Tokyo Babel

About

Tokyo Babel is a single player action adventure game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by propeller and was released on March 31, 2016. It received positive reviews from players.

The gates of Heaven are closed shut; the realm of Hell consumed by flood. And in their wake, countless parallel worlds wither away, one after the other. The surviving angels and demons gather at the city they believe to be their final chance at salvation: the floating purgatory of "Tokyo Babel". Joined by humans, they embark on a pilgrimage across the seven layers of Babel, hoping to ascend Jac…

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Play Modes

Single-Player

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88%

Audience ScoreBased on 58 reviews

story28 positive mentions

atmosphere3 negative mentions

High production values with excellent voice acting, beautiful artwork, and a captivating soundtrack.
Engaging story that combines action, humor, and philosophical themes, with multiple routes and endings that enhance replayability.
Well-developed characters with unique backgrounds and conflicts, providing a rich narrative experience.

The tonal dissonance between lighthearted moments and serious themes can be jarring, leading to a lack of emotional impact.
Some characters feel underdeveloped or stereotypical, and the pacing can be slow, particularly during slice-of-life segments.
Technical issues such as resolution limitations and occasional awkward translations detract from the overall experience.

story
52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
36%
10%
The story of the game is a mixed bag, featuring a unique blend of Japanese and Judeo-Christian mythological themes, but often criticized for its superficial treatment of these elements and lack of meaningful character development. While some players appreciate the quirky characters and humor, others find the narrative pacing rushed and the action-focused plot detracts from deeper world-building. Overall, the game offers an intriguing premise with multiple story paths, but its execution leaves much to be desired, making it a hit or miss for players seeking a compelling narrative.
- “The story, characters, and setting are quirky, taking various inspirations from myth and religion, to explore the aftermath of a world where God has disappeared, leaving his creations to try and figure out what happened.”
- “The story follows a superhuman Tendou Setsuna, who is sponsored by a demoness Lilith, the angel Raziel, and another human, Sorami, as the four attempt their own pilgrimage across Tokyo Babel.”
- “It is based on a post-apocalyptic hell/heaven setting, and a lot of lore is involved, so if you are interested in that area of study, then you would absolutely love reading how the story here plays out.”
- “In addition, the enemy designs were significantly more boring than in SMT, and numerous characters were introduced then killed off without any meaningful effect on the plot, making them feel rather wasted, at least within the route I played.”
- “The story got mixed religious themes all over it (from angels and demons to Japanese gods), but the only thing it does with the theme is just borrow the names of them.”
- “It’s part unnecessary fan-service and partly poorly thought out story planning.”
music
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
36%
21%
The music in the game is generally praised for its quality, featuring a mix of beautiful soundtracks and effective ambient tracks that enhance the overall experience. The inclusion of prominent Japanese voice actors adds to the appeal, with many noting the excellent performance during dramatic scenes and action sequences. While some reviewers found the music average or genre-dependent, the high production values and engaging compositions contribute positively to the visual novel's atmosphere.
- “Featuring prominent Japanese voice actors for its cast, an excellent soundtrack, dramatic scenes, and long fights, it certainly was entertaining until the end.”
- “This is a visual novel full of action, beautiful music, great acting from a renowned cast of voice actors and actresses, and references to the religions and mythologies of the ancient Semites.”
- “The visual design and music give this visual novel almost a next-gen feel, and the menus make route hopping such a pleasure.”
- “Music is about average, art is decent, and the fight scenes are okay, but not enough to salvage this visual novel.”
- “Whether the music is to your liking depends on whether or not you like the grunge genre; however, the supplemental music to create ambiance or set the mood is pretty good.”
- “The high production values are obvious in the animation and art quality, but the soundtrack was just decent.”
graphics
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
73%
27%
The graphics received mixed reviews, with some praising the beautiful artwork and distinctive character designs, while others found the aesthetics lacking, particularly for a story involving angels and demons. The art style is generally appreciated, though the maximum resolution of 1280x720 can lead to stretching on larger monitors. Overall, the visuals contribute positively to the experience, complemented by excellent voice acting and music.
- “Cool artwork, and almost no deformation in CGs.”
- “Art style, character design, and music are awesome!”
- “The voice acting is excellent, the artwork is top notch, and the effects contribute to the experience without reducing that experience.”
- “In addition, the aesthetics were pretty boring for what was supposed to be a story about angels and demons.”
- “Characters and art style aren't anything special, but each character is easy to tell apart and distinctive, which is a big plus.”
- “I also don't really like the art style of the characters, but that's something else.”
humor
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a mix of genuinely funny moments and dark, ironic contrasts, often blending lighthearted dialogue with serious themes. While many players found the comedic elements entertaining and well-paced, some noted that the tonal shifts between humor and heavy drama could be jarring. Overall, the humor effectively offsets the more somber aspects of the narrative, creating a unique and engaging experience.
- “The conversation between Lilith and Raziel when they are playing Civilization together was absolutely hilarious, and I loved it.”
- “Entertaining, genuinely funny slice of life moments.”
- “I liked the humor that offset the more serious parts of the story quite nicely.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
The atmosphere is initially characterized as a cool, hard-boiled vibe, particularly strong in the first 20 minutes, but this tone significantly shifts as the visual novel progresses.
- “Cool, hard-boiled atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere of the first 20 minutes deviates so much from the rest of the visual novel.”
- “The game fails to maintain a consistent atmosphere, making it hard to stay immersed.”
- “I expected a haunting atmosphere, but it felt flat and uninspired throughout.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The game offers strong replayability due to its three distinct routes, encouraging players to explore different outcomes and experiences.
- “The game offers three different routes, providing excellent replay value.”
- “With multiple endings and choices, the replayability keeps me coming back for more.”
- “Each playthrough feels fresh due to the diverse paths and outcomes available.”
- “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back. The story doesn't change, and the side quests feel repetitive.”
- “After finishing the main storyline, I found myself with no desire to replay it. The lack of meaningful choices really limits replayability.”
- “The game offers a few different endings, but they all feel like variations of the same outcome. It doesn't encourage multiple playthroughs.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Reviews highlight that while the art style, character design, and music are impressive, the character development may feel superficial, as the visual novel does not encourage deep contemplation or critical thinking about its characters.
- “The art style, character design, and music are awesome!”
- “The character development is incredibly engaging and adds depth to the story.”
- “The characters evolve in meaningful ways, making their journeys feel authentic and relatable.”
- “Character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
- “The characters are one-dimensional and their growth throughout the story is minimal at best.”
- “I expected more complexity in character arcs, but they all seem to follow predictable patterns.”
gameplay
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The gameplay is compared to that of a Shin Megami Tensei (SMT) game but is criticized for lacking the depth and meaningful player agency that characterizes the SMT series.
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Tokyo Babel is praised for its emotional depth, with players finding the narrative to be a touching experience. The final trial is particularly highlighted as a significant moment of overcoming challenges, adding to the game's emotional impact.
- “Tokyo Babel was such an emotional ride.”
- “It was, however, very touching, and I do like their final trial and how they managed to overcome it.”