Glad I finally checked this little thing out, what a cool experience. The cutscenes are energetic and well-directed/performed, the platforming is fun albeit shallow - it's basically one of those runner-type games, and overall the game is a visual treat. It definitely has that Suda51 style to it. Admittedly, this is a game built more out of novelty and style than depth, but that's perfectly OK in my opinion since it's only hour long. Jump in, get a nonstop stream of fresh ideas, and jump out. And it comes with a bunch of short films too.
Full Review: https://youtu.be/OkpZg9znR-c
TL;DW
The strangest thing on the Playstation Store. It lacks coherence, cohesion, and consistency, it is the most experience.
TL;DW
The strangest thing on the Playstation Store. It lacks coherence, cohesion, and consistency, it is the most experience.
This would go so hard on newgrounds.com
It might've been Ranko's longest day but this shit is over in like 2 hours lmao.
I live for this shit. Finding the wild unexplainable nuggets in the corners of console libraries and game developer portfolios. This is such a confounding wonderful and honestly beautiful object, even tho it’s barely anything substantially.
One of the stranger and unique collaborations in media released alongside a anthology anime film of the same name that includes a short by Katsuhiro Otomo (of Akira fame). Short Peace is a neat little action platformer albeit pretty simple given its short runtime of just over an hour long, but your mainly playing for the story written by Suda51 and the wildly blazing presentation where every cutscene is constantly changing styles.
The game that came with the Short Peace collection. Each cutscene is directed by different people and the game by Suda 51 so the tone shifts wildly. I can't tell if it's lampooning anime trash or celebrating it. Game part sucks though.
may not be the most polished thing around but the sheer idea of producing something like this in any way is inherently endearing to me and the wow of it all helps me look past the rather dull game play segments which i wish carried it's mishmash experimental nature further into being a favorite. however i am happy with this and would gladly play anything that even vaguely approached the idea of making a game in this way at all
The story of Ranko Tsukigime, a high-school girl/assassin on a quest to kill her dad is very over-the-top. The anime cutscenes that bookend the platforming segments are lavishly animated, filled with all kinds of violence, fan service, power-of-female-friendship bonding bits, etc. It's honestly a tonally in line with what I've come to understand is Grasshopper Manufacturer's house-style.
Extravagant visuals & gonzo attitude carry the shallow platforming. Despite the rocky performance (it's a Unity game on the PS3 after all), the controls are responsive and the sense of speed is nice. Ranko has a projectile that cost meter, which can be refilled slowly or by hitting a chain of enemies.
The biggest issue is level-design; platforming is kept a bit too simplistic, even with Ranko's ability to wall jump and slide. The challenge mostly coming from the pursuer mechanic (if the people pursuing Ranko catch up to her, game over). The pursuers act as a sort of dynamic timer, forcing a hard restart of a level if a player can't optimize a specific segment. Much like in the 2D Sonic games, there are multiple paths through a level, but unlike Sonic the levels don't feel radically different depending on the part you're in.
Conceptually having to manage a meter-based projectile and speedy platforming is a slam-dunk, in practice the platforming never really takes advantage of all the mechanics on offer. A number of one-off stages (boss fights, a bullet hell segment) are nice distractions. Overall the game is mostly a roller-coaster ride.
The game is bundled with the anime compilation Short Peace, which actually had a theatrical run in the US & Japan. The film is comprised of 4 short films, each being very distinct in setting, tone, and story. I personally enjoyed the films more than the game.
Overall an intriguing PSN Store curiosity, and an obscure gem of a game.
Extravagant visuals & gonzo attitude carry the shallow platforming. Despite the rocky performance (it's a Unity game on the PS3 after all), the controls are responsive and the sense of speed is nice. Ranko has a projectile that cost meter, which can be refilled slowly or by hitting a chain of enemies.
The biggest issue is level-design; platforming is kept a bit too simplistic, even with Ranko's ability to wall jump and slide. The challenge mostly coming from the pursuer mechanic (if the people pursuing Ranko catch up to her, game over). The pursuers act as a sort of dynamic timer, forcing a hard restart of a level if a player can't optimize a specific segment. Much like in the 2D Sonic games, there are multiple paths through a level, but unlike Sonic the levels don't feel radically different depending on the part you're in.
Conceptually having to manage a meter-based projectile and speedy platforming is a slam-dunk, in practice the platforming never really takes advantage of all the mechanics on offer. A number of one-off stages (boss fights, a bullet hell segment) are nice distractions. Overall the game is mostly a roller-coaster ride.
The game is bundled with the anime compilation Short Peace, which actually had a theatrical run in the US & Japan. The film is comprised of 4 short films, each being very distinct in setting, tone, and story. I personally enjoyed the films more than the game.
Overall an intriguing PSN Store curiosity, and an obscure gem of a game.
I don't even know how to review this one honestly
the only good 2d sonic
this game puts you in the mindset of just cutting through the bullshit, living in the moment and just having mindless fun and then hits you with That cutscene at the end and it just makes you go :)
one of those games that makes me feel like everyone working on it had a blast and that's always a good feeling
one of those games that makes me feel like everyone working on it had a blast and that's always a good feeling