Square Enix/Disney
A screenshot from "Kingdom Hearts 3"
- Tokyo Game Show is an annual showcase for Japanese developers.
- 298,600 people attended Tokyo Game Show 2018 from September 20th and 23rd, a record for the event.
- Japanese publishers Capcom, Konami, and Square Enix released new trailers for their upcoming AAA titles.
Nearly 300,000 packed the halls of Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan over the weekend for Tokyo Game Show 2018, the country's largest annual video game showcase. Japanese developers use the event to make major announcements and to give the crowd of gamers precious hands-on time with upcoming titles.
This year, fans were treated to a wave of new trailers, including footage from the long-awaited "Kingdom Hearts 3," the mysterious "Death Stranding", a revived "Devil May Cry," and the remake of "Resident Evil 2."
"Kingdom Hearts 3"
Born from a crossover between Disney's animated features and the Final Fantasy franchise, Kingdom Hearts has earned a cult following. Fans have been anticipating a true sequel to "Kingdom Hearts 2" since 2006, and developer Square Enix is ready to deliver after teasing the fanbase with releases like "Kingdom Hearts 2.5" and "Kingdom Hearts 2.8" in the interim.
Kingdom Hearts brings players to different Disney universes, and the new trailer for "Kingdom Hearts 3" shows the game's heroes visiting the worlds of "Frozen" and "Marvel's Big Hero 6" for the first time, and enlisting the help of Jack Sparrow from "Pirates of the Caribbean."
"Devil May Cry 5"
Capcom's "Devil May Cry 5" looks like a return to form for the demon-hunting action series, as a true sequel to 2008's "Devil May Cry 4." After fans had a less-than-warm response to the 2014 reboot "DmC:Devil May Cry," the new title brings back familiar faces and a renewed focus on the stylish combat that has defined the series.
As Capcom works to repair the damage done to "Devil May Cry" by the 2014 reboot, it's also working on a highly polished remake of "Resident Evil 2."
"Resident Evil 2 Remake"
Originally released in 1998, "Resident Evil 2" is considered one of the best games in the franchise, improving on the storytelling of the original and weaving a narrative through two separate campaigns. The story will be getting a cinematic treatment in the remake, with no shortage of gore thanks to Capcom's new game engine.
"Death Stranding"
Even after multiple trailers, people are still trying to figure out what "Death Stranding," the new game from "Metal Gear Solid" producer Hideo Kojima, is actually about.
Starring "The Walking Dead" actor Norman Reedus on a desolate planet, the game's creators hadn't shown off any combat in previous clips, opting to show more exploration. However, the Tokyo Game Show trailer introduces an antagonist for the first time and what looks like a boss fight. While the plot and gameplay of "Death Stranding" still remain a mystery, the game looks to be full of the surrealist themes that have captivated fans of Kojima's work.
"Judge Eyes"
The biggest surprise of Tokyo Game Show was "Judge Eyes," a new beat-em-up action game from Sega. Featuring gameplay similar to Sega's "Yakuza" franchise, "Judge Eyes" stars popular Japanese actor Takuya Kimura as private investigator Takayuki Yagami. Yagami is on a quest to solve a series of murders and will need to discover suspects, interrogate witnesses, and get his hands dirty to finish the job. Following up on the critically acclaimed "Yakuza 6," "Judge Eyes" looks to deliver a potent story along with some unique gameplay mechanics that go beyond the usual beat 'em up.
"Kingdom Hearts 3," "Devil May Cry 5," and "Resident Evil 2 Remake" are all due to arrive in the first quarter of 2019. "Judge Eyes" will be released in Japan in December 2018 and translated for international audiences in 2019. "Death Stranding" is still awaiting a release date.