Legendary Developer Level-5 Has Risen from the Dead | Push Square
Level-5 has an enormous booth at the Tokyo Game Show this year, rivalling titans like SEGA, Konami, and Capcom. This is significant because the iconic Japanese developer hasn’t really released a noteworthy game since Ni No Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom. Admittedly, it has kept the lights on with a number of Japanese-centric titles, like Yo-Kai Watch 4, but it hasn’t been relevant in quite a while.
The good news is that its two new upcoming PS5 and PS4 titles, DECAPOLICE and Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road, look like a return to form – and while we’re sceptical of either title hitting their vague 2023 release dates, having gone hands on with them both, we’re confident in the Dark Cloud developer making a meaningful comeback in the near future.
Playing the DECAPOLICE demo on the TGS show floor is honestly an exercise in futility if you’re an English speaker, as it’s entirely in Japanese and extremely text-heavy throughout. However, after pointing out our overall excitement for the game, we were able to swindle a couple of kind Level-5 employees into translating the general gist of the chapter-long teaser to us.
The game is, in essence, a detective title with turn-based RPG elements. The action takes place in DECASIM, a virtual replica of a real-world where clues can be obtained in order to unravel mysteries. Playing on the PS5, it looks absolutely stunning – like an anime brought to life. While we were directed towards a specific crime in a jewellery store, we were told the map could be freely explored.
Much like in the modern Sherlock Holmes games, you’ll gather clues by interrogating people and interacting with objects. This will unlock clues which can then be pinned to a deduction board, allowing you to make connections in
Read more on pushsquare.com
