View source for Software:Disaster Report 4 Plus: Summer Memories

{{Short description|2018 action-adventure video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Disaster Report 4 Plus: Summer Memories
| image = Disaster Report 4 cover art decalless.jpg
| developer = [[Company:Granzella|Granzella]]
| publisher = {{Video game release|JP|Granzella}}
{{Video game release|WW|NIS America}}
| producer = Kazuma Kujo
| designer = 
| composer = Yuka Kitamura
| engine = Unreal Engine 4
| series = ''[[Software:Disaster Report|Disaster Report]]''
| platforms = {{ubl|[[Engineering:PlayStation 4|PlayStation 4]]|[[Engineering:Nintendo Switch|Nintendo Switch]]|[[Software:Windows|Windows]]}}
| released = {{plainlist|
'''PlayStation 4'''{{Video game release|JP|November 22, 2018|WW|April 7, 2020}}
'''Nintendo Switch'''{{Video game release|JP|September 26, 2019|WW|April 7, 2020}}'''Windows'''
{{Video game release|WW|April 7, 2020}}
}}
| genre = [[Software:Action-adventure game|Action-adventure]]
| modes = [[Software:Single-player video game|Single-player]]
}}

'''''Disaster Report 4 Plus: Summer Memories'''''{{efn|Known in Japan as {{nihongo|''Zettai Zetsumei Toshi 4 Plus: Summer Memories''|絶体絶命都市4 Plus -Summer Memories-}}}} is an [[Software:Action-adventure game|action-adventure]] [[Engineering:Video game|video game]] developed and published by [[Company:Granzella|Granzella]] for the [[Engineering:PlayStation 4|PlayStation 4]]. Originally released in 2018 in Japan, it is the fourth entry in the ''[[Software:Disaster Report|Disaster Report]]'' series. It was originally meant to be released for the [[Engineering:PlayStation 3|PlayStation 3]] by [[Company:Irem|Irem]], but was cancelled in 2011 due to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami; development resumed in 2014 for the PlayStation 4 after Granzella acquired the intellectual property of the franchise from Irem.<ref>{{cite magazine |author=Chris Kohler |date=March 14, 2011 |title=Japanese Publishers Cancel, Delay Disaster Games Following Deadly Earthquake |url=https://www.wired.com/2011/03/disaster-games-japan-earthquake/ |magazine=Wired}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite news |title=グランゼーラ、絶体絶命都市の版権を取得 |url=http://www.granzella.co.jp/gz_info/20141224.html |access-date=2018-04-10}}</ref> A [[Engineering:Nintendo Switch|Nintendo Switch]] version was released in September 2019 in Japan.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dualshockers.com/disaster-report-4-plus-summer-memories-switch/|title=Disaster Report 4 Plus: Summer Memories Is Coming to Switch|date=May 16, 2019|website=DualShockers|language=en|access-date=May 17, 2019}}</ref> A [[Software:Windows|Windows]] port was released in April 2020, with all platforms also receiving an international release by NIS America on the same day.

== Gameplay ==
The goal is to escape the destroyed city, finding safe paths through collapsing buildings and dealing with panicked and fleeing people.<ref name="Disaster Report PS3">{{cite web |url=http://andriasang.com/comooa/disaster_report_ps3/ |title=Irem Unveils Disaster Report for PS3 |author=Anoop Gantayat |date=September 1, 2010 |publisher=Andriasang |access-date=November 10, 2010}}</ref>

The game was to feature over 60 characters, the largest in series history. The player would have had to work with these people to escape.<ref name="Disaster Report PS3"/>

There are a few new features [[Company:Irem|Irem]] highlights for ''Disaster Report 4'':
:*The player can enter collapsed buildings, within which the player will find survivors and additional escape routes.
:*The game has a new "cleanliness" parameter for the character. If the character gets too dirty, stress will rise.
:*The player can use the toilet to increase the main character's cleanliness parameter.

