Review GigaDeathNullGolem 3/5 · Sep 20, 2020
Very Decent indie game
Finally played this bright and flashy isometric shooting action game. It's pretty good and borrows elements from several titles and combines them into something that I feel works well.
I'm a fan of the original Syndicate and over the years people try to spin the idea into something of a clone or rehash and it's always a train wreck (the …
Finally played this bright and flashy isometric shooting action game. It's pretty good and borrows elements from several titles and combines them into something that I feel works well.
I'm a fan of the original Syndicate and over the years people try to spin the idea into something of a clone or rehash and it's always a train wreck (the sole exemption being the Syndicate reboot which ironically enough is an altogether different genre and hence game) However, this game manages to strip the concept down to bare bones and capture the most basic elements of the original in terms of setting, and basic shooting aspects.
Add to this the perspective switching of Fez, the targeting system of Brigador, the tried and true side-missions, collectibles and points of interests in any open world third person game, and the basic shooting elements of countless curtain fire SHMUPS and you have Tokyo 42...
It takes time to get used to the perspective, and sometimes the enemies will get the drop at you with their precision ability to aim leaving you floundering. Other times you can exploit the AI and cheeseball some sections, while others are genuinely difficult.
There are quite a few weapons and the game offers some different playstyles, it's a very fun game to play stealthily, infiltrating and then backstabbing guards as you clear areas, popping quarters into soda machines to act as checkpoints in case you raise alarm and get wiped.
The visual art and music are on par with the game play. It's a slick look and feel and makes it feel immersive. Every little enclave in the game has its own theme and theme music which gives it a GTA 2 vibe. There's an industrial area with factory workers, and a gothy cathedral. The UI also reflects the weird almost, Y2k-inspired garish design
Some of the shortfalls of this game is it's not all that long and the story is not all that engrossing despite such a cool setting. a lot of the missions and stuff you do is similar and a lot of the extra unlockable content is fluff. Maybe one of the biggest annoyances though is how to access certain places in the game (you have to do creative jumps from building to building or hit ramps with bikes and stuff like that to unlock areas and they can be somewhat a bit of brainteasers)
Syndicate and Brigador are kings of these kinds of games but this is still a good one that has its moments and spins several things together to make for something that stands out as different. I'd recommend it if you love shooting games, (particularly japanese shooting games) Syndicate, or games with a cyberpunk setting. You'll enjoy your 10-15 or so hours worth of it as you explore a weird and wacky looking city, collecting cats and engaging in open gun battles with gangs.
