Is Toukiden Kiwami Worth Buying on PlayStation 4 and Vita?

Koei Tecmo’s Toukiden Kiwami was set for a North American release on March 31, 2015, for the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita. Originally released in Japan in August 2014 for the Vita and PSP, the Western version replaced the PSP edition with a new port for the PlayStation 4. Kiwami is an expanded and enhanced version of Toukiden: The Age of Demons, which launched in the U.S. in early 2014. The game belongs to the monster-hunting genre, placing players in the role of a Slayer tasked with defending humanity from immense demons known as Oni.

For players considering this upcoming release, the decision involves weighing the new content against the original, comparing the technical differences between the PS4 and Vita versions, and understanding the value of its cross-platform features.

An Expanded Age of Demons

Toukiden: The Age of Demons established a solid foundation. The core gameplay loop involves accepting missions to hunt down various Oni, from smaller minions to screen-filling bosses. Defeating these creatures yields materials used for crafting and upgrading a wide assortment of weapons and armor, each with its own distinct appearance and statistics. This cycle of hunting, gathering, and crafting is central to the genre and is executed well in Toukiden.

A key element differentiating the game is its Mitama system. Mitama are the souls of historical Japanese heroes that can be equipped to a player’s weapon. Each Mitama provides a unique set of skills, boosts, and abilities that can be activated in combat. This system allows for deep character customization, enabling players to create builds focused on pure offense, sturdy defense, team support, or other specialized roles. Combining different Mitama with the game’s various weapon classes creates a huge number of potential playstyles.

While the game can be played solo, it was designed with cooperative multiplayer in mind. Teaming up with up to three other Slayers to take down a powerful Oni is the main draw. The gameplay can feel repetitive, as it involves fighting many of the same demons to acquire rare materials, but this is a common trait of the genre that rewards persistence and mastery.

Toukiden Kiwami builds directly on this foundation by being a massive expansion. It contains the entire story and all the content from The Age of Demons, making it the definitive version for newcomers. For veterans, it adds a substantial amount of new material that continues the experience.

New Content in the Kiwami Version

The most significant addition in Toukiden Kiwami is the expansion of the main story. The campaign of The Age of Demons took most players around 20 hours to complete. Kiwami adds several new chapters that effectively double the length of the main narrative. This new story arc takes place after the events of the original game and delves deeper into the world’s lore, exploring the origins of the Slayers and the powerful Council of Elders. This provides a compelling reason for returning players to jump back in, while offering newcomers a single, massive package.

Beyond the story, Kiwami introduces a wealth of new gameplay content. New characters join the cast at the Utakata Village hub, and the roster of Oni to hunt has been expanded with new demonic foes. These new enemies bring unique attack patterns and behaviors, forcing even experienced players to develop new strategies. More enemy variety is critical in a hunting game to keep the core combat engaging for the long term.

To combat these new threats, players have access to new tools. Kiwami adds new weapon types to the Slayer’s arsenal, each with its own moveset and tactical advantages. This increases the strategic options available in battle and allows for new team compositions in multiplayer. New battle styles and Mitama are also included, further broadening the possibilities for character builds and customization.

Finally, the cooperative experience is enhanced with new mission types and special cooperative moves. These powerful, coordinated attacks can be executed by players working together, rewarding teamwork with a significant tactical advantage against the toughest Oni. The sum of these additions makes Kiwami much more than a simple re-release; it is a comprehensive upgrade across the board.

Comparing the PS4 and Vita Versions

For its Western release, Toukiden Kiwami was ported from the PlayStation Vita to the PlayStation 4. This results in two distinct versions of the game, each with its own strengths.

The PlayStation 4 version offers a significant visual upgrade. It runs at a native 1920x1080 resolution, a substantial increase over the Vita’s 960x544 display. On a large television, this translates to much sharper image quality, with more detailed character models, armor sets, and environments. The PS4 port also features improved lighting and more detailed environmental textures, making the world feel more vibrant and immersive during hunts. For players who prioritize graphical fidelity and a cinematic home console experience, the PS4 version is the clear choice.

Conversely, the PlayStation Vita version’s main advantage is portability. The ability to play a deep, content-rich action RPG anywhere is a major draw. Toukiden’s mission-based structure lends itself well to both short, on-the-go play sessions and longer, more dedicated gaming. For players who travel frequently or simply prefer the flexibility of a handheld, the Vita offers an experience that a home console cannot match. While it lacks the graphical polish of its PS4 counterpart, it delivers the complete Kiwami experience in a portable format.

Cross-Platform Play and Pricing

To bridge the gap between the two platforms, Toukiden Kiwami supports both Cross-Play and Cross-Save. Cross-Play allows PS4 and Vita players to team up online and hunt together. This unifies the player base, making it easier to find multiplayer lobbies and ensuring that friends can play with one another regardless of which console they own.

Cross-Save allows players to transfer their save data between the PS4 and Vita versions. This feature is particularly valuable for anyone who owns both consoles. A player could, for example, complete a few missions on their Vita during a lunch break, then upload their save file and continue their progress at home on the PS4 with enhanced graphics. It offers the ultimate flexibility, combining the portability of the Vita with the visual power of the PS4.

The final consideration is price. At launch, the PlayStation 4 version was set at the price of a standard home console release. The PlayStation Vita version was priced lower, in line with typical new handheld games. This makes the Vita version a more budget-friendly option. Players must decide if the graphical enhancements and big-screen experience of the PS4 version are worth the additional cost, or if the more affordable, portable Vita version better suits their needs.