1757: Crimson Girls

After a while off, I’ve been revisiting Senran Kagura Burst on the 3DS. I played through the Hanzou storyline to refresh my memory, and I’m currently just starting the third chapter of the Hebijou side. And I’m reminded of just how excellent this game genuinely is.

The Hanzou side of the story, which focused on the life and times of a group of female classmates in the Hanzou academy for “good” ninjas, was a lot of enjoyable fun, helping to make the already visually distinctive characters into interesting individuals that the player would want to find out more about. There’s the leader of the group Asuka, who gradually grows in confidence and assertiveness as the story progresses; class rep Ikaruga, who is initially portrayed as the more “motherly”, sensible figure of the group, but gradually steps aside as Asuka grows in strength; Katsuragi, who is very much the “older sister” of the group — and a character unabashedly comfortable with both her own body and her seemingly somewhat fluid sexuality; Hibari, who is immature and filled with self-doubt until she goes on a significant personal journey — an important part of the overall plot; and Yagyuu, whose quiet, understated love for Hibari is extremely touching to see.

Over the course of the Hanzou story, the girls encounter the girls of the Hebijou “evil” school for ninjas on several occasions, culminating in a final conflict against them at the conclusion of the story. Initially set up to be complete antagonists for one another, the final chapters of the Hanzou storyline take steps to humanise the Hebijou, showing both the player and the Hanzou girls that despite being on “opposite” sides, it’s possible to find common ground and be friends.

This theme is explored in greater detail in Hebijou’s own story. A key concept when considering Hebijou is the idea that the concept of “good” is selective and has stringent criteria to be accepted, while the darkness of “evil” will accept anyone. Consequently, a significant part of the Hebijou story that I’ve played so far centres around a disparate group of girls from wildly different backgrounds — most of whom have some sort of difficulty or tragedy in their past that they’re trying to escape — coming together and finding this common ground; this reason to work together, even though they’re “evil”.

In fact, throughout the Hebijou storyline, it’s easy to forget that these girls are supposed to be “evil” at all, and that’s entirely the point the game as a whole is making: regardless of what “side” you’re on, it’s important to surround yourself with people that you trust and love. People that are true friends; people that can help you through your problems; people that, in some cases, know you better than you know yourself.

Hebijou’s cast are an interesting bunch — perhaps even more so than the Hanzou girls. Leader-type Homura — a rough analogue to Hanzou’s Asuka — is a girl of relatively few words who is good at being serious but tends to try way too hard when attempting to be “fun”. Hikage, meanwhile, is a mysterious young woman who claims to have no emotions — so, as you might expect, cue plenty of scenes with the other girls trying to make her feel things. Mirai, on the other hand, is a young, painfully insecure girl who believes herself to be inferior both physically and in terms of ability to her peers. Next is Yomi, who uses the mannerisms of a privileged rich girl, but actually grew up in poverty, tends to have little to no money even now and who refuses all but the most very basic of charity. And finally Haruka, who is one of the most overtly sexual characters I think I’ve come across in any game in recent memory, aptly demonstrates that being “sexy” doesn’t necessarily mean you have to sacrifice the elements of your personality that make you into a normal human being. You can embrace your sexuality and your own particular tastes without letting them define you, in other words.

I’ve been really enjoying the Hebijou story so far and I’m looking forward to seeing how it develops. Rather than simply presenting the events of the Hanzou side from an alternative perspective, it’s an enjoyably distinct story in its own right, and, like its Hanzou counterpart, gives us an enormous amount of insight into some of the most well-defined characters I’ve come across in recent memory. I’m glad there’s plenty more adventures of the Senran Kagura girls to come in future — in the immediate future, there’s Senran Kagura Shinovi Versus for Vita, Senran Kagura 2 for 3DS and rhythm game spinoff Senran Kagura Bon Appetit. And you can bet your life and hometown I’ll be playing them all.