TGS: Sonic, Ryu ga Gotoku 8, and Persona 3 Remake! I want to play all of them! We report on four titles from the Sega booth! TGS2023 Special Edition

SEGA Booth

Enjoy nostalgic 2D action in the latest "Sonic" series, "Sonic Superstars.

This is the latest title in the "Sonic" series featuring Sonic the Hedgehog, the sonic hedgehog. Set on the North Star Islands, a mysterious island inhabited by giant creatures, Sonic and his friends must fight to stop the ambitions of Dr. Eggman and Fang, who plan to capture the giant creatures.

From several stages prepared in advance, the author selected "BRIDGE ISLAND ZONE". This stage features a vast ocean backdrop with a view all the way to the horizon, as well as a natural setting with palm trees.

The "Sonic" series is known for its impressive sense of speed, and the sense of speed in this title is quite impressive. The controls required for the game are few, including movement with the left stick or directional keys, jumping with the X and X buttons, and spin dash activated by holding down the left stick or directional key and pressing the X or X. I was able to get used to the controls soon after starting the test play.

The game is full of gimmicks that accelerate the sense of speed, such as a course that moves forward in a single turn and springs that allow the player to jump over obstacles. Jumping also serves as an attack, so there is no need to stop every time you want to defeat an enemy.

The course is a 2D action game, so the player basically moves from left to right, but sometimes the player climbs obstacles and moves from left to right, or runs through sharp elevation changes, making the course very varied and well structured. The speed of the course was so fast that my skills could not keep up with it, and there were places where I missed a jump at the wrong time, and some enemies jumped over me when I tried to attack them, but the sense of speed was so pleasant that I did not care much.

The game is full of gimmicks that accelerate the sense of speed, such as a course that advances while making a single turn and springs that allow the player to jump over obstacles. Jumping also serves as an attack, so there is no need to stop every time you want to defeat an enemy.

The course is a 2D action game, so the player basically moves from left to right, but sometimes the player climbs obstacles and moves from left to right, or runs through sharp elevation changes, making the course very varied and well structured. The speed of the course was so fast that my skills could not keep up with it, and there were places where I could not go because I timed my jumps incorrectly, and some enemies jumped over me when I tried to attack them, but the sense of speed was so pleasant that I did not mind.

The play itself went well, although there were some scenes that made my hands sweat, such as being chased by a huge mechanical fish. The game ended when I defeated Eggman, who appeared along the way. Not only was the 2D-based action reminiscent of the old "Sonic" games enjoyable, but the simple design of the game, which allows players to move, jump, and accelerate, also made it a very comfortable game.

While the high level of perfection of the open-world 3D action "Sonic Frontier" is still fresh in our memories, we hope you will also enjoy the 2D action "Sonic," which can be considered the origin of the series, at the event.

• ■Sonic Superstars
• Compatibility: PS5/PS4/Switch/Xbox Series X|S/Xbox One/PC
• Genre: Action
• Number of players:
• Offline: 1 to 4 players
• Online: 1-8 players
• CERO: A (for all ages)
• Release date: October 17, 2023
• Price: 6,589 yen (tax included)

Yakuza7 Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name" depicts the untold story of Kazuma Kiryu

Kiryu is transported by helicopter to a ship called "Castle," but when he opens the door, he finds himself in an entertainment facility dazzling with neon signs. From cabarets to gambling halls and even an arena, it was a scene that almost made one forget that they were on a ship.

As soon as we entered the castle, we were confronted by a gang of thugs. It was a tutorial battle, but here we were able to try out Kiryu's new battle style, the "agent.

Agent is a style that uses various gadgets, including drones, and is very different from "Oryu," which is mainly a simple fighting style. In battle, the agent can use wire-like objects to knock off multiple enemies at once, or have drones assist him in tricky combat. Each button has its own attack method: the △ button calls up a drone, the ○ button attacks with a wire, etc. In addition, there are various gadgets with different levels. In addition, each gadget has its own level, and when you request a weapon craftsman to enhance it, the activation time and number of shots will increase.

