Just as Sakura Wars 2 took the original and pushed it into the stratosphere, improving every inch for a bold, masterpiece of a blank check video game, Sakura Wars 3 makes 2 look like a warm-up.

Besides the obvious graphical upgrade you'd expect from a new console, the gameplay (while still simple and easy) has been completely redone, transformed into what would eventually evolve into Valkyria Chronicles's thrilling semi-real-time strategy. Suddenly, fights have a real energy to them, bolstered only by the very charming animation from the 3D models.

Course, the real highlight here is the writing. Is there a better cast in all of games? Every single character is bursting with personality and love; everybody is a caricature, but also deeply complex, bouncing off each other and evolving with propulsive force and often surprising naturalism. Truly felt like family by the end. Which would be enough, but then the game manages to have a lot to say without throwing out the series' trademark camp and 90s anime bravado! It talks about war and national identity, the way the places we live influence our person, how oppression and jingoism breed. What is home when you are displaced, when you don't have one anymore, ya know?

It's beautiful, it's funny, it's rousing and touching makes you feel whole. Sakura Wars 3 believes in humans with all its heart, and it makes me want to believe in them too. One of the greatest games ever made.

Sakura Taisen 3 ~Pari wa Moeteiru ka~ (alternatively known as Sakura Wars 3: Is Paris Burning?) is the third entry in Sega's long-running Sakura Taisen series released for the Sega Dreamcast in 2001. Sakura Taisen 3 also happens to be my favorite entry in the series and for good reason! Sakura Taisen 3 is a fun, refreshing tactical RPG featuring a blend of overlapping visual novel/dating sim gameplay elements, mecha, french art inspirations, and time management aspects all wrapped up in an anime and musical theatre dressing.

From its opening sequence, Sakura Taisen 3 welcomes you with a vibrant opening track scored by the talented and prolific, Kohei Tanaka (best known for his work on One Piece) paired with the beautifully animated cutscenes by Production I.G setting the stage for a hell of a first impression as it eases you into the romantic backdrop of the streets of Paris filled with flashy intros of the game's central cast. While Sakura Taisen 1 laid the groundwork for the series' battle system and setting with Sakura Taisen 2 providing a deeper look into the world itself in addition to sporting some of the best writing in the series, Sakura Taisen 3 takes all of these ideas and not only refines them but continues to build upon and strengthen what makes the series so great. Keeping the series' staple systems, Sakura Taisen 3 represented a new direction for the development team as the engine and gameplay were rebuilt entirely in order to utilize the full power of the Dreamcast.

Following the events of Sakura Taisen 2, once again, you are placed into the shoes of series protagonist, Ichiro Ogami as he joins the recently established Paris Assault Force and is tasked with training their all-female "Paris Division" modeled on Ogami's original group from Tokyo, dedicated to the act of protecting the city from supernatural threats all while maintaining their cover as a cabaret act at the Les Chatte Noir nightclub. In typical series fashion, these girls are also extremely talented mech pilots, each girl sporting a unique and likable personality as well. With previous entries having 2d combat, Sakura Taisen 3 features a combat system fully realized in 3d with crisp new animations, making each of the game's combat segments spread over its eleven chapters run more invigorating than the last. Sakura Taisen 3 also adapts the series philosophy of mixing visual novel and turn-based strategy exceptionally well. For a major portion of the game, you'll be introduced to new characters, each with their own individual problems in which you aim to help solve their problems as part of their training. Most of these issues are often solved through the game's gameplay segments, a neat parallel with the gameplay often working in favor of the story as the group overcomes these troubles through teamwork often resulting in either flashy skirmishes or a satisfying boss battle. While formulaic in structure, this gameplay dynamic serves to help paint a more intimate portrait into the lives of each crew member while also helping to close each subplot satisfyingly as you begin to become invested in your fellow crew member's growth.

Sakura Taisen 3 also marks the return of the series iconic LIPS system. Simply put, the LIPS system involves Ogami making dialogue choices in a short manner of time that affects the outcome in a variety of events even extending to some combat scenarios. The true beauty of the LIPS system lies in its creativity in its implementation. With a quick tilt of the analog stick, the intensity of Ogami's responses can be heightened or lowered making simple actions like raising a toast much more engaging and as a result, adds a lot of personality to the dialogue. However, the LIPS system wouldn't quite work as well if Sakura Taisen 3's writing wasn't so fun and enjoyable. While the game does a great job at humanizing its cast through exploring their personal troubles, the main strength in its writing comes from its disassembling the notion that its cast is no more than a motley crew of anime tropes in human form. It's surprising when Sakura Taisen 3's main girl, Erica Fontaine, a clumsy, submachine gun-toting nun, has a subplot that heavily focuses on her motivations for maintaining her overbrimming enthusiasm in the face of a situation that's largely been filled with desperation and despair, shared as a common sentiment among her fellow crew members. While Erica's clumsiness does result in several personality clashes within the group, the group begrudgingly learns to work towards their common goals, and Erica's presence as an entertaining heroine throughout the game is only further cemented by her future interactions that mark her growth as a person and as a member of the Paris Assault Force.

All in all, Sakura Taisen 3 is a masterclass in character writing and an overall refinement of what makes the series so great. Sometimes moody and sometimes campy, Sakura Taisen revels in developing its cast through meaningful gameplay interactions that actively build upon the foundation of previous gameplay systems of its predecessors. With an extremely memorable narrative oozing with charm, Sakura Taisen 3 is a game that at times made me smile, laugh, tug at my heartstrings, and had me extremely emotional by the time the credits rolled as its ending theme "Future (Voyage)" played despite its cheesy lyrics. With a beautiful score and well-animated cutscenes accompanying its innovative hybrid gameplay, Sakura Taisen 3 is without a doubt the definitive Sakura Taisen game and possibly one of the best jrpgs on the Dreamcast. While it's a shame the game is largely tucked away from the public view due to the language barrier, in my eyes, Sakura Taisen 3 is a JRPG classic near and dear to my heart that will remain one of my personal favorites and a game I'll continue to talk about for years to come.