Ranko Tsukigime's Longest Day: Short Peace
Suda 51's latest PS3 game, Short Peace, is proper bonkers
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And this isn't even the maddest bit...
Suda 51’s games are mad. We know that. But he’s properly outdone himself with this one. The game portion he has produced is a side-scrolling platformer with free movement but the gameplay of an endless runner thanks to the additional, constant threat of a great big monster chasing you from the left. Dextrous and repeat play is rewarded with unlockable artwork and animated scenes. But wait… the ‘game portion’? Yep, the playable part is only one fifth of the actual product.
You also get four anime chapters of varying length, from a few minutes to just shy of an hour. They tell the story of the eponymous Ranko, who has severe daddy issues. In that she’s an assassin and it’s time to kill him. Of course it is.
The Japanese character design is questionable, with cosplay-baiting costumes and a schoolgirl cast but the art style is noteworthy in that it changes completely several times throughout. One moment you’re watching a cut-scene in wobbly-edged computer 3D, the next beautiful 2D hand-drawn artwork.
Despite the rather unique visual style(s), the in-play graphics are comparatively modest, and oddly keep Ranko a long way from the camera. For such a well-designed character, she’s too small to really appreciate during the action. Instead, you’ll be focusing all your attention on the twitchy, reflex-based wall-jumping and enemy slashing. It’s the kind that feels clumsy and awkward when you do it wrong but flows deliciously when you do it right. I was reminded of speed-running the side-scrolling Modern Sonic sections of Sonic Generations. Very similar to play.
At 11 levels long, it’s a short piece (wahey!) but the game’s diminutive length is intentional, with replayability coming from exploration as you seek out all the hidden routes and collectibles. Perhaps releasing it on PS3 is a strange choice, as it would likely fit iOS much more naturally. But PS3 does Blu-Ray, and Blu-Ray does HD anime, which is just as much a part of the package as this very peculiar game.
Click on through for more barking mad screenshots from Short Peace: Ranko Tsukigime's Longest Day.
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One animation is directed by Katsuhiro Otomo of Akira fame
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Japanese Kanji overlays are frequent
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Ranko's classmate *loves* karaoke
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Some dialogue scenes play out like RPG conversations
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It's a collection of anime, of which the game is but a short piece
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Every rabbit flies away eventually. You knew that.
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But this one's caught in something...
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No, I'm sorry. I have no idea what's going on here
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That's more like it! This is the game
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Combos are achieved through slamming enemies into one another
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You can move left if you want to...
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...but there's a massive beastie waiting there
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Much better to keep running
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Every stat imaginable is tracked and viewable
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Making this a real perfectionist's game
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I didn't play the giant raccoon bit
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This would have been my reaction if I had
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Here's the 'shaky 3D' art style bit
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There's a lot of 'fan service' if you know what I mean
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But a lot of artistic merit too
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And a wolf taste-testing a small child
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But I guess it didn't taste very nice. That's all folks!
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FeloniousMax - March 30, 2014 11:28 p.m.
This and his PS4 exclusive, Lily Bergamo, are high on my most wanted list. https://twitter.com/suda_51/status/450284047063728130 -
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ObliqueZombie - March 27, 2014 12:24 p.m.
YEAH FAN SERVICE! /Sarcasm It's "cosplay" though (I assume) and that's "expected" sorta. I couldn't care less, though, if Suda's mind is behind it. I just hope it's a small-priced game. Runners are fun, but not worth an admission over $20 in my opinion. Though I'd really dig the super long anime/not anime cutscenes if the story turns out to be interesting. If not, well, it'll look pretty? I shall keep a small eye on this project, thanks Justin! -
Corsair89 - March 27, 2014 6:45 a.m.
"It's a collection of animes, of which the game is but one piece." I see what you did there. Anyway, I'm always excited for a new Suda51 game. His sense of style and insanity is right up my alley. No matter how flawed some of his games are, I always find something to enjoy about them and Short Peace looks no different. -
taokaka - March 27, 2014 8:18 a.m.
I saw what they did and I do not approve, I am fine with the mediocre pun but I'm not fine with referring to multiple anime as .... animes *shudder* The game (and the movie portion) looks ok, but I won't be going out of my way to play an endless runner. -
Trollkitten - March 27, 2014 10:01 a.m.
Before anyone accuses you of this, I shall take this opportunity to point out that the term "grammar Nazi" is grossly inaccurate, as nobody ever attempted genocide over a misappropriated pluralization. And before anybody decides to start right now, I'm outta here. -
Trollkitten - March 27, 2014 9:54 a.m.
I didn't see the pun... thanks for pointing it out!
Showing 1-10 of 10 comments
Japanjack - April 7, 2014 9:48 p.m.