What Is It?

Afrika is a game that tasks you, a budding photojournalist, with travelling to Africa. Where you'll be driven around in a jeep, crawl through bushes and run across plains, all in the name of taking photos of animals.

What We Saw

I played the game for around 20 minutes. I started in a jeep, but driving around was a little boring, so I jumped out and ran down a hill. Bear with me, it gets more interesting.

I then encountered what must have been a watering hole, as there were around 20 different animals. So I took out my camera, and started taking photos of them. Bear with me. I promise, this gets more interesting.

How Far Along Is It?

Well, the game's been out since last year. It's done. It's not like it even needed localisation, since the Asian version had an English language track.

What Needs Improvement?

It's A Desert Out There: It's very dry. There's no bells, no whistles, very little presentation. Since there's little in the game but you, grass fields and some animals, it could have done with a bit more stuff to keep things interesting.

What Should Stay The Same?

Stay On Target: There's a cheap, simple trick to the game's photography system that's somehow addictive as hell. And it's autofocus. Your Sony camera will shift in and out of focus, courtesy of a great depth of field effect, and because of this you can target the same bunch of animals and end up with a handful of completely different shots.

Final Thoughts

Sound like Pokemon Snap? Yeah. You read the premise, you dismiss it as stupid, then one day you find yourself playing it, and feel ashamed, and then...you look around and realise you're loving it.

Afrika was a little like that. It probably doesn't have the legs to last you weeks/months/years, but on the other hand, chasing down animals then angling for the perfect shot is a lot more fun than you'd imagine.

By far the most exciting title Natsume will be showing at E3 is the long-awaited PlayStation 3 title Afrika, which we've been waiting for since the title was first announced back around the time that the console launched. Having recently picked up North American publishing duties for the title, Natsume will be showcasing the game at this year's giant video game show.

Of course Afrika is just the tip of the iceberg. They'll also be showing off Cheer We Go!, Squishy Tank, and Harvest Moon: Frantic Farming, and Harvest Moon: Sunshine Islands for the DS; Animal Kingdom: Wildlife Expedition, Harvest Moon: Animal Parade, and Reel Fishing: Angler's Dream for the Nintendo Wii; Adventures to Go for the PlayStation Portable; and Harvest Moon: My Little Shop for WiiWare. Each and every title a solid contender for game of the show, theoretically!

Check out the full descriptions of the games below, if only to be able to keep track of who is harvesting what.

Adventures To Go (PSP) It's adventure served your way! In this hilarious and innovative strategy RPG, players take control of Finn Courtland and his band of misfits in their quest for fame and riches. Each dungeon is randomly generated according to the player's specifications, so the game offers endless replayability and a guarantee of new surprises every time players pick it up. The grid-based battles challenge players to think strategically and make the best use of each character's abilities.

Animal Kingdom: Wildlife Expedition (Wii) In Animal Kingdom: Wildlife Expedition, players take on the role of a wildlife photographer exploring the exotic and diverse wildlife of Animal Island. Each day, they'll be given new photo assignments, such as taking pictures of particular animals, an animal herd, or an animal in a particular pose. Players will see a variety of exotic wildlife on their expedition, including gazelles, gorillas, and elephants. Each animal is realistically detailed and behaves just like the real thing!

Afrika (PS3) Explore the wildlife of Africa in this revolutionary safari game! Players will capture lifelike images of everything from lions and zebras to giraffes and cheetahs in this breathtaking PlayStation® 3 game that features photorealistic environments and animals that move and behave exactly like their real-world counterparts. Like real-life photographers, players will need to be careful if they want to take photos of the animals without disturbing them, and make the best use of their equipment in order to capture that perfect shot. The photography in the game is as meticulously modeled as the animals themselves; players will need to learn to compose their photographs with the eye of a professional photographer if they want to earn top dollar. Money can be used to purchase new licensed cameras and equipment, all of which behave just like their real-world counterparts.

Cheer We Go! (DS) Take on the role of a cheerleader in this exciting rhythm adventure game! Use your stylus to guide your cheerleader through increasingly complex dances and cheerleading routines. The game's story mode takes players on an adventure through school as they try to work their way up to star cheerleader! Players can completely customize their character, enjoy a variety of mini-games, and may just find a little romance as they strive to become the best cheerleader in the school!

Harvest Moon: Animal Parade (Wii) In Harvest Moon: Animal Parade, a divine tree which once stood in the middle of the Harvest Goddess' pond has begun to weaken, the creatures are beginning to leave the land, and the five bells have lost their power. Only the strength of the Harvest King can help revive the earth and bring the tree back to life. It's up to the player to ring the five bells, bring the Harvest King back to the island, and help revive the Goddess' tree and the land. Players will also help the ringmaster when the circus rolls into town. When the giraffe, hippo, and lion escape, players have to find them, befriend them, and bring them back to save the show! Players will find plenty of activities to experience in Harvest Moon: Animal Parade, including cultivating crops and caring for wild and exotic animals. Players can take their exotic pets out for walks, teach them tricks, and even ride them around town!

