TOKYO –There are some seriously violent videogames out there, but the most shocking game I played at the Sony booth at Tokyo Game Show wasn't the latest God of War. It was an innocent-sounding title called Tokyo Jungle.
Described as "survival action," this platformer takes place in 20XX after the Japanese megalopolis has been abandoned by humans. Animals are now the sole residents, and it's kill or be killed, so even the cutest of creatures must engage in some dirty business.
In the case of the Tokyo Jungle demo, I was handed the reigns to a Pomeranian (complete with an adorable red jacket) and my task was to hunt rabbits. In the opening cinematic they laughed when my pathetic pooch tried to pounce on them. Once I had control, I stalked and killed them one by one. First I tracked them by their scent, then I had to sneak up on them and catch them unawares. Then I ate them. Who's laughing now, Bugs?
Having had my fill of rabbits, I took on far more dangerous prey: cats. They could not simply be tackled and killed; I had to actually fight them first before I could bite them. These battles were little more than mashing the Circle button. After taking down an increasingly large series of felines, my dog settled into a shelter, content that he had eliminated the local competition.
Tokyo Jungle is hardly gory, but there's a raw quality to the action that surprised me. My reaction to each successful kill was a mixture of laughter and horror. It turns out that a happy-looking pup eating a fluffy bunny is a hell of lot more alarming than a muscle-bound warrior gouging a sea monster in the eye.
The demo was a very short, strictly linear hunt, but I was told the full game will include "over 50 species of animals and 100 different types." Different levels will have the player controlling creatures of all sizes, not just tiny dogs. Tokyo Jungle will be released this winter in Japan, with no announced U.S. release date.
Images courtesy Sony
