2024/10/11
Hello, this is Futaba Tsukimori from the SKOOTA editorial team!
This time, I participated in the Tokyo Game Show 2024, held at Makuhari Messe from September 26 to 29! I was so excited about attending my first large-scale gaming event that I couldn't sleep the night before, but once I arrived at the venue, it seemed like everyone else felt the same way. The two days flew by in an instant, and there were so many attractive games that I found myself unable to visit all the ones I had planned to…! I ran out of time and left with many regrets about the games I missed, but I did manage to collect plenty of flyers.
In this article, I will share my impressions of the indie games that particularly stood out during the two business days, held in halls 9 to 11! The venue featured general exhibition areas in halls 1 to 8, while halls 9 to 11 housed indie game booths and a cosplay area, where I participated as an exhibitor with a mindset of learning.
The Tokyo Game Show 2024 (TGS2024) is a global event where the latest information and new game announcements in the gaming industry are showcased, and this year it was held at Makuhari Messe from September 26 to 29. This year marked the largest scale in TGS history, with 985 companies and organizations from 44 countries participating. Approximately 275,000 people attended.
【Selected Indie 80 Corner】
A Mystery ADV Where No One Dies!? - Detective NEKKO
・Genre: Mystery, Adventure
・Exhibitor: Ara
・Playtime: About 15 minutes
The first game I played was the mystery ADV "Detective NEKKO." This game features a buddy story between a detective named Nekko and his partner, Jikenbo, and its catchy tagline "No one dies" left a strong impression. The absence of death and the unfolding of a heartwarming mystery is a particularly rare setting in this genre!
Game Features
This game is depicted in 3D graphics, featuring charming characters! I was particularly surprised to find that the character voices were generated using the text-to-speech software "VOICEPEAK"! The natural pronunciation, combined with a unique accent, created an atmosphere as if these characters were speaking a language from another world. This fit perfectly with the game, and as I played the demo, I found myself growing fond of the characters.
About the Story
The story begins with Nekko meeting his buddy Jikenbo, along with a special ability he has received. I look forward to seeing how the duo solves the cases and how their friendship and bond deepen through their interactions. The demo playtime was about 15 minutes, but I am very excited to see how the elements of deduction and puzzle-solving will unfold!
Impressions
After playing the demo, I speculate that in future developments, Nekko will use his abilities to extract information from clients, and the answers obtained by lowering the other party's guard may change. I want to pay close attention to how choices will affect story branching and character selection!
🌱 Futaba's Note: Personally, I found the character of the dog detective to be quite adorable, and since they aim to release the full version in early 2025, I secretly look forward to seeing more of him in the final product ^_^Motherly instincts might explode when raising from an egg! - Egg Quest
・Genre: Simulation Game
・Source: Egg Quest Yolk Heroes: A Long Tamago
・Playtime: About 15 minutes
The next game I played was the simulation game 'Egg Quest', where you become a guardian spirit and raise a hero. This育成 game features adorable pixel art characters that gradually grow while completing various quests. The game's system is somewhat reminiscent of the once-popular "Tamagotchi," allowing players to enjoy adventures while nurturing their characters!
Game Features
The quests are divided into about four types, including muscle training and dungeon exploration, and the controls are simple, allowing anyone to enjoy the game by alternating between the Z and X keys on the keyboard or holding and clicking the mouse. With these straightforward controls, it seems like a game where you challenge various adventures while growing your character.
Impressions
During my playtest, the character was already at a child-like age, but it seems that in the full version, you can raise the character from an egg. The element of raising from an egg makes us players feel a sense of motherhood and attachment, which I think is one of the charms of 'Egg Quest'! The gesture of the character puffing out their chest when completing a quest was also very cute, and I couldn't help but smile while playing.
The full version has already been released, and I would like to try raising a character from an egg during my spare time. This game, with its warm pixel art and simple, gentle controls, is highly recommended as a育成 game that anyone can enjoy!
🌱 Futaba's Note: Raising from an egg seems to make my maternal instincts explode. I might end up doing something ridiculous like not letting my child go on adventures or into dungeons because my maternal instincts are too strong! I'll be careful!A mysterious cute girl claiming to be my girlfriend, yet I feel no bad vibes - Inverted Angel
・Genre: Adventure, Puzzle
・Source: SCIKA
・Playtime: About 20 minutes
The next game I played was 'Inverted Angel', where you interact with a mysterious girl who appears through the intercom. 'Inverted Angel' begins with a girl who suddenly claims to be your "girlfriend." This work is not just a simple puzzle game; it is an immersive puzzle adventure where the story progresses as players input contradictions themselves!
Game Features
The system where players directly input answers was really interesting! I was surprised to hear that this AI is created using dictionary searches and natural language processing for language recognition. Additionally, the screen layout is very distinctive, with a design that makes it feel like you're having a conversation with a cute girl through an intercom, enhancing the immersion! I was completely drawn into the unfolding story of who this girl is and what the player is hiding while playing the demo version…!
Impressions
What I felt while playing was that the input-based puzzle-solving was personally very refreshing, highly immersive, and fun! I felt a lot of enjoyment from the game system that allows you to point out contradictions in your own words, rather than just simple choices! Also, the coexistence of the girl's cuteness and eeriness was captivating, and I found myself torn between wanting to invite her into my home and the anxiety that it might be dangerous. Furthermore, the puzzles were gentle, and the ability to revisit missed words in the backlog and the clarity of key parts were very considerate and well done! The full version of this game has already been released, so I plan to play the main story when I want to talk to the girl through the intercom!
