I don’t normally post this kind of stuff but I think it’s related to what I do and thought you guys might want to see it! I attended the Tokyo Game Show 2017 as well as the VR Zone in Shinjuku just a few days ago.
If you’re in Tokyo when this is on, then I say it’s worth going to and it is surprisingly affordable! It is very similar to other game shows you might have been to in the past but still worth going to if you like games. I got to see many popular titles that were on display as well as other titles I have never heard of before that seem to only stay in Japan. From what I saw I think it was Monster Hunter World that dominated the game floor as well as booths. I have sadly not played Monster Hunter before but from what I saw I was truly impressed and how awesome it looked so I think I will look into picking it up when it’s out.
Wolfenstein II didn’t have a big booth but it did catch a large crowd from how epic it looked. I stopped to have a look and it was just a few people and when they showed Nazis getting shot-gunned to the face and so on, I looked round and everyone had literally stopped to look at it! I tried to get on Sonic Forces but the queues were far too long to the point that they were not letting anyone in.
You can spend the whole day there but realistically you probably only drag out a couple of hours. If you go first thing in the morning expect to be queuing for hours but if you go later in the day you can easily walk in but don’t count on playing any games though! Also, you get a lot of swag!
In my personal opinion, overall, I do say Japanese game developers are far superior than western game developers. They take more risks and yes, some games do look bizarre but it’s a nice change than the same post-apocalyptic shooters which I haven’t got a problem with though. I know and have seen it for myself that west developers are tied to publishers and pushed to change things last minute because end of the day it is a business, while I think in Japan, to an extent, can be bit freer with what they create.
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VR Zone is a must because this is the first time you can play Mario Kart in VR and let me tell you, seeing Piranha plants up close and fire balls being spat at your face is terrifying! The Mushroom Kingdom is a scary place!
The whole building from outside to inside is really cool and futuristic looking! I got there at the opening time so I didn’t have to wait for most rides but when I left after 2 hours I saw the waiting times shoot up. When you enter you have four tickets; Red, Blue, Yellow and Green. Each one of the coloured tickets provides you with access to one game. You are also provided with an eye mask but hole cut out for you so you don’t dirty the VR set.
Yellow Ticket - I chose Mario Kart for this one, as this was a no brainer for me. It is up to four players, and you are racing against Wario and Bowser who have a tendency to cheat! Out of them four, this is the one I had the most fun on. Being able to move your hands and do whatever you like with the item is an incredible feeling. I was in first place and I had a hammer item and I was swinging it over my head like a mad man knocking anyone who comes near me! The levels change within the game and from seeing the course in VR is a cool experience! This is the future for Mario Kart.
Red Ticket - I chose the horror game “Hospital Escape Terror”. For starters you control a wheelchair! This is a co-op game. Basically, you and your partner are in a mental asylum whizzing around on a wheelchair (can’t help but laugh). You both get split up and have to try and get out but you begin to start doing puzzles and have to communicate with each other whilst someone is coming to either of you slowly and about to massacre you!
Blue Ticket - I chose Evangelion as I am a fan of the series. This was a really cool one. You start off in NERV base and to be able to look around before you get shot out to fight the Angel is awesome. Being able to see it from the perspective of the Evangelion instead of looking at them in the cockpit was cool. The seat as well is comfortable and feels like the real deal. In this one you are fighting an Angel while trying to dodge its attack. Easier said than done and can be overwhelming at times.
Green Ticket - For my last ticket I chose Argyle Shift because I didn’t feel like playing a fishing game (I blame Big the Cat from Sonic Adventure!) and the Skiing one I didn’t care for. In Argyle Shift you are in a cockpit and basically shot out into a sky battle to shoot down enemies while a holographic woman is constantly throwing herself in your face. And yes, there are jiggle physics...
