Sakura Wars 2: Thou Shalt Not Die

The second installment in the main Sakura Wars series, it was released in April 1998 and later ported to other systems, including to the Dreamcast in September 2000.

Defined as a "dramatic adventure" game, Sakura Wars 2 combines overlapping tactical role-playing, dating sim and visual novel gameplay elements.

Taking place one year after the events of the original Sakura Wars, the game follows the protagonist, Imperial Japanese Navy Ensign Ichiro Ogami, and the all-female Flower Division of the Imperial Combat Revue as they fight against new supernatural entities in Tokyo as well as hostile political forces led by Keigo Kyogoku, the story's main antagonist.

The game was directed by Akira Nishino and Hirotada Hashimoto, written by Satoru Akahori and produced by veteran Sega designer Noriyoshi Ohba.

The characters were designed by Kōsuke Fujishima and Hidenori Matsubara, the anime FMV sequences were produced by Production I.G, and the music was composed by Kohei Tanaka.

Sakura Wars 2: Thou Shalt Not Die is a cross-genre video game in which the player controls Ichiro Ogami and the all-female "Flower Division" of the Imperial Combat Revue, whose objective is to stop Keigo Kyogoku from conquering Japan.

Dubbed a "dramatic adventure" game and taking place across 13 episodes, the gameplay segments incorporate tactical role-playing, dating sim and visual novel elements.

[1][2] Gameplay is divided between periods where Ogami navigates the Grand Imperial Theater and interacts with various characters, and combat sequences governed by a turn-based battle system upon a tilted grid-based battlefield.

As the Imperial Combat Revue continue to fight against the Black Demons, they learn that Kyogoku has orchestrated events to reactivate Musashi, a dormant magical weapon, and rule as Japan's emperor.

The Flower Division, supported by Yoneda and Kaede leading the remains of the Imperial Combat Revue, launch an assault on Musashi using their ship, the Mikasa.

Series creator Oji Hiroi returned as general producer, Tomoyuki Ito as chief director, Satoru Akahori as writer, Hidenori Matsubara and Kōsuke Fujishima as the character designers, and Kohei Tanaka as composer.

[8] The development team used the basic work done for Sakura Wars while expanding and improving existing battle and dialogue functions, in addition to taking player feedback into consideration while making alterations.

After finishing recording Ayame's part for Sakura Wars, Orikasa assumed she would not be used for future games, but she was surprised when asked to return.

Leni's theme was a subdued piece, with Tanaka writing in the key of D-flat to suit Ikura's voice without thinking of Reni's character.

Teikoku Kagekidan", performed by Chisa Yokoyama, Urara Takano, Michie Tomizawa, Kumiko Nishihara, Yuriko Fuchizaki, Mayumi Tanaka, Okamoto and Ikura.

The ending theme, "Continuation of the Dream", was performed by Yokoyama, Takano, Tomizawa, Nishihara, Fuchizaki, Tanaka, Okamoto, Ikura and Ai Orikasa.

[24] Wider localization efforts for the series were prevented due to Sega's uncertainty as to whether the game's blend of genres would find a profitable audience outside Japan.

[25] An attempt to localize the game's PSP port by an unspecified company were halted when Sony refused to approve the project.

[31] According to Weekly Famitsu, Japan bought 501,066 units of Sakura Wars 2 during the first half of 1998, which made it the country's eighth-best-selling game for the period.

[38] An OVA series titled Sakura Wars: The Radiant Gorgeous Blooming Cherry Blossoms was released between 1999 and 2000, produced by Radix Ace Entertainment and supervised by Red Company.