Harvest Moon: Frantic Farming (DS) Something strange is happening on Sunny Island. Crops are popping up everywhere and growing out of control! If something isn't done soon, the once-tranquil island will be buried in an avalanche of vegetables! It's up to the players to solve the mystery of this produce predicament as they try to tame the crops and gather as many vegetables as they can. Set in the world of the recent DS hit Harvest Moon: Island of Happiness, Harvest Moon: Frantic Farming continues the tale of the island and its residents. Players can choose from 12 playable characters, each with their own unique story. See how the mystery unfolds from each character's perspective, and who they meet along the way. The game features a variety of modes including Story Mode, the brain-teasing Mission Mode, and the action-puzzle excitement of Score Attack and Free Play Modes. Players can test their farming skills against their friends and family in multiplayer. Players can also unlock character art, music, and some special surprises in the Collection Room.

Harvest Moon: My Little Shop (WiiWare) Harvest Moon comes to WiiWare! You've just opened a shop in Clover Town. It's up to you to decide what items you're going to stock. Once you decide what to stock, you'll make the items in a series of fun and exciting minigames using the Wii Remote. Can you build a bustling business that will help Clover Town prosper?

Harvest Moon: Sunshine Islands (DS) The islands are in peril! Years ago, a powerful earthquake struck the Sunshine Islands. In Harvest Moon: Sunshine Islands, it's up to the player to raise the sunken islands by finding the magical Sun Stones. By finding and collecting the Sun Stones, and using them to unlock the islands, wild animals and crops, players can bring peace and prosperity to the Sunshine Islands and prevent such a disaster from ever striking again. Harvest Moon: Sunshine Islands continues the story of Harvest Moon: Island of Happiness. Players will encounter all of the beloved characters from that game, as well as a number of new characters. Players will grow and harvest crops, care for animals, mine, fish, and compete in festival events in their quest to restore the Sunshine Islands to their former glory. With a little luck, they may even find true love and start a family along the way.

Reel Fishing: Angler's Dream (Wii) Reel Fishing: Angler's Dream brings the most true-to-life fishing experience yet to the Nintendo Wii! Featuring a magnificent 3D fishing engine, lifelike fish, and soothing environmental sounds, Reel Fishing: Angler's Dream puts players on the banks of pristine lakes, raging rivers, and tropical oceans filled with the biggest, fiercest fish around. Players will be able to keep their best catches in aquariums, grow them, and then release back into the wild for an even bigger challenge. Get expert advice from the wise Fishing Master and learn how to fish like a pro. With a variety of realistic stages, tons of fresh and saltwater fish, and over 100 pieces of tackle, players can really make their fishing experience their own. Special Boss Fish will challenge even the most veteran anglers. Players can also take a more competitive approach to fishing with Versus Mode and compete with 1-4 other players. Players can try their hand at lure, bait, and fly fishing, using the WiiT Remote as a rod, and the Nunchuk as a reel. With all the sights, sounds, and action of real fishing, Reel Fishing: Angler's Dream is the closest you can get to the real-life fishing without putting on your waders!

Squishy Tank (DS) Squishy Tank is a fun-filled puzzle adventure game! The gameplay challenges players to quickly match and destroy tiles before they run out of time. Wacky items and powerups keep the action fresh and exciting. The game also features a story mode that's sure to charm players of all ages with its whimsical characters and dialog.

According to IGN, Natsume has picked up publishing duties where National Geographic Games and Sony Computer Entertainment America appear to have left off. That doesn't mean the two companies won't be involved, however as both National Geographic and Sony are licensees for the title. It's just that Nat Geo Games' announcement that it was publishing the game from last year (it later deleted the title from its lineup) isn't accurate.

Still no date for the title, but we'll hope for one at E3.

Pre-E3 2009: Afrika's Finally Coming [IGN]

One of the titles the new Nat Geo Games label plans to publish is Sony's National Geographic: Africa.

The safari sim launched in Japan and throughout Asia (as Hakuna Matata) this summer, but a North American and European release had yet to be revealed by SCEA. Now Nat Geo is saying the game is coming... and it's coming this month.

Since we hadn't heard about the title until yesterday and don't see it on a single retail list online — and Nat Geo Games specifically lists the PlayStation Network as one of its intended platforms — we're thinking a download-only release is in the cards for the game formerly known as Afrika.

