Developer: Toybox Inc, Arc System Works
Publisher: NIS America
Platform: PS3, PS Vita, PS4
Tested on: PS4
Tokyo Twilight Ghost Hunters: Daybreak Special Gig – Review
NIS America has released quite some games up until today, this title being one of them. Originally released on the PS3 and PS Vita, they have made an enhanced version for the PS4, while also adding some new elements to the scene. If you’re into the supernatural and you would like to bust some ghosts, then you’re barking against the right tree.
Story
Tokyo Twilight Ghost Hunters: Daybreak Special Gig starts quite calmly, as you’ve just been transferred to a new school called Kurenai Academy. Your first trip is disturbed by someone bumping into you, which leads to quite an awkward situation. Your assailant apologizes for the trouble, when a new person joins the scene. As you want to take the blame on you, you get accused of being some kind of pervert. This hard and unfriendly student wants to leave your side as soon as possible. To make things even more weird, your new classmates ask some questions (and sometimes quite disturbing ones) to get to know you better.
One of your new colleagues at school is Masamune Shiga, a young man that asked you if you believed in ghosts. After some chit-chat, he states that you still needs to get a tour around school as it is your first day. The class president is the one to turn to and it seems you’re in bad luck as this is the chilly student you’ve had an encounter with earlier that day, Sayuri Mifune. After some discussing, she agrees to show you around. This is the start of a new adventure, filled with ghosts and mystical events.
This game is a visual novel, so it mostly revolves around the story. You’ll be ploughing through some lengthy conversations at times, which gives you some details and intel regarding the origin of ghosts or it’s a way to get to know the characters better. Each scenario tackles another case, which always has a nice intro, the plot of that specific scenario and an aftermath with credits. You’ll surely have enough on your sleeve when beginning this game.
Graphics
Tokyo Twilight Ghost Hunters: Daybreak Special Gigs is an enhanced version of the game that was released for the PS3 and PS Vita, which certainly is visible when you turn on the PS4. Since it’s a visual novel, you can expect several standalone images, although the characters are responding on the flow of the conversation, which certainly is a fun element. Describing the overall style of the game, you’ll end up with handdrawn or even –painted sceneries which certainly is pleasing for the eye. Although you’ll be visiting the same locations quite often, you’ll always find something new as the environments are quite detailed and will keep you occupied for a few seconds. The same can be said of the characters: the small details and movements give the game that much more sensation.
Not everything is in the same style, as the overlay map of when you’re busting some ghosts is a blueprint that has some icons to show you where your items, allies and enemies are. This certainly gives a different feel to the game but it totally fits the complete setting.
Sound
Just as pretty as the graphics are, just as good are the tracks and the voice acting. Every important character has received a fitting voice that makes everything that more lively. Sometimes, it’s clear that the emotions are rather overdone, but it doesn’t feel like you’ve listening to a bad monologue. In addition, the rather gloomy or creepy sounds will set the mood and will get you into busting ghost butt sooner than later.
Gameplay
Tokyo Twilight Ghost Hunters: Daybreak Special Gigs is a visual novel, infused with both RPG and strategy elements. Since there is a lot of story, you’ll be going through a lot of dialogues that has a ton of information and gives the characters some depth. As you can expect from a visual novel you will need to choose between several answering possibilities, which has an influence on your relationship with that character, although this system isn’t really clear. The first answering circle will give you the option to choose between several mental states like thinking, grieving or being plainly friendly. Afterwards, you can decide which physical ability you want to perform as you can choose to look at someone or something, touch or listen. Although this is a whole different way of giving answers it surely is also quite confusing, especially since you don’t get any explanation. It could be that you’ve picked two answers that seemed suitable but that the outcome is totally different than expected. When you need to decide you want to go to a certain place or continue the story, you get a prompt rather than using the two picking systems.
There are several scenarios you will need to get through, each with a ghost you need to overcome. If that isn’t enough, there are a lot of side missions you can tackle, giving you some extra resources like money to buy new equipment. Eventually this requires quite some preparation as the ghosts get particularly harder and more cunning. Before you dive into action, you get the opportunity to see the blueprint of the area. This map shows where you can expect some ghosts and the game also automatically places some traps. It is your choice if you want to keep these or rearrange/delete them, which has been added in the PS4 version. You can also add some extra snares, but this will go right off your budget. This also applies when you break property by the way.
Everything is set in place but you also have some extra back-up as you can take up to four ghost busters to the scene. Each of them seem to have their own useful skills in battle so it is a good idea to take these in account. You can equip them with some other items as well, but this must be done before you start a new request. When you’re on the scene, each colleague can do a certain amount of moves, which is linked the maximum AP. Moving, turning and performing skills all use a certain amount of points, so keep this in mind. When you’re not too keen on your defined path, you can also reset your actions and retry. Something new regarding this matter is that you can perform multiple actions during a turn, which wasn’t possible in the PS3/PS Vita game. This certainly isn’t a bad thing as there is a set amount of time before the ghosts escapes or vanishes, failing the mission. It might sound quite easy, but you need to take a lot in account. For instance, you will need to predict where the ghost will move to, so you can be one step ahead and strike at first hand.
Succeeding a mission doesn’t only grant you money but also experience which will give you the possibility to level up. By doing so, you receive some skill points you can distribute between a variety of elements. You can choose to put everything in attack, while there is also the possibility to strengthen your AP amount or speed. Next to the experience, you will also receive some TP or training points. These can be used to train with your colleagues to gain new skill sets or you can ‘buy’ new skills if you want. Gathering these points can be done by completing missions but also by playing a board game with your fellow exorcists. At any rate, the essence of the game really fits the overall story of Tokyo Twilight Ghost Hunters although it might be harder than expected.
In the PS4 version, the story is extended while the characters will reveal more of their emotions, making it that much more immersive. Even more, a new scenario was added, called ‘Daybreak’. Although these additions surely aren’t bad, it would have been nice if the answering system was explained as it is still groping in the dark.
Conclusion
If you like visual novels and you’re into the supernatural, then this game certainly is something for you to look into. The enhanced PS4 edition has some extras like the addition of a new scenario, the more in-depth character profiles and the improved battle system. These upgraded elements were a fun improvement, although it would have been nice if the answering system was explained properly. This might take some of the pleasure when playing the game, but the graphics, voice acting and the storyline surely makes up for this. Get ready to get into your ghost-busting gear and explore a world filled with mystical beings.
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