Republique‘s unique action-adventure gameplay, engaging narrative, and interesting style made it a surprise hit on the mobile platform. Later, it made an impressive leap to the PC, with revamped graphics and a clean transition to the mouse and keyboard input. Now, this stealth title is sneaking its way over to the PS4, along with new content, a new mode, and even new gameplay mechanics. With the March 22 release date looming, we got to visit the GungHo Online Entertainment office to check out the newest version of the title.
First, you can expect the high graphical fidelity seen in the PC version to make its way to Sony’s home console. Everything looks crisp, and didn’t stutter whatsoever. So, you shouldn’t expect any setbacks in this department.
But, what if you’ve already experienced this episodic stealth adventure? Is there enough reason to return? Well, for starters, you’ll obviously get all five of the episodes packaged together. While that is undoubtedly a big plus, the real reason to replay this game is because of the added gameplay features. You will now be able to actually control Hope as she hides in the shadows (using a brand-spanking new cover system) throughout the totalitarian state. This transition makes sense considering the traditional controller allows for more input control in comparison to the touch-screen controls available in the original release.
The stealth also seems to be more engaging, simply because you’re actually in the midst of the action. The stealth is reminiscent of classics like the Metal Gear Solid series. I didn’t see enough to get a real feel for how well the mechanics will work in every situation, but it worked seamlessly in the sections that were shown off. This new feature should be enough of a factor to get those who’ve previously enjoyed the game to give it another go.
OMNI View has also been retooled to better fit the DualShock 4. Interacting with the world around you is a simple face-button click away, and well, it’s definitely simple and intuitive.
Finally, there’s the introduction of some glorious outfits–one of which allows you to look like one of PlayStation’s best characters, Kat (Gravity Rush). The cool thing is there’s actually a purpose to some of them, which means they aren’t just cosmetic upgrades. A guard-like outfit will make it easier to get past enemies, and equip your character with a handy taser. With several outfit options, your gameplay experience will be unique.
But the most significant outfit is the Student garb, which unlocks the Survival Mode. Taking a page out of the Resident Evil series, getting caught in this mode will force you to restart from your last save point. But, the catch is that the save items–tapes in this case– are limited and sparsely scattered throughout the world. So, being stealthy is imperative to survival.
There’s one last thing that needs to be mentioned – it will include a Platinum Trophy!
It’s safe to say this game has evolved quite a bit since its original launch. This new version has enough new content to warrant a replay, and feels like a perfect fit for the home console.
Are you guys interested in the PS4 version of Republique? Are you excited to try out the different outfits? Will you go trophy hunting? Let us know in the comments below!
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Image: GungHo
