2024/10/11

Hello, this is Futa Tsukimori from the SKOOTA editorial team!

This time, I participated in Tokyo Game Show 2024, held at Makuhari Messe from September 26 to 29! Since this was my first time attending a large-scale game event, I was incredibly excited even the day before. Upon arriving at the venue, it was clear that many other participants felt the same. The two days flew by in a flash, filled with so many attractive games that I didn’t manage to visit all the ones I aimed to check out…! There were quite a few games I regretted missing due to time constraints, but I made sure to collect flyers from various booths.

In this article, I will share my impressions of the indie games that particularly stood out during the two business days I spent playtesting in Halls 9-11! The venue featured general exhibition areas in Halls 1-8, while Halls 9-11 hosted indie game booths and a cosplay area. I attended as an exhibitor, eager to learn from the experience.

Tokyo Game Show 2024 (TGS2024) is a major global event where the latest information and new game releases in the gaming industry are showcased. This year it was held at Makuhari Messe from September 26 to 29. This year marked the largest scale in TGS history, with 985 companies and organizations from 44 countries participating, drawing about 275,000 visitors.

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【Selected Indie 80 Corner】

A Mystery ADV Where No One Dies!? – Detective NEKKO –

・Genre: Mystery, Adventure
・Exhibitor: Ara
・Playtime: About 15 minutes

The first game I played was the unique mystery ADV “Detective NEKKO – ディテクティブネッコ”. This game features a buddy story involving a detective named Nekko and his partner, Jikenbo, with the very striking tagline “No one dies”. It’s particularly rare in this genre to have a story unfold without the theme of death, creating a warm-hearted mystery experience!

Game Features

This title is rendered in 3D graphics with charming characters! I was particularly surprised to see that the character voices used the text-to-speech software “VOICEPEAK”! The natural pronunciation with a unique accent made it feel as if these characters were speaking a foreign language, which perfectly fits the theme of the game, and as I played the demo, I found myself growing fond of the characters.

About the Story

The story begins when Nekko encounters a special ability and meets his buddy Jikenbo. I am looking forward to how the duo will solve the mysteries and the deepening bond of friendship as their banter unfolds. I played the demo for about 15 minutes, but I’m excited to see how the elements of deduction and puzzle-solving develop moving forward!

Impressions

After playing the demo, I speculate that in the future, Nekko will utilize his abilities to extract information from clients and that the answers will change as he eases their wariness. I want to pay attention to parts of the story that could branch based on choices and character selections!

🌱 Futa's Note: Personally, I was very fond of the character the dog detective, and since they aim to release in early 2025, I'm secretly looking forward to seeing more of him in the final version ^_^.

Will My Maternal Instincts Explode When I Raise an Egg!? – タマゴクエスト

・Genre: Simulation Game
・Exhibitor: タマゴクエスト　Yolk Heroes: A Long Tamago
・Playtime: About 15 minutes

The next game I played was a simulation game where players nurture heroes as guardian spirits, called “タマゴクエスト”. This育成 game features charming pixel art characters growing as they complete various quests. The system is somewhat reminiscent of the once-popular “Tamagotchi”, where players can enjoy adventures while nurturing their characters!

Game Features

The quests are divided into approximately four types like weight training and dungeon exploration, with simple controls that involve alternately pressing the Z and X keys or holding and clicking the mouse, making it easy for anyone to enjoy. With this simple operation, it seems players will face various adventures while developing their characters.

Impressions

When I played the demo, the characters were already at a child-like age, but it seems that in the final version, players can raise characters from eggs. The aspect of raising from an egg makes players feel a sense of maternal instinct and attachment, which I believe is one of the appeals of “タマゴクエスト”! When characters completed quests, their proud gestures were so adorable that I couldn’t help but smile while playing.

The full version has already been released, and I plan to take the time to raise characters from eggs. This game, with its warmth of pixel art and simple, gentle controls, is highly recommended as a nurturing game that anyone can enjoy!!

🌱 Futa's Note: Raising them from eggs makes my maternal instincts explode. As a result of exploding maternal feelings, I might end up not being able to send my child off on adventures or into dungeons! So I’ll be careful!

A Mysterious Cute Girl Who Claims to Be My Girlfriend, But I Don’t Feel Bad About It – Inverted Angel

・Genre: Adventure, Puzzle
・Exhibitor: SCIKA
・Playtime: About 20 minutes

Next, I played “Inverted Angel”, where players interact with a mysterious girl through an intercom. The game starts with the sudden appearance of this girl claiming to be the player’s “girlfriend”. This title offers an immersive puzzle adventure where players input contradictions themselves to progress the story, rather than just following a traditional puzzle format!

Game Features

The system where players directly input answers was fascinating! I was surprised to learn that this AI was built using dictionary search and natural language processing for language recognition. Additionally, the screen layout was incredibly unique, designed as if you were having a conversation with a cute girl through the intercom, which enhanced the immersion! I was completely absorbed in uncovering who this girl is and what the player might be hiding while playing the demo!

Impressions

What I felt while playing was that this input-based puzzle-solving was very refreshing, with high immersion and entertainment value! I greatly enjoyed the fun of pointing out contradictions in my own words, which offered more than simple choices! Furthermore, the coexistence of the girl’s cuteness and eeriness was captivating; I found myself wanting to invite her in while simultaneously worrying about potential dangers. The puzzles were gentle, and I appreciated the backlogs allowing me to revisit missed words alongside the clarity of key points! Since the game’s final version is already released, I plan to play it when I want to chat with the girl through the intercom!

