Tribe Nine is a gacha action RPG from Too Kyo Games based on the multimedia franchise of the same name by studio founder Kazutaka Kodaka. The game had its closed beta, which provided lucky players with hours of content before the upcoming game’s launch. After playing through the game, I can confidently say that the title has a lot of potential, especially as a gacha game. Unfortunately, like many things, it has its setbacks.
The Start of An Adventure
Tribe Nine takes place in Neo Tokyo, a futuristic version of Tokyo ruled by deadly games orchestrated by a mysterious yet powerful villain called Zero. Groups of teens have formed a rebel army to fight off brutal life-or-death battles to reclaim their stolen dreams and freedom. The story begins with Yo Kuronaka, a boy trapped in a video game for years without realizing it. One day, his illusion and fabric of reality are broken when some teens claiming to be his friend and part of the rebel group invade the game area he is trapped in to reveal what happened to him and the world in the years he’s been away. We also learn that Neo Tokyo is divided into 12 cities, all of which have their own groups known as “Tribes”. While he’s able to snap out of his delusion, he’s still notably missing his memories but joins the group regardless to find out who he is and how he lost his memories, all while playing Zero’s games and protecting his friends from his evil plots and forces.
The story of Tribe Nine is very engaging and hits the ground running right from the start. We’re introduced to the protagonist, the odd world in which he lives, and that the only hope for it is the teenagers who decide to fight an evil game master. While we aren’t told how exactly Zero rose to power or how he was so powerful earlier on, we still quickly learn the gravity of the situation as we learn just how quickly people can die and how things can go back. However, while entertaining, the story can still be confusing from the start as many of the aforementioned details, especially character relationships, are up in the air. Despite this, each character is unique, albeit tropey, and endearing in their own ways.
The narrative only explains that these teens are playing extreme baseball so seriously because that is how tribes would settle conflicts in this near-omnipotent villain game master deems it so. And those who don’t play his games well enough are at risk of dying. The game’s concept and structure are very similar to the studio and director’s other games, such as the Danganronpa series and the more recent title Rain Code, all of which have morbid themes with death game elements.
A Unique Blend of Elements
Gameplay-wise, Tribe Nine is a more traditional real-time action RPG with major turn-based segments. During average missions, players encounter enemies while traversing between levels, which triggers a fight. Combat is done in real-time with weapons, combos, and various ultimate attacks. Players have two ally characters that will respond to the battle accordingly, luring enemies and healing allies. When the time is right, you can even unleash a combo attack by all three party members. While the different combos and moves are satisfying, the overall moveset is highly bland and lacks depth so far.
Outside combat, players will also have a variety of side quests, such as acquiring items from streets and treasure chests, completing puzzles and other mini-games, and fulfilling requests from the town’s residents. Major fights, however, are fought through XB or extreme baseball. Players go on the baseball field, which spans the entirety of the city, and play matches by debating their opponent and choosing correct rebuttals to opposing statements. Correct rebuttals build up the tension gauge, which allows you to perform finishing moves and win the battle. These segments work like the Danganronpa trials and face-offs in Rain Code, complete with all the spectacles, highs, and lows. The game also has a gacha system that allows players to pull for characters and add them to their party. The system works similarly to other Gacha games, with the same rates and pity system.
Final Thoughts
In terms of visuals, Tribe Nine sports great visual effects and impeccable character designs. While the character models seen during dialogue can be rough, the pixel models are incredibly stylistic. Overall, Tribe Nine is a well-crafted experience that is positively packed with content for fans to enjoy. While gameplay is a tad too simplistic, the story is highly engaging enough to keep players engaged, and they can look forward to more with consistent updates.
