the visual novel database

Report an issue on this page.

Review of Shin Koihime † Musou -Kakumei- Souten no Haou

SubjectShin Koihime † Musou -Kakumei- Souten no Haou
ByHelpfulness: 4
Vote: 9
casualreader on 2021-06-29
ReviewThe Shin Koihime Musou series is overall excellent, but I really feel this page would benefit from an in-depth review to help new people in the series. Part 1 of the review will focus on the overall series and recommendations and on Part 2, specifically on Souten no Haou. Lastly, a Part 3 with some personal thoughts.
TL;DR just read the bolder parts if you can't bother with my insights.

Part 1: General Overview
First off, about the game order. The Kakumei series are a complete remake of the original Shin Koihime Musou series and, while I haven't read the original, I did see some scenarios and the quality in the writing, sound and even voice acting is enormous.
The recommended game order for the series as a whole is:
Souten no Haou -> Son Go no Ketsumyaku -> Ryuuki no Taimou, and then the fandiscs Moeshouden -> Eiyuutan.


Now a second point worth mentioning is about Kakumei's story flow. In all three games (as well as in the original SKM), you have main story chapters and intermission/character chapters, which happen in between story chapters. Some versions of the game may limit the number of character chapters you can see per intermission and some don't.
I highly recommended you NOT to see all of them in your first gameplay. This is because, in case you haven't noticed, there is absurd amount of characters in the game and, while all the stories are fun to read and each character have their own charm (which is honestly impressive, given the sheer amount there are), it is EXTREMELY time consuming and some do not contribute at all to the main story (meaning, there is no loss in reading them after you're done with the main portion). I will give recommendations on part 2 about which routes I wouldn't skip.

On a last and random note, I'll be honest and say that, at first, I thought it'd be just a dumb, harem visual novel, and was playing just to find out why was it so well-rated. It only took me until I finished reading Karin's first character chapter on Souten no Haou to understand it is a lot more than that. SKM's writing goes a lot further than just the characters and touches on the country's administration, finance, war strategies and so on, so if that's keeping you from reading, give it a chance.

Part 2: Souten no Haou Review
If you have no previous knowledge of The Romance of the Three Kingdoms, this story has a focus on Wei, more specifically, on Cao Cao/Sou Sou, aka Karin, and her path from a lord of a land towards her objective of attaining true peace in the continent.
For the best enjoyment of the game, the only must-read character chapters for the story are Shuuran/Shunran's and Karin. Aside from those, I'd read any characters you liked the most. (I think Souten no Haou has the least amount of characters out of all three, so it's not as massive)

Part 3: Personal Thoughts
This has some very minor spoilers, so read if you feel like it.
This is my favourite game out of the three. It has, in my opinion, the best ending and character development between Karin and Kazuto. Kazuto is also the best version of himself in comparison to the other two games, being more independent/dependable and insightful in his thoughts and actions. Not to mention two excellent songs are placed perfectly, Kanata no Omokage and HE∀tingSφul. If you played the original SKM, you will also notice the ending is slightly different. If you want to see this game's "true" end, you have to play all the side stories from all three Kakumei games.
4 points
#1 by flvbycjctnheheh
2021-10-03 at 05:02
< report >You didn't mention gameplay. How much of a game consists of the gameplay elements and are they any good?
#2 by cubky
2021-10-03 at 06:14
< report >Not much and the battle system gameplay is really primitive. Fortunately it is completely skipable.
#3 by flvbycjctnheheh
2021-10-03 at 06:35
< report >@2 Well, that's too bad, based on screens it looks similar to Sengoku Rance which is one of my favorite TRPGs.
#4 by Ernovace
2021-10-03 at 07:43
< report >> For the best enjoyment of the game, the only must-read character chapters for the story are Shuuran/Shunran's and Karin.

Not recommending Eika, smh.
#5 by casualreader
2021-10-03 at 11:24
< report >@1 I didn't feel it would be fair of me to evaluate it as I can't read Japanese and didn't take the time to translate and understand all the elements of the gameplay system.
Every important skirmish in the main chapters of the game has a battle (so maybe one or two per main chapter, but I never counted them before).

As @2 mentioned, the gameplay is simple and easy enough that I cleared it in my first playthrough without issue (you couldn't skip them in the base version of the game). In summary, each unit has a set of skills they can use, with different effects and delays, and you can choose five units to deploy in a skirmish. You can choose and change formations during the battles. It's nothing in comparison to any Rance games in terms of gameplay.
#6 by casualreader
2021-10-03 at 11:30
< report >@4 I loved Eika's arc and it's one of the best romance-wise out of all the three Kakumei games. It's also one of routes I cleared on my first playthrough, but (spoilers ahead) at the end of her route, she is honest about her feelings and very straightforward with Kazuto. Yet they didn't make that change reflect in the main chapters, so if you play it while reading the main chapters, you end up with this huge sense of incongruity in the story which makes me not recommend it in the first playthrough.
It's curious that Eika's behavior for Kazuto on Eiyuutan 2 is also different, so it does make me wonder how will she react in Eiyuutan 5, where she'll likely get an specific sequel.
Last modified on 2021-10-03 at 11:31
#7 by Ernovace
2021-10-03 at 13:12
< report >Yeah the main route is supposed to be unbiased because otherwise the game doesn't know whose route you did and adding extra small scenes for every heroine you picked might be too much (though it'd have been nice). If you don't do Eika's route, she is only supposed to respect you at best by the end I imagine.

