Tokyo Jungle
Tokyo Jungle (トーキョー ジャングル, Tōkyō Janguru) is an urban based animal survival action game developed by PlayStation C.A.M.P. and Crispy's and published by Sony Computer Entertainment exclusively for the PlayStation 3.[5] The game takes place in a deserted, futuristic Tokyo, in which the city has transformed into a vicious wildlife wasteland.[5] Tokyo Jungle was released in Japan on June 7, 2012,[1] available on both disc and downloadable versions. During an interview with Joystiq at the 2012 Electronic Entertainment Expo, Sony's Scott Rohde confirmed the international release of the game, which available for download only via PSN in North America and Europe on September 25 and September 26 respectively.[6]
Gameplay
Tokyo Jungle has two modes: Story and Survival.[2]
In Story mode, the player plays through missions centered around various animals. Eventually, the player will discover the truth behind humankind's disappearance.[3] Pomeranian dogs are key characters in the story,[2] as well as a Sika deer, beagle, Tosa Inu, spotted hyena, lions, and a pair of robotic dogs similar to AIBO.
In Survival mode, the player, or players (there is a local multiplayer), takes control of an animal and fights for survival against other animals for as long as possible. Tokyo Jungle has online leaderboards so the players can compare their survival skills against one another.[2] Smaller animals will fight in groups, and the player's group can win fights against larger animals as long as one member of the group survives the fight.[3]
The player will have to build up a pack of animals. This is easier for some herbivores, which means the player may not necessarily be at a disadvantage even if they choose a weaker type.[3]
 | Parts of this article (those related to breeds) need to be updated. (December 2012) |
There are 50 breeds and 80 types of animals expected to be in the game.[3] Animals confirmed for Tokyo Jungle include Pomeranians, lions, crocodiles, tigers, giraffes, hippos, cheetahs, chimpanzees, gazelles, chickens, beagles, Dilophosauruses, hyenas, Deinonychus, and Sika deer.[2] As the player plays through the game, additional playable animals will be unlocked.[3]
There are other animals which are available for the player to download as downloadable content from the PlayStation Store, which include an Australian Silky Terrier, a Smilodon, an AIBO, a Peking Man, a (human) office worker, white and black Pomeranians, a cat, a panda, a crocodile, a kangaroo, and a giraffe.
Plot
Story
Some time in the twenty-first century, humankind is extinct, leaving animals to fend for themselves. The once busy streets of Tokyo are now home to lions, tigers, chickens, and various other animals. All of them are now fighting for survival.[2]
Characters
- Pomeranian dog
After running out of pet food, the Pomeranian dog now has to fend for itself in a now-wild-and-vicious Tokyo. The bosses he faces are fat cats although one is fought by his children. He ends the game establishing a small pack of Pomeranians.
- Sika deer
Two fawns search the hostile streets of Tokyo, looking for their mother. The brother and sisterly couple are the only animals with no boss.
- Beagle
A hungry Beagle tries to overthrow a tyrannical Tosa Inu. The Beagle builds an army out of his pups to fight the Tosa. The boss he faces is the Tosa himself. The Beagle is killed by The Hyena.
- Tosa Inu
The Tosa Inu is injured by the Beagle, and must escape. He then works to regain his lost honor. The bosses he faces are a Chimpanzee, a Tiger, a Crocodile and in his last level... a Smilodon and Hyena.
- Lioness
The lioness and her hunting party have to hunt the targeted animals all over the Subway area. The boss she faces is a Kangaroo and his rabbit comrades.
- Male Lion
The male lion has to defend his pride from the roving male lions. The bosses he faces are about 4 Hyenas and another lion. His story ends with him defeating the pack, allowing his family to live in peace.
- Hyena
The hyenas and the roving lions are planning to take over the beagle's territory. The boss he faces is the same beagle that otherthrew the Tosa. His story ends with him fighting the Lion for control of the pack, with it being ambiguous if he wins or loses.
- ERC-003
ERC-003 is a Sony AIBO. After being found by ERC-X with her family of two wolves, ERC-003 now has to scan all of Tokyo for the disaster signals being put out by the humans' underground facility. She then faces a moral choice of whether to bring humanity back to Tokyo, or let the animals rule. Choosing yes will end the game, whereas 'no' will trigger a series of final boss fights and what is considered in Japan to be the "true ending." The bosses she faces are her former ERC-X parther, 2 Deinonychus, 2 Smillodons and the final boss... the upgraded ERC-X (unless she decides to bring the humans back to Tokyo). She either lives with the future humans, doomed to repeat the cycle again, or dies from her wounds during a fight saving the world from going through the cycle again.
Reception
Ellie Gibson, writing for Eurogamer, gave Tokyo Jungle a 9/10, describing it as "basically Grand Theft Auto with lions." and calling it "a celebration of classic games, with their ridiculous plots, repetitive tasks, excessive violence and all. It pulls off the impressive and nigh-on impossible trick of being an original homage. Also it lets you set a giraffe on a bear."[7]
Giant Bomb's Patrick Klepek also praised the game, giving it 4/5 stars and calling it a "well-designed, supremely funny game." Klepek went on to praise the game's animal variety and the system for unlocking new animals, as well as the loot system and the story mode. However, he criticized the game's inclusion of certain animals as paid downloadable content.[8]
References
- ^ a b Anoop Gantayat (February 21, 2012). "Tokyo Jungle Dated for June 7". andriasang. Retrieved February 21, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g Spencer (August 31, 2010). "Tokyo Jungle Has Animals Battling In The Streets Of Japan". siliconera. Retrieved September 2, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f Anoop Gantayat (September 1, 2010). "This Week's Flying Get". andriasang. Retrieved September 2, 2010.
- ^ a b Famitsu (September 2, 2010). "『TOKYO JUNGLE（東京 ジャングル）（仮題）』動物たちのサバイバルが始まる！". Famitsu. Retrieved September 2, 2010.
- ^ a b Michael McWhertor (August 31, 2010). "Tokyo Jungle Brings A Post Apocalyptic Wildlife War To PS3". Kotaku. Retrieved September 2, 2010.
- ^ Ben Gilbert (June 8, 2012). "Sony's 'wacky' Tokyo Jungle headed to North America and Europe". Joystiq. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
- ^ http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-09-24-tokyo-jungle-review
- ^ Klepek, Patrick. "Tokyo Jungle Review". Retrieved 2 October 2012.