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  1. Games
  2. Platformer

Suda 51's latest PS3 game, Short Peace, is proper bonkers

Features
By Justin Towell published 27 March 2014

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And this isn't even the maddest bit...

And this isn't even the maddest bit...

Suda 51s games are mad. We know that. But hes 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 shes an assassin and its 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 youre 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, shes too small to really appreciate during the action. Instead, youll be focusing all your attention on the twitchy, reflex-based wall-jumping and enemy slashing. Its 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, its a short piece (wahey!) but the games 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.

Page 1 of 23
Page 1 of 23
One animation is directed by Katsuhiro Otomo of Akira fame

One animation is directed by Katsuhiro Otomo of Akira fame

Page 2 of 23
Page 2 of 23
Japanese Kanji overlays are frequent

Japanese Kanji overlays are frequent

Page 3 of 23
Page 3 of 23
Ranko's classmate *loves* karaoke

Ranko's classmate *loves* karaoke

Page 4 of 23
Page 4 of 23
Some dialogue scenes play out like RPG conversations

Some dialogue scenes play out like RPG conversations

Page 5 of 23
Page 5 of 23
It's a collection of anime, of which the game is but a short piece

It's a collection of anime, of which the game is but a short piece

Page 6 of 23
Page 6 of 23
Every rabbit flies away eventually. You knew that.

Every rabbit flies away eventually. You knew that.

Page 7 of 23
Page 7 of 23
But this one's caught in something...

But this one's caught in something...

Page 8 of 23
Page 8 of 23
No, I'm sorry. I have no idea what's going on here

No, I'm sorry. I have no idea what's going on here

Page 9 of 23
Page 9 of 23
That's more like it! This is the game

That's more like it! This is the game

Page 10 of 23
Page 10 of 23
Combos are achieved through slamming enemies into one another

Combos are achieved through slamming enemies into one another

Page 11 of 23
Page 11 of 23
You can move left if you want to...

You can move left if you want to...

Page 12 of 23
Page 12 of 23
...but there's a massive beastie waiting there

...but there's a massive beastie waiting there

Page 13 of 23
Page 13 of 23
Much better to keep running

Much better to keep running

Page 14 of 23
Page 14 of 23
Every stat imaginable is tracked and viewable

Every stat imaginable is tracked and viewable

Page 15 of 23
Page 15 of 23
Making this a real perfectionist's game

Making this a real perfectionist's game

Page 16 of 23
Page 16 of 23
I didn't play the giant raccoon bit

I didn't play the giant raccoon bit

Page 17 of 23
Page 17 of 23
This would have been my reaction if I had

This would have been my reaction if I had

Page 18 of 23
Page 18 of 23
Here's the 'shaky 3D' art style bit

Here's the 'shaky 3D' art style bit

Page 19 of 23
Page 19 of 23
There's a lot of 'fan service' if you know what I mean

There's a lot of 'fan service' if you know what I mean

Page 20 of 23
Page 20 of 23
But a lot of artistic merit too

But a lot of artistic merit too

Page 21 of 23
Page 21 of 23
And a wolf taste-testing a small child

And a wolf taste-testing a small child

Page 22 of 23
Page 22 of 23
But I guess it didn't taste very nice. That's all folks!

But I guess it didn't taste very nice. That's all folks!

Page 23 of 23
Page 23 of 23
CATEGORIES
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Justin Towell
Justin Towell
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Justin was a GamesRadar staffer for 10 years but is now a freelancer, musician and videographer. He's big on retro, Sega and racing games (especially retro Sega racing games) and currently also writes for Play Magazine, Traxion.gg, PC Gamer and TopTenReviews, as well as running his own YouTube channel. Having learned to love all platforms equally after Sega left the hardware industry (sniff), his favourite games include Christmas NiGHTS into Dreams, Zelda BotW, Sea of Thieves, Sega Rally Championship and Treasure Island Dizzy.

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