🌱 Futa's Note: The mysterious girl is extremely cute, and in my head, I was battling between wanting to invite her in and telling myself "don't let her in!" like some character from a horror story. As a result, I ended up missing hints and had to receive hints for hints...

An Adventure Game Pursuing the Uniqueness of 3D Puzzles – M.E.M.O

・Genre: Adventure, Puzzle, Mystery-solving
・Exhibitor: Team Vaistar
・Playtime: About 25 minutes

The next game I played, “M.E.M.O”, is a puzzle adventure game set inside a train. Players walk around the train and solve various puzzles.

Game Features

I found the use of a memo pad as a physical puzzle-solving element particularly engaging. The booth’s table had memos left by other players who had completed the demo, capturing the essence of off-event interactions.

Impressions

Playing “M.E.M.O” helped me realize the enjoyment of physically taking notes while solving puzzles! The difficulty was quite challenging, and I had to ask for hints several times, but the gameplay pursued a unique form of puzzle-solving tailored for a 3D environment! I’m looking forward to the demo scheduled for release in mid-October!

🌱 Futa's Note: As I recognized the fun of puzzle games in 3D, I also acknowledged my inexperience; when I'm used to 2D, I tend to think of puzzles in a flat way... I’ll try again once the demo is released!

【Indie Game Corner】

A Nostalgic View of Japanese Townscapes – Last Time I Saw You 雨の薫り

The full version will be released on October 10.

・Genre: Adventure
・Exhibitor: Chorus Worldwide
・Playtime: About 30 minutes

The next game I played was “Last Time I Saw You 雨の薫り,” an adventure game set in scenes evocative of good old Japan. The story unfolds around a boy named Ayumu, amidst an approaching typhoon, and it is richly imbued with nostalgia and poignancy.

Game Features

The charm of this title lies in its beautiful 2D animations and the portrayals of houses and streets that evoke a nostalgic feeling reminiscent of classic Japanese animation. It possesses an atmosphere that is somehow calming and familiar. The game instantly transports the player back to a time reminiscent of the Showa era, deeply resonating with the heart.

The protagonist Ayumu is portrayed as a relatable child who dislikes homework and craves video games, evoking a nostalgic feeling in his actions and words. His simple purity and the essence of childhood are beautifully depicted, making it easy for players to empathize with his character.

Atmosphere and Story

Despite the approaching typhoon, the outside is bright and quiet, enhancing the eerie feeling of the “calm before the storm”. This tension mixed with everyday tranquility creates a unique atmosphere throughout the game. While playing, I felt a combination of relaxation and intrigue concerning the forthcoming developments.

Impressions

Overall, the game flows in a warm, heartwarming manner while being relaxing to play; however, there are underlying anxieties and mysteries regarding the typhoon and the woman in the story. The nostalgic Japanese scenery and the tranquility before the storm remind players of summer vacation memories from childhood. Amidst the peaceful atmosphere, I’m very excited to see how the story unfolds!

🌱 Futa's Note: Ayumu-kun procrastinating on his homework is a recipe for all-nighters suffering (especially considering it might end with him forgetting it at home)! Nonetheless, as someone from the countryside, this game felt incredibly nostalgic and warm.

Furry Ears × ASMR × Cafe: My Desired Comfort Collected Here – けものティータイム

・Genre: Simulation, ASMR
・Exhibitor: Studio Lalala
・Playtime: About 15 minutes

“けものティータイム” is an ASMR experience simulation game where players run a cafe with furry ear characters. The concept of “Furry Ears × ASMR × Cafe” was so dreamy that I nearly cried.

Game Features

The highlight of this game is the combination of ASMR and furry characters. The immersive sounds, such as “grind… fasa”, and the character voices create a three-dimensional audio experience, making it feel as if you are truly there! The realistic sounds enhance the experience, with voices passing from right to left and vice versa, creating a delightful sensation.

While managing the cafe is the main focus, noteworthy is the blending system for creating drink recipes. Customers come in, and you blend ingredients based on their requests, making tea! Combining tea leaves and herbs to craft specific recipes is one of the joys of the game. Customers even share new recipes with you, making the evolving recipe list an enjoyable aspect.

Additionally, characters frequently come to sell ingredients and cooking tools, which impacts the growth of the cafe! The game feels enriched with not just the management of the cafe but also with the creativity involved in blending and storytelling!

Is There an Ominous Atmosphere Too?

Additionally, interactions with characters beyond the furry ones include dialogue that hints at generational and past content, suggesting that ominous developments may arise in the future…While I couldn’t play that far in the demo, I’m extremely excited for the full version!!

Impressions

Adorable pixel art characters move at the center of the screen, with conversations and systems displayed in surrounding frames. Each time a new customer enters, my heart races, and I find myself captivated by the characters’ cute expressions. Throughout the gameplay, my senses of hearing, sight, and heart were healed, and the simulation elements like blending and management added substantial entertainment value! I’m looking forward to future developments and evolutions of the story!

🌱 Futa's Note: Furry ears, ASMR, and cafe simulation game = Divine, ascension!!!