🌱 Futaba's Note: The mysterious girl is so cute, and I was fighting with myself in my head between wanting to invite her in and telling myself not to! As a result, I missed a hint and ended up getting a hint for the hint...A game that pursues puzzle-solving unique to 3D games - M.E.M.O
・Genre: Adventure, Puzzle, Mystery-solving
・Exhibitor: Team Vaistar
・Playtime: About 25 minutes
The next game I played, 'M.E.M.O', is a puzzle adventure game set inside a train. Players walk around the train and solve various mysteries.
Game Features
The real and physical puzzle-solving elements using an actual notepad were quite interesting. I felt that the charm of the off-event was captured in the notes left on the booth's table by other players who had played the demo and solved puzzles.
Impressions
Playing 'M.E.M.O' made me realize the fun of physically taking notes while solving puzzles! The difficulty was quite challenging, and I had to ask for hints multiple times, but the unique puzzle-solving experience that comes with a 3D game, where you can move around and change your perspective, was well executed! I'm really looking forward to the demo being released in mid-October!
🌱 Futaba Note: I realized the fun of 3D puzzle games while also noticing that I wasn't used to it; when you're accustomed to 2D, you tend to think of puzzles in a flat way... I'll try again when the demo comes out!【Indie Game Corner】
A Nostalgic Japanese Townscape - Last Time I Saw You: The Scent of Rain
The full version will be released on October 10.
・Genre: Adventure
・Exhibitor: Chorus Worldwide
・Playtime: About 30 minutes
The next game I played was 'Last Time I Saw You: The Scent of Rain', an adventure game set in the nostalgic scenery of old Japan. The story revolves around a boy named "Ayumu" as a typhoon approaches, featuring a unique atmosphere that blends nostalgia and poignancy.
Game Features
The charm of this work lies in the beauty of its 2D animation and the nostalgic depiction of homes and towns reminiscent of classic Japanese anime. It has a comforting and familiar atmosphere, making you feel as if you've time-traveled back to the Showa era, with nostalgia directly touching your heart.
The protagonist "Ayumu" is portrayed as a relatable child who dislikes homework and desires games, evoking a sense of nostalgia in his actions and words. The simplicity and childlike purity that are absent in modern games are well depicted, making for a character setting that is easy to empathize with.
Atmosphere and Story
Despite the approaching typhoon, the outside is bright and quiet, enhancing the eeriness of the "calm before the storm." The moments where this tension intersects with the tranquility of daily life create a unique atmosphere that permeates the entire game. While playing, I felt a sense of relaxation mixed with curiosity about how the story would unfold.
Impressions
Overall, the game flows in a heartwarming and calming manner, allowing for a relaxed play experience, while the underlying anxieties and mysteries, such as the approaching typhoon and the identity of that woman, are intriguing. The nostalgic and familiar Japanese landscapes, along with the calm before the typhoon, evoke memories of childhood summer vacations. I'm very excited to see how the story will develop amidst this peaceful atmosphere!
🌱 Futaba Note: Ayumu-kun, who puts off his homework, is going to suffer through an all-nighter later (and the whole sequence of pretending to forget it at home is part of it...) From my rural background, it was a game with a very nostalgic and warm atmosphere.Kemonomimi × ASMR × Café - The Healing I Was Looking For is Packed Here - Kemono Tea Time
・Genre: Simulation, ASMR
・Developer: Studio Lalala
・Playtime: Approximately 15 minutes
'Kemono Tea Time' is an ASMR experience simulation game that incorporates elements of managing a café with kemonomimi characters. The concept of "Kemonomimi x ASMR x Café" was so dreamy that it brought tears to my eyes.
Game Features
The highlight is the combination of ASMR and kemonomimi characters. The sound effects like "Gori Gori... Fasa" right next to your ear and the character voices resonating in 3D sound create an immersive experience that feels like you're right there! The realism of the sounds stands out, and the sensation of voices passing from right to left and left to right was very pleasant.
While managing the café is the main focus, a notable feature is the ingredient mixing system. Customers come in, and you mix tea according to their requests! Combining tea leaves and herbs to create specific recipes is one of the joys of the game. Sometimes customers even teach you new recipes, making the process of recipe expansion an exciting point for the future.
Additionally, characters regularly come to sell ingredients and cooking tools, adding elements that influence the growth of the café! With not just café management but also creative mixing and story development, I felt the gameplay had depth!!
Is There a Dark Atmosphere?
People other than the kemonomimi characters appear, and conversations with them include themes of generations and the past, suggesting that there may be unsettling developments in the future... I couldn't play that far in the demo, but I'm really looking forward to the full version!!
Impressions
The cute pixel art characters move in the center of the screen, while conversations and systems are displayed in the surrounding frames. Every time a new customer arrives, I feel a thrill and don't want to miss their adorable expressions! The charm of the characters was packed in. Even during gameplay, my ears, eyes, and heart were healed, and the simulation elements of mixing and management were deep, allowing me to truly enjoy the game as well!! I'm very excited about future developments and the evolution of the story!!
🌱 Futaba's Note: Kemonomimi, ASMR, café simulation game = divine, ascension!!!