One of Hakuoki: Kyoto Winds’ major plot points is the supernatural soldiers within the Shinsengumi. Certain members are given a specific sort of medicine known as the Water of Life. It transforms them into powerful and durable beings akin to vampires. They can only walk around at night, have white hair and crimson eyes when enraged and go mad at the sight of blood. While every iteration has explored these characters, it is this specific entry and Keisuke Sanan’s route that gives us an opportunity to better understand what happens when a man becomes one of the Furies.

Shinpachi Nagakura is a Hakuoki mainstay. The Shinsengumi’s 2nd Division acting captain has been a prominent character in every single game, often acting as a scene stealer, but the story never actually centered on him. With Hakuoki: Kyoto Winds, Nagakura finally gets all of our attention. It also means that, for the first time, we really get to appreciate this well-rounded character.