Birushana: Winds of Fate Review (Nintendo Switch)

Release Date: May 26, 2026 (North America)
Developers: Otomate, RED
Publishers: Idea Factory International
Platforms: Nintendo Switch
ESRB Rating: T

DISCLAIMER:

Birushana: Winds of Fate is the fandisc for the original game, Birushana: Rising Flower of Genpei. As the stories and events in this game continue the narrative from the “love endings” of its predecessor, it is generally recommended to play the first installment before diving into its fandisc to better understand the game’s lore and story.

There Are Two Segments In This Fandisc:

What Comes After (Epilogue Routes) – these are after-stories that unfold after the “love endings” of the main character routes from the previous game.
Turning a New Leaf (IF Routes for new LIs) – these are the main “IF Routes” of the new love interests: Shigehira, Tsugunobu, Tadanobu and Takatsuna.

SYNOPSIS

Epilogues:

With the war over, peace has finally returned to the land.

After our heroine carved out a new fate,
these sweet epilogues tell the story of what happened after the events of the first game.

What does the future have in store for a girl who was born to fight?

Main Routes:

New stories await our heroine…

The youngest child of the Genji, Shanao,
has been driven out of Kyoto by the Heike.

What fate awaits her as she strives to hide
her identity and live as a man in a world torn apart by war?

ART AND MUSIC

Illustrator/Artist:	Koji Haneda, (main character design), Mozu Toku (CG art), Aki Tanaka (CG art), HLAM (Chibi)
Director:	Ai Ito
Scenario:	Ai Ito, Fuji Iohara, Yoshichika Harumori
OST:	Amatsuki (vocals, lyrics), Takahiro Minato (Composition), Takuya Watanabe (Composition)
BGM:	Ryo Kurata, Tomoaki Oga

Koji Haneda is the main illustrator for Birushana, who’s responsible for the game’s overall character designs. The stills and CG art for this game, however, were done by the illustrators Mozu Toku and Aki Tanaka.

To me, all of the in-game CGs were gorgeous as heck, that even sometimes I just had to pause the game to look at some of them for a hot minute. Another thing I really enjoyed was the abundance of sprite variations. There were so many! I especially loved seeing Shanao with such a wide variety of outfits. She has her princess attire, her commoner’s kimono, her Heian shirabyoshi attire, as well as her male-Yoshitsune kimono and battle gear.

VOICE ACTING

Kengo Kawanishi as “Noritsune“ – Rhodes (The Red Bell’s Lament), Harumi (Lover Pretend), Rosho Tsutsujimori (Hypnosis Mic), Nansen Ichimonji (Touken Ranbu), Gen Asagiri (Dr. Stone), Munakata (Hiiro no Kakera), Muichiro Tokito (Demon Slayer), Roland Fortis (The Case Study of Vanitas), Adventurine (HSR)

Yuichiro Umehara as “Benkei” – Emmanuel (Volontes), Lowd (Neon Clash), Alfred (Mistonia’s Hope), Paschalia (Radiant Tale), Serge (Genso Manege), Kohei Minato (Sympathy Kiss), Canus Espada (Café Enchanté), Enishi (Jack Jeanne), Demento (Period Cube), Shingen Takeda (IkeSen), Sage (Nekopara Catboys Paradise), Rain (Shiro to Kuro no Alice), Oochidori (Touken Ranbu)

Soma Saito as “Shungen” – Awayuki (Illusion of Itehari), Yves (Virche), Kiku (Tengoku Struggle), Mineo (CollarxMalice), Tsurumaru/Namazuo (Touken Ranbu), Levi (Psychedelica AH), Yumeno Gentaro (Hypnosis Mic), Ohtaro (Winter’s Wish), Takuma (Kitty Love), Akase (Charade Maniacs), YOFY (Sympathy Kiss)

Makoto Furukawa as “Yoritomo“ – Josephy (Temirana), Hokuto (Him, the Smile and Bloom), Allan Melville (Cupid Parasite), Crius Castlerock (Even if Tempest), Lugus (Psychedelica of the Ashen Hawk), Shaw (MLQC), Adage (Steam Prison), Ookurikara (Touken Ranbu), Kyle Ash (IkeRev), Kazuma Kamikubo (Lover Pretend), Dazai (Charade Maniacs)

