Prior to E3 2019, if you mentioned the video game company NIS or NIS America I would have no idea what you were talking about. Before meeting with the NIS America team at E3, their category of games was out of my gaming scope. Even though I do like adventure games and RPGs, franchises such as Trails of Cold Steel, Disaster Report, and even Disgaea flew under my radar; it was not until that meeting that I learned about those franchises and became interested in playing some of their games. At PAX East 2020, I had the opportunity to meet with NIS America yet again and preview the Disaster Report 4: Summer Memories demo.
At first, I did not know what to think of Disaster Report 4: Summer Memories. Although the overall premise of the game is rather simplistic, the game has a deeper connotation than the title alludes to. For many who are currently struggling due to economic depression as a result of Covid-19, Disaster Report 4 can have a symbolic meaning. The game deals not only with natural disasters but the circumstances one might face after a said disaster. A few examples that are depicted without giving away too much of the plot are aftershocks, price gouging, groupthink, and domestic terrorism.
At PAX East, I was intrigued by the concept of the game, although I was a bit annoyed by the sheer amount of loading screens. With the help of the NIS America employee at the event, I was able to complete the demo. When playing the fully released version, the loading screens were not as much of an issue. With that said, let’s dive into the gameplay section.
Gameplay
Disaster Report 4: Summer Memories is the story of a protagonist surviving after a devastating earthquake. The player must navigate a city in Japan while learning about other citizens and helping them through their struggles. As the story progresses, the player is tasked with assisting other citizens before they can progress. This can be rather difficult as times since the game does not provide a quest log or an objective list; the player is required to solve each problem by searching for the answer with minimal context clues. This can lead to searching around for hours without a sense of direction. The game provides players with different outcomes depending on the choices they make during a disaster the needs of the characters: Hunger, Stress, Thirst, and Bathroom.
The game features a morality system that will decide the outcome of different quests including the ending of the game. Unlike the paragon system of Mass Effect, the morality system in Disaster Report 4 tallies the points of morality vs immorality. Most of the game, the moral response is rather straight forward and what you would suspect, however, there were a few curveballs. At one point in the game, the player is forced to join a cult. You would suspect that supporting said cult would net you immorality points, but instead, the player oddly is awarded morality points.
Story and Side Quests
The overall story is rather linear; the only exceptions are the side quests for different characters. The most difficult part of the side quests is remembering what they are as you progress. Each quest can carry over into the next day and if you miss a previous requirement you will be unable to complete it. This could lead to confusing situations where the player would no longer be able to talk to certain characters. The game does provide a map, but rather than showing objectives and side quests, it shows where the player interacted with different characters.
Although solving peoples’ problems and trying to escape from the city are the two main objectives of the game, the earthquake aftershocks is an additional element. The player must drop to the ground to avoid having their balance being thrown off. This can make for some rather comical moments but it can also lead to some infuriating ones. The game does have a few a variety of travel options including a boat and bikes but walking is the predominant form of travel. These alternate travel mechanics are probably some of the most infuriating moments in the game.
Character Customization
Disaster Report 4: Summer Memories has a decent customization system. At the start of the game, the player is able to create their own character although the game only provides a few premade designs. As the game progresses, the player is able to find find a variety of customization items. The player can change their hair, outfits, jewelry, and even the navigation compass. Changes to the compass affect only the visual aspects and provide no real purpose. The game has a lot of free outfits that can be downloaded from the marketplace. One of the most notable outfits allows the player to turn into a Sentai hero (a Power Ranger type character).
Controls
The walking controls of Disaster Report 4: Summer Memories are rather simplistic. The player moves with the analog stick. The Square button is used to drop to the ground and as long as the player is holding the button they will remain prone. This feature is only used when dealing with aftershocks and having to crawl through places. The crawl feature was rather aggravating at times; this is due to the fact that crawling would not always register and you would be stuck on the ground. This is not improved by the awkward camera angles within the game. The boat and cart controls are probably the most frustrating. If you attempt to speed up, the vehicle moves out of control.
Graphics
I am going to be rather straightforward with this. This game reminds me of the level of graphics from 2011 to 2015. They are not cutting edge but they are Tomb Raider blocky. The game does have a reflection system but only on shiny materials. The graphics of this game deeply impact the game’s controls. The camera system makes it harder to move and can randomly throw the player into a first-person perspective at times. Objects such as building and rocks are realistic; whereas the character’s outfits and hair feel rather plain. Imagine looking at a blurry photo, you can get the idea of what it is supposed to represent but is not highly detailed. That is what playing Disaster Report 4 feels like.
The game has weird inconsistencies. At one moment, the player is having to move around a solid object; the next minute the player is running through the NPCs. The game made it feel like there was no collision system with NPCs. At times, different quests sent you out to look for items. On multiple occasions, you would not be able to see the item or the item marker until you were on top of it.
Music/Sound
The game’s sound is also inconsistent. At times, a weird chirping noise can be heard over the radio or even static. The game’s dialogue is completely in Japanese but English subtitles are provided. The game does a decent job by providing sound effects when the player bumps into or walks on different surfaces; however, at times, those sound effects are over-exaggerated. The worst example of this is when the player is required to walk through water. Thankfully, the soundtrack is pretty and fits the Japanese aesthetic.
Replay Value
When it comes to replay value, Disaster Report 4: Summer Memories gives you a false sense of replay value. Although the game may offer a variety of dialog options, the majority of those options have a similar outcome. If you failed to complete a quest, you can always get it in the next playthrough. Depending on your choices, certain characters will be with you at the end of the game. From my playthrough, I witnessed two endings of varying natures each with their own plot twists.
Disaster Report 4: Summer Memories includes a VR option once the player completes specific levels, which may be enough for another playthrough for those with a PSVR.
Wrapping Up
Fans of FromSoftware games will find this game to be right up their alley; this is due to an exploratory survival factor that allows the player to find their own way rather than being guided. Personally, this game drove me mad. I found myself lost on multiple occasions and lost multiples hours wandering aimlessly. The game’s controls plus camera angles were an impediment often enough to leave me disoriented. The crawl feature was definitely an aggravation. Excluding all these negative factors, the story of Disaster Report 4: Summer Memories ultimately won me over, weaving a narrative that with strong enough characters that I was eager to see what would happen next.
Disaster Report 4: Summer Memories is definitely not worth the $60 retail price but it would be worth picking up in the $20 to $40 range.
A PS4 review code was provided by NIS America. For more reviews check out our review of Exit the Gungeon or Granblue Fantasy: Versus.
For some gameplay, check out my video below.
