Description

"Sakura Tsuushin," also known as "Sakura Diaries," is a visual novel video game released for the Sega Saturn console in the late 1990s, developed by KID and based on the popular manga series of the same name by U-Jin. The game places players in the role of Touma Inaba, a young man who failed his college entrance exams but tells his cousin, Urara Kasuga, that he succeeded. The story unfolds as Touma tries to maintain this facade while attending a preparatory school and navigating relationships with multiple women, including Urara, who harbors feelings for him. The gameplay primarily involves reading through the narrative and making choices at key points, which influence the direction and outcome of the story, leading to multiple possible endings.

The game is noteworthy for its exploration of complex romantic relationships and emotional entanglements, set against the backdrop of the pressures of Japanese educational and societal expectations. As a visual novel, "Sakura Tsuushin" offers an in-depth story with rich character development, accentuated by static graphics and voice acting that bring the characters to life. The gameplay mechanics are typical of the visual novel genre, focusing on narrative choices rather than action or strategy elements. This title is particularly significant for fans of the manga and anime, as it expands on the storylines and characters they enjoy, presenting them in an interactive format that was relatively unique at the time of its release.