Hakuouki: Series Introduction
Plotline
Japan's Edo Period was drawing to a close.
The shogunate, who'd held power in the country for more than 200 years, found itself challenged by the imperial court, and by several domains who had chaffed under shogunal rule.
In this midst of this political unrest, an organization rose to prominence: The Shinsengumi. Originally formed to protect the streets of Kyoto from masterless samurai, they came to represent the last, tragic bastion of the honor-bound samurai culture that had defined much of Japan's history.
A young woman by the name of Chizuru comes to Kyoto in search of her missing father, and soon encounters danger and the Shinsengumi in quick succession. When it becomes clear the Shinsengumi are also searching for her father, Chizuru is put under their protection.
But odd things are afoot in Kyoto—possibly even supernatural things. Can Chizuru navigate this maze of mortal danger and political intrigue? Amidst so much misery and death, can she find romance?
Game Information
Hakuouki (Hakuōki), or better known as Hakuōki Demon of the Fleeting Blossom: The Mysterious Tale of the Shinsengumi, is a video games series created by Idea Factory. The entire franchise are otome visual novels, which is geared toward woman, that were first released in Japan. The very first one was called Hakuōki: Shinsengumi Kitan, which came out on the Sony Playstation 2 on September 18th, 2008 and has been ported to the PSP, Nintendo DS and 3DS.
They soon released other titles Hakuōki: Zuisouroku (PS2, PSP, NDS), Hakuōki: Yuugiroku (PSP & NDS), Hakuōki: Junsouroku (PS3), Hakuōki: Reimeiroku (PS2, PSP NDS) from August 2009 to 2012. Finally, in February 14th, 2012, Hakuōki: Demon of the Fleeting Blossom was released in North America with the publisher, Aksys Games, but it was only on the PSP.
More and more were released for North America with the titles Hakuōki: Warriors of the Shinsengumi (PSP), Hakuōki: Memories of the Shinsengumi (NDS) [the two being also published by the same publishers in the NA, while for Europe, it was published by Rising Star Games], and the last, and latest one to release in NA, is Hakuōki: Stories of the Shinsengumi that released only for the PS3 on May 6th, 2014 which also included the fan favorite fandisc known as Hakuoki Zuisoroku.
There are many more games, which you can find, but that is only a peek at this series that is known well in the world of visual novels. It's pretty much what made the industry boom here in North America and even now, in 2015, it's growing more and more.
Anime Information
"You can't be serious, it also has an anime?" It does, with such a huge fanbase, it's no wonder that they hired Studio Deen to create them all, even the films, while Sentai Filmworks has licensed the anime series in North America. The two new films however are [supposed] to be a retelling in greater detail with an ending that is slightly different.
- Hakuōki/Hakuōki-Shinsengumi-Kitan
- April 4, 2010 – June 20, 2010
- Hakuōki: Hekketsuroku
- October 10, 2010 – December 12, 2010
- Hakuōki Sekkaroku (OVA)
- August 5, 2011 – July 27, 2012
- Hakuōki: Reimeiroku
- July 9, 2012 – September 24, 2012
- Hakuōki Dai-isshō Kyoto Ranbu (film)
- August 24, 2013
- Hakuōki Dai-nishō Shikon Sōkyū (film)
- March 8, 2014