Jun Fukuyama as “Tomomori“ – Shiyu (Otome Daoshi), Sodyk Mun (Neon Clash), Ascot (Mistonia’s Hope), Karatachi (Illusion of Itehari), Mizuchi (Hana Awase), Vyn Richter (Tears of Themis), Mozu (BUSTFELLOWS), Goro Fujita (Meiji Tokyo Renka), Liberta (Arcana Famiglia), Rin (Togainu no Chi), Aido (Vampire Knight), Tokiwa Etsuya (Dairoku), Goke Kanimitsu (Touken Ranbu)

Takashi Kondo as “Tsugunobu” – ♡Jinia (Radiant Tale), ♡Kogitsunemaru (Touken Ranbu), Majima (Chou no Doku), Shiba (EPHEMERAL), Subaru (Diabolik Lovers), Miki Saburo (Hakuoki), Kuro Usagi (ALICE=ALICE), Rufus (Bravely Default), Aaron (Buddy Mission Bond), Kazunari Tono (Journal with Witch)

Katsuyuki Konishi as “Tadanobu“ – Isanyudo Miyoshi (Homura the Crimson Warriors), Avido Crudele (Code Realize), Gaoshun (Apothecary Diaries), Tetsuya Niwa (Gakuen Heaven), Keisuke Yamanami (Bakumatsu Renka Shinsengumi), Reiji (Diabolik Lovers), Xeno Gerald (MidCin), Cyril Avain (Re:Cord NOAH)

Ryota Osaka as “Shigehira“ – Shuu (Dairoku), Suzukake (Ken ga Kimi), Shishiou (Touken Ranbu), Hisui Hoshikawa (Nil Admirari), Kai (Princess Closet), Ibara Saegusa (Ensemble Stars!!), Brian (Angelique Retour), Danji (Daemons of the Shadow Realm), Gyutaro (Demon Slayer), Bennett (Genshin Impact)

Amatsuki as “Takatsuna” – Tohdoh (Mecha-Ude: Mechanical Arms), Hanakura Ayumi (Kiratto Pri☆chan), Masayori (Masamune Datenicle), Vespa (Kami no Tou Koubou-sen)

CHARACTERS, AFTER STORIES & IF ROUTES

As this is the fandisc of Birushana: Rising Flower of Genpei, there are no recommended route orders, and you should be able to play either the After Stories or the IF Routes without worrying about if one route/story will spoil another.

Walkthroughs:

Note: The CGs shown below are promotional images for the game, Birushana: Winds of Fate (the ones you can see on the game’s eshop page, and its official website). All spoiler-related content in this review will be hidden behind a spoiler drop-down, that you can choose to view at your own discretion.

~AFTER STORIES~

The After Stories are sweet, fluffy stories that follow the heroine, Shanao, and her chosen love interest from the main game. These stories continue from each main character’s “Love Ending” in the first game and expand on their relationship from there.

***There are no choices in these routes, so you can simply sit back, relax, and enjoy all the fluff and the promised spice!

BENKEI

yearning king
gentle giant husbando

I started with Benkei’s route on a whim because I was desperately looking for something to satiate my obsession with size-gap couples, and gosh, this after-story did not disappoint! At the same time, I was just so wowed by how fluffy and spicy Benkei’s after-story was! TBH, I thought it was perfect. Congratulations to all the Benkei enjoyers, you are going to be eating absolute gourmet food here!

⬇️ Spoilers

Look, whoever hated on Benkei in the first game for petty reasons does not deserve him in his fandisc! This man is literally so precious. He can do no wrong in my eyes.

In his After Story, he and Shanao travel to Hiraizumi to apologize to Lord Hidehira for lying about Shanao’s gender. Since they were also planning to reveal their relationship to everyone, Kakunichi advised them against it, saying Lord Hidehira is a deeply devout person and might not easily accept a romantic relationship between a lord and her vassal. Their difference in status also complicates things further, with Shanao being the princess of the Genji clan while Benkei is merely her retainer, not to mention a monk! Because of this, the two decided to keep their relationship a secret for the time being.

The thing I really loved about this After Story, and was completely over the moon for, was seeing Benkei struggle between his love and devotion for Shanao and holding back his desires for her, thus inch by inch revealing this more insatiable masculine side of him. Every time he finds himself getting a little too *ravenous* whenever they kiss or make out, he immediately stops himself, which only ends up riling up Shanao because she apparently yearns for that side of Benkei too. LOL. Like, I mean, yessss girl, I get you! I totally do! (laughs) 🤭

And goodness, their kiss and make-out scenes were just sooo sweet, not to mention hot af! Umehara really worked his wonders here, fr!

