At Anime Expo 2018, Spike Chunsoft announced that multimedia visual novel 428: Shibuya Scramble will launch on September 4th in North America. After Spike Chunsoft announced at GDC that 428 would be delayed "until summer," many wondered just when exactly we'd be able to play the mixed-media visual novel. Though many wouldn't consider September "summer" anymore, we'll still be able to get our hands on 428: Shibuya Scramble on September 4th, either on PC or PS4.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8l7tGCOCVYs
428: Shibuya Scramble is a visual novel that intertwines the lives of five strangers, following a mysterious kidnapping. It blends different lives, video sequences, choices, and still imagery to create a unique spin on the visual novel. Originally released 10 years ago on Wii, it was lauded for its attention to detail, engaging storytelling, and multiple endings. Notably, 428: Shibuya Scramble is the only visual novel to receive a perfect score from Famitsu. For reference, there have been only twenty-five games in 32 years to get a perfect score.
The upcoming release of 428: Shibuya Scramble will feature a full localization, though strangely, not include an option for Japanese audio. There are a few posts in 428's Steam forums on the apparent lack of Japanese audio. Several users note that playing 428 in the original language requires a purchase of the Japan-only Steam release. Whether this is a mistake on Spike Chunsoft's part or an intentional decision, it's hard to say. Many of Spike Chunsoft's other releases come with dual audio options. Not including it in a visual novel set in modern-day Japan seems like a mistake. Hopefully, we'll be able to switch between English and Japanese audio when 428: Shibuya Scramble launches on September 4th.
Are you getting excited about the upcoming North American release of 428: Shibuya Scramble? Concerned about possible lack of a Japanese language option? Let us know in the comments below!
