The Tokyo Game Show 2018

It’s that time of the year again, when we push through the crowds under humid weather, and make our way to Makuhari Messe in Chiba Prefecture, on our way to the Tokyo Game Show 2018. The event is expected to be even larger this year, with 668 companies and organizations (609 last year) showing off a total of 1,568 game titles from across 41 different countries and regions. Plus, the Japan e-Sports Union (JeSU) was established just this past Spring, marking the Tokyo Game Show 2018 the first time e-Sports will be holding professional competitions.

Tokyo Game Show 2018

One of the most anticipated titles being presented in the main hall was Square Enix’s Kingdom Hearts III. It has been 13 years since the Square Enix / Disney cross-over RPG had a full sequel, after multiple remakes, prologues, and side stories. Set for release in January 2019, Kingdom Hearts III will feature returning worlds such as Olympus from Hercules and the Caribbean from Pirates of the Caribbean, new stories from Big Hero 8 and Toy Story, and a completely new, original world that has not yet been disclosed. Visitors at TGS 2018 were able to learn more at the Square Enix booth, as well as play the demo at the PlayStation area.

Tokyo Game Show 2018

Tokyo Game Show 2018

Tokyo Game Show 2018

Also, Capcom was a big hit at the Tokyo Game Show 2018 with their presentation of Devil May Cry 5. The last we saw Dante battling demons was ten years ago, when the PS3 was still fresh on the shelf and trophy support was on its way. We did get a reboot/prequel called DmC: Devil May Cry in 2013, and while the game was critically successful, fans weren’t too happy with the changes. The long-awaited Devil May Cry 5 had playable demos at the PlayStation area as well as the Capcom booth, with a scheduled retail release on January 25.

Tokyo Game Show 2018

Tokyo Game Show 2018

And speaking of Capcom, this year marks the 30th Anniversary of the Mega Man (Rockman in Japanese) series. Not only were there playable demos for Mega Man 11 scheduled for release next month, but a museum dedicated to the platforming, shooting robot, complete with commemorative coins, figures, stamps, illustrations, and soundtracks, while also showcasing the game’s history.

Tokyo Game Show 2018

Tokyo Game Show 2018

Finally, Bandai-Namco had several titles on display – the most notable being God Eater 3, a game which made its debut on the PSP back in 2010. The God Eater series, which features battles against huge monsters known as Aragami, may not be huge sellers overseas, but are smash hits here in Japan. God Eater 3 is set for release in Japan on December 13, though no world-wide launch date has yet been decided.

Tokyo Game Show 2018

Virtual Reality is still a hot item here in Japan. The Japanese company JPPVR had a booth that was at least eight times larger than last year, showcasing VR games with sleek, cool looking vehicles to ride, creating a 4D experience. They ranged from motorcycles and racing cars that looked like something out of Tron, a Gatling gun on the top of a starship, and a bicycle for traversing across the top of skyscrapers.

Tokyo Game Show 2018

Tokyo Game Show 2018

Sony, meanwhile, still continues to promote their PSVR, with visitors trying out Everybody’s Golf VR, and the platforming Astro Bot Rescue Mission scheduled for release on October 2.

Tokyo Game Show 2018

Overall, the Tokyo Game Show 2018 had some delightful surprises and some unique – and hilarious – Indie games. I was glad to see that VR is still going strong, with more titles to look forward to on the PSVR.

Tokyo Game Show 2018

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Stay tuned for our video presentation of the Tokyo Game Show 2018!

 

written by Damon Finos

Code Vein to receive Same Versions in WorldWide Release

In an interview with Dengeki Online, Code Vein‘s Producer Keita Iizuka and Director Hiroshi Yoshimura stated that Bandai Namco‘s upcoming title should hopefully receive a worldwide release of the same version of the game.

 

“We want to make a game that will excite and be enjoyed by players around the world,” stated the developers, translated by Gematsu. “Moreover, we took the recent game market into account and thought we should make a title that will launch us into worldwide recognition.”

 

The producers continued to say that they felt there was no difference between Japanese and Western gamers in terms of “the nature of dungeon crawling RPGs and their experience with them,” and so therefore the game will not be adjusted for oversea players. “We will make final adjustments for the overall direction based on a single standard.”

 

Code Vein is an upcoming action RPG set in a future post-apocalyptic dystopia, with a vampire theme. The game is developed and published by Bandai Namco, by the same team responsible for God Eater, which was a highly successful and critical acclaimed title in Japan. Code Vein is set to be released in 2018.