Route Enjoyment: 9/10
Fan Service: 9/10

YORITOMO MINAMOTO

aniue 👁🫦👁
~~beach sex~~ 🏖️

Yoritomo is just the ultimate kuudere. As we know him from the first game, this man rarely engages in idle convos. He’s very taciturn and doesn’t talk that much, so whenever he cracks even the simplest joke, it somehow feels quite rewarding (laughs). Of course, even more rewarding when he flirts!👀 The sexy times here are insane, though, so if you’re a Yoritomo stan, I hope you’re prepared for a feast.

⬇️ Spoilers

In this After Story, Kyoto is finally at peace, and Shanao is living at Yoritomo’s estate while recovering from the wounds she sustained during the previous battle against the Heike. Meanwhile, the ever-slimy Emperor Go-Shirakawa pressures Yoritomo into taking a wife so the Genji clan can strengthen its ties with the Imperial court.

Yoritomo has absolutely no interest in marrying another woman since he only has eyes for Shanao. With the help of the ever-kindhearted Lord Hidehira of Hiraizumi, a neutral state, Yoritomo devices this plan of having Lord Hidehira adopt Shanao, (who in this After Story is publicly known to have no ties to the Genji clan). This allows Yoritomo to marry her, effectively killing two birds with one stone: he gets to be with the woman he loves, plus their marriage also strengthens the Genji clan’s political ties through their connection to the neutral state of Hiraizumi.

Plot-wise, it’s rather simple and even a little silly with how Lord Hidehira ends up playing the role of this game’s ultimate YES man. TBH, across all the routes, he really is this game’s number one Shanao-enabler with how unbelievably generous and kindhearted he is, who always favors Shanao’s decision whatever they may be. SRSLY, Bless him.

That aside, I think Yoritomo has the most fan service in the entire game because WDYM he gets so many kissing CGs and spicy scenes! Haha, not that I’m complaining. I love it when the taciturn kuudere anuie suddenly gets horny on main. I mean, I practically devoured all of the fanservice here in one sitting. (cackles)

Route Enjoyment: 8/10
Fan Service: 10/10

SHUNGEN

best childhood friend
a good husbando

Contrary to popular opinion, I believe I’m one of the few who really loved Shungen’s route in the first game. Admittedly, I’m also very fond of the childhood friend trope, and Shungen is one of the childhood friend LIs that pleasantly surprised me.

That hasn’t changed at all in this fandisk. I still very much enjoyed Shanao and Shungen’s dynamic. I absolutely love how Shanao can just be comfortable being herself around Shungen. There’s something about Shungen’s presence that feels like a safe space for her, and the way he takes care of and supports her makes their relationship positively soothing for some reason. On top of that, this route also exclusively showcases one of Shanao’s best sprites in the game!

⬇️ Spoilers

In the first game, it is revealed that Shungen is the real Minamoto no Yoshitsune, the heir of the Genji clan and Yoritomo’s younger brother. During the final battle against the Heike, Shungen and Shanao, with the help of Yoritomo, stage their deaths, which allowed them to escape the war and its aftermath. After that, they leave everything behind and settle into a quiet life around Buzen Province, far from Kyoto.

In order for them to safely pass through areas controlled by Genji forces, they join a traveling performance troupe called Izayoi. Within the troupe, Shanao performs her sword dance while Shungen plays the flute. Together they become a popular duo and over time, they gain enough recognition that many spectators begin eagerly looking forward to their performances each day.

