News culture TGS 2022: have you always dreamed of going there? Live the Japanese show as if you were there with JV!
Published on 09/17/2022 at 12:15
For a large number of gamers, experiencing one of the major video game fairs is a sweet daydream. I had the chance with JV to participate in several of them, including one E3 (2016), two gamescom (2017 and 2018), but above all three Tokyo Game Shows (2015, 2016 and 2022). I invite you today to discover the 2022 edition of the Japanese show as if you were there or almost, between two anecdotes and other good plans, in order to maintain this dream and be prepared if it ever becomes reality. Follow the leader !
Summary
- Public transport
- business cards
- The tour of the stands and demos
- My TGS 2022 games
- Les cosplays
- Les happenings
- Les goodies
Public transport
Before you can enjoy the games and activities of the Tokyo Game Show, you still need to be able to go to the Tokyo Game Show. If your sense of direction is struggling in the corridors of the Paris metro, that of Tokyo is on a whole new level. The “darksolization” of public transport according to the Japanese? In appearance only. Just get used to the signs – yellow (Exit) – and follow the signs on the ground or on the walls to find your way. Here are some indications and advice to optimize your travel time, extra time to spend at the show rather than in a train car.
Although the metropolitan rail network is managed by several companies, unification of means of payment allows you to travel serenely. A single card, usually Suica or Band, allows you to take any line and go wherever you want. Note that these cards are also accepted in convenience stores (drinks, press, food, etc.). In short, once your sesame is in your hands and loaded with a few thousand yen (1 euro = 143.19 yen in September 2022), it’s time to get on board.
We start our journey at Tokyo Station, one of the main stations in the Japanese capital, and above all ideal for getting to the Tokyo Game Show. Once through the gates, take the ligne “rouge” Keiyo direction Soga / Maihama (Tokyo Disneyland), then get off at the Kaihin-Makuhari stop located in the city of Chiba after 20 minutes of transport (fast train) or 30 minutes (local train). All you have to do is walk about ten minutes to reach this temple dedicated to video games, the Makuhari Messe and where the Tokyo Game Show is held.
business cards
Japan is a country with customs that are sometimes very different from Western ones. Objects from the past for us, business cards are used daily in the Japanese archipelago to the point of still being a real institution in 2022. The Japanese always have on them these pieces of printed cardboard which serve here as an identity document to a certain extent. If visitors to the Tokyo Game Show are not obliged to present said business cards, it is different for the press and professionals. who must imperatively give two a day under penalty of being refused entry to the TGS. No business card, no living room!
The tour of the stands and demos
Tokyo Game Show 2022 spans eight halls which may seem vast, but in fact only Halls 3 to 7 (see below) should interest you, unless you are looking for goodies, independent games or even unexpected experiences. The publishers, mainly Japanese, but not exclusively, did not skimp on the means to celebrate as it should be the return of the TGS in its optimal physical versionand not the hybrid one offered in 2021. Lively music, life-size statues of emblematic characters and a sound and light show were on the agenda.
