Tokyo Game Show (TGS) 2017 was a great show for PlayStation. This show is directed towards Japan’s audience and many Japanese RPG games were shown. Standout winner for TGS is Square-Enix. Here are the highlight games from the show:
Left Alive:
A new Role-Playing Game from Square-Enix is a Dystopia Mech Robot game. Fans of Japanese mecha series will be excited as the game is being produced by Front Mission series’ Shinji Hashimoto, directed by the Armored Core series’ Toshifumi Nabeshima, and featuring character designs by the Metal Gear series’ Yoji Shinkawa. Some Wanzer (mecha) designs will be done by Mobile Suit Gundam 00‘s Takayuki Yanase.
You’ll play and switch between three protagonists. Left Alive is a survival based shooters revolving around gunplay and traps. The world setting is actually between Front Mission 5 and Front Mission Evolved. Progression in the story is determined by the player and there are several different outcomes that can affect the one main ending. You won’t be able to customize your Wazer but you can customize weapons with materials. It is stated to be an offline experience with some online experience that hasn’t been explained yet. If you’re a fan of the Front Mission series, Producer Shinji Hashimoto: “We wanted to make a Front Mission with a new lineup. We started this new title to see Front Mission in a slightly different perspective. Square Enix wanted to convey the feeling that we cherish Front Mission.” Left Alive is planned for a 2018 release.
Monster Hunter: World
Fans of Monster Hunter will finally have their mainstream console hunting game. Set for January 26th, 2018 release. The game will obviously include new monsters and environments. Pukei-Pukei and Nergigante, as well as the Coral Highlands stage and Astera, the base of operations for the Research Commission, are new areas show in the trailer.
For $69.99, the Deluxe Digital edition will come with the game, Samurai Set skin, three gestures, two sticker sets, plus an extra face paint and hairstyle option for the hunter. The PS4 deluxe edition will also come with 14 Weapon Avatars. The Physical Edition is $149.99 and comes with everything above and 32 hard page art book, monster statue, and a digital soundtrack.
Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain
You’ve probably heard of the Earth Defense Force series before and may have found a few copies at random game stores. There are currently 4 main releases and a 5th one coming this December in Japan. Iron Rain is set to release in 2018 which features a dark tone for the series although it still revolves around humans fighting giant ants, robots, and aliens with guns and mechas.
Final Fantasy IX:
Final Fantasy IX has been released for the PlayStation 4 today worldwide. It is a higher resolution version with improved cutscenes and character models, trophy support, and cheats that allow you to skip random battles, high-speed mode, and master all abilities for armors and weapons, and give you max levels, magic stones for summons, and gil. The cheat options are great for players who’ve finished FF9 (like myself). There is currently a deal for US PlayStation store for the game. The price is $16.79 and includes several avatars and a PlayStation Theme until September 26th.
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Release date: October 6th, 2017. A remake of the GBA game but with a new minion mode! It’ll be a new experience where you play as Bowser’s Minions (Goombas, Koopa Troopers, Shy Guys, Etc.) trying to find their master. Amibo will add stamps to give you free items and equipment for the game.
Release date: January 19, 2018. A Kirby party game. It comes with a variety of different game modes. Kirby Battle Arena: Fight with special powers until you’re the last Kirby left. Horde Chest Mode where you try and grab as much treasure as you can. A team boss battle was shown and more is to be announced. There is a single player story mode and Online and Ranked Matches.
Release date: September 29th, 2017. One of the biggest games in Japan at the moment, a new improved version of Yokai Watch 2 which comes with new monsters and areas. Think of it like the Yellow Version of Yokai Watch 2.
Release date: October 6, 2017. Play a new Layton game! But now you play as his daughter in the 7th installment of the Professor Layton series. Plus you have new allies and an adorable dog.
Release date: September 13th, 2017 (Today) digitally. The Physical edition will release at a later date. Another way to play Minecraft on the go. It’ll come with texture packs, skins, and survival and creative mode. Their main selling point is that there is a touch screen. If for whatever reason you wanted a portable Minecraft besides the iPhone or PlayStation Vita, here it is.
Release date: November 10th, 2017. The top 100 Mario Party mini games from all 10 main console games. It comes with download play, so your friends can play with you without even owning the game if they own a Nintendo 3DS. Personally, the fun part was screwing over your friends and taking their stars. While the mini-games were fun for a bit, the real fun of Mario Party was the intense pressure to win the overall board.
Release date: September 15th, 2017. Finally a real Metroid game. It’ll come with new weapons, melee attacks, and even new bosses that aren’t Ridley! But that winged jerk is totally back. The new armors look amazing and more than just a recolor in this game.
Release date: Early 2018. An old school RPG where you play as 9 different characters. It’ll have a new gameplay style so don’t worry about falling into the tropes of old JRPGs. Each character will have their own story and start at different parts of the story. Eventually, all 9 will meet up to combine the story into 1. It was released early this year in Japan. The reviews were fairly average.
Release date: Early 2018. A cult classic JRPG that was released late in the DS life cycle. It’s an amazing game that revolves around time travel. The gameplay is really unique and it involves heavy thinking. The beginning is a bit slow but once the story starts rolling, Radiant Historia becomes a blast to play. It will come with a new subplot: Sub-History which revolves around a new character: Nemesia.
Release date: October 17th, 2017. You can download the demo today. If you’re a fan of the series, the sequels to continue to receive rave reviews. It is a separate story so for new players, it’ll be a fresh experience and you don’t need to play the older games.
Release date: November 2017. An update, hi-res version of the original DS game. You can switch between American and Japanese audio dialogue. But how will I know if I’m eating hamburgers or sushi…
Release date: October 20, 2017. The Dynasty Warriors/Musou of Fire Emblem. Fight hordes of enemies to uncover why all these characters from different time period join together to fight evil. It will also release for the Nintendo Switch
