In this week's issue of Weekly Famitsu, Sega WOW has given away some more details regarding its upcoming PlayStation 2 adventure Sakura Taisen Monogatari: Mysterious Paris. In the article five new characters were revealed: 18-year old dancer Elsa, who despite the early death of her parents and upbringing in an orphanage, does not let her past affect her present life. Gwenn Du Ain is a 29-year old physics and chemistry researcher, whose parents died early during her childhood and was raised by her grandmother in poor conditions. To cope with the recent estrangement from her grandmother, she has started drinking and at night is often seen at bars drinking brandy. Morgan Camu is a well-connected freelance journalist from Bourdeux. Joining them are 32-year old German businessman Heinz Spengler as well as 13-yeard Lyon-native Bernadette, who is making her living by selling hand-made song books. While the reticent girl is very introvertive, her poems are said to be very charming.

Apart from the normal LIPS system, Sakura Taisen Monogatari will also feature Button, Analog, Timing and Just LIPS systems. It was also explained how LIPS will affect the protagonists' life gauge. When the player fails to get a Just LIPS event (for example, he has to balance a cup of tea while sitting in a moving car, causing the hot tea to spill over) right his health bar will subsequently decrease.

Sakura Taisen Monogatari: Mysterious Paris will be available in Japan sometime in March 2004 for 6,980 yen ($64.94 US).

• Weekly Famitsu