Tokyo 42 is many things. Not as many as 42 things, because that d constitute too many things for one game to be. What it is on the surface is an isometric action game inspired by the likes of the original Grand Theft Auto and Syndicate, developed by SMAC Games and published by Frozen Synapse developers Mode 7. It s not just Grand Theft Cyber-bike, though. It s got bits of Hitman and Assassin s Creed chucked in there too, with large crowds, disguises, different enemy factions, and rudimentary platforming.

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Hey-o. Very pretty isometric assassination game Tokyo 42 has just put out an update that aims to resolve one of the more common complaints about it – that its rather rigid camera was one of the main causes of death and/or frustration. Things’ll be different from hereon out.

Publishers Mode 7, of Frozen Synapse fame, have also explained exactly why, seven months on, they’ve kowtowed to feedback from whingey, bad-at-games hacks like me at this late stage – and why they didn’t until now. (more…)

I’ve been calling Tokyo 42’s new DLC “Smace-shi’s Castles” in my head for the past 20 minutes now, so it’s stuck that way forever now. I don’t know what the name could possibly be referencing. The DLC adds 90 new missions, new weapons and more to the isometric shooter, and there’s also a new free multiplayer map “inspired by a village in the Stratford-upon-Avon district of Warwickshire”. I’ve popped a trailer and more deets after the jump.

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Tokyo 42 [official site] is a game of games. It comes across as having the pure and earnest intention to hybridise everything that has been most beloved in games from the last half-decade (and a couple from decades earlier), and then adds in cats and samurai swords for good measure. Inevitably, it doesn’t all work, but moments of half-madcap, half-measured brilliance glimmer through a patina of low-level frustration.

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The stylish sneak-o-action of Tokyo 42 [official site] will arrive on May 31st, publishers Mode 7 announced today. Made by the duo SMAC Games, Tokyo 42 sees a futureperson framed for murder then try to clear their name through missions across beautiful futuristic city rooftops. It’s a looker all right, and meant to offer a fair bit of variance in how you play — Mode 7 call it “the lovechild of Syndicate and GTA 1” — from stealth to committing many actual murders to escape your murder rap.

Mode 7 say that the following trailer condenses Tokyo 42 into 4.2 seconds, which is a total rookie mistake as if you watch this you won’t need to play the game at all: … [visit site to read more]

This week we’ll be taking a closer look at what’s going to be in the RPS Cave of Wonders at Rezzed! Today our futurescope has trained its beady eye on Tokyo 42! … [visit site to read more]

Occasionally I see some concept art for a game’s urban environment and get excited by its dramatic architecture and vibrant colours. Inevitably I see an actual screenshot for the game shortly thereafter and am immediately disappointed by the failure to translate that concept art into the actual game. I have no idea whether Tokyo 42 [official site] ever had concept art, but if it did I wonder if it was drab and plain and boring. Maybe that would explain why the game’s implementation of a city has ended up so vibrant and creatively designed.

There’s a new trailer for the isometric shooter below which walks and talks through the different ways you can approach the game’s combat. … [visit site to read more]