Sakurazaka Shouboutai

PlayStation 2 · 2004 · JP

Irem Racjin

Publisher: Irem · Developer: Racjin

Sakurazaka Shōbōtai is a firefighting action with a strong emphasis on effective teamwork. The player controls Daichi Honjō, a hotshot rookie straight out of academy who has just joined the Sakurazaka City Fire Station. While the player directly controls Daichi on the ground, and uses a fire hose to extinguish the flames, the game can be paused at any time to check the status of your teammates and give them directions. It is also possible to use an axe to break obstacles or debris, and it's entirely possible to get caught in a backdraft when opening doors. Equally as important as getting the fire under control is finding and rescuing survivors, helping them escape and reach safety, as well as searching for evidence as to how a fire started. Between missions, the player works together with local law enforcement to examine the evidence gathered. In addition to the main story mode, there is also a free mission mode and a survival mode, both for one or two players.