Image: Sammy Barker / Push Square
The packed halls of Taipei’s Nangang Exhibition Center play host to one in every of the lower-profile conventions of the gaming calendar yearly.
But whereas the Taipei Game Show might not be in your radar fairly like Gamescom or Tokyo Game Show, the place main bulletins circulate in droves, it nonetheless represents an thrilling 4 days for all those that attend.
As you’d count on of Taiwan – and different Asian nations like Korea and China – there’s a selected emphasis on cell, the place gacha guidelines supreme.
Images: Sammy Barker / Push Square
This 12 months it was extra evident than ever, with big clusters of followers gathering round juggernauts like Zenless Zone Zero, Wuthering Waves, and the newly launched Arknights: Endfield.
While the main viewers for these video games exists on PC and smartphones, Sony deserves specific credit score for securing all three of them on PS5 – two of that are at present console exclusives.
But it’s not all free-to-play: two of the Taipei Game Show’s defining options are its give attention to indies – each native to Taiwan and past – in addition to board video games.
Images: Sammy Barker / Push Square
This 12 months the present’s structure was adjusted accordingly, permitting each the board video games and indie video games to bookend the major points of interest.
These quieter, extra private areas – the place you’re capable of work together instantly with creators or problem strangers to rounds of Yu-Gi-Oh – present some much-needed respite from the hustle and bustle of the major cubicles.
But it’s value speaking a bit of bit about a few of the headline cubicles themselves, as a result of lots of them represented havens for his or her related video games.
Images: Sammy Barker / Push Square
Zenless Zone Zero, for instance, had a large stage setup with the tower of televisions from the gacha part of the title. Here, followers have been invited onto the podium to finish quizzes, fight challenges, and extra in return for merchandise.
There was additionally a full-blown store promoting tons of unique objects from the sport, together with many we’ve by no means seen in shops earlier than.
Arknights: Endfield, in the meantime, was working a particularly standard stamp problem, the place you needed to queue as much as full 4 completely different duties, which concerned the whole lot from following the sport on social media to fulfilling easy gameplay challenges.
Image: Sammy Barker / Push Square
Many of the video games had skilled cosplayers dressed as characters, together with a number of semi-famous fashions from Korea and past. As you’d count on, with all of those actions happening, crowding round sure chokepoints was outstanding.
But we fulfilled our responsibility and labored our approach by way of the sizeable crowds, guaranteeing we have been capable of go hands-on with a half-dozen or so completely different video games. We’ve compiled our ideas beneath.
Image: Netmarble
When Korean firm Netmarble invited us to take a look at The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin in Sony’s small PlayStation sales space, we have been initially sceptical; the sport beforehand had a launch date of twenty eighth January, in any case.
But that date bought delayed into March simply days in the past, so we determined to present this Genshin Impact-inspired journey one other go.
This open world outing is predicated on the manga by Nakaba Suzuki, and so its vibrant forged and Britannia backdrop really feel nicely established from the off. That’s a pleasant perk of the challenge, as its current universe means it depends loads much less on the heavy (and sometimes terribly written) exposition of comparable video games.
While we solely bought to mess around half-hour or so, we discovered an motion RPG that’s clearly realized loads from its forebears.
Combat, whereas nonetheless constructed round MMO-style cooldowns and elemental results, feels way more responsive than in Genshin Impact. And set-piece moments – like one sequence the place you’re using a dragon by way of a tunnel, dodging obstacles – feels thrilling, somewhat than scrappy.
But licensed video games like this all the time elevate questions: are there actually sufficient characters in The Seven Deadly Sins to maintain a stay service like this alive for lengthy?
We merely can’t reply that sort of query throughout a demo at a conference, however with a vibrant visible type and a few actually wonderful Japanese voice appearing, we’re actually compelled to present the closing product a go.
Images: Sammy Barker / Push Square
While Rain 98’s not been introduced for PS5 but, we’re led to imagine Sony’s third-party outreach crew is very conscious of this challenge. And it’s hardly a shock, as this visual-novel-cum-minigame-compilation harbours immense promise.
It’s carried by an excellent analogue anime aesthetic, which reminds us of, say, Lofi Girl. (It’s bought that dreamy, ethereal soundscape to it, too.)
But the thriller right here is that you just’ve ended up in a suicidal stranger’s condo – and also you additionally occur to have turned again time to 1998.
Some of the writing is a bit on the nostril – as you examine a Tamagotchi, you’re reminded that “digital pets were popular once” – however there’s an intriguing sort of suspense to the whole lot.
Reina, as she later introduces herself, instructs you that it’s essential to full 100 completely different puzzles in a passport-like e book to flee your late 90s purgatory, and these all will entail fully distinctive interactions.
(*6*)
You’ll additionally must work part-time jobs whereas taking your trip in the previous, so we spent a couple of minutes packaging up toy capsules and even making bead decorations in a similar-ish type to Picross.
While the interactions are easy, the minigames appear enjoyable and the visible novel features actually are dripping in ambiance. There’s one second – a late title card – the place the facet ratio briefly switches to 4:3, and it’s an actual chef’s kiss sequence.
Keep your eyes on this.
Images: Sammy Barker / Push Square
Genki’s Tokyo Xtreme Racer, often known as Shutoko Battle, could have technically bought its begin as Highway 2000 on the SEGA Saturn – however it was on the Dreamcast and later PS2 the place it actually made its title.
While the Nakano-based dev has continued making video games, that is its first Tokyo Xtreme Racer since 2007’s Tokyo Xtreme Racer: Drift 2, so it’s been nearly 20 years.