Shungen was already portrayed (in the 1st game) as brilliantly sharp-minded, especially with how he could devise battle plans and strategies alongside Yoritomo during the height of the Genpei War. Here, Shungen is just as smart as ever, consistently finding effective solutions whenever he and Shanao run into a slight pickle. I thought the exorcism and seance scenes were outrageous, but all at the same time I had such a good time w/ it (laughs).😂 I kind of understood what Benkei meant here, when he said that not seeing them was probably for the best, since it would only make saying goodbye harder for both sides. And I’m pretty sure Shanao and Shungen feel the same way, too. The ending feels somewhat bittersweet though, given that they never got to properly see their friends again.🥲

On another note, I also found it curious how Shungen introduces Shanao here as “Chitose,” which was supposedly the name of the author of The Tale of the Heike.🤔

Route Enjoyment: 8/10
Fan Service: 8/10

TOMOMORI TAIRA

Tomohorny 😮‍💨
o b s e s s e d

My brothers in christ, all this man wants to do is to be with his wife all day, and make love to her all day long! That’s it! That’s the route! 🤣Just kidding! ….or am I? 👀

The *conflict* of Tomomori’s after-story was kind of a nothing burger, honestly, but I live for the campy drama!😂 This route was actually pretty hilarious and just so uberly silly that I couldn’t help but cackle whenever Tomomori starts on his constant laments and daily “wife woes.” What an absolutely doting, obsessive, clingy husband! I love it! I’m glad he is just as crazy as he was in the first game. I’m sure all the Tomomori truthers are going to have a blast with this route. (laughs)

⬇️ Spoilers

So in this After Story, Tomomori and Shanao are married as a symbol of peace between the Genji and Heike clans, effectively bringing the Genpei War to an end. Shanao now lives at Tomomori’s estate as his wife, far removed from her former life as a samurai warrior. She practically lives in luxury now as a Taira princess, surrounded by lots of lady-in-waiting and servants. She is however, mostly confined within Tomomori’s private mansion and does not go out into town much.

Because Tomomori is a very possessive husband, Shanao is not allowed to see her Genji friends unless he accompanies her. Though despite this, he still wants her to be happy and does allow her to meet them under certain conditions. One day, however, Shanao begins acting strangely, especially in the bedroom, and starts turning down Tomomori’s advances. This leaves Tomomori to have blue balls, so he is increasingly worried and troubled. Thus, prompting him to seek advice from his cousin Noritsune.😂 His concerns even worsens when Tsugunobu and the others call him out for being overly clingy and possessive. (cackles)

I thought it was really hilarious that Tomomori was seeking love advises to Noritsune,😂 of all people!

*I was mad cackling during this part! lmao*

Their whole misunderstanding was so dumb and silly I was laughing the whole time. I’m so glad Tomomori is just as unhinged as in the first game, but it was also surprising to actually see him get humbled when he realizes that his paranoia was all for naught and that he never really needed to doubt Shanao’s love for him.

In a way, both Tomomori and Shanao also learn an important lesson here: that they need to communicate properly, especially when it comes to things that matter most in their relationship. I think this route proves that both of them have learned (albeit the hard way), and still have a lot to learn when it comes to understanding how important it is to communicate effectively with the people they love.

Route Enjoyment: 7.5/10, (The tomfoolery is 10/10 though…)
Fan Service: 8.5/10

NORITSUNE TAIRA

drinks respect women’s juice
soft 🥺

Noritsune’s was probably my favorite After Story among them all, and that’s saying a lot, given how much I really enjoyed all the route epilogues in this fandisk. Again, just like the conflicts in the other LI’s stories, Noritsune’s epilogue was also very cute and silly, had plenty of hilarious scenes that’ll have you grinning and cackling, back to back. But besides the comedy, their bonds as husband-and-wife, and all their lovey-dovey moments as a couple just really hit the spot! I love these two so much, they are just so perfect for each other! 😭

I was also kind of stunned to see Noritsune reveal such a surprisingly rare side of himself, which we get to discover more of in this route.

⬇️ Spoilers

After the Genpei War, Shanao and Noritsune, who now goes by the name Takahito, live peacefully in a remote village far away from Kyoto. The two take turns doing chores and do their best to learn how to fish and farm in order to adapt to their quiet new life. Seeing that the couple is new to the village, the townspeople warmly lend them a hand whenever they can, like, sharing extra harvests or helping them with daily necessities. In return, Noritsune helps their neighbors with house repairs and other physical work around the village.

I think it was sooooo refreshing seeing Noritsune this much more relaxed and at ease. It was such a welcome change seeing him no longer as intense as he was in the first game. He’s practically just living a peaceful, laid-back life as Shanao’s husband, and I thought, it really suited him!

