Tokyo Jungle

Because you've always wanted to play a game in which a pack of beagles fight a gorilla. And then get eaten by a cheetah. [Nov 2012, p.76]

Tokyo Jungle is easily one of the best games this fall season, and is going to be cropping up in gaming conversations for years to come.

We're also pleased that Sony has released it digitally in the west at a reduced price point; while it might indicate a lack of faith in Tokyo Jungle's commercial potential (which is a fair point - this is the kind of quirky game that would sink at physical retail), it means that it should reach as wide an audience as possible - and it certainly deserves to. It's definitely not lacking in bite.

Tokyo Jungle is utterly ridiculous but wholly unique, blending challenging gameplay with goofy trappings. Putting a track suit on a housecat to increase its attack stat is a pretty silly thing to do, but the kind of attention to detail you'll need if you want to survive in the urban chaos. The mixture of absurd and serious is addictive and surprising.

Tokyo Jungle is a celebration of classic games, with their ridiculous plots, repetitive tasks, excessive violence and all. It pulls off the impressive and nigh-on impossible trick of being an original homage. Also it lets you set a giraffe on a bear.

For all its rough edges, Tokyo Jungle is one of the year's most exciting games, a work of such originality and clear vision that you end up sort of hoping that a sequel never gets greenlit.

The lack of polish in some areas and questionable design decisions in others can overshadow Tokyo Jungle's moments of brilliance. As I finished the story, however, I realized I couldn't stop smiling: It knows how absurd it is, but it doesn't care. The developers takes the ridiculous concept and runs with it all the way, mainstream tastes be damned. That's something you really have to admire.

Tokyo Jungle is rough around the edges and mad as a box of spaniels with hammers glued to them, but you know what? It's actually good. We did not expect that – we expected throwaway silliness, not a game we actually want to play between sessions on all the other games that are out or coming out oh god there's too many games to play.

Ever played as a zebra roaming the post-apocalyptic streets of Tokyo? And if you have, did that zebra wear a hat? It did? Now you're just being a smartass. Tokyo Jungle might just be the most the original game of the year. And the most addictive. [November 2012, p.92]

Quite a simple game, enlivened to no end by pure silliness and huge breadth of content. [Dec 2012, p.85]

Truth is, Tokyo Jungle is addictive as hell, and there's a heap of pride to be felt from outwitting enemies like a Solid Snake gazelle. And you'll positively beam when you defy commonsense by using a beagle to tear the throat out of a sleeping lion. Throw in rad co-op multiplayer, and this simple-looking PSN title will have you shagging, mauling, or "graduating from bovine university" for ages to come. [November 2012, p76]

Tokyo Jungle has the addicting gameplay to complement this rare animal takeover premise.

Tokyo Jungle is bold, well-designed, and very funny. One can't imagine Tokyo Jungle coming from anywhere but Japan, and it's a case where such a statement is an enormous compliment.

Tokyo Jungle is exactly the sort of unconventional project that I live for, so it's easy to forgive its issues; the low-end production values, two extremely ill-conceived stealth missions that don't suit the mechanics, and a few boss fights that were more frustrating than fun. Although irritating, none were dealbreakers-just be prepared to restart a few missions here and there.

There are dozens of animals to try out and level up, a deeper than expected strategy to maximize your end score, and a ton of replay value for only fifteen bucks.

Tokyo Jungle is a weird game, but one that shows enthusiasm and passion. Its survival gameplay and scoring mechanics work well in solo play, the two player mode is less convincing. The loads of species to play introduce a very nice variety to explore.

Through its constantly shifting challenges, Tokyo Jungle shepherds you to the best of its content without forcing your way. It invites you to explore, collect, fight, or ignore all of these impulses at your own leisure. Whatever path you choose, under whatever animal's guise, something strange and wonderful is waiting.

Despite its tongue-in-cheek nature, Tokyo Jungle is a superb game. It feels quite unlike anything else (the best description of it would be a stealth-action-survival-RPG), it's laugh-out-loud funny and incredibly moreish.

The latest Japan Studio work is a very special title that accompanies the player with a particular progression, at the cost of achieving moments of monotony. A title definitely recommended for those looking for a game outside the box.

Tokyo Jungle is an unique and crazy experience that can be appreciated not only by the fans of Japanese games but by everyone.

That the lead character is a Pomeranian in a baseball cap ceases to be an issue once the compelling gameplay hooks you. Even when you're randomly eaten by a surprising tiger eight generations into an animal's lineage, you'll still be watching a tiger eat a pomeranian in a baseball cap. And that's brilliant.

Tokyo Jungle might be bizarre, different and even a little bit whacky, but it's also a lot of fun. It's a truly different game; you've never played anything like it. And in a gaming industry full of the same old thing, this very fact should intrigue you.

Tokyo Jungle is certainly a different kind of survival adventure. Too bad it's also quite repetitive. Fun in small doses. [Oct 2012

Tokyo Jungle is not a wonder of digital distribution, but it is, indeed, unique. Absurd, unfair, fun, unexpected and different. We missed more situations and events, as well as a better combat system, but if you're tired of playing the same kind of games over and over, this adventure is made for you.

It takes a while to notice that behind all absurdity and craziness hides an interesting fight for survival.

I really can't recommend this game enough. It is definitely fresh and interesting, making it yet another notch in Sony's stellar downloadable lineup. It runs smoothly with minimal glitches, and the controls are simple enough that even a casual gamer can pick them up quickly. It's great to play by yourself or with a friend, and the game is quite addicting with the amount of content to unlock, keeping you coming back for more and more.

The odd premise of Tokyo Jungle is only augmented by the adrenaline rush of survival and the peculiarity of its systems and rules. It can certainly get repetitive and unlocking everything is a bear, but its random nature can often have you shouting at the screen in moments of panic and surprise.

Tokyo Jungle delivers on a highly unique premise. It's an extremely enjoyable experience, even if mediocre visuals and repetitive gameplay keep it from becoming an instant classic.

Tokyo Jungle is a refreshing game with a unique setting. It doesn't stay exciting forever, but there's a lot of fun to be had.

Tokyo Jungle is not the typical adventure game you might expect: it has great ideas and an engaging playability, but it lacks polish and suffers from a very basic graphic department.

Tokyo Jungle is not what you could expect it to be: a survival that takes a different approach from the usual zombie post-apocalyptic world. It has what it takes to become one of the most bizarre adventures we've found on PSN, making worth the chance to buy it. At least give it a try. It deserves it.

While a bit shallow, it's an insane idea done really well. If nothing else, it's worth your cash just to see your fantasy animal match-ups go down. Really, you haven't lived until you've seen a pack of puppies take down an alligator.