Danial Norjidi
With its latest State of Play digital presentation on March 9 (March 10 in Brunei Darussalam), Sony showcased some new reveals and updates for PlayStation 5 (PS5) and Playstation 4 (PS4) titles.
With a special focus on games coming from Japanese publishers, the 20-minute presentation also had a few updates from other developers from around the world.
The presentation kicked off with a debut trailer for Capcom’s brand new title, Exoprimal, which is coming in 2023.
According to its website, “Exoprimal is an online, team-based action game that pits humanity’s cutting-edge exosuit technology against history’s most ferocious beasts – dinosaurs”.
“Exosuits are grouped into different roles, and players will pilot these exosuits to hold firm against overwhelming dinosaur swarms in online-only, team-based action game modes.”
Next up was an update for Ghostwire: Tokyo by Tango Gameworks and Bethesda Softworks which releases March 25, 2022. Ghostwire: Tokyo is an action adventure game in which “Tokyo is overrun by deadly supernatural forces, perpetrated by a dangerous occultist known as Hannya, causing Tokyo’s population to vanish in an instant”.
A trailer was then shown for Square Enix’s upcoming March 18 release Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin, which announced that a new playable demo for the game is now available.
Described as a hardcore action role-playing game, Stranger of Paradise centres on protagonist Jack “who must face numerous challenges to bring the light of the crystals back to Cornelia, a kingdom conquered by darkness”.
The game “features action gameplay where you use a wide variety of action moves to survive furious battles and scatter your foes before you, as well as RPG elements collecting numerous different jobs and weapons to customise and develop your characters”.
The presentation continued with a new look at gameplay features for another upcoming Square Enix title, Forspoken, which has had its release date delayed to October 11, 2022.
Forspoken is an action role-playing game that follows the story of Frey Holland, who finds herself mysteriously transported from New York City and trapped in the beautiful and cruel land of Athia.
Bandai Namco’s fast-paced 6v6 multiplayer shooter Gundam Evolution will be making its way to PS5 and PS4 later this year, with a network test for US and Japan coming in Spring 2022.
The game sees players select from a wide range of Mobile Suits from across the Gundam multiverse, each with their own unique attack and support skills, as they engage in objective based combat.
Those looking for a nostalgia trip will find it with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection, an upcoming compilation from Konami.
Announced with a 2022 release, this collection compiles 13 classic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) games by Konami along with a set of new quality of life features including: added online play for certain games and local couch play; save anytime and rewind; 11 Japanese regional version releases; button mapping; unique development art and sketches; as well as historic TMNT media content.
Also releasing later this year is Gigabash by Passion Republic Games. In this four-player arena brawler featuring giant monsters, kaijus and heroes, players will get to unleash mayhem in fully destructible maps and battle with their friends to “rise as the true apex among the titans”.
Fighting game fans can look forward to the launch of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle R by Bandai Namco in early fall this year. Described as “the biggest game ever in the franchise”, All Star Battle R brings together 50 characters from every story arc of the JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure series.
Devolver Digital’s sidescrolling action-adventure title Trek to Yomi was shown with a spring 2022 release.
The game follows young swordsman Hiroki who, as a vow to his dying master, is sworn to protect his town and the people he loves against all threats.
“Faced with tragedy and bound to duty, the lone samurai must voyage beyond life and death to confront himself and decide his path forward.”
A free new update for Housemarque’s third-person rogue-like shooter Returnal was then revealed. In Returnal, which first released in April last year, players take on the role of an explorer named Selene who crash-lands on a shape-shifting alien planet where she has to fight to survive, while being forced to restart her journey each time she is defeated. This new update, titled Returnal: Ascension, releases on March 22 and brings with it campaign co-op and a mysterious new survival mode.
Two brand new games from Square Enix were then shown to close out the presentation.
First up was The DioField Chronicle, which will release this year and is described as “a new strategy role-playing game that will take you on a journey of honour and political intrigue.
“In this fresh and gritty story, you will discover a unique blend of fantasy, medieval and modern-day influences, and an innovative combat system: Real-Time Tactical Battle. Surrounded by richly detailed environments in diorama-style visuals, you must think quickly and act strategically to lead your team to victory”.
Finally, the presentation concluded with a first look at Valkyrie Elysium, which arrives on PS4 and PS5 this year.
“Valkyrie Elysium is an action RPG with an epic story, beautiful environments, and new, fast-paced combat that incorporates the Valkyrie series’ classic special attack and combo systems.”
