Tokyo Jungle is the most bafflingly barmy game to grace any console over the past five years. Outpacing even Octodad: Dadliest Catch in the odd department, the ridiculous roguelike sees you assume the role of a variety of animals, as you attempt to survive in a post-apocalyptic Tokyo. However, while we utterly adored the animal centric excursion – slapping a 9/10 on it in our review – director Yohei Kataoka has revealed that not everyone was quite so enamoured with the Crispy’s Inc developed release.
“Europe loved it, and we got a lot of great feedback from that audience, but [in] America... that simply wasn’t the case,” the developer told Siliconera as part of an exclusive interview. “We received a lot of negative feedback for the game. It takes time to make an unfamiliar audience understand something like [popular Japanese art style] ukiyo-e, right? So, it might take something like travelling around an abandoned Tokyo as a Pomeranian a little bit of time to sink in, too. At least, that’s how we saw it.”
Of course, while we thoroughly enjoyed the title, it certainly wasn’t for everyone, with repetition and poor presentation being common criticisms from other publications. Divisive as it may have proved, though, we think that it’s great that Sony’s willing to back unique ideas such as this. It also sold spectacularly in Japan, so we wouldn’t be surprised if a sequel pops up for the PlayStation 4 and Vita at some point in the future. Are you itching like a flea-ridden cat for more of this strange series? Howl like a hound in the comments section below.
[source siliconera.com]
Comments 39
This was one of those games I was always on the fence about buying, I've come close a couple times when I've seen it on sale bit never took the plunge due to mixed reviews.
I took the plunge and although I really liked the concept, I didn't actually like it as much as my wife and I were expecting to like it. I played it once and never touched it again.
"Heartless Americans"? A bit much...
I bought during a Flash Sale for .99 and my 11 year old son LOVES IT.
He said it is his favorite game right now on the PS3, but he is not your typical American
Never got it but friends said it was brill to play.
Shame really.
I was on the fence about this one too. Looked intriguing but I could never come to understand what the game really is. I also bought on the flash sale but haven't given it a try yet. I've been glued to final fantasy X for the last week or two.
I bought it during the .99 cent sale, but I still haven't played it. I bet I'll like it. And fixing presentation is easy so I think a sequel of sorts would be a good idea.
It's an amazing game.to all you skeptics,get it played!
Lets edit this so we don't have any more trouble
Sorry for writing that!
Let's see...I hoped more people would enjoy Tokyo Jungle, really...It's not the best game in the world but it is really creative and fun.
People, we're all gamers, we're all friends, sorry for the comment
@AFCC your comment annoys me , I enjoy all kinds of games and I'm American. Seriously saying that is a lot of bull.
@AFCC yep. That's a stupid comment. I'm American and just because I don't like Tokyo jungle doesn't mean I don't like a variety of games.
This game does sound interesting but I don't think I'll be bothering, I'd love a more refined sequel or port for ps4/vita
@AFCC
Thats not true, we also like games about balled space Marines.
Seriously though, such close-mindedness ain't cool, and spewing comments like that certainly doesn't make you sound intelligent. You could make the same remark about any country by the way, doesn't make it anymore true.
We have learned this week that that the Push Square staff hates American Football and thinks Americans are heartless.
Maybe they are trying to tell us something?
@AFCC I'm American and I enjoy just about every genre, with my reawakened love of fighting games coming close to outpacing my love of shooters.
@AFCC What the hell are you even talking about? That's 318 million people you generalized right there. Do you feel good inside now that you've declared your superiority? I am American just like these other people and the FPS is the genre I least enjoy. Yes, many Americans are FPS fans but saying all of them "just like fps where America saves the world" and "don't deserve nice things" is just a terrible stereotype and you should feel bad for saying it.
@Splat I think you misinterpreted them, they never said Americans are heartless, they said there are heartless Americans. There's a big difference.
@Splat That Sammy should get a muzzle!
For the record: I found this comment from the developer quite odd, as I'm sure there are plenty of Americans that adored the game, and lots of Europeans that didn't. I find it hard to believe that the praise was universal from either region, as this is a divisive game — and that's more due to the way that it plays, rather than the subject matter.
I'll admit, half the reason I like Tokyo Jungle is because I've seen other people play it. It was actually a bit confusing and hard to get into at first. Not everyone's going to want to give it the time.
@Splat It's understandable that american football is disliked in the UK.. they may come around as I have recently began watching a fair amount of Liverpool football and besides the flopping its a great sport when played by proper pro's.. much better then the MLS product lol.
@AFCC you sir are a simple minded degenerate without a clue. Just to prove you wrong I quite prefer RPG titles and story driven games such as TLoU well before FPS, for god sakes I'm a massive Shenmue fan!
Hey people, calm down...it was a simple "joke" -.- Jeez...
Obviously, there are people in America that enjoy other types of games...and I don't feel superior to anyone! Sorry if I offended anyone guys...
I'm not one of those guys that goes into sites just to say sh*t about America. I like making fun of Europe too and I live here
Relax!
Btw this "you sir are a simple minded degenerate without a clue"...lol, calm down
@AFCC I'm sorry but what validity does your comment even hold? People like you are the reason why he have falsified stereotypes in this world, based on only the most negative traits to a nationality. Tell me, how many of the over 300,000,000 Americans play the games purely based on your logic of "American Saving the world?" How many of those millions have you met, that you actually took time out of your ignorant life to take a poll of the sorts to make a comment like that? You and everyone like you are the ones who don't deserve nice things. Am I writing this comment to dispel false stereotypes, or am I trying to save the world? Do you get that, or is your closed-mindedness clouding your better judgement, if you possess such a trait. And don't start with that "Oh it was a joke" crap, because that is a blatant lie. You can't just say that after the fact. You meant it right then and there, and you can't deny it. Well, congrats, do you feel better on offending a bunch of people how read your generalizing comment? I hope you do. It is pure ignorance.
