Senran Kagura is a series of anime brawlers that have swept handhelds with their combination of depth, satisfying combat and unashamedly sexy fanservice. While the scantily-clad ninjas pound each other in combat, they're just as happy cooking up a storm. This latest instalment, senran kagura bon appetit, sees the girls take to the kitchen to compete in a culinary contest - with an added twist that will have even the most ardent Senran Kagura fans rolling on the floor with laughter.
The game is a rhythm action, where players press specified buttons scrolling up and down two lines in time with the music to cook dishes for the competition. The scantily clad ninjas are up against similarly clothed opponents, and the dish prepared and played to a song determines who wins each round. If the player hits a long chain of notes, they can activate ninja powers that boost the size and deliciousness of their dish. The loser of each round gets a part of their clothes ripped off - because it's Senran Kagura, after all.
As with other games in the franchise, the story is a little thin. Each girl has her own brief snippet of visual novel-styled narrative as to why she's competing in the cook off and chasing that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, but each one is hilariously awful and littered with double and triple entendres involving crotches and nipples.
This is a game that will appeal solely to fans of the series, and those who are also big fans of rhythm games. The food looks good and the music is well matched to the content, but it's not enough to make this the best rhythm game of its kind or to convert people who aren't already fans of the genre.
