Video Game Vintage Title: Tokyo Jungle

Tokyo Jungle

Tokyo Jungle is an urban based animal survival action game developed by Crispy's and published by Sony Computer Entertainment exclusively for the PlayStation 3. The game takes place in a deserted, futuristic Tokyo, in which the city has transformed into a vicious wildlife wasteland with dinosaurs that had to be transported from the past to compensate for the humans that were transported to the future. Tokyo Jungle was released in Japan on June 7, 2012, available on both disc and downloadable versions. During an interview with Joystiq at the 2012 Electronic Entertainment Expo, Sony's Scott Rohde confirmed the international release of the game, which became available for download only via PSN in North America and Europe on September 25 and September 26, 2012, respectively. It was included on the "Best of PlayStation Network Vol. 1" compilation disc, released June 18, 2013.

Tokyo Jungle Plot

Some time in the twenty-first century, humankind is extinct, leaving animals to fend for themselves. The once busy streets of Tokyo are now home to lions, tigers, chickens, and various other animals. All of them are now fighting for survival.

Tokyo Jungle Gameplay

Tokyo Jungle has two modes: Story and Survival.

In Story mode, the player plays through missions centered around various animals. Eventually, the player will discover the truth behind humankind's disappearance. Pomeranian dogs are key characters in the story, as well as a Sika deer, beagle, Tosa Inu, spotted hyena, lions, and a pair of robotic dogs similar to AIBO.

In Survival mode, the player, or players (there is a local multiplayer), takes control of an animal and fights for survival against other animals for as long as possible. Tokyo Jungle has online leaderboards so the players can compare their survival skills against one another. Smaller animals will fight in groups, and the player's group can win fights against larger animals as long as one member of the group survives the fight.

The player will have to build up a pack of animals. This is easier for some herbivores, which means the player may not necessarily be at a disadvantage even if they choose a weaker type.

Reception
Ellie Gibson, writing for Eurogamer, gave Tokyo Jungle a 9/10, describing it as "basically Grand Theft Auto with lions." and calling it "a celebration of classic games, with their ridiculous plots, repetitive tasks, excessive violence and all. It pulls off the impressive and nigh-on impossible trick of being an original homage. Also it lets you set a giraffe on a bear."

Giant Bomb's Patrick Klepek also praised the game, giving it 4/5 stars and calling it a "well-designed, supremely funny game." Klepek went on to praise the game's animal variety and the system for unlocking new animals, as well as the loot system and the story mode. However, he criticized the game's inclusion of certain animals as paid downloadable content.