Please, please let's not turn this into an argument. We're all friends here, and I apologise if the original direction of the article has taken us down this road, as it wasn't intended.
@AFCC has apologised for his misjudged comment, so let's move on.
@AFCC
Really dude? I'm an American and bland FPS are my LEAST favorite type of games. That's a false stereotype. I hope you don't really believe that because a person born in America is no different than a person born in your country. We're all people. Sure, there are plenty of ignorant Americans but no more than any other country.
Ehh, anyways. Idk why some games catch on in certain regions and others don't. I guess, sometimes it just clicks with a culture and sometimes it doesn't. And sometimes, I think it's how the content is presented as well.
@get2sammyb I personally took no offense to the article title, infact it caught my attention.
@AFCC well at first sight it seemed simple minded lol.
@Punkinhead145
If I meant to offend anyone I would say it here and now and I would admit it without a problem! Your comments should offend me more than what I said as a simple "internet repetition joke" and I don't care about what you're calling me If I really meant to be offensive I would continue to comment about Americans, but seriously that's not my POINT! I talked about AMERICA in particular because of the article talking about...guess what, Americans...If it talked about Europeans I would joke as well! So, sorry if I offended you
@JaxonH
No man, I don't think that! Just a comment that started something that I didn't want to!
@Madd_Hatter401
Should've explained my intentions from the beginning Sorry I offended you, fellow!
AND PEOPLE, I like FPS games where America saves the world x)
@AFCC you are forgiven but next time maybe you should lol.
@SometimeAboutAI
You're right! Hope I didn't give you all a wrong impression
@AFCC No the fault is on me too. It's just that it's hard to talk about nationalities like that because people are proud of their heritage. I certainly apologize for my coarse language and accusations of 'ignorance,' and I accept your apology as well. I mean, what better am I if I label you as "close-minded" when not having met you myself? So I'm sorry myself, and I hope you can forgive me for going off at you. You just have to understand, a harmless comment can attract some off the handle comments from short-fused boneheads like me! haha It's all good with me if it's all good with you
@Punkinhead145
Thanks for accepting my apologies I certainly accept yours and I totally appreciate your last comment, it made me see that my comment was really dumb so I hope we all just forget it.
We're all here because we have a passion for games so who cares if we're from different places, right?
@AFCC
Eh, don't worry about it, lesson learned and all that. Next time maybe a wink or something would serve you well, plain text and sarcasm don't always play nice after all.
Alls well that ends well, right?
Interesting fallout to come along and read post-edit. For the record, speaking as an American...I'm sick of the stereotype American gamer not because the existence of the stereotype is unfair but because it holds some degree of truth. No stereotype is born in a vacuum, and the fact of the matter is that certain mainstream cultural tastes have shaped the industry and resulted in some types of games being viewed as very "niche" here. So from what I gather, AFCC never would've offended me...I'd be right along with him complaining about those people. After all, they're the reason I have to import some games and hope for fan translations of others.
Anyway, with regards to Tokyo Jungle...I bought it at launch and played a fair bit. I like the game, but I think it gets too hard pretty quickly for a lot of the species. I never managed to survive 100 years, and being sent through the northwest areas was always pretty much a death sentence. But my brother finished all the Trophies and said the key was using some of the bigger, stronger animals. Unsurprisingly, some of the DLC creatures are best suited to the task...and while I did buy them all, I never got around to trying them all out. I'd like to give it another go but I doubt I'll find the time with all the other games I'm falling further and further behind with.
@AFCC apology accepted I am sorry for calling you a degenerate lol.. in the end we are all gamers no matter what we play.
@Stuffgamer1 Well put on part! I still await Yakuza 5 =/ as for stereo types not being born in a vacuum, well that is a bit of a sticky conversation. To each their own in the end.. even if it's not to our own benefit. I'd love to see Shenmue 4 though, and Yakuza 5 state side lol.
Really enjoyed this game. Was a refreshing change of pace from the rest of the games that were out before and around it's release. Not so sure I'd like a sequel - not every game has to be a franchise - but there is potential in what they could do I suppose.
@Madd_Hatter401 Wanna see diving then watch La Liga (Spanish football), Ronaldo is the best in the business. Glad to see we - Liverpool - are entertaining you though. Hope you weren't put off football by the Chelsea game and the dire, negative, boring 'genius tactics' the self-proclaimed Special One used against us to make everyone fall asleep. American football for me though is too stop/start. Soon as something happens they all stop for a hug and an ad break, just makes it all so disjointed and ultimately unwatchable.
This game looked like garbage to me, even when it went on sale, it didnt interest me
I wanted to like this game but I found it to be kind of boring.
First, I want to thank everyone that took a bit of their time to read my apologies Felt really relieved not to be automatically considered a jerk xD Thanks guys!!
@rastamadeus
Atletico de Madrid fan?
Oh dear. I knew this would happen.
On topic; I've always been curious about this game, but I never took the plunge. Too many other titles to play.
I try not to be a presumptuous prick like most gamers seem to be these days, making their judgements about a game based on let's play videos with players who may or may not have extensive knowledge about it in any way whatsoever. I'll try it before I make my decision.
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