Random Topic: My Overall Thoughts/Reactions to Tokyo Games Show 2015 (Part 1)

One of the biggest gaming conventions this year has just ended and it's been one heck of a ride for many video game players. For this post I decided to discuss my overview thoughts and reactions to the games revealed and/or detailed at Tokyo Games Show 2015. If it helps I also watched Sony's Press Conference for Japan/Asia at 8 in the morning (this is UK time, for US fans that would be around 1-3 in the morning). Let's just say I found this conference to be as big as Sony's E3 2015 conference in terms of surprises and announcements.

Starting off this post will be the titles revealed at Sony's CEJA conference. I've read other news articles for these titles so I've gotten a better idea of what's also been announced as well (as certain games revealed at CEJA had more information later in the week). I'm not going to cover titles like For Honor and Assassin's Creed Syndicate because there's virtually nothing new from them and I want this post to focus solely on the Japanese side of things. Don't get me wrong I am looking forward to For Honor, it looks great but we already know most of the information from back in E3 this year. Considering the amount of games I want to discuss, I'll be splitting this topic across multiple posts.

Bloodborne: The Old Hunters Expansion

Format: PlayStation 4 (Exclusive)

Release Date: November 24th (Worldwide)

Here's the truth, I have never played Bloodborne before. I have however witnessed my friends play the game next to me back when I was in Uni so I've got a good idea of how the game works. While we were all aware that the game was getting more content it's a nice surprise to see the game's first expansion officially revealed with some neat gameplay and weapons revealed. The Old Hunters subtitle (as far as I'm aware) refers to the Hunters that were told in the main Bloodborne story and its origins. The gameplay unveiled a neat chainsaw-like weapon and a transforming bow, both of which looks great and I can't wait to give it a go when I get the game in the future. Bloodborne: The Old Hunters will also be receiving a retail re-release not long after the digital version is out.

New Everybody's Golf (Hot Shots Golf)

Format: PlayStation 4 (Exclusive)

Release Date: 2016 (Japan)

The next title announced at SCEJA changed the tone of the show instantly, as we went from Bloodborne to a new instalment in Sony's Golf series. My only experience with this series is from the Vita version which I enjoyed quite a bit. The trailer didn't reveal any proper gameplay so all we got was a fun view of everyone getting along doing various things alongside golf. The thing that baffles me when I saw the trailer is that it seems like we're doing more than just golfing in the game because there's characters fishing and jogging around the place it's just weird that's all. The whole trailer seems to try and promote itself as a competitor to Nintendo's Wii series of games like Sports and Party. So far the game's release date is 2016 in Japan so I'll be curious if this next instalment will see a release outside Japan given the previous ones have.

Gravity Rush Remastered and Gravity Rush 2

Format: PlayStation 4 (Exclusive)

Release Date (GRR): December 10th (Japan), February 9th (North America), February 10th (Europe)
Release Date (GR2): Fall 2016 (Japan)

Okay we all knew this was going to happen. There were leaks about a remaster of the first game for quite some time through trademarks and game ratings but now it's officially revealed. It's unfortunate that another Vita exclusive title has gone to consoles but on the other hand the PS4 version will bring new life to the franchise and also a new audience. The remastered version will contain all of the DLCs in one package as well as enchancing the game to 1080p 60fps, which to this series would be amazing to play with especially with its gravity mechanics that Kat has in the game. I do own the Vita version but I never got around to finishing it. It is a really good game and I do recommend PS owners check out the game when it gets re-released or get the Vita version if you haven't already.

In addition to a Remaster, a special anime project and a sequel was announced straight after. The sequel looks bigger and brighter than ever with more landscape to cover and interesting gameplay that was shown at the conference. The sequel will be skipping Vita presumably due to the limitations that the platform had. Both games will be out in English with the remaster arriving in February while the sequel appearing at some point (I expect it to be out in all territories before 2017).

Yakuza Kiwami (Ryu ga Gotoku Kiwami) and Yakuza 6 (Ryu ga Gotoku 6)

Format (YE): PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4 (Exclusive)

Format (Y6): PlayStation 4 (Exclusive)

Release Date (YE): January 24th 2016 (Japan)

Release Date (Y6): Fall 2016 (Japan)

Credit to NeoGAF's Hasney for making this hilarious gif. But seriously folks, support the English release of Yakuza 5!

