Toukiden: The Age of Demons
Score: 96% ESRB: Teen Publisher: KOEI TECMO America Corp. Developer: Omega Force Media: Download/1 Players: 1; 2 - 4 (Online) Genre: RPG
Graphics & Sound: Toukiden: The Age of Demons is a new action RPG available for the PSVita. When you first start up the game, you will have to create your character. You can really customize your character. You can choose from male or female first, then you’ve got 20 different hair styles, 20 voices, and a complete range of colors for hair color. Once you have set your character, you can still change their hair style in their home and you can choose whether or not to show their headgear. The rest of your physical characteristics are set, however. You’ll also choose your weapon at the beginning. You can choose from a sword, knives (one for each hand), a spear, gauntlets, a chain and sickle, or a bow. The bow is the only ranged weapon of the group. You can also change your weapons in the game if you don’t like your original choice. I did find the super-size of the weapons on the selection screen quite amusing. The graphics throughout the game are absolutely beautiful. Granted, the land has been devastated, so you won’t see traditionally beautiful things, other than in your village, but the scenes are amazingly detailed. The monsters are varied and imaginative. The characters are very well done as well. They are reminiscent of classic Japanese warriors in costume and actions. They do speak out loud, but it is all in Japanese. You will have to read the subtitles for English.
Gameplay: In the world of Toukiden, the hordes of Oni were awakened 8 years ago. It took them some time to get to Utakata Village but now, in a few short months, Utakata is the front line of the last corner of the world left untouched by the many Oni that have been unleashed upon the Earth. Fortunately, there are Slayers who are now in charge of hunting down and killing the Oni. They must hold the front lines. You are a Slayer and you must stop the Oni before they accomplish their ultimate goal, to turn our world into theirs, the Otherworld. Toukiden: The Age of Demons is played in missions. Yamato, Captain of the Slayers, will give you directions. The missions are timed and you have a specific goal that you have to reach before that time runs out. You get 30 seconds after you complete the mission to run around the battlefield and gather up anything else that you might need to collect. A lot of times, the goal is to kill a specific type of Oni, but there are other things you will have to do, like securing red zones. A red zone is heavily Oni-infested. In between each mission, I recommend roaming around and checking with the town’s people for other missions or side quests. You can also use the time to upgrade armor, weapons, and Mitama. Once you’re ready, keep going on through the quests until you save the world. As I mentioned, there are also side quests that you can take. These are usually requests from the villagers. I highly recommend that you do as many of them as you can. They’re good for Haku (money) and they will raise your bonds with the others, which you really want. You can accept them from the people or from Yu, where you get your missions. After you have done whatever it is they need, you simply need to go back to Yu and choose (X) to confirm that you are completing the quest. Going back and finding the person that sent you on it won’t let you actually complete it. Toukiden also provides the ability to play with up to 4 players online or on Ad Hoc. To do so, simply go to the big glowing stone in front of the shrine or to the smaller one in your house. You can create your own lobby with specific goals that you want accomplished or you can search for one that is open. If you’re looking to play with specific people, then you can create a password on your lobby so only those with that password can join. This can be a really helpful way to play if you’re stuck.
Difficulty: I highly recommend that you use your money and resources wisely to make your life easier. At first, Toukiden: The Age of Demons might seem like an easy game as the first few missions are not difficult, but as the game goes on, you will find you need new stuff and aid from others. The blacksmith Tatara is in charge of taking care of your armor and weapons. You create weapons with items that you have recovered from the Oni you kill. To upgrade weapons and armor, you have to have raised your compatibility with them first. You can also buy and sell armor from the shopkeeper. Shusui is a researcher for the Slayers. He will give you random bits of information about the world. Sometimes these things will be very helpful! You will have companion warriors to fight by your side on most of the quests. How many will depend the mission. When you first start out, Oka is your only companion, but after you complete the first few missions, you will get more. After you have gone a bit further, you will really be able to customize your party a lot better. If you die, your companions can revive you. They can’t always get to you though, so you can hold down (X) and it will let you retreat to the beginning where you will wake up with full health. Your companions will still be where you left them though, so you don’t want to ditch them if you don’t have to! Basically, life can be easier or harder, just depending on who’s with you.
Game Mechanics: Even though the PSVita has touch screen, Toukiden: The Age of Demons is mainly played with the button/stick controls. You will move around with the Left Stick and the Right Stick will move the camera. I didn’t find that it was easy to use the stick for the camera during battle as you also need to be using the right hand for your attack buttons. Luckily, you can use the (L) to re-center the camera behind you, which makes life much easier. Mitama are good sounds the Oni have consumed and you need to release them. You also need to release any souls or anything the Oni consumed back into the world. To do so, hold down (R) after you kill an Oni. You will want to do this to gather as much stuff as you can. Once collected, Mitama can be equipped in a weapon after you release them. You equip and upgrade them at the shrine. You also have a house in the town. You can do quite a lot at your house including, but not limited to changing equipment and saving your game. There are three save slots total. So far, I am really enjoying Toukiden. I like how the game is divided into missions, but you still have the ability to roam and discover quite a lot more than you first expect inside the village. If you’re looking for a fun action RPG that you can take on the go, check out Toukiden for the PSVita today!
-Cyn, GameVortex Communications AKA Sara Earl
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