The part where Noritsune refuses to do the deed with Shanao was so funny because at first I thought maybe he just wasn’t ready yet or perhaps had no idea what to do in bed. So it completely caught me off guard when the real reason turned out to be that he wanted to do things properly and traditionally. Nauuur! 🥺

I did a little googling on the Mikanomochi ritual, and apparently it was a very important custom during the Heian period that symbolized the official consummation between a husband and wife, which kinda explains why Noritsune took it so seriously. 😂 Tbf, this actually feels very in character for him. It’s such a classic Noritsune thing to do, if you ask me! 🤣

I also laughed when Shigehira and Tomomori said they had always seen Noritsune as a total meathead, so they were shocked that he could actually be traditionally romantic like this. Ha! His banter with his Taira cousins was also a lot of fun here. On top of that, I thought the romance between Noritsune and Shanao felt so naturally genuine. They are so sweeet together! Like, the way they complement each other and fit together like a glove is just so satisfying to see. I will probably replay this route one day purely for healing and serotonin purposes!🥺

Route Enjoyment: 10/10
Fan Service: 8.5/10

~IF ROUTES~

The IF Routes are the main routes for the characters, Shigehira, Tsugunobu, Tadanobu, and Takatsuna, branching off midway through the events of the first game. They are completely new stories, each featuring two endings: True Love Ending and Tragic Love Ending.

TAKATSUNA SASAKI

not a shota

Takatsuna is the son of Hideyoshi Sasaki, who once served under Yoritomo and Shanao’s father. Takatsuna was ordered to follow in his father’s footsteps and serve as a vassal to Lord Yoritomo. Despite his young age, he has shown a strong ability to serve the Genji on and off the battlefield. His bright and innocent smile is known to bring joy to all who see it.

As one of the Genji leader’s closest aides, he is highly efficient and always carries out his missions successfully, which makes him seem remarkably mature for his age. Personally, I thought this route was cute. His first few chapters, I definitely enjoyed, especially their first meeting and the way Takatsuna starts off a little assertive, only to gradually transform into his more puppy-like persona once he warms up to the heroine.

However, I do think that out of all the IF routes, this one felt the weakest in terms of romance. A lot of the sweeter bonding moments between him and Shanao were mostly bogged down by the heavier political discussions in his story, which I thought was quite a letdown.

⬇️ Spoilers

Both Shanao and Takatsuna hold Yoritomo in such high esteem that their ideals of a peaceful world were pretty much in sync.

I had fun with their reconnaissance mission in Kyoto, where Shanao dresses in women’s clothing as part of her disguise. I thought it was pretty funny when Takatsuna suggested they should pretend to be a married couple, only for Shanao to immediately shut the idea down, saying they feel more like siblings than lovers.😭 (dude got brotherzoned real quick lol) Nonetheless, Takatsuna plays along with the charade and slips into the role of her “younger brother,” that wants to be doted by his お姉さん older sister (laughs)🤣 I thought Takatsuna’s playful side really shone here, but I also liked those small instances where he expresses his desire for her to see him as a man. I believe this adds a nice contrast to his otherwise cheerful, & youthful side that he usually carries in other routes.

When I think about it, this route was honestly not bad at all. It’s just that I enjoyed the other IF routes a bit more overall.

SHIGEHIRA TAIRA

crazy chaotic gremlin to loverboy
also gay for Shanao

Shigehira is the fifth child of Kiyomori Taira and the younger brother of Tomomori. Despite his regal appearance and renowned abilities in the arts, Shigehira has a sinister side as well, particularly on the battlefield. Concerned less with victory and more with the blood he spills, Shigehira has a reputation for taking delight in carnage. He also loves and respects his brother Tomomori.

Shigehira is definitely a character I felt pretty lukewarm about in the first game, but damn, he completely stole the show in this fandisk. I mean, just wow… what a route! I haven’t had this much fun in a while. I completely understand why his merch resale prices always end up skyrocketing and why he’s such a popular character. I get it now. This route was it!

***On a completely different but rather important note, his bad ending was such good food for the 3P enjoyers! 👅

⬇️ Spoilers

It was hilariously unexpected to realize Shigehira can’t hold his liquor. Who knew this crazy man is apparently a lightweight? 🤣 The thing that’s so adorable about Shigehira is that he’s such a simpleton and is also very easy to please. Just a small compliment from Shanao and he’s basically wagging his tail, albeit obnoxiously.