The player is free to customize the main character. At the start of the game, the player can set the main character's gender, face style, and hair style. Over 100 clothing items, including suits and casual outfits can be earned as the player works through the game.<ref name="Disaster Report PS3"/>

== Story ==
The game takes place in Hisui City in the year 201X. It is July, the heart of summer, and the main character is visiting the city for a job interview. The city is suddenly hit with a major earthquake, which causes the bus they are riding on to crash and stranding them in the city.<ref name="Disaster Report PS3"/>

The protagonist escapes from the wrecked bus and gets their bearings, meeting several residents of the city: Ms. Higa, a schoolteacher assigned to three highschool students who were caught in the earthquake, Tomoya, who was attacked by a "scary-looking man" and whom tasks the protagonist with retrieving a box from his locker in the Hisui City underground metro, Yayoi, a young woman who, like the protagonist, was caught in the earthquake while attending a job interview, and Mr. Kirishima, the president of the struggling IT company Vestola. After retrieving the item from Tomoya's locker, they rescue a young woman named Kanae and escape a pair of drunken thugs. Kanae suggests they travel together to Hisui's ferry terminal, where evacuations are proceeding. As they  arrive, they find the ferry is overloaded and unable to accept more passengers, but Kanae states that she must meet her boyfriend, revealed to be Tomoya, there. However, the aftershocks of the earthquake and extreme [[Earth:Soil liquefaction|soil liquefaction]] causes the terminal to begin to collapse, so the pair flee in a lifeboat to a flooded apartment complex and rest for the night, and Kanae convinces the protagonist to help her find Tomoya.

The pair awaken to the apartment building collapsing, and narrowly escape back to their raft. After making it to dry land, they go back into the city, once again crossing paths with Kirishima, learning that the source of Vestola's struggles is their rival company Kerberos taking advantage of the chaos to spread rumors about Vestola. Kanae and the protagonist eventually meet Tomoya again, who reveals he is assisting with recovery and evacuation efforts in the city, and proposes to Kanae, who accepts. Electing to stay with Tomoya to help with recovery, Kanae wishes the protagonist luck, and the protagonist continues to search for a way out of the city. After briefly becoming inducted into, then ousted by, a cult which had been defrauding citizens of their money in exchange for shelter, the protagonist flees into the residential district and volunteers to assist an elderly woman locate a doctor; the local hospital is overcrowded, but they manage to find medical assistance at a nearby [[Social:Elementary school|elementary school]] that had been turned into an evacuation shelter. They meet a foreign exchange student named Danny, but the two find that most of the Hisui city citizens at the shelter distrust them, leaving them unable to find food or water; the protagonist's attempts to assist by providing tap water in a novelty water bottle causes the citizens to believe the water to be a "miracle cure", but are angered when they discover it only to be regular drinking water, and force Danny and the protagonist out of the shelter.

The protagonist arrives at a burned down shopping plaza, where they meet Tomoya again, still assisting with recovery efforts.  They also cross paths with the "scary looking man" once more, who is apparently following Tomoya for an unknown purpose. After assisting the citizens at the plaza, they return to Kanae, who informs the protagonist that an evacuation plane is flying citizens out of the city at the airport, and gives them a ticket. As they go to the airport, the protagonist encounters Ms. Higa again, but they discover one of her students, Hiroko, is attempting to commit [[Medicine:Suicide|suicide]] due to repeated bullying from her classmates. Ms. Higa rescues Hiroko, but falls to her death.

The protagonist continues towards the airport, meeting Yayoi again, but discovers she was [[Medicine:Rape|sexually assaulted]] and traumatized by the drunken thugs from the metro. They then discover that another, larger evacuation shelter has been established near the city center, and the protagonist may choose between going to the airport with Yayoi or journey alone to the city center.

If they decide to go to the city center, they discover the area already flooded with citizens, desperate for aid. The situation is exacerbated when the Hisui City Hall's power is restored, despite the majority of the city still being without power. The protagonist gets caught up in a mass of citizens flooding into the city hall to demand answers from the city administration. As the crowd corners the mayor on the roof of the building, another aftershock causes the protagonist to lose balance, but they are rescued from falling by Kumazawa, an unscrupulous entrepreneur whom the protagonist had encountered in the city previously.