One of the most exciting announcements from Sony's CEJA. Yakuza (actually translated as Like a Dragon) is a very story-driven open world-like series set in a fictional area in Tokyo. The series is one of the best games released in the 6th and 7th generation but unfortunately SEGA didn't continue the English versions after Yakuza Dead Souls (actually translated as Like a Dragon of the Dead) due to poor sales. The series did receive a second chance thanks to Sony's Third Party Productions by localising Yakuza 5 for PS3 sometime later this year. But anywho, why is this announcement exciting? Because Yakuza Kiwami is a proper HD remake of the very first game (not a remaster or port by the way, but the original did receive a HD remaster alongside the second game under the Ryu ga Gotoku 1&2 HD Collection).

Yakuza Kiwami (Ryu ga Gotoku Kiwami) will include additional scenarios and extras to help the players understand the story of the first game. The developers apparently had difficulty making the game during the PS2 era and to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the franchise, they're adding extra bits and pieces including more Goro Majima scenes and mini-games. The graphics are on-par with their current engine used for Ryu ga Gotoku Ishin! and Zero, their two latest instalments that were released on PS3 and PS4.

In addition to the remake, they also announced Yakuza 6, with a release date set for Fall 2016. The PS4 version of Yakuza Extreme will also have a limited-time demo for the game. The details for the next main instalment wasn't revealed until during TGS in which it'll feature Kiriyu, Haruka, Akiyama and two new characters. Beat Takashi will also be joining the voice cast for an unknown role.

It's pretty much Japan only for these two titles but that could change depending on the sales for Yakuza 5 when it hits the PlayStation Network this year.

The King of Fighters XIV

Format: PlayStation 4 (Exclusive)

Release Date: 2016 (Japan)

So SNK's logo appeared and a lot of fans were getting hyped, and it turned out to be another major instalment for the King of Fighters series. Not a bad thing, but what's interesting is that it's the first main instalment to use 3D graphics (their spin-offs have used this before) and for a PS4 title it really does look rather.. outdated. I hope this is just early in development because I doubt the fanbase will be impressed with those graphics when it's released. But like they always say, never judge a game until you've played it yourself. So far it seems to be a PS4 exclusive which is interesting.

One Piece Burning Blood

Format: PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita (Exclusive)
Release Date: 2016 (Japan)

Another One Piece game! This time it seems to have taken a different route in comparison to its previous games and become a fighting game in a similar vein to J-Stars Victory Vs. So far the characters included all seem to have Devil Fruit powers so that's interesting. I recognise a couple of them from what I've read so far but I'm looking forward to it. Spike Chunsoft is handling the game which is a bonus. I expect the game to get localised by Bandai Namco at some point.

Mobile Suit Gundam Extreme Vs. Force

Format: PlayStation Vita (Exclusive)
Release Date: 2016 (Japan & Asia)

There are a lot of Gundam games, and most of them releasing in the 7th & 8th Generation were only released in Japan. The Extreme Vs. series is one of them, and it's basically an arcade style Gundam game where you fight other opponents (whether its co-op or online) and the difficulty is pretty tough. You may think that a Vita exclusive may hurt this Gundam title but I say otherwise, Gundam games on the Vita have sold way more than their console counterpart and as an added bonus, Sony Asia will be including English subtitles in the Asian release. Extreme Vs. Force will include more characters and Gundams to the roster including the newest Gundam from the latest anime series.

Toukiden 2

Format: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita

Release Date: 2016 (Japan)

A new Toukiden game was announced from Koei Tecmo. While I don't own the first instalment I've played a bit of Toukiden Kiwami at MCM Comic Con, it's a fun action game. The trailer was mainly cinematics but we do know that it's going to be open world and set around the same time as the previous instalment which is interesting. I expect more information will appear soon.

Nioh

Format: PlayStation 4

Release Date: 2016 (Japan)

Now this is probably the biggest surprise from Sony's CEJA and possibly from TGS 2015 overall. Nioh is Koei Tecmo and Team Ninja's hack and slash 'Dark Souls meets Onimusha' type of game which actually started development 10 years ago and was originally set for the PlayStation 3 as a launch title but it ended up going into development hell and vaporware. It's re-appearance is a surprise and it's officially come back this time for the PS4. The gameplay is stunning and it looks very addictive. The developers confirmed it'll be near impossible to finish at first try so it's going to be one heck of a ride for this exciting title. I expect Koei Tecmo will localise the game given it's positive reception from fans online.

Stay tuned for Part 2 where I'll cover the rest of the games revealed from Sony's CEJA conference including Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Future Tone, Kingdom Hearts II.8 and New Danganronpa V3.