Publisher PixelHeart and developer Sokaikan has announced the upcoming release of Okinawa Rush. The game will launch on PC and consoles later this year.
Okinawa Rush is an action platformer with RPG elements that takes place within Okinawa. The Black Mantis clan has invaded the region and is now threatening the residents. The story is told through pixel-art cut scenes, similar to retro games of the past.
Players choose from one of many martial arts masters, including Hiro, Meilin, or Shin. Players have to fight hordes of ninja, demons, and other enemies, plus intense boss fights. There will be plenty of clan members to fight to save Okinawa.
Gameplay consists of fast, fluid action with many moves, combos, juggles, and an intuitive parrying system. The fighting engine was custom made with unique movies for each of the three playable heroes.
While hand-to-hand combat is always an option, the heroes have additional items to choose from. The masters can fight with swords, nunchaku, and bo staff to take down their enemies. The enemies also have custom moves and weapons. Players will have to learn quickly how to parry with any attack, projectiles, and traps.
While players are battling through Okinawa, there are secret areas and mysteries to discover. While players can enjoy the main campaign alone, there is an additional co-op mode to play with a friend. During co-op, friends can heal each other.
If players want to jump right into the action, the game has an Arcade mode action. The high scores are uploaded online, so players can compete globally with others to see who’s the best. The game also has optional spoken dialogue for those who want a retro experience or a modern upgrade.
Players can pre-order the game now. There is currently only a Standard physical release announced for Okinawa Rush, but it’s not a limited edition. A Dreamcast port was also announced, but the developer commented on Facebook that it would launch after the other platforms at a later date.
Okinawa Rush was previously a Kickstarter campaign project in 2017. The game was successfully funded and in development ever since. The developer has continued to keep players updated with live Twitch streams, art streams, updates, gameplay streams, sneak peeks into stage design, and more.
Okinawa Rush will launch in Q4 2021 for PC via Steam, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Dreamcast.
