In Kyoto, Japan, there’s an annual game show called Bitsummit. This lets game developers show their ideas to the world — specifically, software publishers and console makers — while also allowing gamers to play what might just be the next big thing. Several of the games I played will appear on PS4 and/or PlayStation Vita, so check out my thoughts here, and then see a few shots from the show floor.
Chandler played The Tomorrow Children last year, so it was a little earlier in development, but he got a little more time with it and can offer this longer preview.
There were a lot of other games that looked interesting on other systems too, of course. I was particularly taken with Vane, Move or Die, and Back in 1995.
BitSummit 2015
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The Tomorrow Children (PS4)
The Tomorrow Children looks like modern claymation. The tutorial wasn't Minecraftian exactly, but it had you in a block area getting tools, hacking away walls, and grabbing pieces of ore while a guy on screen told you what to do.
Tutorial complete, let you into town. Areas drawn on ground, so you could deposit materials there. Other players were there as well, though I'm not sure what kind of scale the developers are going for with the multiplayer. (Continued in next slide.)
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The Tomorrow Children (continued)
The Tomorrow Children ran with a theme of everyone becoming one mind and part of one larger body. All around town were things you could do that focused on the group rather than the individual, such as running on a treadmill to give a little more electricity to the town.
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Earth Wars (PS4)
Developed by OneOrEight in Japan, Earth Wars is planned for release within the summer in Japan (which means they'd better hurry up if they want to make that date).
Though I sadly couldn't get my hands on this one, its gameplay seems ever so slightly of a mix of Odin Sphere with a 2Dified Bayonetta, which is interesting. You can view a trailer on the game's official Japanese website.
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Hotline Miami Collected: 1&2 Bundle (Vita)
This Vita bundle is available as a physical release and already out in Japan, but was on display at this show presumably because the audience isn't very big. It was good to see physical games getting attention, and to see Hotline Miami getting some more spotlight time.
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Galak-Z (PS4)
Galak-Z is one of the smoothest game control experiences I've had in a long, long time. It impressed me to no end just how tight and quick everything was. This game launches Aug. 4 and its official page is part of developer 17-bit's own website.
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Torquel (Vita, PS4)
An action puzzle game where you must guide a person inside a square to reach a goal at the end of the level by avoiding hazards. You can roll a little from side to side using a stick or D-pad, but the best way to get around is to press a face button, which will extend a solid bar out of a corresponding side of the square. You can use these bars to propel yourself up, down or sideways, to save yourself from falling into lava pits, or to hang on the edge of drops. (Continued in next slide with different screenshot.)
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Torquel (continued)
There's no single best way to get from point A to point B, and this is a game that is hilarious to play even if you keep dying. It's easy to get disoriented as your square rotates, and plenty of people panicked and mashed buttons as they hurtled towards some lava, causing their character to bounce off of things and go flying in strange directions, creating both incredible comebacks and pathetic deaths. Torquel is an absolute riot to play or watch.
For more, you can visit torquel.net and fullpowersideattack.com -
Nom Nom Galaxy (PS4)
Already out on PS4 in NA, EU, and recently JP, Nom Nom Galaxy has competing to be the best soup company in the galaxy, so you land on other planets and compete for resources. Build a base, gather resources, make soup, and ship it home.
Don't forget to fight off the local monsters and evil robots sent from rival soup makers!
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Bokosuka Wars (PS4)
Bokosuka Wars was released in 1983 for PC, and later 1985 for the Famicom. 30 years later, Bokosuka Wars is making an odd comeback on PS4, this time as a re-imagining of the original. It has a new and retro graphics mode. The original Bokosuka Wars laid important foundations for future tactical RPGs, simutations, and real-time strategy games. Players would command a king to advance west across a vast chessboard-like world, rescuing and recruiting troops who follow along behind. Positioning troops so they can fight enemies they have an advantage over, while trying not to leave any behind, is a lot harder than it looks. There was a record distance posted on the booth and I thought "Pfft, that doesn't seem so difficult." Nope, it totally was.
(The original has a totally infamous game over screen that proclaims "Wow! You lose!") -
Bitsummit Photos
And now a collection of photos from the event. Enjoy!
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Shu
Yoshida laying it down.
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Mayumaru
The official mascot まゆまろ (Mayumaru), because everything has to have a mascot.
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Pico Park!
Pico Park is a super-fun 10-player co-op game. Offline, even.
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Pico Park!
Seriously, for 10 players!
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PS <3 Indies
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Forget Me Not: My Organic Garden for PC and Mac.
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Vane looked cool
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Vane
PC game Vane is still early, but it looked chilling.
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Bitsummit
Playing a motion-control game with something that looked like Nintendo Power Gloves.
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Wall outside painted in the spirit of Forget Me Not: My Organic Garden for PC and Mac.