If the protagonist travels to the airport with Yayoi, they meet Kanae at a rest stop just before the airport bridge, and the three embark with the last group of refugees to the airport. However, upon arrival it is revealed that the evacuation plan is actually a ruse by "Snake Snake", a [[Social:Human trafficking|human trafficking]] syndicate which  is taking advantage of the disaster to capture refugees to sell into slavery; Tomoya, whose actual name is "Keith", reveals himself to be a high-ranking member of the syndicate, having faked his identity and relationship with Kanae to gain her trust and integrate into Hisui City's population, and has the protagonist, Kanae, Yayoi, and the rest of the refugees imprisoned in their ship. The protagonist manages to slip their bonds, and, using an improvised bomb, frees the other refugees and destroys the ship during their escape. Keith confronts the protagonist on the docks and attempts to shoot them, but he is stopped by the "scary looking man", actually an undercover police detective, who arrives with backup to arrest Keith and the rest of "Snake Snake." After the rescue, a helicopter arrives to evacuate the refugees, and the protagonist may either evacuate with Yayoi, or return to the city with Kanae to assist with rebuilding efforts.

==Development==
The game was originally being developed and published by [[Company:Irem|Irem]] for the PlayStation 3,<ref name="Disaster Report PS3"/> it would have supported [[Engineering:PlayStation 3#Stereoscopic 3D|3D output]] and [[Engineering:PlayStation Move|PlayStation Move]]. Initially, the game was planned for release on March 10, 2011, a day before the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, but was pushed back to a Spring time frame.<ref name="Disaster Report 4 Delay">{{cite web |url=http://andriasang.com/comtuc/disaster_report_4_delay/ |title=Disaster Report 4 Pushed Back to Spring |author=Anoop Gantayat |date=February 11, 2011 |publisher=Andriasang |access-date=March 14, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120930234558/http://andriasang.com/comtuc/disaster_report_4_delay/ |archive-date=September 30, 2012 }}</ref> Chief producer, Kazuma Kujo said the reason for the delay was because the game could not be completed in time.<ref name="Disaster Report 4 Delay"/> The game was officially cancelled on March 14, 2011.<ref name="cancelled">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/33510/Disaster_Report_4_Cancelled_In_Wake_Of_Japan_Earthquake_Tragedy.php|title=Disaster Report 4 Cancelled In Wake Of Japan Earthquake Tragedy|first=Leigh|last=Alexander|date=March 14, 2011|publisher=Gamasutra|access-date=March 14, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110316231349/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/33510/Disaster_Report_4_Cancelled_In_Wake_Of_Japan_Earthquake_Tragedy.php|archive-date=March 16, 2011}}</ref>

