Tokyo 42 gameplay trailer demonstrates the grim business of murder in a bright fantasy world

When we first learned about Tokyo 42 back in March, it wasn't perfectly clear what it was all about. The developers called it "an action game inspired by Syndicate and GTA1," while we opted to describe it more pithily (but not necessarily more informatively) as "like shooting up a Where's Wally scene to cracking electronica." Fortunately, the 12-minute alpha gameplay trailer released today goes a long way toward clarifying the situation, and it looks really good—and a lot more sophisticated than you might expect. 

The Syndicate similarity is obvious, but also only skin-deep. Stealth can be a viable option (and is mandatory at times, although that might change) and your character is fast and acrobatic, much more akin to an Ezio Auditore than any juiced-up corporate killing drone. And the game world is obviously gorgeous; Tokyo 42 may be a murder simulator that lets you terrorize large crowds of people, but those bright colors and geometric layouts are pure, toy-like eye candy.   

Tokyo 42 is set to come out in early 2017, and I'm suddenly a lot more excited for it than I was yesterday. Find out more at tokyo42.com.

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Andy Chalk

Andy has been gaming on PCs from the very beginning, starting as a youngster with text adventures and primitive action games on a cassette-based TRS80. From there he graduated to the glory days of Sierra Online adventures and Microprose sims, ran a local BBS, learned how to build PCs, and developed a longstanding love of RPGs, immersive sims, and shooters. He began writing videogame news in 2007 for The Escapist and somehow managed to avoid getting fired until 2014, when he joined the storied ranks of PC Gamer. He covers all aspects of the industry, from new game announcements and patch notes to legal disputes, Twitch beefs, esports, and Henry Cavill. Lots of Henry Cavill.