Staff writer Enrique ‘Durga Syn’ Herrera prepared a preview of this year’s Tokyo Game Show (TGS) and what it had to offer, much of which played out as expected. Here, however, is a bit more detail on a few of the presentations, now that they have happened.
This is Iron Fist. He breaks faces.
Capcom’s Many Stage Shows
As anticipated, Capcom used TGS as an opportunity to show off Dragon’s Dogma, a game in which players tackle larger-than-life enemies in a medieval setting. Their presentation showed some of the actual gameplay and had playable versions available for anyone present (and fortunate enough to have braved TGS’s impressively massive lines). Gamers interested in the new title, as well as anyone merely curious, should take the opportunity to view the trailer Capcom made, available here. For those too impatient, the trailer announces a 2012 release date for both the PlayStation 3 (PS3) and Xbox 360.
Capcom also managed to prepare playable versions of several other games, although not all of the ones they presented. During TGS, attendants were able to play three of their upcoming PS3 titles: Asura’s Wrath, a beat em’ up game in which players take control of the eponymous god Asura as he strives to rescue his daughter; Sengoku Basara 3: Utage, the next in the one-man-army-styled game series taking place in Sengoku-era Japan; and Street Fighter X Tekken, their fighting game crossover with Namco. Of these titles, only Sengoku Basara 3: Utage will not also be available for the Xbox 360. Capcom also managed to prepare a playable version of Resident Evil: Revelations for the 3DS and Monster Hunter Diary G for the PSP.
Not that these were the only games presented, of course. DmC Devil May Cry was given an entire stage show, during which the developers revealed the reboot’s gameplay. If the length of time devoted to it was any indication, however, then Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3′s presentation was their most important. Capcom prepared an almost hour-long stage event to talk about their follow-up to Marvel vs. Capcom 3, during which they showed gameplay for two of the new fighters: Marvel’s Iron Fist and Devil May Cry’s Vergil. Expect the game for both the PS3 and Xbox 360 sometime in November 2011. The presentation can be viewed in its entirety at Capcom’s YouTube channel, here. The channel also has the shows Capcom gave the press for several of their other games, including DmC Devil May Cry. Of course, most of the dialogue is in Japanese.
I'm sure I'll find nothing in here that scares me.
Konami’s Games, Both New and Refurbished
While Konami certainly had its share of new titles to present, one of the announcements to which they gave special attention was their HD remixes: specifically, the Metal Gear Solid HD Edition and the Silent Hill HD Collection. Konami’s Metal Gear collection will include Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, and HD ports of Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake from the Nintendo Entertainment System. The collection will be available in Japan on November 23 for both the PS3 and Xbox 360. Check out the trailer here. They also announced that the 3DS will receive its own remake, Metal Gear Solid 3D Snake Eater. Silent Hill HD Collection will include both Silent Hill 2: Forgotten Memories and Silent Hill 3. Regrettably, however, Konami has offered little Silent Hill media, save a few screenshots to demonstrate the new graphics.
Of course, it was not all remakes. Konami showed more of the upcoming Silent Hill Downpour and crazy limb-detaching shooter NeverDead. For Downpour, which will be available for both the PS3 and Xbox 360, Konami had a new trailer, uploaded to YouTube here (requires a log-in). Alternatively, the website GameSpot uploaded a recording of a gameplay demo, also available on YouTube, here. Konami has released gameplay videos of NeverDead prior to TGS, but previously released little information regarding the cast. This time, they prepared a trailer introducing the eclectic of a rival demon hunter, demon lords, and an individual who appears to have no business being around either group. The trailer, featuring music by Megadeth, is available here. Expect NeverDead by the end of the year on the Xbox 360 and PS3.
One last surprise from Konami was the announcement of a new PlayStation Portable (PSP) game: Genso Suikoden: Tsumugareshi Hyakunen no Toki, or Suikoden: The Woven Web of the Century. Unfortunately, that is almost all the information Konami had to offer. The game’s website has a teaser trailer, available here.
Now with thrice the 'Ha.'
A Little Bit of Rounding Up
There are a few more interesting bits to point out from TGS. First, another gameplay and cinematic trailer was released for Namco’s upcoming Soul Calibur V, although it did not come with a release date. The trailer sees the return of axe-wielder Astaroth and the introduction of a new character, Viola. This hooded woman fights with a claw and magical orb, and can be seen in the trailer here. The game will be available for both the PS3 and Xbox 360.
On the ‘interesting and a little unexpected’ front is the announcement of Project Draco. This game, from the same developers as Panzer Dragoon, will be very much a spiritual successor to the series: Players ride one of several choices of dragon in an on-rails shooter experience. The ‘unexpected’ part, however, is that the game is exclusively for the Xbox 360 and uses the Kinect accessory, with a player’s hands controlling how and where they fire. Up to three people can play cooperatively.
Lastly, there are two more ports to discuss. The first is Final Fantasy X, which is receiving an HD remake. The game will be available on the PlayStation Vita, or on the PS3 as a downloadable game. Square-Enix has provided no further information beyond that the game will somehow be ‘enhanced.’ In the other direction, however, the previously DS only Ni no Kuni will soon be available in Japan on the PS3. A collaboration of Level-5 and Studio Ghibli, the critically-acclaimed Ni no Kuni’s re-release will feature vastly improved graphics and a slightly different story. Japanese gamers can play it on November 17, although the game will see a United States release early in 2012.