In December 2014, Kujo revealed that his new company, [[Company:Granzella|Granzella]], had acquired the [[Social:Intellectual property|intellectual property]] of the ''Disaster Report'' series;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://gematsu.com/2014/12/granzella-acquires-disaster-report-copyright-latest-entry-planned-fall-2015 |title=Granzella acquires Disaster Report copyright, latest entry planned for fall 2015 |last=Romano |first=Sal |date=December 22, 2014 |publisher=Gematsu |access-date=July 31, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150705075548/http://gematsu.com/2014/12/granzella-acquires-disaster-report-copyright-latest-entry-planned-fall-2015 |archive-date=July 5, 2015 }}</ref> they planned to formally announce the game in Q3/Q4 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.polygon.com/2015/7/28/9062733/disaster-report-new-game |title=Survival game Disaster Report is coming back, here's our first look |last=McWhertor |first=Michael |date=July 28, 2015 |publisher=Polygon |access-date=July 31, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150730232408/http://www.polygon.com/2015/7/28/9062733/disaster-report-new-game |archive-date=July 30, 2015 }}</ref> The new game was eventually announced in November 2015 with the title ''Disaster Report 4 Plus: Summer Memories''. It is being developed for [[Engineering:PlayStation 4|PlayStation 4]]. Kujo has also stated the re-branded title started development from scratch.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.siliconera.com/2015/11/24/disaster-report-4-plus-summer-memories-revealed-for-playstation-4/ |title=Disaster Report 4 Plus: Summer Memories Revealed For PlayStation 4 [Update] - Siliconera |website=www.siliconera.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151125160807/http://www.siliconera.com/2015/11/24/disaster-report-4-plus-summer-memories-revealed-for-playstation-4/ |archive-date=2015-11-25}} </ref> A PlayStation VR demo was planned to be released in January 2017 but was postponed to be released after February 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.zettai-zetsumei.jp/|title=絶体絶命都市オフィシャルウェブサイト|website=絶体絶命都市オフィシャルウェブサイト by グランゼーラ}}</ref> A non-public VR Demo was shown to a Japanese video game magazine in December 2016 and produced quite positive reactions from the testers.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iDYRTlnfBA |title=Disaster Report 4 Plus: Summer Memories - PlayStation VR Gameplay (Stream-Recorded) |website=[[Company:YouTube|YouTube]] |access-date=February 27, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170105125213/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iDYRTlnfBA |archive-date=January 5, 2017 }}</ref> The game was released on October 25, 2018, in Japan.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://gematsu.com/2018/06/disaster-report-4-plus-summer-memories-launches-october-25-in-japan-demo-launches-in-july |title=Disaster Report 4 Plus: Summer Memories launches October 25 in Japan, demo launches in July |author=Romano, Sal |date=June 22, 2018 |website=Gematsu |access-date=June 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623143246/https://gematsu.com/2018/06/disaster-report-4-plus-summer-memories-launches-october-25-in-japan-demo-launches-in-july |archive-date=June 23, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> The game's release was delayed and the new release date was announced to be on November 22, 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/daily-briefs/2018-10-10/disaster-report-4-plus-ps4-game-delayed-to-november-22/.137972|title=Disaster Report 4 Plus PS4 Game Delayed to November 22|website=Anime News Network|date=June 17, 2023 }}</ref>

The Kobe Fire Bureau worked with Granzella to showcase the KFD's work in what civilians should do in case they're caught up in a disaster.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.siliconera.com/2017/11/14/granzella-working-kobe-fire-department-disaster-report-4-plus/ |title=Granzella Is Working With The Kobe Fire Department On Disaster Report 4 Plus [Update: 2018 Release] - Siliconera |website=www.siliconera.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171114190329/http://www.siliconera.com/2017/11/14/granzella-working-kobe-fire-department-disaster-report-4-plus/ |archive-date=2017-11-14}} </ref>

It's announced that the game will see a release with Traditional Chinese language support.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.siliconera.com/2018/12/03/root-letter-last-answer-and-disaster-report-4-plus-getting-traditional-chinese-versions |title=Root Letter: Last Answer And Disaster Report 4 Plus Getting Traditional Chinese Versions - Siliconera |website=www.siliconera.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181204130347/https://www.siliconera.com/2018/12/03/root-letter-last-answer-and-disaster-report-4-plus-getting-traditional-chinese-versions/ |archive-date=2018-12-04}} </ref>

On June 20, 2019, NIS America announced their plans to localize the game in both North America and Europe.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.escapistmagazine.com/v2/2019/06/20/disaster-report-4-climbs-out-of-a-decade-long-debacle/|title=Disaster Report 4 Climbs Out of a Decade-Long Debacle|date=June 20, 2019|website=Escapist Magazine|language=en-US|access-date=June 20, 2019}}</ref> On January 7, 2020, they announced that the game will release for North America and Europe on April 7, 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gematsu.com/2020/01/disaster-report-4-summer-memories-launches-april-7-in-the-west|title=Disaster Report 4 Summer Memories launches April 7 in the west|date=January 7, 2020|website=Gematsu|language=en-US|access-date=January 6, 2020}}</ref>

In the end, the VR mode only allows to play selected areas and only after they have been cleared already in regular mode<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nisamerica.com/disaster-report/manual/p310.html|title = Disaster Report 4: Summer Memories - Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PC - April 7, 2020}}</ref>