I loved their sparring session with Shanao and the gang. Reminds me of how small kids play and share their snacks while excluding that one kid they don’t like at school. I was hacking and cackling the whole time! 🤣🤣🤣 Also, the fact that Shigehira is afraid of ghosts because Tomomori used to tell him scary stories when he was young so growing up, it really stuck with him, was so amusing!😭

However, jokes aside, the moment Shigehira does a complete 180 from a crazy chaotic gremlin to the sweetest loverboy was literally the icing on the cake! How he slowly develops feelings for Shanao (without even caring about her gender) and then realizes they are destined to be enemies leading him to think about and confront what he truly wants for the first time in his life, was just sooo good.

I love the fact that he grapples with of wanting to defeat his beloved brother Tomomori for the sake of Shanao. It becomes a real turning point for him, especially considering how much he has always loved and looked up to Tomomori. Their scene at the cliff, and how Tomomori actually shows a bit of heart here by taking his own life to spare Shigehira from the trauma of having to kill his own brother, was absolute cinema to me. Shigehira’s development and character growth is one of the best things in this fandisk fr! I had such a blast!

Lastly, his tragic ending was such a guilty pleasure, that I unapologetically and shameless inhaled it so quickly! Ha! 🙈

TSUGUNOBU SATO

also drinks respect womens juice
best boi (accdg to me lol) 😝

Tsugunobu is a highly regarded samurai in service of the Fujiwara clan of Oshu. Upon orders from Lord Hidehira Fujiwara, Tsugunobu joins Shanao on her journey and vows to serve her with his life.

As a disclaimer, I am completely biased towards any characters voiced by Takashi Kondo, so obviously, I found Tsugunobu’s route one of my highly anticipated routes for this year.🤣 And even after playing, I was really happy that it did not disappoint at all. I’m such a sucker for the loyal, gentle vassal-turned-lover trope, so this route was an easy win for me.

On top of that, there is just something very comforting about Tsugunobu.🥺 How devoted he is to Shanao, how much he values their time together, and how he vows to serve her with everything he has, despite having feelings for her and knowing that, as a vassal, that may be all he can ever be to her. There is a bit of angst here, but overall my feelings for this entire route is like being wrapped in a warm hug. 10/10 would replay again!

⬇️ Spoilers

Tsugunobu, for one, really has a way with words. His gentle demeanor and caring gestures for Shanao are what practically won her over. I loved how at first, he tried to create some distance and establish boundaries after Shanao’s genpuku ceremony. After pledging himself to serve her as her vassal, he wanted their relationship to become more formal, but when Shanao asked him to remain casual with her, he ultimately relented.

Although I’d say that despite Tsugunobu’s gentlemanly nature, whenever he’s actually alone with Shanao, like during their date scene, he can become a little canny as well. Kudos to him for being honest about his feelings and admitting that, while he wants Shanao to live freely as a woman, part of him is conflicted because he also doesn’t want the rest of the world to see her charm. Idk about you, but I always love it when an LI tries to gatekeep his woman from the masses, so I was quite surprised to see this slightly possessive side of Tsugunobu here.

The part where Shanao nurses Tsugunobu back to health, and he realizes that his relationship with her may forever remain that of a loyal vassal, and how he looked so sad knowing he may never be with her romantically broke me.😭 There’s also a bit of ambiguity surrounding their relationship since Shanao remains oblivious to her own feelings, despite them having already blossomed for quite some time. She just doesn’t know how to put a label on them yet.

I thought his Happy Ending was so true to his character, especially with how he comforts Shanao after she learns the truth about her birth and discovers that she is not an actual Genji. I really loved the scene where he tells her that since she has always wanted a family, then he would gladly, wholeheartedly become her family. He said it so naturally and sincerely that it made me tear up a little bit. Im just so happy for both of them.😭

TADANOBU SATO

the lovable idiot
100% himbo

Tadanobu is Tsugunobu’s younger brother and fellow vassal of Lord Hidehira and later, Shanao. Brave to a fault, his presence on the battlefield always leaves his enemies defeated, and his allies inspired. Though not the sharpest tool in the shed, Tadanobu has a bright, cheery personality, one that occasionally leads him to speak too plainly to his Lord Shanao.

