Tokyo Game Show 2010 Retrospective

Critical Gamer will be attending Tokyo Game Show 2011 next week, September 15th – 18th. Be sure to check back for news and previews throughout the week.

With Tokyo Game Show 2011 just around the corner, now is the ideal time to look back at last year’s event and revisit and re-evaluate some of the biggest announcements and no-shows. Despite being noticeably scaled-down in comparison to previous years, many in the industry saw TGS 2010 as a return to form after an uneventful showing in 2009, despite the lack of one defining game or moment.

Here are some of the more memorable games of TGS ’10, and a look at how things have changed over the course of an eventful year.

Notable by Their Absence

I get the feeling that this year is destined to become the third straight that we don’t get a hands-on with The Last Guardian. Perhaps I was a bit too optimistic in expecting a demo in 2009, only a month or two removed from its maiden trailer, but it seemed reasonable to expect some time alone with Team ICO’s latest at TGS 2010. We were all to be disappointed, having to make do with a solitary trailer that showed very little new footage. The passing of time has not been kind to The Last Guardian, as it has since been pushed back to 2012, though the ICO HD Collection will make the wait a little easier when it arrives later this month. (Editor’s note: since this article was written, it has been confirmed that The Last Guardian will not be present at TGS 2011. Dagnabit.)

Metal Gear Solid: Rising was another notable, relative no-show. We were treated to a short trailer of watermelons, but it revealed little of what’s to be expected from the latest MGS – aside from fruit and swords. It remains a mystery with little being seen or heard of it since, with the exception of persistent rumours that Platinum Games have taken the reigns, despite their claims to the contrary. Konami’s TGS ’11 press release does not list Rising as being on show, suggesting a lengthy wait for more information.

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Despite their poor performance in Japan, Microsoft were out in force at TGS ’10. They had one of the biggest, loudest and brightest set-ups, which was dominated by all things Kinect. Kudo Tsunoda was on hand, offering pointers and answering questions, and a full range of early titles were on show for the yet to be released hardware. Sony were likewise eager to ensure that no one could forget that they too had some motion-controls to show off, as many of their demo booths were equipped with Move controllers and even the odd 3D TV.

Little has changed since, as both Microsoft and Sony continue to aggressively push their motion controls. There was no escaping Kinect at E3, as Microsoft rammed it down our throats and kept assuring us that it is an integral part of the Xbox experience. Like it or not, you can expect plenty more Move and Kinect next week.

Fans May Cry

One of the more controversial reveals at TGS ’10 was the Devil May Cry reboot. In the hands of Ninja Theory (Heavenly Sword, Enslaved), DmC Devil May Cry marks a departure from the well-established style of the first four games. Along with the surprise announcement came a short trailer, showing a very different looking Dante kicking some demon arse.

The reaction to the redesign was predictably negative. Despite stressing that this is an origins story, and therefore does not depict Dante as we have come to know him, it has continued to draw criticism from fans. It probably goes without saying that these fans have yet to play anything of the reboot, nor seen more than a few minutes of footage. Recent screenshots show that the character design has changed slightly since the original teaser, but I for one hope that Ninja Theory stick to their guns on this one. Expect more on DmC next week.

Portables Ruled Supreme

While they continue to struggle in the West, the portable remains king in Japan. The DS is as popular as it is elsewhere, but the PSP is a much bigger deal in its home territory than outside. This popularity was reflected in the plethora of portable games on show last year, stealing the thunder of many home console titles.

TGS 2010 was the year of the portable, as most booths were running as many, if not more, PSP and DS units than home consoles. Square Enix were pushing Tactics Ogre: Let us Cling Together and Parasite Eve: Third Birthday – two of my favourite games on show – and SEGA had no shortage of titles to share, including Valkyria Chronicles 3 and Phantasy Star Portable 2: Infinity. Capcom were hawking the English version of Okamiden and their elaborate stand for Monster Hunter Portable was perhaps the most popular of the entire show.

The last year has not been kind to portables. The 3DS’ struggles have been well documented, leaving the industry wondering if the days of dedicated portables are numbered. The PSP Go has been dragged out and shot, and all eyes are now on the Vita. There is a lot riding on the next twelve months, and while I’m sure portables will once again dominate TGS, it will be interesting to see if confidence in their future is misplaced.

Off to the Knackers

Two of my least favourite games of TGS ’10 have since found their way onto the scrap heap. Mega Man Universe was a fiddly and unresponsive experience that not even the promise of user created levels could save. Mega Man has a reputation for being hard, but the couple of levels I played were infuriating and the early build had few, if any, redeeming features. The subsequent canning of Mega Man Legends 3 was far more surprising, and casts doubt over the future of the long-running series.

Square Enix were trying something a bit different with third-person shooter Gun Loco. This was rather commendable, but unfortunately it was a complete waste of space and had “soon to be cancelled” written all over it. The confused and pained faces of those of us who played it would’ve told the developers everything they needed to know.

“King of Anglia!”

The undead took over TGS last year. The Dead Rising 2 area was part demo, part theatrical show, featuring a troupe of zombies who stormed the enclosed booth once your hands-on time was over; slightly different to the customary tap on the shoulder. Yakuza of the End had a constant supply of zombies posing with hostess models, who happened to be carrying automatic weapons, and served as one of the best photo-ops of the four days.

You couldn’t move for undead critters and, despite near saturation, zombie hordes are still packing in the crowds. Dead Rising 2 did brisk business and we will get the Off The Record spin-off before the end of the year. Although Of the End is yet to arrive in the West, it hasn’t stopped rotting flesh from popping up everywhere in 2011, from Tropical islands to Nazi Germany. It’s still good to be undead, apparently.

Sitting Pretty

El Shaddai and Ni no Kuni were two of the most unique and visually striking titles of TGS ’10. With its distinctive style and varied gameplay, El Shaddai was a breath of fresh air and one of the few games that succeeded in getting everyone talking. However, there were concerns as to whether the simplistic gameplay would keep pace with its stylish visuals,;but if reviews are anything to go by, it appears that it has made good on its significant promise.

Ni no Kuni drew large crowds eager to sample the fruits of a collaboration between Level 5 and Studio Ghibli – two of the best loved studios in their respective fields. This charming RPG looked great on the DS, but has yet to see the light of day outside of Japan, where it was a critical and financial success. The PS3 version, which was also available to play, has all but disappeared; though I expect it to be revisited at this year’s show, hopefully along with a Western release date for either version.