The news may not be as mind-scrambling as the recent release of National Geographic Panda, but it will likely be welcome to PlayStation 3 owners looking for something out of the ordinary to play this holiday.

We've contacted National Geographic reps to confirm.

Will it arrive with the much goofier, but potentially more marketable title of Hakuna Matata? Oh, we can hardly wait to find out!

Update: VG247 says that SCEE says there are "no plans" to bring Afrika to Europe. One more for the No Plans Watch pile.

Afrika coming to Europe? [CVG]

HAKUNA MATATA (Asian Japanese Version) [via Siliconera]

First Look (Listen) To The Music of PS3 Afrika [MTV Multi-Player]

Once you're on the scene, photos are taken using Sixaxis motion-control, which determines not only the aim, focus and angle of the shot, but the clarity as well; if you can't keep a steady hand, the photos will turn out blurry. After you've got them, your shots are graded according to "composition, rarity and clarity" and you're given cash by your head office. The better the shot, the bigger the cash reward, which can then be used to buy better cameras. All of which sounds genuinely interesting (if only because it makes a nice change from all the action/killing), but is still not convincing me it's weighty enough to justify this being a full-priced game.

SCET 擴大舉辦媒體說明會 展示《非洲》《劍魂 4》等多款主力新作[GNN, via PS3Hyper]

Afrika [Official Site]

New Afrika Trailer [The Able Gamer]

Afrika Info [Game Star via PS3 FAN Thanks, Riyu!]

Perhaps it's just a localization nightmare, but we hope that SCEA will invest in the game(?) and bring it to American PS3s. We've got an e-mail in with them now, just to see how interested they are in escorting Afrika out of Japan.

No Afrika for Europe, says Sony [Eurogamer]

Afrika [Official Site]

Sony Prez To Headline TGS [IGN]

What we know about Afrika for the PS3: It's got animals. Back at GDC, Sony's Phil Harrison chatted with game site Pro-G about the mysterious title:

The game designers on Afrika are being deliberately coy about the game experience. I know what it is; I've seen it and I know it's going to be a very interesting gaming experience. It's not about killing and it's not about running around the environment shooting elephants and hippopotami — that would be awful. That's not what we're all about. What we're about is taking people to places in a virtual world. So Afrika, I think, is a great example of that.

Notice how he said "hippopotami" and not "hippopotamuses." Totally incorrect, but still, That's why Phil's paid the big bucks! Brian Ashcraft

Harrison Talks Afrika [Pro-G via The Last Boss]

It's more than a "K" that separates that unfinished PS3 stunner from that MMO above—which features everything from elephants to werewolves and giant killer centipedes. I'll wait for a hands-on before passing judgement, but a move away from elves and dwarves is a breath of fresh air. Brian Ashcraft

Africa: The MMO [Game Trailers, Thanks Neill!]

After having my brain professionally numbed by fun-gineer Ken Kutaragi, the only thing that could pull me out of my funk is hot and buttery gameplay footage. When Afrika booted up for our viewing pleasure, I went a little nuts with the exclamation point key.

But, how does it play? Is it a Jambo Safari rip off? Pokemon Snap Redux? Wired's Chris Kohler snacked on chocolate cakes and spoke to Sony games exec Phil Harrison to get some details.

Video games have a function in life, and that is: wish fulfillment. You can become a mercenary, a fighter pilot. On PS3, we can expand the realm of that experience. Africa allows you to experience a very interesting part of the world, a safari in the plains of Africa. The gameplay is entirely non-violent. You don't kill the animals. It emphasizes the positives rather than the negatives.

Huh. Non-violent? Does that mean no rocket mounted rhinos? Bummer. I'm still psyched about the "out there" gameplay possibilities. Check out the record of Kohler's conversations for more insight. Michael McWhertor

Sony Execs Talk PS3 [Game|Life]

I hear you. Sunsets against the African landscape do not exactly say "blow out". But with the frenzy surrounding Nintendo's upcoming media event, X06 in Barcelona, and the Tokyo Game Show, I could use a little relaxation.

With all those things coming up, we should expect lots of NDA's to expire, which is why Game Watch posted a ton of PlayStation 3 screenshots this weekend. From the enigmatic Afrika to the frantic Motorstorm to the gorgeous Heavenly Sword to the.... colorful Unknown Realms, tons of new (and old) media is popping up.

A lot of the shots don't look quite like what we were "promised" last year, but still very impressive. A few of us Kotaku editors will be attending TGS in a matter of days, so we'll have more hands on impressions of PS3 stuff soon. Michael McWhertor

Motorstorm, Afrika, Lair, F1 Championship, Heavenly Sword, Unknown Realms [Game Watch]