A maze of empty, silent streets, a completely desolate city slowly fading away. This is how Japan’s capital is portrayed in Tokyo Stories, a work currently in development at Drecom and created by Yuki Ikeda, the Director of the acclaimed Rain, released in 2013 on PlayStation 3. Tokyo Stories is a narrative adventure with melancholic atmospheres, a retro visual style, and music with a delightful nostalgic touch. At its heart is a young, solitary protagonist with a single goal: to find her missing friend.
“Tokyo is a densely populated city” says Ikeda-san, now the Producer and Director of Tokyo Stories, as he discusses the setting that serves as the backdrop for the game’s narrative. The very Tokyo referenced in the title, which at times feels like the true protagonist of the project. “It is full of life, and you can always quickly get what you need.” Just think of its major districts, like Shibuya, Akihabara, or Minato, to understand how true these words are. “However, many of the people who live there carry within them a deep sense of loneliness.” Loneliness – a feeling that unites so many people around the world. “ I believe loneliness is something we create ourselves, something that pushes us away from others. It was from this idea that I began envisioning the Tokyo depicted in Tokyo Stories, the challenges the city and its inhabitants face, and how they are unveiled throughout the gameplay experience. ” Because it is by wandering through the streets of the capital that one must uncover the truth behind the disappearance of its citizens, whose place has been taken by lifelike mannequins, impeccably dressed, yet seemingly hiding profound secrets.
The Tokyo depicted in this game is intentionally alternative. It does not showcase the famous landmarks, the ones seen in movies or popular anime, but rather alleyways and lesser-known areas. What unfolds before the player’s eyes is, so to speak, a hidden Tokyo. “The residents of Tokyo don’t often visit tourist spots; instead, they prefer strolling through lesser-known, more hidden streets. And when they do go to the more famous areas, they do not focus much on the places themselves but rather enjoy the company of those with them. So, I thought that focusing Tokyo Stories on these less frequented locations would allow me to showcase those corners and aspects of the city that are rarely revealed in other productions. ”
Tokyo Stories, however, is much more than an underground portrait of a famous metropolis. It is also a title that openly nods to the past without hesitation. Starting with its gameplay, which places exploration at the heart of the experience. This exploration does not rely on a free camera like modern titles but instead uses fixed camera angles reminiscent of late-1990s video games. “This type of direction isn’t used much nowadays” explains Ikeda-san. “So I thought it might feel new and fresh. I really like the style of static cameras combined with pre-rendered visuals, typical of the era of the first two PlayStations. It allows the city to be showcased from dynamic angles and enhances the nostalgic atmosphere that pixel art can evoke. Moreover, the transition between different camera angles helps convey the sense of disorientation one might feel in a city. ”
It’s not just that. The use of 3D graphics mixed with retro pixel art creates an interesting and unique visual blend. “Using pixel art alone would have been limiting” remarks Ikeda-san as he discusses the challenges of combining two such distinct graphic styles. “To maintain the modern look we envisioned, we included a large number of props, animations, and on-screen effects, striving to balance everything so that the overall impression was of a contemporary visual experience while retaining the charm of pixel art.” This is further enhanced by the color combinations enriching each section of the game. Not only through filters that define the environments but also through meticulous character design, with each character represented by a specific color. “The characterization of the protagonists was a significant challenge. When using an art style like the one adopted in Tokyo Stories, adding too many details increases the ‘noise’ on screen when everything is translated into a pixel-based look. On the other hand, reducing the details too much risks making the characters less captivating. Color proved to be very useful in this regard: I defined each character’s color based on their personality and then refined their clothing and accessories. The protagonist, who best embodies the game’s world, is represented with the blue that defines nighttime Tokyo. ” Everything is complemented by musical tracks that evoke a sense of nostalgia. “For the soundtrack, we turned to beat maker Newly. His music, sad yet beautiful at the same time, perfectly captures the emotions intertwined between people and their feelings during Tokyo’s nighttime. ”
Drecom’s efforts are not solely focused on the development of Tokyo Stories but also on building a close-knit community around the game. How? By preparing in-depth content about Tokyo’s main attractions, the traditional food consumed in Japan, and the daily habits of the protagonist, which reflect those of Japanese youth. It’s a demanding task and quite different from the usual marketing activities of other productions. “The team not only shares updates on the game’s development but also commissioned works by pixel artists and photographs of landscapes. The goal is to introduce Tokyo to the world alongside the game. ”
A meticulous effort lies behind the creation of Tokyo Stories, in other words. And it’s no surprise. The project involves not only Yuki Ikeda but also Seiichi Terashima as Art Director. Both had previously collaborated on the aforementioned Rain and, after more than a decade, are once again working side by side to create Tokyo Stories. “In truth, the two of us have been working together for about twenty years” recalls Ikeda-san. “Before we started making video games, we worked on designing parade floats for theme parks.” Then came Rain. And now Tokyo Stories, which shares some traits with Rain, such as a melancholic atmosphere, though it stands apart as its own work. “As we did back then, we’re now striving to create something that only the two of us can make” Ikeda-san concludes, referring both to Tokyo Stories and the professional bond he shares with Terashima-san. “We hope the audience will support us!”
All that is left is to wait for news on the release of Tokyo Stories so we, too, can walk through the mysterious backstreets of a city capable of stealing hearts – both in reality and in fiction.
