Hakuoki: Kyoto Winds is the first half of a two-part series, focusing on the history of the protagonist with the Shinsengumi. There is very little romance and whatever is there is extremely mild. Most routes will leave you wondering if the guy even likes you, sometimes the protagonist doesn't know her feelings either, but the story is interesting enough to keep pushing forward.

I completed all routes and I gotta say that Iba and Sakamoto were top tier for me ♡ I'm very much looking forward to continuing their routes in Edo Blossoms! I also really liked Harada and Heisuke, since they felt so natural. There are 12 different romance options, catering to different types, so I'm confident that there's a special guy for everyone.

To nitpick, the English translation has quite a lot of errors (this goes for pretty much all routes). I've also noticed some glitching that occasionally occurs when bringing in another character for dialogue. Overall, the execution wasn't perfect, but I still greatly enjoyed the story, voice acting, and lovely CG art ♡ This was my first otome game in a very long time and it did not disappoint. I'm hooked.

I can see why so many love this game. It is a melancholy game. And, romance is secondary and can be turned off in the options. So, be warned. I am highly impressed and have enjoyed the 2 routes I have finished so far. I went onto the next game to finish the specific character's stories and found that amazing as well. You do really need both games for the full story. Edo Blossoms is the next one.