Tokobot Q&A

Tecmo's recently announced Japanese PSP title called Karakuri will be making its way to the US this year with a new moniker: Tokobot. The game revolves around a young archaeologist named Bolt. The fledgling hero discovers advanced robots called "tokobots" during his explorations of ancient ruins. When he discovers that the cataclysms that wiped out the residents of the ruins he's exploring are about to happen again, he sets out with his newfound minions to save the world. The game will drop you into Bolt's shoes and challenge you to explore areas with your 'bot buddies, using them to make your way through increasingly challenging stages. As you progress through the game, you'll unlock special minigames to test your prowess at using the tokobots. The game is another inventive entry in the portfolio of head producer Keisuke Kikuchi, an industry vet whose work at Tecmo has included the Gallop Racer, Deception, and Fatal Frame titles. We caught up with Kikuchi-san to find out about his upcoming title.

GameSpot: This style of game is very different from the titles that you're known for. Why did you settle on this type of game for your first PSP title?

Keisuke Kikuchi: When I work on a new game, there are three things that I value. One: Is there at least one thing about the game that excels over everything else in the market? Two: Can I make the player's heart pump fast when he presses the controller button? Three: Can this game provide a new and unique experience that no other game has done? I've always worked on adult-oriented games, but this time Tokobot is made for everyone from every age group. It's an interesting fantasy world that everyone should be intrigued by.

GS: Where did the idea for the game come from?

KK: We developed this game with the theme of "changing quantity." Previously, games using the "changing quantity" focused on multitasking, where you execute missions by dividing a group or bringing out large quantities of enemies. Upon much consideration, we decided to have multiple forces work together to accomplish a task.

For example, in Japan, elementary school children like to play jump rope with 3 to 40 people. This mode of play inspired us to come up with this new idea. Even though the task seems simple, multiple people working together to create actions in order to complete the task is the challenge, and that sort of fun challenge is what the player takes on in the game.

GS: What can you tell us about the game's story? Who is the main character? And who is he trying to save the world from?

KK: The story takes place on a continent that had an advanced civilization, which is now extinct. In the game, the continent is a modern-day mystery similar to the Easter Island's stone statues.

The story is based on the premise that the same crisis that destroyed the civilization is about to again. Tokobots were excavated from the old ruins on this continent to play a major role in helping to save the world. The main character, Bolt, is a young and inexperienced archaeologist. The player will take on the role of Bolt, who goes on an adventure of a lifetime to save the world.

GS: How would you describe the gameplay?

KK: The player will lead multiple tokobots and use three formations (team combos) that are created from the tokobots linking themselves. "Karakuri combination" is when tokobots link themselves to create one powerful robot to fight enemies and fend off traps.

GS: How does using the tokobots develop as your progress and gain more?

KK: As the player progresses in the game, the number of tokobots will change and the number of team combos and Karakuri combinations will increase. The number of tokobots will have a direct impact on the difficulty level of the game so that the tension will remain to the end. Increased number of the team combos and Karakuri combinations will add more game variation and depth.

GS: How has development been going on the PSP?

KK: We're able to utilize the know-how from the past. It's a hardware that is easy to develop games on. Our development is on schedule.

GS: What do you feel are the platform's strengths?

KK: I believe there are three key points. Compatibility with other PlayStation products. It's a great portable gaming device with high-quality graphics. It's a multimedia device that can do a lot more than just playing games.

GS: How is Tokobot taking advantage of the PSP's unique features, such as Wi-Fi, the widescreen, and so on?

KK: We're still undecided on utilizing the network ability, but the widescreen is perfect when observing tokobots' movements. It's a perfect device for this game.

GS: What would you describe as the differences or challenges in developing a portable game as opposed to a console title?

KK: Utilizing the limited number of buttons to provide good control and various difficulty levels was what was different on a portable machine. This project was made challenging because we had to display many 3D polygon characters while having them controlled simultaneously.

GS: How has that knowledge influenced development of Tokobot?

KK: A lot of the data creation in Tokobot uses our console game know-how.

GS: What can you tell us about the game's modes?

KK: That is still a secret. We've got some unexpected game modes for Tokobot. Please wait a bit longer for this information.

GS: Thanks for your time.