After that, you can spend your free time in the castle. First, we went to the arena. In the arena, you can enjoy battles against a variety of enemies, including one-on-one fights and team fights between large groups of players, but I was only able to try the "ZIGOKU RUMBLE," a one-on-many battle.

Even in one-on-many battles, Kiryu's strength is considerable, as he is known as the "Dragon of Dojima. He used his gadget-enabled agent to fight the zakos, and his fighting-specialized Oryu for the mid-bosses, and kicked the crap out of all his opponents. We later learned that not only Kiryu, but also other characters can be used, such as a man in ninja gear and a gang leader in diapers, all with strong personalities.

As the time limit for playing the game was approaching, we hurried to the betting hall for the last time. The main game was a game using Hanafuda (Japanese playing cards), and I was able to experience "Oichishibu" and "Koikoi". Compared to "Oiichibu," which has a simple rule that the closer the first place of the total is to 9, "Koikoi" is a little more difficult, as you have to make up roles while looking at the cards in your and your opponent's hands. However, in the case of this game, the cards that can be combined with the cards in the hand being selected are indicated by red frames, so even those who did not know the rules seemed to be able to play easily.

• Yakuza7 Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name
• Compatibility: PS5/PS4/Xbox Series X|S/Xbox One/PC
• Genre: Action
• Player: 1 player
• CERO: D (for ages 17 and up)
• Release date: November 9, 2023
• Price: 5,940 yen (tax included)

Yakuza8" features the double heroes of Kazuma Kiryu and Kasuga Ichiban

Yakuza8" is a sequel to "Yakuza7: Whereabouts of Light and Darkness," which included many challenging elements, such as a change in the main character from the well-known Kazuma Kiryu to Kazuban Kasuga and a change in the battle system from action to RPG-style command battles. Set in Hawaii and Isesaki Ijintown, the story is told by the double protagonists, Kazuma Kiryu and Ichiban Kasuga.

In this trial playthrough, we were able to enjoy an exploration of Hawaii. Using four characters, including Kasuga and Kiryu, we were able to fight with hoodlums, play mini-games with Kasuga, and advance the story.

What was particularly impressive was the battles. The game is turn-based, but characters can move freely within a certain range when it is their turn. When a character moves close to a fellow player and launches an attack, it can be transformed into a powerful move or developed into a coordinated attack, further enhancing the strategic nature of the game.

In addition, Kiryu's special move, "Kizuna Kakusei," allows him to move freely and attack enemies for a certain period of time. In this game, which is based on turn-based battles, Kiryu can move as if it were an action game, albeit only temporarily. The game is a complete change from the previous turn-based games, in which players had to move in a disciplined manner, and now they can use their overwhelming power to knock out enemies one after another, which is a refreshing change from the usual action game experience.

Kiryu's attacks change depending on the position of his allies, and he uses his kizuna (bond) awakening to slam his enemies. This title not only adds depth to the strategy and tactics that are the charm of RPGs, but also provides the ability to switch between turn-based battles and action battles, making the battles more stimulating.

The unique "Kyokugi" techniques provided for each character are also impressive. During our trial, we were able to use the "Taxi Pickup Goku-teki," which can be used by Tomizawa's fellow players. It is the same as a normal technique in that it inflicts an abnormality while attacking the enemy, but the process is interesting.

The attack consisted of Tomizawa driving the car roughly, making the body of the vehicle go wild, and knocking the opponent in the back seat without a seatbelt all over the place. Finally, when the car floated up on the mountain, Tomizawa alone escaped. The car explodes, and Tomizawa finishes off his opponent in the car. Each character has his or her own reaction to this scene, so it will be fun just to see the variations.

A mini-game in which the player delivers hamburgers and pizzas was also played. Kasuga became a waiter and had to deliver more items within a time limit. He ran around on the sidewalk and on the road, somersaulted and spun, and blew up cars. Although not available this time, it seems that the "delivery points" earned from this mini-game can be exchanged for a variety of prizes.

