Time Travelers (video game)

Time Travelers
Japanese box art
Developer(s)Level-5
Publisher(s)Level-5
Director(s)Jiro Ishii
Producer(s)Akihiro Hino
Writer(s)Yukinori Kitajima
Jiro Ishii
Composer(s)Hideki Sakamoto
Platform(s)Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation Portable
Release
Genre(s)Playing cinema, adventure, visual novel[2]
Mode(s)Single-player

Time Travelers[a] is a video game "without a genre"[3] developed by Level-5 for the Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation Vita, and PlayStation Portable.[4] A demo of the game was included with the release of Level-5's Nintendo 3DS eShop title, Guild01.[5] The game's mystery-themed narrative was penned by Jiro Ishii, who previously directed Chunsoft's acclaimed 2008 visual novel 428: Shibuya Scramble,[3] as well as the 1987 cyberpunk adventure game Imitation City.[6]

Gameplay

Time Travelers is a cinematic interactive drama game with multiple choices. Usually, if a main character makes a mistake or dies, they can reverse time to perform the right action. Their choices will be displayed in the flowchart. The right choices are necessary to advance the story. A final choice determines which ending the player gets. The game has quick time events, in which players must perform actions by quickly pressing the right button.

Both Nintendo 3DS and PlayStation Vita version can be played using either the touch screen or buttons, while the PlayStation Portable version lacks the touch screen functionality. The Vita version features higher fidelity graphics and larger resolution.

Plot

In 2013, a mysterious hole, called "Lost Hole", emerged from the sky, and along with it, came an enormous explosion that devastated the central Tokyo area and claimed the lives of many. Eighteen years later on April 28, 2031, in a newly rebuilt metropolis, a new event is about to occur, one that could change the fate of the world forever.

The game takes place in a rebuilt central Tokyo. Technology has greatly advanced since the event that took place eighteen years ago, evident by the holographic signs that fill the streets. A building called "Space Elevator" can be seen rising from Tokyo Bay, with the height of two thousand meters above the city. This particular building is what powers the city, although exactly how it is able to generate energy is a mystery.

Mikoto Shindo, a teenage girl who has time travel ability, must gather the fellow time travelers to prevent a second "Lost Hole" disaster and also to stop a terrorist group named "Mysterious Skull".

Music

The music for Time Travelers was composed, arranged, and produced by Hideki Sakamoto.[7]

Reception

Famitsu gave the game a score of 36 out of 40, including a score of 9 out of 10 from each of the four reviewers.[8]

Notes

  1. ^ Japanese: タイムトラベラーズ, Hepburn: Taimu Toraberāzu

References

  1. ^ "『タイムトラベラーズ』発売日・価格決定のお知らせ". Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  2. ^ "Time Travelers". Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  3. ^ a b "At Long Last...The First Time Travelers Screenshots [Update: And Video] - Siliconera". Siliconera. 19 October 2010. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  4. ^ "Level-5's Time Travelers Also Due for PlayStation Vita". Andriasang. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  5. ^ "Level-5's Guild01 Game's Promo Video Posted". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  6. ^ Gifford, Kevin (November 4, 2009). "Kojima Reflects on Snatcher, Adventure Games: A look back at the wilder days of game development". 1UP.com. Archived from the original on May 16, 2013. Retrieved August 26, 2012.
  7. ^ Mauro "Shindeor" Piccillo (February 21, 2014). "Japan Imports#1: Time Travelers - Review". EIR Games.
  8. ^ "Famitsu Review Scores: Issue 1231". Gematsu. 2014-07-31. Retrieved 2015-09-04.