The gaming festival "Tokyo Game Show 2025 (hereafter, TGS2025)" was held from Thursday, September 25, to Sunday, September 28, 2025.
This time, we visited the "Level5" booth to bring you a report on the game playtest.
"Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road" Area
Saiga NAK
First up is the "Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road" area!
Fujii Yodan, who will be playtesting this time, was deeply obsessed with Inazuma Eleven in high school, and he says his only boast in life is that he can still sing all of the opening themes from the original series up to Chrono Stone.
Time for the Game Playtest!!
Starting with the tutorial.
Here, the legendary goalkeeper David Evans explains the basic controls.
Fujii Yodan was highly excited to see a picture of a young David Evans appearing with his grandson, Mark Evans!
Mark Evans in the game also doubted his eyes, saying, "Grandpa is here, so this must be a dream."
Under the guidance of David Evans, the tutorial begins.
The first exercise is passing.
When you have the ball and push the stick, a green line appears in the direction of travel.
This seems to be the pass course.
He lined up a teammate at the end of the pass course...
Fujii Yodan: "Oops...!"
...Failure.
The ball speed was faster than expected, and it seems that timing and careful adjustment of the pass course will be important to successfully complete a through pass.
Saiga NAK
Struggling with the unfamiliar ball speed, he somehow managed to make a pass, but the tutorial still continues.
Next is the practice for breaking through.
Unlike the DS version Fujii Yodan played, you now attempt to break through by choosing the direction you want to go.
Fujii Yodan: "Oops...!"
Failure.
It seems the defense can also choose left or right to stop the breakthrough.
Saiga NAK
Breakthrough success on the third try!
It looks like you can also use feints, pretending to go one way and then going the other.
It seems that strategy, which was not in previous titles, will emerge.
After carrying the ball near the opponent's penalty area, it's finally time for shooting practice.
When attempting to cross the ball in front of the goal, time slows down, allowing you to decide the recipient of the final pass and the course.
Saiga NAK
When the cross is sent toward the goal, Axel Blaze reacts to it and gets into a shooting posture!
The moment the shot is taken also slows down, allowing you to specify the shot course.
After learning a series of techniques from passing to shooting, the match finally begins.
Teikoku Gakuen Match Begins! First Half
Saiga NAK
After finishing the tutorial, the match against Teikoku Gakuen began.
Fujii Yodan was motivated at the start of the legendary match where the Raimon Jr. High Soccer Club was first formed.
Before the match starts, you can organize the team members.
Here you can check the player stats and Hissatsu Techniques, as follows:
Saiga NAK
...Match begins!!
The kickoff of the fated match.
Saiga NAK
After being relentlessly attacked by Teikoku Gakuen throughout the first half, it was 10-0 at halftime.
Can Raimon strike back?
Second Half Begins! Hissatsu Techniques Unlocked
Saiga NAK
In the second half, Hissatsu Techniques are finally unlocked.
The merciless onslaught of Teikoku Gakuen continues!
Fujii Yodan's excitement grew with the appearance of nostalgic Hissatsu Techniques.
Will it end without any chance of fighting back?
Here comes Axel Blaze!
With a powerful helper, they turn to counterattack.
Saiga NAK
The Hissatsu Technique God Hand!
This is the moment their daily special training finally paid off.
They pass the ball to Axel Blaze in the front line for an immediate counterattack.
Saiga NAK
The match is interrupted by Axel Blaze's goal, and the continuation of the Raimon Soccer Club is decided.
The playtest ended here, but it was a satisfying demo that faithfully reproduced the Raimon Soccer Club's first match.
"My previous soccer games had simple controls,” commented Fujii Yodan. “You set running courses and touched the screen to pass or shoot. This game feels more realistic. Passing, shooting, and defense are more authentic. You can still enjoy special techniques. But the core soccer gameplay is also much better.."
| Game Summary | |
|---|---|
| Title | Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road |
| Genre | Collecting/Training Soccer RPG (Cross-Media Project) |
| Release Date | Scheduled for Friday, November 14, 2025 |
| Price | Standard Edition: 8,910 yen (tax included) Deluxe Edition: 10,010 yen (tax included) |
| Supported Consoles | Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Steam |
"Professor Layton and the New World of Steam" Area
Saiga NAK
Next up is the playtest for "Professor Layton and the New World of Steam"!
Incidentally, Fujii Yodan is trying the Professor Layton series for the first time.
Can he show off the flashes of inspiration he cultivated through years of studying to pass college entrance exams (known as ronin) and repeating grades...!?
The Playtest Starts! The Setting is the Town of Steam
The setting for the new Layton series is America after the end of the Wild West era!
Professor Layton receives a letter from Luke and arrives in the town of "Steam Bison," a town in the middle of a technological revolution powered by steam.
Saiga NAK
Professor Layton arrives at Bison Horn Airport after being summoned by Luke.
He conducts a listening investigation for information about Luke so they can meet up.
The First Puzzle is to Find Luke!
Saiga NAK
Based on the information heard from the airport attendant, they search for a person who resembles Luke.
Fujii Yodan: "A red tie with an impressive light blue color... this must be it!"
Saiga NAK
Fujii Yodan: "Oops..."
Fujii Yodan rushed to the person who looked like Luke and immediately made a mistake.
Now, he knows what Professor Layton series is like.
His initial attempt at the first puzzle was crushed, so he used a Hint Coin to view a hint.
Saiga NAK
Fujii Yodan: "Hmm, I see..."
Fujii Yodan: "Wha..."
Saiga NAK
Fujii Yodan, whose spirit was broken by two consecutive incorrect answers,
immediately called the staff for help.
Fujii Yodan: "I see, that's what it means..."
Fujii Yodan somehow finished the first puzzle.
He changes his mindset and moves on to the next puzzle...
The Next Puzzle is to Transport Parts to the Opposite Shore!
Fujii Yodan: "Ah, this is what we covered in that class!"
Fujii Yodan jumped up in surprise as soon as he saw the puzzle.
It seems to be similar to the "Tower of Hanoi," which appeared in his discrete mathematics class in college.
Saiga NAK
Fujii Yodan: "Do this here..."
He moved the boat while recalling the contents of the class for which he finally earned credit after repeating it many times.
In contrast to before, he moved forward smoothly without stopping his hands.
Can he prove that the content of the few credits he earned has stayed with him...?
Saiga NAK
Although it was not the shortest procedure, Fujii Yodan was clearly satisfied with correctly solving the puzzle without hints.
Professor Layton also safely reunites with Luke.
Professor Layton and Luke Finally Reunite!
Saiga NAK
No sooner had they met than an emergency occurred!
Before they could enjoy the reunion, they were caught up in an incident.
Professor Layton was suddenly caught up in an incident.
Can he deal with the incident calmly...?
Saiga NAK
Fujii Yodan, who was playtesting, takes his hat off to the British gentlemanly manner that is alive and well in this title.
Playtest Concluded! Looking Back at This Playtest...
Although the subsequent development is intriguing, the playtest ends here.
It seems Professor Layton will demonstrate his British gentlemanly manner even in America, the setting for this title.
— Fujii Yodan thoroughly enjoyed this playtest.
Will he be playing it in his private time?
Fujii Yodan: Of course, as a person who was failed to enter a college for four years and repeated a grade four times, you know.
The release is highly anticipated!
| Game Summary | |
|---|---|
| Title | Professor Layton and the New World of Steam |
| Genre | Puzzle-Solving Fantasy Adventure |
| Release Date | Scheduled for 2026 |
| Price | Undecided |
| Supported Consoles | Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch |