Tokyo Jungle is a survival action game that was released in 2012 for PlayStation 3. In it, humans have gone extinct during the 21st century, and players take the role of animals that have to now fend for themselves in the post-human world. People play the role of sika deer, beagles, cats, lions, pomeranians, hippos, and even dinosaurs.
Gameplay would change depending on whether players took the role of a prey or predator animal, and they had the choice between single and multiplayer antics. The city would become progressively more hostile the longer a player is able to survive in Tokyo. Surviving meant eating, sleeping, making families, and avoiding bigger predators. It has now been about 10 years since the game came out, and there has not been another like it, so many fans are hoping for a remaster or sequel.
What Made Tokyo Jungle Special
Tokyo Jungle's development story is an inspiring one. The team behind it started out with just two people, and expanded to 24 by the time the game was finished. An interview with director Yohei Kataoka revealed the project concept was widely criticized and balked by studios who thought it was too quirky. Despite this, Tokyo Jungle was loved by critics and fans once it released.
The game is both absurd and addicting. There were many choices in what animal to play, and plenty of laughs just from the strangeness of taking control over something like a hyena to fight a bear in the streets of Tokyo. The different species also offered different kinds of gameplay, with smaller and weaker animals depending more on a stealthy style.
The game was not for someone who wanted a detailed story, as there were not really cutscenes or fleshed-out characters. However, players could find lore documents with details about the human extinction. Where the game really shined was its multiplayer mode. Friends could play as the same or a diverse cast of animals and help each other survive. The caveat was that the game actually was harder in multiplayer mode, but that challenge was part of the fun.
The Possibility For a Tokyo Jungle Sequel or Remaster
Tokyo Jungle could take what makes its one-off attempt so special and be even better on consoles like the PS5 or Nintendo Switch. Fans would love to see more random events, different cities outside of Tokyo, and an online multiplayer mode. In fact, some have shared ideas online such as adding fish, bird migrations, or tiny animals like mice or spiders.
However, there have not been any signs of a sequel or remaster on the horizon. The original game can be played through PlayStation Now, but there is little else out there other than a mobile port that came out in 2013. If a sequel were to happen, it might stick to Japan, but it could also extend itself to Europe. Kataoka said in an interview with Siliconera that the game was quite popular in Europe, but got the most negative reviews in America. Even if the game was remade or got a sequel, it may not be accessible to everyone based on the first games' performance.
The other main problem is that one of the developers is no longer around. Japan Studio has since merged with other studios, and Tokyo Jungle's other developer Crispy's has not released any news of an upcoming sequel or remaster. Perhaps with enough positive encouragement , Crispy's could consider giving more Tokyo Jungle content a shot.
Tokyo Jungle is available now on PlayStation Now.