Tadanobu’s route was also loads of fun. Just like his older brother Tsugunobu, he is an extremely loyal vassal who would gladly devote his life to protecting his lord’s honor. However, in many ways, he is the complete opposite of Tsugunobu. While his brother is refined and genteel, Tadanobu is more brusque and rough around the edges. He’s the classic loveable idiot character, and if you’re fond of this trope, it’s honestly hard not to instantly like him.

⬇️ Spoilers

Of course, Tadanobu gets the classic *accidental-peepingtom* trope! This was perhaps one of the funniest gender reveal scenes for Shanao out of all the LIs.🤣 Tadanobu was so flustered and completely beside himself right after. I was cackling over the fact that he absolutely could not be normal around her anymore after that whole run-in fiasco. You could tell he was really trying his best, but the man was just so hopeless, it’s adorably funny!

I also loved how Tsugunobu immediately caught on that Tadanobu must’ve been crushing on someone the instant he started acting like a fool around everyone. He really does know his otoutokun best! LOL. I think the Sato brothers fundamentally share a lot of the same qualities. They’re both loyal, good-natured, down-to-earth, and they both want what’s best for Shanao, but the way they express those feelings is so wildly different that its both hilarious and endearing at the same time.

In Tsugunobu’s route, Shanao asks to leave the army after fulfilling the mission entrusted to her by Yoritomo, which was to defeat the Heike and retrieve the sacred treasures. Tsugunobu wholeheartedly supports her and sees to it that she fulfills this task so she can finally live at peace in Hiraizumi and have the free life she has always desired. It’s such a fitting approach for someone as gentlemanly and prim & proper as Tsugunobu.

Tadanobu, on the other hand, being a bit of a rough-edged man that he is. His big brain move to free Shanao from her duties as a Genji princess and help her avoid a political marriage is to literally steal her away and elope with her.😭 I cackled so hard at this because it was such a very Tadanobu move! Bless him. 😭

I wasn’t expecting his Happy Ending to turn out that way, but I was glad everything worked out for them in the end. It was a little on the bittersweet side for sure, but at the same time, I feel like it was really nice seeing Shanao and Tadanobu live a peaceful life in China for a change, far away from the turmoil of the Genpei War.

SHANAO | YOSHITSUNE (Main Heroine)

Shanao is one of my fav. otome heroines of all time, and in this fandisk, it was really nice seeing her finally live the peaceful life she has long wished for as a woman, doing ordinary lady-things, free from the responsibilities and burdens of being the heir to the Genji clan.

She shows so many new sides of herself in the After Stories, which was such a treat if you’re a Shanao enjoyer like me. The girl can get clingy, desperate, jealous, and even downright thirsty for her LI most of the time.🤣 It was also refreshing to see her doing normal, everyday things and living the kind of ordinary life she had always dreamed of. So even when she makes silly mistakes or jumps to ridiculous conclusions, I still found it charming because, in a way, she’s finally getting to experience the kind of life and feel the kind of emotions a young maiden her age during that period should have been able to enjoy in the first place.

It was also delightful seeing how varied Shanao’s dynamics are with each of her LIs. For example, with more subservient LIs like Benkei, she has to be especially clear and direct about both her affection and her desire for physical intimacy with him. Meanwhile, with more assertive and dominant personalities like Tomomori and Yoritomo, she is more deferential toward them. Shungen and Noritsune, on the other hand, (given they are closer to her age), their relationships feel much more on equal footing, with both sides learning and growing together. It’s quite a feat seeing how Shanao manages to have chemistry with all of her LIs, albeit in very different ways!

SYSTEM AND LOCALIZATION

PROS:

Mouth movements, blinking sprites
Heroine’s Name Customization
Heroine side sprite image
Flowchart
DICTIONARY
Love Catch System
SKIP to the Next Choice function
Skip READ function
Quick Save/Quick Load
Translated Voice Lines on MENU screen
CG Gallery
BGM Library
Movie Library
Backlog and Rewind function

CONS:

Heroine not voiced
No EXTRA section

Localization

I believe the localization was also an improvement over the previous installment of Birushana. There were some typos, but they were few and far in between. Humor-wise, I thought the game handled its comedic tone very well, though there were times when certain unique phrases did not feel entirely faithful to the original material. That being said, I think this ultimately comes down to personal preference and how picky you are when it comes to localization choices. Personally, this wasn’t a deal-breaker to me, and I’d say the overall quality was still pretty decent.

