I just checked my playtime on Toukiden: Kiwami: 82 hours, 30 minutes. And, somehow, I still feel like I’ve barely scratched the surface.
For those not in the know, Toukiden: Kiwami is a hybrid sequel/re-release of Toukiden: The Age of Demons, Omega Force’s (Dynasty Warriors, Samurai Warriors et al.) take on the hunting RPG genre popularised by Capcom’s Monster Hunter. I say hybrid sequel/re-release because Kiwami sites somewhere in between the two: it has all the content of Age of Demons, as well as a whole new campaign that’s perhaps even more expansive than that of the original game.
The strange thing is, I probably wouldn’t have looked at it twice – I never liked Omega Force’s Warriors games, nor Monster Hunter – but a review copy came across my desk a while ago, and I thought, “why not?” (you can read that review at NZGamer.com).
It didn’t take me long to get hooked, and since then, I’ve been playing it just about every space moment I have. I even went out and bought a second copy of it on Vita (the review copy I got was for PS4) so that I could play it on busrides and in bed. Then, earlier today, I checked my playtime for the first time since writing my review (at which point I had around 30 hours under my belt) – 82 hours, 30 minutes.
I’m not normally one to rave about game length or playtime, because I think these are things that are given far, far too much weight by reviewers and consumers. A good game is a good game, regardless of how much time you spend with it. All other things being the same, a two-hour game is just as good as a 20-hour game, or a 200-hour game.
What pleasantly surprises me with Toukiden: Kiwami isn’t so much the length of it, but the fact that, 80 hours in, I’m still hooked on it. The core gameplay loop – hunt, get items, create stronger equipment, then hunt some more – is still incredibly satisfying. The story, unremarkable as it is, continues to keep me interested with surprisingly deep, interesting character arcs (though, admittedly, Kiwami doesn’t do this as well as Age of Demons). I still have things goals for this game – both in terms of those defined by the game, like trophies, and my own thoughts about what I want and expect to get out of the game.
The best part though? Knowing that, when I eventually grow tired of Toukiden: Kiwami, I have Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate waiting for me. I never liked the hunting RPG genre before, but Toukiden’s more accessible take on the formula has let me discover what makes these games so captivating.
