Sony Japan Studio: 28 Best Games They Helped Create
2. Déraciné
Developed by: FromSoftware
The final collaboration between Japan Studio and FromSoftware. Their three games together saw them go from misunderstood cult classic to masterpiece blockbuster...to a very odd experimental VR game?
After the progressive one-two hit of Demon Souls and Bloodborne, Déraciné is an unorthodox sucker punch, as it walks niche unfamiliar territory for From, but Japan Studio was willing to indulging them in an off-kilter passion project.
Essentially, it is a melancholy homage to retro point-and-click adventure games, but done in a VR environment. The gamer is a fairie that explores the hallways of an isolated boarding school, with each chapter having a main puzzle to resolve, so time can move forward (as well as the plot).
The result is a mixed bag: the puzzles are clever, for the most, even if the forced teleportation exploring is stilted. The plot can be emotional and effective (sometimes even scary), even if some of the VO and scripts are stiff and slight.
What we're left with is a bizarre footnote in From's backlog. Its been forgotten for the most, yet should be remembered for the unprecedented product that Japan Studio's helped create.