticised the plotlines about Chizuru looking for her father and the motivations of the various devils afoot in the setting are not handled properly due to the history portrayed in the series.
He also criticised Chizuru's role as a heroine for following the typical reverse harem protagonist being damsel-in-distress that needs to be rescued.
[19] THEM praised the well-executed art and the amount of depth and genuine drama in the story and the action scenes.