EVO Japan 2024, one of the largest fighting game festivals in Japan, was held for three days starting April 28th. The venue, “Ariake GYM-EX'', is quite lively due to the recent arrival of a new fighting game boom due to the success of professional gamers and streamers. In addition to the main event, various booths were set up, and game play tables were popular.
This time, we will focus on the consoles exhibited at the Oizumi Amusio booth.『Pocket Bravery』We will deliver the PS5 version play report.
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“Pocket Bravery” is a 2D fighting game featuring a deformed art style, and the Steam version is currently on sale before the console version. Although it has been rated as “very positive,'' there are few Japanese reviews on Steam, and it can be said that it has not received enough attention.
store page“Inspired by classic 90s fighting games like Street Fighter, Fatal Fury, and The King of Fighters, Pocket Bravery incorporates the aesthetics of the Neo Geo Pocket while adding a retro twist. It is a modern fighting game with a unique atmosphere! ”, which, for me, is a sales pitch that excites my generation.
Let's start with the impression of the graphics. The characters are cute and deformed with a short head, and the pixel art is also very good, as it pushes the character of “Neo Geo Pocket”.
Of course it reminds me of the deformed fighting game “Pocket Fighter'', and personally, it reminded me a little of the art style of “Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game'' (probably a similar game from Respect). It's probably a game of the times.)
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In addition to the “default operation'', which is a typical fighting game operation that involves command input, there are also simple style operations that have become a trend in fighting games in recent years.“Accessible operation”are available.
In terms of DualSense, by pressing each attack button while holding down the R1 button, you can perform the corresponding special attack. Apparently, if you make it accessible, you won't be able to perform special moves using commands.
Compared to the major fighting games, this game feels more like an indie game and was probably developed on a small scale, but it was made to be very enjoyable with its flashy special moves. Many of the technique motions have parodies, and it's nice to have a “fighting game nerd'' feel to play while imagining the material.
The system is pretty simple from what I've seen during the test play.There is a chain/Gatling combo-like mechanism where combos connect from low-strength attacks to high-strength attacks, and “EX moves” that use gauges to strengthen special moves.“Elemental technique”It is equipped with many systems that players familiar with fighting games will be familiar with.
In addition to the blue gauge used for normal super special moves, there is also an “elemental skill” and an enhanced super special move on the bottom left.“Final Attack”“Burst” emergency defense in the “Guilty Gear” series,“Breaker”There are gauges available.
This game has a variety of systems, and has attractive graphics and characters. The thing that caught my attention the most when I was looking at the game screen was the so-called throwing character “Arshavin.” He had a wide variety of throwing techniques and seemed to be quite strong.
“Pocket Bravery” has a casual atmosphere as the game title suggests, rather than “getting really into it and aiming to be the strongest”.“Play with friends without getting used to the controls and have fun together”This seems like a good way to enjoy it. If you like the art style or want to play fighting games with friends on a lighter note, why not pick it up!
console version『Pocket Bravery』is scheduled to be released in summer 2024 for PS5/PS4/Nintendo Switch.
