The Japanese world of horror games is rich in great projects. Games like Silent Hill, Fatal Frame, or Siren have been loved by players and critics alike. However, some were not translated into other languages and were released only in Japan. And among such games that remained almost unknown, there is one project called Yuuyami Doori Tankentai, released on the PlayStation console in 1999.
At that time, the game went unnoticed not only by the Western press but also by many Japanese players. Fortunately, it is unlikely to happen with modern games. You can always check games available at Zodiac Casino online and read reviews about the latest releases. Yuuyami Doori Tankentai received a limited release and went unnoticed for a while. But years later, Japanese critics began to call the game a masterpiece, and the project gained the status of cult horror in Japan. Its letsplays began to garner millions of views, and character cosplay began to appear at gaming conventions.
Legends of one town
The game takes place in the late 1990s in the fictional location of Hirumi, a stereotypical Japanese town with shopping districts, hospitals, construction sites, and parks. The story tells about three schoolchildren — girls Sango and Kurumi, as well as a boy named Nao. At the very beginning of the game, the guys learn an urban legend about a mystical creature with a human head and a bird’s body that lives in the forest near Hiromi. Schoolchildren became interested in such a story and, after classes, go to the woods to find a mythical monster. When Nao sees the mysterious bird, he descends from heaven and predicts that within 100 days, one of the characters must die.
Lost decade
In the 1980s, Japan experienced an economic boom. The real estate market grew, and then came the peak of Japanese urban development when many cities developed rapidly. But such an uplift could not last long — the financial bubble burst, and Japan plunged into recession, commonly known as the “lost decade.” If the 1980s were a symbol of what the country could achieve, the decade that followed was a loss of prosperity that many Japanese no longer know.
Today, Japan has already recovered from the recession. But the feelings that young people had in those difficult times have not been forgotten by anyone. Yuuyami Doori Tankentai captures well what millions of Japanese teenagers felt during the Lost Decade, and gamers can witness it themselves in Nao, Sango, or Kurumi. Most likely, the game did not get a release in the West, not only because of the small budget during development but also because of the developers’ fear that few people in the US or Europe would understand what the game’s characters went through.
Final words
Unfortunately, the game has not yet been translated into English or other languages. But if the language barrier doesn’t stop you and if you love Japan, atmospheric and horror games that don’t rely on constant screamers, you should play Yuuyami Doori Tankentai. Try running it at night and turn off the lights. This will help you better immerse yourself in the city of Hirumi and its secrets, which are not as simple as they seem.