Tokyo Game Show 2010 (TGS)

I am close to bursting. I am literally, going to burst. Not because of food (this time) but bursting with excitement. I am experiencing Playstation overload – and thought I would let you lucky peeps in on the big news... courtesy of the Tokyo Game Show 2010. Whatever social life I had before is seriously going to be wiped out thanks to Sony!

The Tokyo Game Show has (sadly) been and gone…. leaving behind so many frenzied gamers in its wake. The TGS is one of the many reasons why I love gaming – and you will love it too. Prepare your senses for what you are about to read and what happened at TGS.

 It ran from 16-19 September and is hosted in Makuhari Messe – Chiba, Tokyo by the Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association (CESA). With thousands of tourists, gamers and what’s known as Cosplayers – gamers who dress up as their favourite videogame characters – attending, the TGS is the definitive place to be for videogames. And 2010 has been one hell of a show!

One of the biggest gaming news came from publishing giant Capcom. The major publisher had a lot of exciting games on show – the biggest being Marvel Vs Capcom 3: Fate of two worlds. Set for release early next year, MVC3 is the third instalment of the Marvel Vs Capcom franchise – where it pits famous characters from Marvel (Spiderman, X-Men and the like) to battle it out against Capcom characters (from games such as Street Fighter, Viewtiful Joe and even Resident Evil) with explosive results. The original games were jam packed with explosions on screen – punches, kicks and multiple hits created dazzling displays in one of the fastest fighters known to man.  The third instalment delivers the same, only better. With faster fighting, more characters and better tweaked moves – this will be huge when it comes out.

The visuals look brilliant in full HD – the characters have a cool cel-shaded 3D look in a 2D environment – similar to Street Fighter 4.

The character roster is looking very good too – with many returning faces from previous games– Wolverine, Spiderman, Ryu etc to new characters such as Joe from Viewtiful Joe, Chris Redfield (Resident Evil) and even Thor (Marvel comics). There were many demos and videos released at TGS – some of them showing Trish (Devil May Cry) and Wesker (Resident Evil)battling it out – sending fans ballistic with excitement – and I am with them!

Capcom also treated us to a teaser demo of the new Devil May Cry game known simply as DmC. The demo is set in the present day and shows a young guy being tortured in a chamber – as an unknown voice asks for his name. The view quickly changes to a familiar character in a red coat – poking a cigarette into a monsters eye and shows off some spectacular moves on other beasts. It changes back and forth to the guy in the chamber – his name still being demanded by the voice. By the end, the guy shouts “My name is DANTE!” (Shock horror etc). It’s supposed to be a re-imaging of the series, rather than a prequel according to Capcom managing director Keiji Inafune. I don’t care what they call it – I want it ASAP!

 Not only were Capcom pulling out the big guns, there was also plenty of news of Final Fantasy Versus XIII: Advent Children, Batman Arkham City, Alice: Madness Returns, ICO and Shadow of the Colossus Collection, Killzone 3, Tekkan Tag Tournament  2 and Mortal Kombat to name but a few.

The biggest news for me was the about Ico and Shadow Colossus Collection – a 3D HD re-release of two of PS2’s greatest games and I need to play them – now! Ico was released originally in 2001 - it was designed and directed by Fumito Ueda, who wanted to create a minimalist game around a "boy meets girl" concept. The game was (at the time) visually ground-breaking and so emotionally strung story-wise. Unfortunately the game had a minimal release – forcing gamers to pay sky high prices for this fantastic game. It suffered from poor box art and alien game play – the unusual concept of fending off ghosts with a stick whilst holding a ghost girl’s hand. Sounds odd, but the game itself was immersive as well as innovative. The sequel or “Spiritual successor” as the designers wish it to be known, Shadow of the Colossus had gamers fighting gigantic beasts in a huge environment and looked the business.

Now, these two little gems will be packaged together in a 3D HD game to celebrate the release of the third instalment – The Last Guardian. News is a little sparse, but there was a new video unveiled at TGS which showed a boy and a strange gigantic dog like beast which can fly – trapped in a huge castle. It looks like you will need to work together to help each other out like in Ico. But, as mentioned before, confirmed news is sparse, so expect to hear more in the coming months.

So, I have officially died and landed into Play station heaven. I have been waiting for news of The Last Guardian since it was first hinted at in late 2005 – and to be treated with the previous games packaged in glorious HD and 3D support – well, you spoil us Mr Sony!

As if that’s not enough – the new Silent Hill has been confirmed and a new video was shown – displaying a convict escaping into the odd and horrifying world of Silent Hill. Sweet!

Playstation is consuming my life once more – and I am sure, it will consume yours too – best just to give in and obey….. I know I will!

Finally, I will be attending the Eurogamer Convention in London this October – so expect more news and pictures from the event right here on The Gaystation