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digitec plays: Two absurd games from Japan

26.2.2020

Translation: machine translated

I was on holiday in Japan and picked up half a dozen exclusive games. The flirting game "LoveR" for the PS4 and the very simple mini-game collection "Sumikko Gurashi" are among the games that are definitely worth playing. From 1 pm in the livestream.

If there was a paradise for gamers, it would probably be the Akihabara neighbourhood in Tokyo. Every conceivable retro console can be bought here, you can climb into a virtual robot cockpit in the arcade or buy cosplays of your favourite characters. Because I had to start somewhere, I limited myself to looking for exclusive titles from the Yakuza series. However, I couldn't resist packing two very peculiar games.

"LoveR", the stalker simulator

It is obvious that "LoveR" was not localised for the West. In times of "#MeToo", the outcry would be huge. Japan is a little different. In the game, you play an amateur photographer at a high school. The protagonist's pubescent hormonal surges make him fancy six girls at the school. The aim of the game is for one (or all) of the six girls to be our girlfriend by the end of the summer holidays. Because apparently all girls of this age want to be models, we take photos of our adored ones. The gameplay is just as crude as the sexist storyline. The game disgusts me. It shows that many games - especially Japanese games - are still stuck in the Stone Age of gender equality. I recommend the videos by Anita Sarkeesian on this topic.

"Sumikko Gurashi", mini mini-games

Sumikko Gurashi are small, round things that live in the corner. Among them is a polar bear that hates the cold, a green penguin that doesn't know if it's a penguin and my favourite character: "Tonkatsu". A leftover breaded schnitzel. While Japan is still in the Middle Ages when it comes to equality, they are light years ahead of us when it comes to developing comic characters. Who is Mickey Mouse compared to Tonkatsu? The Switch game from the colourful troupe consists of 20 bad to very bad mini-games. At least there is local multiplayer for up to 4 players.

Have you ever been to Japan? Have you bought any weird games there? Write me a comment and join the discussion in the livestream.

The start is at 1 pm.

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Simon Balissat

Teamleader Editorial

Simon.Balissat@digitecgalaxus.ch

When I flew the family nest over 15 years ago, I suddenly had to cook for myself. But it wasn’t long until this necessity became a virtue. Today, rattling those pots and pans is a fundamental part of my life. I’m a true foodie and devour everything from junk food to star-awarded cuisine. Literally. I eat way too fast.

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