Tokyo Jungle Review for PlayStation 3 (PS3)

System: PS3
Dev: SCE Japan Studio
Pub: Sony Computer Entertainment
Release: September 25, 2012
Players: 1-2
Screen Resolution: 480p-1080p	Blood, Crude Humor, Suggestive Themes, Violence

Technically, the game is very outdated. The graphics are comparable to those found on previous generation consoles, and even there wouldn't score well. The animal models are done well enough to distinguish each species, but the animations are stiff and the texture effects practically non-existent. The overgrown urban backdrop is rigid and lacking in color but, considering the story, is passable.

Tokyo Jungle Screenshot

The music and sound effects also get a subpar rating. During gameplay there's a redundant light punk rock orchestration, which varies little throughout each zone. It's not overbearing, but it's certainly underwhelming. I would have actually preferred no music at all, just the sound of the wind and animal noises. However, the animal effects aren't any better. The various barks, howls, roars, and other animal utterances seem like they were pulled from a generic sound bite folder rather than being painstakingly acquired by the studio's audio department.

As indicated in the rating description below, the overall score is not an average. I can't give much for the graphics and sound, yet once you start playing Tokyo Jungle you likely won't care about the technical shortcomings. It's a quirky take on the post-apocalyptic survival genre, where beasts are the controlled characters and humans are nowhere to be seen. The premise of scavenging for food, marking territories, and creating offspring may sound like an odd gameplay mix, but for reasons you may not understand, you'll likely return for another round, and another, and continue so on without getting bored. There are dozens of animals to try out and level up, a deeper than expected strategy to maximize your end score, and a ton of replay value for only fifteen bucks.

By
Sean Engemann
Contributing Writer
Date: September 26, 2012

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

2.6

Graphics
You'll swear this was developed for the PS2, or even PSX! Everything runs fine though, and it's pretty glitch-free.

3.5

Control
The animations may be stiff, but the controls are tight. Stalking prey and lunging for the kill are infinitely satisfying.

2.6

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
None of it is memorable, and with no humans, there's obviously no voice acting. But at least the various creature sounds are authentic.

4.7

Play Value
It's a bargain price for a lot of replay value. Animals to unlock and improve, archives to collect, and the ever-present addiction to beat your own score.

4.0

Overall Rating - Great
Not an average. See Rating legend below for a final score breakdown.

Review Rating Legend
0.1 - 1.9 = Avoid	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	3.5 - 3.9 = Good	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair	4.0 - 4.4 = Great	5.0 = The Best

Game Features:

Prowl the streets of Tokyo as hunter or prey as animals take over the planet.

Hunt prey, feast on plants, and do whatever it takes to stay alive as you complete challenges and fight your way to the top of the food chain.

Compare your progress against other players around the world with the online ranking leaderboards.