One thing to keep in mind when trying out the game is the duration of the trial. Whether you want to enjoy the RPG/action battle, sightseeing in Hawaii, or just enjoying a part of the story, you will need to make the most of the time you have in advance. Make plans in advance to make the most of your time.

• Yakuza8
• Compatibility: PS5/PS4/Xbox Series X|S/Xbox One/PC
• Genre: RPG
• Player: 1 player
• CERO: D (for ages 17 and up)
• Release date: January 26, 2024
• Price: 9,680 yen (including tax)

A full remake of the popular "Persona 3! Reload" is coming to the current generation of consoles!

Persona 3 Reload" is a remake of "Persona 3" released on PlayStation 2 in 2006. The original was a memorable title that determined the direction of the subsequent "Persona" series. It is a turning point work that combines the dark atmosphere that characterized "1" and "2" with the stylish and fashionable style of "Persona 4" and later. An append disc containing additional episodes and a PSP version with a female protagonist were also released later.

In this trial, we were able to choose between two modes, "NEWMOON" and "FULLMOON," in which players can explore the "Tartaros" tower and battle against the enemy Shadow. It includes battles against bosses as well as dungeon exploration leading up to the boss battles. The author chose NEWMOON.

After organizing the party at the entrance of Tartaros, we went up the stairs to the inside of the tower. The "tower" is a structure that you have to climb up, and there are shadows roaming along the way.

When you touch the shadow, you enter a battle. In addition to the turn-based battle system, this title introduces the "1MORE" system, which allows the character who makes a successful attack on the opponent's weak point to move freely one more time. The difference between victory and defeat is determined by how well one can exploit the opponent's weakness by using one's special "persona" ability depending on the situation.

Enemies whose weaknesses are exploited will be unable to move. Once all enemies are in this state, the players can launch an "all-out attack. This is an all-out attack by all party members, inflicting heavy damage on the enemy.

Furthermore, after the battle, a "shuffle time" will randomly occur, in which cards that trigger special effects such as increased experience and HP recovery, as well as new "personas" can be obtained, and the rate of occurrence increases as more cards are acquired. It will always occur if you annihilate the enemy with an all-out attack.

In other words, the more you hit the enemy's weak point, the easier it is to receive additional rewards in the shuffle time. The tempo of the game will improve as you can defeat enemies quickly, and you can also learn the battle system of "Persona 3 Reload". It was a great way to motivate players with rewards while at the same time helping them understand the system.

The special ability "persona" is basically one per character, but with the exception of the main character, who can use multiple personas, and new personas can be added through shuffle time after battles and the "Demon Combination" system.

In other words, the protagonist's role is very broad, as he can exploit the weaknesses of various enemies and provide support to his allies. It is my impression that the actions taken by the player's alter ego, the protagonist, during his or her turn will greatly affect the outcome of battles.

The user interface displayed in battle scenes and menu screens is very stylish. The coloring is like that of an illustration, perhaps due to the high color saturation. The presentation is also very elaborate, with cut-ins and interruptions.

When you open the menu screen, you may feel as if you are looking at a single picture in a reference book.

At the same time, important information, such as character stats and actions displayed during each turn, are clearly organized by system, so the information is not difficult to read, despite the visual-oriented structure. This kind of UI was refined in the run-up to the blockbuster "Persona 5," and it is likely that the series' accumulation of such features has been fed back into this remake.

The trial run itself went smoothly from start to finish, and we reached the first to fifth floors of Tartarus within the 15-minute time limit. We also won the battle against two strong mid-boss-like enemies, and were able to finish the game at the end of the day.

• Persona 3 Reload
• Compatibility: PS5/PS4/Xbox Series X|S/Xbox One/PC
• Genre: RPG
• Player: 1 player
• CERO: C (for ages 15 and up)
• Release date: February 2, 2024
• Price: 9,680 yen (tax included)