Engaged followers will know this title initially launched on Steam final 12 months, initially in Early Access, however Genki has been quietly bettering it and responding to fan suggestions.
That means this PS5 model, due out worldwide on twenty fifth February, represents a milestone second for the studio – and a homecoming of kinds for the franchise.
Our demo was restricted to a single dash on Tokyo’s expressway, the place we have been capable of “flash” different drivers on the highway and interact in Initial D-style dash races.
Commandeering a Nissan Skyline – with a full setup that includes a steering wheel and pedals – the dealing with felt largely arcade with a contact of sim, and we loved seeing iconic surroundings, like Tokyo Tower, whizz by.
It’s value noting this sport does not have the price range of a Gran Turismo or Forza Horizon – it nearly appears like a throwback to the PS3, though it’s clearly working at a a lot greater decision than Sony’s last-last-gen system may deal with, and we didn’t spot any blips to the body price.
We’d additionally stress that this was the PS5 construct we have been enjoying, on base {hardware}, so it was good to get a measure of how the port is stacking up.
If you’re a fan of outdated SEGA arcade video games, like the Initial D collection as an illustration, then you definitely’ll positively get a kick out of this throwback racer.
Images: Sammy Barker / Push Square
Originally launched for the PC Engine in 1990, we bought our palms on the up to date re-release of City Hunter, coming to PS5 later this month, on twenty sixth February.
The sport, based mostly on Tsukasa Hojo’s iconic James Bond-esque 80s manga, sees you taking up contracts as good-looking protagonist, Ryo Saeba.
The stage we bought to attempt in our 10-ish minute demo noticed us gunning our approach by way of a collection of corridors, every peppered with doorways, lots of which might be entered.
As we explored additional, we gathered key objects that may enable us to unlock extra of the space: an ID card, for instance, after we knowledgeable workers we have been right here to take out the firm’s notoriously nefarious CEO.
This sport was initially made by Sunsoft in the early 90s, and so it has all the hallmarks of a Famicom-era launch. From what we will inform, a few of the gameplay has been rebalanced for this re-release – though the authentic model is preserved if you happen to choose, which is a pleasant contact.
Quality-of-life enhancements embody the capability to rewind at will, whereas the English translation is totally new.
It’s a well timed launch, contemplating the manga is having fun with one thing of a renaissance in the West proper now, on the again of writer Kana’s lengthy overdue reprint, which debuted in omnibus format in the UK and North America late final 12 months.
Images: Sammy Barker / Push Square
Available this week in Asia, the greatest technique to describe Kyouran Makaism is principally Disgaea Musou.
With no localisation confirmed for this title simply but, there was no English language choice in the demo we performed, so we needed to make do with Mandarin, which restricted our general understanding of the demo.
However, after a quick interval wandering round in a castle-like hub world – the place it seems you may put money into abilities, weapon upgrades, and different efficiency bettering buffs – we headed out into the area to smack up some Prinnys.
There are few actual surprises right here: enjoying on PS5, we don’t really feel like the world map was as populated as in the likes of Dynasty Warriors Origins and even the latest PS5 re-release of One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4.
But it was apparent from the demo we have been successfully enjoying the opening moments of the sport, and so it’s attainable issues get extra sophisticated.
You can sprint, dodge, and carry out particular strikes – though the problem we confronted was minimal in these early exchanges, and we simply fulfilled the win situations on every of the three or 4 levels we performed.
The solely actual impediment we encountered was a gaggle of butterflies which inflicted poisoning standing upon us, which we have been capable of take care of utilizing a potion mapped to a scorching key.
So, comparatively easy stuff, then, with fairly rudimentary – however admittedly vibrant – visuals. It all feels a bit low price range, however Disgaea followers could take pleasure in seeing the franchise offered on this completely different format.
We’ll replace you if and when a Western launch date will get introduced.
Image: Sammy Barker / Push Square
Originally introduced at a State of Play final November, we’ll be trustworthy once we admit that Never Grave: The Witch and the Curse wasn’t on our radar at all.
But going hands-on with the closing product, printed by Palworld’s PocketPair, reveals a likeable roguelite with some fascinating concepts.
While this sport is outwardly tooled round co-op, we performed our total demo solo and didn’t really feel deprived at all.
The distinctive trick right here is that you just management a witch’s hat, however you need to use it to own various things, just like Super Mario Odyssey. On a number of events, we needed to toss the hat to hard-to-reach areas after which summon our physique to proceed to progress.
The fight feels actually good, aided by some sturdy use of the DualSense’s haptic suggestions, in addition to nice animations and liberal use of hit-stop.
There additionally seems to be a village constructing aspect, the place you may craft completely different amenities to help your progress in future runs.
So, whereas this was a sport we weren’t actually taking note of – and we do nonetheless assume it appears a bit of generic, regardless of its inoffensive artwork type – we reckon this one will probably be fairly compelling when it releases on fifth March.
There was clearly a lot extra to see and do at the Taipei Game Show, however with crowds massive and never the whole lot confirmed for PS5, these are the six titles that basically stood out to us. Has something right here caught your eye? Let us know in the feedback part beneath.
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As the Editor of Push Square, Sammy has over 15 years of expertise analysing the world of PlayStation, from PS3 by way of PS5 and the whole lot in between. He’s an skilled on PS Studios and business issues, in addition to sports activities video games and simulators. He additionally enjoys RPGs when he has the time to dedicate to them, and is a little bit of a gacha whale.