TRAILER

OVERALL THOUGHTS

It took me around 30-35 hours to finish the entire game. Although admittedly, I certainly took my time with this title and even replayed my favorite LI’s (Tsugunobu’s) route twice, so my overall playtime was pushing 40 hours. Ha!🤣 The game is of decent length, though it may feel partially on the shorter side. The After Stories are only three chapters long, so they can be finished in about 2 and a half hours at most. The Main Routes (IF routes), however, are longer at five chapters each, which you can probably complete in about 4 hours, give or take.

A Feast of Fan Service and Kiss CGs!

If you feel like the first game deprived you of romance, or that it felt overshadowed by the heavy war-focused plot that took precedence, this fandisk definitely makes up for it.

I was completely blindsided by how immeasurably sweet and fluffy (not to mention, spicy) the after-stories are. They’re all fun, simple, and silly little glimpses into the new life of Shanao and her chosen love interest after the Genpei War. There are no weighty, plot-driven obstacles or major events here. Just pure fluff goodness. And, you know what, personally, I love my otome fandisks this way. I prefer the sweet, happy slice-of-life date scenes over the angst-driven story machinations. Please save all those plot twists, death scenes, and burning buildings for the sequel, thank you very much! 😝

When babe raws you so hard, walking becomes a challenge after….

Then again, if you’re the type who prefers the gritty, dramatic scenarios in your otome FDs and don’t really care much for fan service, then you probably won’t enjoy the After Stories as much since they lean very heavily into romance and gratuitous content for the fans. The main IF Routes, however, will definitely provide the meatier narrative you might be looking for, as these stories continue during the events of the first game, back when the characters were still in the midst of the Genpei War. So it still features plenty of action-packed scenes with Shanao, while also giving the new love interests their own moments to shine within the story.

Everybody Whipped For Shanao!

What I especially loved about this fandisk is how whipped everyone is for Shanao! (as they should) I mean, they pretty much already are in the first game, but this fandisk really takes their doting to a whole other level. Every LI in every route (sometimes even outside of their own) is just completely head over heels for our girl. Regardless of what gender she takes in the story, Shanao just naturally draws people in. Even the esteemed Lord Hidehira, the game’s number one Shanao-enabler, was absolutely whipped for our queen!😭

Behold, Lord TomoHORNY’s words of wisdom!

I was rather pleased with the majority of the main routes and epilogue after-stories in this title, though I should probably mention that I am a huuuge fan of the first game, so my opinion may be a little biased if anything. The epilogues were definitely much more romantically inclined. However, the stories themselves were a bit short and generally more silly & lighthearted rather than serious, so I think it’s best to enjoy them for what they are and go in with moderate expectations. Noritsune definitely had my favorite epilogue story, followed closely by Benkei’s.

Tsugunobu’s was my favorite IF story, though that was very much expected given how utterly fond I am of the character’s VA. (laughs)😅 I think it was Shigehira that absolutely won me over the most in terms of overall enjoyment, though. His route was definitely the one that left the strongest impression on me. To be completely honest, I considered most of the IF routes fairly good, sans Takatsuna’s route. Not that his route was bad (it really wasn’t), but it tipped more heavily into war politics, which didn’t hold my interest quite as much and ended up overshadowing a lot of his romantic development with Shanao.

❤️ LI Ranking: Tsugunobu > Shigehira = Noritsune > Benkei = Tomomori = Tadanobu > Shungen = Yoritomo >>>> Takatsuna

📝❤️ After Story Ranking: Noritsune > Benkei > Yoritomo > Shungen > Tomomori

📝 IF Routes Ranking: Shigehira > Tsugunobu > Tadanobu >>>> Takatsuna

Do I recommend this game? YES.
The fan service in this title was pretty up there! And if you’re a big fan of the first game like myself, loved its cast, and wanted more stories along with sweet, happy instances with Shanao and her love interests, then this fandisk certainly delivers exactly that in spades. The four new LIs were also such a nice addition to Birushana’s husbando roster and will definitely sate anyone who’s hit the side-character syndrome in the first installment.

Birushana: Winds of Fate was certainly made with Birushana fans in mind, offering precisely the kind of fluff and romantic fulfillment the devoted fans will absolutely devour. Overall, if you thoroughly enjoyed the first game, this fandisk is a hard “must-play.” And if you’re new to otome games and enjoy the historical fantasy genre, this is definitely a series worth recommending!