 This is a game article. For the anime series, please check this link.
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Hakuōki: Reimeiroku (薄桜鬼:黎明録, Demon of the Fleeing Blossom: Dawn of the Shinsengumi) is a game for PlayStation that follows Ryuunosuke and his fate with the Shinsengumi. Hakuouki: Reimeiroku Nagorigusa (薄桜鬼 黎明録 名残り草) was released for PlayStation 3 on 28 June 2012, and Hakuouki: Reimeiroku - Omouhase Kara (薄桜鬼 黎明録 思馳せ空) was released for PlayStation Vita on 2 July 2015. Both were updated versions of Reimeiroku. On 26 August 2021 Hakuōki Shinkai: Reimeiroku (薄桜鬼 真改 黎明録) was released for Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch Lite.
Plot
When Ryuunosuke lost his mother as she succumbed to illness, he wandered aimlessly without living support. On the way to the capital, he was attacked and robbed, leaving him with no food or money. When all that was left was just his starvation to death, he met Serizawa Kamo and was picked up by him. Although reluctantly, Ryuunosuke ended up travelling with him and for the time being, lived at the Shinsengumi quarters.
Though he held some prejudice due to his past, his encounter with the Shinsengumi brought about changes to his stubborn heart.
This is a story of a nameless youth, in a time of turmoil at the end of the Edo period.
(Source:Otomate)
Gameplay
Similar to the original game, Reimeiroku consists of six routes of the same characters where Ryuunosuke needs to form friendship with each of the main characters. In all routes, Ryuunosuke always ends up leaving the Shinsengumi to start a new life of his own. If a player reaches a good ending, they can see a continuation when Chizuru appears.
Being a game in the category of 'otome' (or 'visual novel'), the player interaction within the game is very similar to that of "Choose your own adventure" books.
Hakuouki's gameplay requires very few actions 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. Often, players will come be given the chance to choose from options displayed on the screen that would be crucial to the story. The time between these decision points is variable, and during these time the gameplay pauses until a choice is made to further the plot in a specific direction. There are six main plot lines that the players will have the chance to experience, one for each of the characters in the story. When interacting with the chosen characters, an "affection meter" is created which is raised by giving them an answer that pleases them. The ending the player will get in each route depends on the affection the player has achieved.
Characters