==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
| MC = NS: 59/100<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/disaster-report-4-summer-memories/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch |title=Disaster Report 4: Summer Memories for Switch Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=May 19, 2020}}</ref><br />PC: 58/100<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/disaster-report-4-summer-memories/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=Disaster Report 4: Summer Memories for PC Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=May 19, 2020}}</ref><br />PS4: 51/100<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/disaster-report-4-summer-memories/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4 |title=Disaster Report 4: Summer Memories for PlayStation 4 Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=May 19, 2020}}</ref>
| NLife = {{Rating|6|10}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Disaster Report 4: Summer Memories Review (Switch) {{!}} Aces high |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/nintendo-switch/disaster_report_4_summer_memories |website=Nintendo Life |date=September 19, 2021 |access-date=September 19, 2021}}</ref>
| USG = 2/5<ref>{{cite web |last1=McCarthy |first1=Caty |title=Disaster Report 4: Summer Memories Review: A Disaster of Its Own Making |url=https://www.usgamer.net/articles/disaster-report-4-summer-memories-review |website=USgamer |date=September 19, 2021 |access-date=September 19, 2021}}</ref>
| PSQ = {{Rating|3|10}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Disaster Report 4: Summer Memories Review (PS4) {{!}} Aces high |url=https://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/ps4/disaster_report_4_summer_memories1 |website=Push Square |date=September 19, 2021 |access-date=September 19, 2021}}</ref>
| EGM = {{Rating|2|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Disaster Report 4: Summer Memories review {{!}} Aces high |url=https://egmnow.com/disaster-report-4-summer-memories-review/ |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |date=September 19, 2021 |access-date=September 19, 2021}}</ref>
}}

The game debuted at 3rd place in the top 20 games sold with 42,272 copies sold as of November 25, 2018.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.siliconera.com/2018/11/28/this-week-in-sales-a-disaster-in-the-making-finally-unleashed/ |title=This Week In Sales: A Disaster In The Making Finally Unleashed - Siliconera |website=www.siliconera.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181129033513/http://www.siliconera.com/2018/11/28/this-week-in-sales-a-disaster-in-the-making-finally-unleashed/ |archive-date=2018-11-29}} </ref>

It was reported on December 5, 2018, that the game sold a total of 47,483 copies.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.siliconera.com/2018/12/05/this-week-in-sales-persona-q2-new-cinema-labyrinth-premieres/ |title=This Week In Sales: Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth Premieres - Siliconera |website=www.siliconera.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181206041659/http://www.siliconera.com/2018/12/05/this-week-in-sales-persona-q2-new-cinema-labyrinth-premieres/ |archive-date=2018-12-06}} </ref>

==Sequel==
In November 2018, game director Kazuma Kujo mentioned that a sequel was being considered,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gematsu.com/2018/11/disaster-report-4-plus-summer-memories-is-more-of-an-adventure-game-sequel-under-consideration|title=Disaster Report 4 Plus: Summer Memories is more of an adventure game, sequel under consideration|author=Romano, Sal|date=November 21, 2018|website=Gematsu|access-date=December 27, 2020}}</ref> and in December 2020, Granzella published a teaser indicating that planning and prototyping of ''Disaster Report 5'' had begun.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2020/12/granzella-teases-disaster-report-5-already-in-development |title=Granzella teases Disaster Report 5 already in development |author=Romano, Sal |date=December 25, 2020 |website=Gematsu |access-date=December 27, 2020}}</ref>

In a livestream on May 2022, Kujo announced that the game will be an open world-basd game, set three years after the first game.<ref>https://www.crunchyroll.com/news/latest/2022/3/31/granzella-reveals-new-details-about-disaster-report-5</ref>

==See also==
*Impact of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami on the video game industry

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

== External links ==


[[Category:Action-adventure games]]
[[Category:Survival video games]]
[[Category:Unreal Engine games]]
[[Category:Windows games]]
[[Category:Single-player video games]]

{{Sourceattribution|Disaster Report 4 Plus: Summer Memories}}