Natsume recently made an announcement on social media regarding a brand new Pocky and Rocky game. The game is currently in development by the original team, Tengo Project, and is scheduled to launch next year.
Pocky and Rocky is a shooter series that initially launched in the 1990s by Natsume, but a new title has not been released in years. The new game does not yet have an official title, and not much is known about the game so far.
Pocky and Rocky was first launched by Natsume on the Super Nintendo. The series follows the shrine maiden Pocky and her companion, the tanuki, Rocky. Together, the pair fight to rescue the Nopino Goblins, who have been taken over by a spell. As the game progresses, they learn what happened to the creatures. The game contains many mysterious creatures from Japanese legends, including kappa.
The first game was followed by a sequel in 1994 on the Super Nintendo. The next game, Pocky and Rocky with Becky, introduced a new friend and was released years later on the Game Boy Advance in 2002. In the third game, players would pick from three playable protagonists.
In 2008, a spiritual successor called Heavenly Guardian was later released by Starfish SD. Because of some legal issues, the game had to have several changes, including changing the game’s characters and title. The game was released on PC, Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 2, PS Network, and, most recently, on the Nintendo Switch.
While there have been two games released since Pocky and Rocky 2, Natsume mentions in the tweet that the 2021 title will be the “third installment” in the original series. The developer states that this is a sequel to the first game, but is not a remake. The new title will be a new title with a brand new story.
The graphics will remain the 16-bit style similar to the older games, but with improved graphics and sound.
Toshiyasu Miyabe, a programmer in the Tengo Project team, commented about the new title, stating:
It is a joy to continue Pocky and Rocky’s adventures over twenty-five years later with the same development team. We are excited to be developing Pocky & Rocky 2021 to reach a new generation of gamers and reconnect with players who are already familiar with the bold pair, Pocky and Rocky, and their fun adventures. Stay tuned in the coming months as we reveal more about the mystery that awaits!
Natsume’s newest installment in the Pocky and Rocky series is scheduled to launch in 2021.
