It's autumn again, and that can only mean that it's time for TGS. While not as big or as exciting as E3, the Tokyo Game Show is nonetheless an important event for Japanese developers to show off their up-and-coming game titles. Below I take a look at some of the highlights from this year's event. Keep in mind that this is nowhere near a comprehensive list; rather it's just a few thoughts on the franchises and developers I value most. Head on over to Gamespot for complete coverage of the show.

Sony
Sony had a handful of games to show, but the apple of its eye was clearly Gran Turismo 4. A new trailer (available here) shows extensive footage of the New York, Grand Canyon and Italy courses, as well as a wide selection of automobiles. The graphics are mind-blowing, the number of drivable cars is astounding, and the new courses look like a blast to drive. Polyphony has even implemented a system to curb cheap driving techniques, such as ramming other cars to help you get around corners. Couple all of this with Logitech's badass new force-feedback steering wheel and you've got what will undoubtedly be the best driving game ever. Next year can't come soon enough.

Sony also was showing a handful of other titles, including Siren and ChainDive. A cross between Devil May Cry and Klonoa, ChainDive is a side-scrolling action game with 3D graphics that requires you to freeze enemies with your grappling hook in order to traverse the environment. Siren is a new horror game that sees you in the role of ten different playable characters. It doesn't sound like the game offers anything we haven't seen before, but it could still end up being cool. Check out some impressions, courtesy of Gamespot.

Capcom
Capcom had quite a bit to show for their upcoming games, with new details on previously-announced titles and a handful of surprises.

Resident Evil: Outbreak was shown in playable form on the show floor and featured network play over a LAN. Head on over to Gamespot for some hands-on impressions, then visit the official site for an in-depth new trailer. The game seems to be shaping up very well, with sharp graphics and a host of intriguing gameplay ideas. Sadly, no new information concerning Resident Evil 4 has been shown so far. Capcom has posted an official site that features the same old screen grabs and trailers that were shown at E3. Boo.

Both of the new Onimusha titles were playable at the show. Onimusha Blade Warriors is a side-scrolling arcade brawler that supports up to 4 players via the PS2 multitap. You take control of the various heroes from the Onimusha games and battle your way through familiar stages loaded with demons to kill and power-ups to collect. In a nod to Guardian Heroes, you can even switch between three different planes of movement. Gamespot has some impressions of this promising game. It's been a long time since we've had a worthwhile beat-em-up game, so I'm definitely going to keep my eyes on this one.

The other title, Onimusha III, was on display with both playable characters. You control both Samonosuke and Jacques Blanc, who bears the likeness of actor Jean Reno. (Yes, you read that correctly.) Apparently you will be fighting against demon hordes in both feudal Japan and present-day Paris, making for quite a diverse set of backdrops. The visuals are looking fantastic at this point, and the game looks like a lot of crazy-assed fun. There is a new trailer floating around the Internet (like right here) that shows off some of the goofy things you're in store for. Jean Reno and Samonosuke fighting... robots? Uh, yeah, I'm sold.

There were a handful of other titles shown, including a Street Fighter II compilation entitled Hyper Street Fighter II: The Anniversary Edition. It gathers all of the various Street Fighter II editions onto one PS2 disc. Capcom also showed some of its upcoming The Nightmare Before Christmas game, as well as announcing a cameo for demon-hunter Dante in Atlus's Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne Maniacs title. Add in a new Mega Man X and an online title called Monster Hunter, and it looks like Capcom has a very strong game lineup going into next year.

SquareEnix
Contrary to expectations, SquareEnix had a lot to show at this year's Tokyo Game Show. Two new online games for the PlayStation2 were officially announced: Ambrosia Odyssey and Front Mission Online. Ambrosia Odyssey is an action RPG not unlike Square's first online title, Final Fantasy XI, and will likely see a release sometime in mid-2004. Continuing the traditions of the first three games, Front Mission Online will provide detailed turn-based mech combat for both PS2 and PC players when it ships sometime towards the summer of next year.

Two follow-ups to last years' popular-yet-dreadful Disney crossover RPG Kingdom Hearts were announced, one for the GameBoy Advance and one for the PlayStation2. Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, to be released sometime next year for the GBA, looks to be something of a side story involving Sora, Donald and Goofy, while Kingdom Hearts II is a direct sequel to the original PS2 game. Personally, I think the series has a lot to gain by moving to 2D, since it will eliminate the worst aspect of the original 3D title, the camera system. Both games will be co-produced by Square veteran Yoshinori Kitase and will see character designs from Tetsuyo Nomura, the man with the gaming world's biggest belt fetish.

Nothing new concerning the much-anticipated Final Fantasy XII was revealed, but an official site (link here) has been posted with the date (November 19) that new information will become available. SquareEnix did have a surprise for Final Fantasy fans however, in the form of a computer-generated movie sequel to Final Fantasy VII. Tentatively scheduled for a mid-2004 release, Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children takes the assets from Square's first PlayStation title and puts them into a highly-detailed world that further explores the stories behind the characters. Though old favorites like Cloud and Sephiroth are featured prominently in the new material, fans clamoring for a playable sequel will likely be disappointed to learn that SquareEnix has no plans to develop a remake at this time.

Konami
Konami had almost nothing new to show, outside of a new trailer for the GameCube remake Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes and the existing ECTS trailer for Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. The remake of Metal Gear Solid is being handled by Silicon Knights (of Eternal Darkness fame) and features an all new voice recording by the original cast and all new cinematics (directed by Ryuhei Kitamura, no less). It seems to be shaping up well, though the graphics are somewhat disappointing thus far and are don't appear to be anywhere near the level attained by Sons of Liberty.

Konami was showing other games like Firefighter FD18 and AirForce Delta Strike, but who the hell cares about that shit? Not me, that's who. New information concerning Suikoden IV was available, but I personally have never cared about the series and saw nothing in the new game that would change that. Castlevania: Lament of Innocence was also available, but I can hardly get excited about it considering the game ships in a month. Gradius V was playable on the floor, but that's hardly news either. Overall, Konami didn't really have much that I could get excited about at TGS this year.