Bandai Namco, Capcom, Cow Tecmo, Konami, Mix / Atlus, Square Enixbut also THQ Nordic and the Steam Deck, to name only the best known, participate in the celebration and thus delight visitors who can preview the future of Japanese video games, and international ones to a lesser extent. Among the absent, we deplore that of Sony and its PlayStation brand, although its virtual reality headset PlayStation®VR2 be present on the Capcom stand (Resident Evil VII: Biohazard, Resident Evil Village). Here is a non-exhaustive list of the stands present during the Tokyo Game Show 2022 and the demos made available to the public:
- Bandai Namco (Hall 6) : Dragon Ball : The Breakers, LEGO Brawls, One Piece Odyssey, Park Beyond
- Capcom (Hal 7) : Exoprimal, Mega Man Network Legacy Collection, Monster Hunter Rise : Sunbreak, Resident Evil VII : Biohazard (PSVR2), Resident Evil Village (PSVR2), Street Fighter 6
- Koei Tecmo (Hall 3) : Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key, Wu Long : Fallen Dynasty
- Konami (Hall 5) : eFootball 2023, Super Bomberman R 2
- Sega / Atlus (Gray 5) : Like a Dragon : Ishin !, Persona 5 Royal, Sonic Frontiers
- Square Enix (Hall 4) : Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion, Forspoken, Romancing Saga : Minstrel Song Remastered, Star Ocean : The Divine Force, Valkyrie Elysium
- Steam Deck (Hall 5)
- THQ Nordic (Hall 6) : AEW Fight Forever, Alone in the Dark, Destroy All Humans! 2
My TGS 2022 games
It is simply impossible to cover all of the titles presented at the show. Making choices is all the more necessary as the waiting times to discover a game are rapidly skyrocketing. Count between 30 minutes and 90 minutes to reach your goal… namely to play. Fortunately, the demos are generally generous with a duration ranging from 15 to 30 minutes on average. This year, I personally was able to explore Ace Angler Fishing Spirits, Alone in the Dark, Wanted : Dead, Dragon Ball : The Breakers, Exoprimal, Gungrave GORE and to finish Person 5 Royal on Nintendo Switch. Other members of the editorial staff covered the other games in parallel from Paris (France). If I had to choose one video game experience from TGS 2022, it would be Exoprimal and its concept merging exoskeletons and dinosaurs within an explosive multiplayer action game.
Les cosplays
Who says Tokyo Game Show says Cosplay (contraction of “Costume” and “Playing”), and in this area the 2022 edition ensures the show, in particular thanks to the publishers who mainly play the game on their stand. As you can see below, there is something for everyone. Many genres and titles are represented with some performances that stand out clearly. Note the presence ofa member of the Saints Row Idols gang (2022), a synced hero edited by Level Infinite or an alien from Destroy All Humans! two. The massive arrival of the public this weekend is the perfect opportunity to admire even more creations inspired by video games, anime and other manga!
Les happenings
The main objective of the Tokyo Game Show is to present to the press, industry professionals and the general public the future of video games for the years to come. This does not, however, prevent exhibitors from offering happenings of all kinds in order to entertain visitors and thus attract them to their stands. I personally attended un live Tik Tok “made in Japan” totally crazy, a futuristic dance performanceat gaming experiences of a different kind as well as direct including that of Konami. The Japanese publisher took advantage of TGS 2022 to announce the HD remasters of Genso Suikoden I and II. However, nothing beats un match de catch Live at the THQ Nordic booth as part of the AEW Fight Forever game promotion. During this exhibition, the Japanese wrestler Konosuke Takeshita faced Christopher Daniels for a heated duel.
Les goodies
Coming to the Tokyo Game Show means leaving with disproportionate bags essential to drag the mountain of prospectusof paper catalogsd’stickersand D’fans featuring the flagship games of the show. Covid-19 pandemic obliges, the protective mask remains a must, even if to obtain it you have to play the demo of the game in question or actively participate in its marketing campaign via a QR Code and/or a post on Twitter. In reality, the majority of goodies that thrill fans require a minimum of investment on the stand, which goes without saying. It is thus possible to leave for free with keychainof the napkinsof the pens and even of hot sauce !
Collectors can also offload several thousand yen in the official stores of Capcom, Square Enix or even Kojima Productions, and thus acquire t-shirts, sweaters, pillows, stuffed animals, figurines, etc. The ultimate Goodies of 2022 is without discussion possible a figurine from Final Fantasy VI officially presented to the general public at the Japanese show and whose displayed price is 1,485,000 yen (€10,371.16). Just that ! If you don’t have the funds to buy it, you can admire the finishes via the video below.
The Tokyo Game Show 2022 takes place from September 15 to 18, 2022 at Makuhari Messe.