East Asiasoft has announced a partnership with Idea Factory and Compile Heart to re-release the dungeon-crawling RPG Tokyo Clanpool. This game will be available later this year on PC and Nintendo Switch, with additional support for English, and Chinese languages.
Digital editions will be accessible on both platforms, while physical Nintendo Switch editions can be pre-ordered from Playasia starting July 4th at 11am ET. Two versions will be offered: a standard edition and a 3,000-copy limited edition.
The limited edition will include a soundtrack CD, an art book, a sticker sheet, a poster, a numbered certificate, and a collector’s box.
Tokyo Clanpool was originally released in Japan in 2017 for Sony’s PlayStation Vita console. The game is set in a near-future Tokyo where the government has collapsed following the appearance of a massive tower connecting the Diet building with Reverse City in the sky. The story follows newly inaugurated Prime Minister Natsume Kannuki, who commands her Diet Dolls in battles against monsters threatening the people of Tokyo.
Players send a team of Dolls into the tower to defeat monsters and uncover its origins. The game features turn-based combat, and players can utilize the Dolls’ powers to float or dig tunnels, allowing them to navigate obstructions and alter the tower’s structure. Additionally, players must monitor citizens’ approval ratings, which can lead to extra bonuses or the resignation of the cabinet.
Overall, Tokyo Clanpool is a charming yet quirky game that struggled due to its exclusive release on Sony’s ill-fated PlayStation Vita handheld console. This interesting dungeon crawler stands out with its unique addition of a ratings system, where players control a team of politicians fighting to maintain their approval ratings. Plus, the main protagonist is bloody adorable.
I am genuinely surprised to see it make a comeback. However, given its creation by Compile Heart and Idea Factory, and considering the overwhelming success of Nintendo’s handheld console system, which continues to outsell other major consoles weekly despite being seven years old, a global re-release for this hidden gem seems like a minimal effort endeavor to satisfy fans and make money as it offers a great opportunity to bring Tokyo Clanpool to new audiences.
The biggest issue with Japanese games releasing globally is the fear of egregious localization. This often results in the forced inclusion of asinine Western slang or the complete rewriting of characters, altering their entire personalities, as seen in Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes.
There’s also the concern of localizers filling the game with infantile chatter and insults, dumbing down the content to a level that only an American toddler would understand, or inexplicably including nursery rhymes for whatever goddamn reason.
Rest assured that the global release of Tokyo Clanpool will be free from problematic localization. East Asiasoft has a solid track record for such releases and hires dedicated fans of the material, such as Joshua Michael French, one of the most authentic weebs you’ll find on social media.
With Tokyo Clanpool, it’s reassuring to know the game is in good hands, as it’s refreshing to see a company hire actual fans of the medium translate products accurately rather than progressive activists more interested in censorship, writing fanfiction and or politicized bullshit.
Tokyo Clanpool is far from the first Idea Factory title handled by Eastasiasoft. Previous collaborations include Mugen Souls, Mugen Souls Z, Hakuoki: Chronicles of Wind and Blossom, Moero Crystal H, and Seven Pirates H. I am excited to see this obscure gem brought to the most popular gaming platforms in the coming months, complete with a trouble-free English localization.