Meanwhile Keifa starts at the same point as Eika and her route definitely didn't endear me to her. I have yet to play Eiyuutan and other extras so not sure if she changes later.
#8 by casualreader
2021-10-03 at 23:29
< report >I feel there were ways to make the main route neutral and still in line with character routes, by assuming all character chapters were being seen as soon as possible. So Eika, for example, could simply have a non-aggressive attitude towards Kazuto by the end and it would make a lot more sense, without spoiling her route.

As for Keifa, I like her, as she's one of the reasons why I don't see Shin Koihime's enormous cast as too bloated. The fact that she is one of the few characters who doesn't love Kazuto adds to the diversity of the game. I find her route in Eiyuutan pretty fresh and interesting. Her relationship with Kazuto is one of the most complex and I Eiyuutan adds to that, though she does maintain her core character (as she should, in my opinion).
#9 by random8261
2022-07-25 at 02:39
< report >Without going into spoilers, I really like this series, specific game, and characters. BUT, I really wish that there was an alternate ending. It makes sense, and is emotional, but I really prefer happy endings and every other game in the series has one. Go's alternate even rewrote a death that is considered canon in the source material.
#10 by desann
2022-07-25 at 14:45
< report >@9 There is actually continuation of this end in side stories in all three games, and the one from Shin Koihime † Musou -Kakumei- Ryuuki no Taimou finally end with happy end.
Although I think I agree with you - they should had been just change the ending altogether instead of adding side story for which you need to play all three games.
#11 by random8261
2022-07-25 at 23:18
< report >Thank You! Now I have something to look forward to! Otherwise, I thought that the side story was just random comedy. Now I will actually get around to playing the other two.
#12 by casualreader
2022-07-26 at 21:17
< report >Also, I played the trial for Eiyuutan 4, and it's looking quite likely that Eiyuutan 5 will be a sequel to the ending of this game (including the three Kakumei side stories) rather than continue on Eiyuutan 3.
#13 by random8261
2022-07-27 at 19:00
< report >Is there a list of what is actually covered by each Eiyuutan? Also, am I correct in assuming that Moeshouden is following the Ryuu route of Shin Koihime Musou?
#14 by casualreader
2022-07-27 at 22:47
< report >
Is there a list of what is actually covered by each Eiyuutan?
Not sure if I understand what you mean. Do you want to know a summary of each Eiyuutan?

Also, am I correct in assuming that Moeshouden is following the Ryuu route of Shin Koihime Musou?
It's a bit more complicated than that. Both Moeshouden and Eiyuutan seem to assume all routes occured at the same time (so he is close to all officers from all kingdoms and assumes each character events from all routes occurred). But yes, most of the events seem to be based on Shoku's route (i.e. Kazuto ends up being the "bridge" between the three kingdoms as a Messenger from Heaven).
I'm using "seem" because both Moeshouden and Eiyuutan (1+2+3) never clarify on past events like Eiyuutan 4 does, which makes identifying the cannon harder.
#15 by random8261
2022-07-28 at 15:32
< report >
Is there a list of what is actually covered by each Eiyuutan?
Not sure if I understand what you mean. Do you want to know a summary of each Eiyuutan?
Yes that is what I was asking. I know that each Eiyuutan is supposed to be 3 stories, but i would like to know what 3 and what characters.
#16 by casualreader
2022-07-28 at 21:33
< report >There's some information here: link, though I don't think it's 100% correct.

From what I can remember:
Eiyuutan 1
- Episode 1: Sui and her family go back to her region with Kazuto. Main characters are Sui, Ruo, Sou and Tanpopo.
- Episode 2: Aisha takes a forced break with Kazuto in Gi. A few of Gi's general, but the focus is on Aisha and a bit on Shia.
- Episode 3: Sei's pregnant, so the story revolves around her and a bit of Shuri and Hinari.

Eiyuutan 2:
- Episode 1: Keifa is expecting to have her baby soon, and Kazuto goes back to Gi to be there for the birth. Focus on Keifa, with a bit from many other generals (Fuu, Rin, Ruru, Kii and Shanfu).
- Episode 2: Story about Karin's wedding, with a random Miu involvement, a considerable amount of Karon and a little Reika.
- Episode 3: Shuuran and Shunran's story about transitionining her roles to the younger generals, with some screen time for Nagi, Mao and Sawa.

Eiyuutan 3:
- Episode 1: Shishun and her struggling between being a mother and general. Mostly Shishun, with some small participation from all other generals (a bit more of Sheren).
- Episode 2: Renfa becoming a mother. Mostly Renfa, but also a considerable amount of Sheren and a bit of Meirin and Shao.
- Episode 3: It's Sai, Shion and Kikyou and Suirei being themselves, plus Riri. If there ever was a route about nothing, it's this one.

Eiyuutan Plus: three short stories, one with Yue/Ei, another with Pairen+Mii and co. and the last about Enya.