And you thought Konami didn't make games any more! GetsuFumaDen: Undying Moon is being developed primarily by indie studio GuruGuru 'alongside' Konami Digital Entertainment, and it turns out it's a remake of a 1987 Famicom game. Who knew?
Well, a particular stalwart staff member reminded us all, actually, and the PR that came in following Nintendo's Indie World Showcase also mentioned it. This remake — coming to Switch in 2022 and hitting Steam Early Access this May — is described as a "roguevania 2D action" game set in a fantasy world and given a lick of paint in the style of traditional Japanese art.
The game will have you going down, down, deeper and down into the depths of the Underworld to... do something or other. Fighting evil hordes, defeating bosses — you know the drill. The 'rogue' bit of the description means you'll be facing procedurally generated levels of hell which will change each time you return, so if you're not a fan of your roguelikes and roguelites... you might want to sit this one out.
That'd be a shame, though, because GetsuFumaDen is looking rather tasty, as you can see from the reveal trailer (age restricted, which is why we can't embed it above). Check out some setting blurb and screenshots below:
After 1,000 years of peace, the seal to the gate of hell has been ripped open and a flood of evil spirits have been released into the world. As it stands at the brink of destruction, Getsu Fuma must take on the helm as the leader of his clan and delve into the pits of hell to rip out the evil at its core.
Not bad-looking, huh? An official 'Roadmap' website is up and running and already features several posts detailing additional stages and characters, including Getsu Renge below, "the 21st leader of the Getsu Clan, also known as the clan's greatest kunoichi":
The game's coming to Switch next year, but with Steam Early Access available from the 13th May, we'll have plenty of time to size up the game before if comes to our favourite homeheld console. You can also check out Hardcore Gaming 101 for a nice little retrospective if you want to find out more of the game's history.
Like the look of this? Played the Famicom original? Let us know with a comment below.
Comments 59
Meanwhile gaming journos keep pretending konami doesnt put out games anymore as they pretend only MGS exists.
It looks fantastic, but the procedurally generated levels is a huge turn off.
@Rika_Yoshitake It’s almost as if game journalists and literally everybody else in the world would prefer Castlevania, Silent Hill, Metal Gear Solid or Suikoden to... Pro Evolution Soccer? Pachinko machines? Skelattack?
That is unexpected, I think I still have a copy of the original lying around somewhere.
Oh boy
There were rumors Konami were outsourcing their IP to other studios
This might be part of what they're talking about
This game looks gorgeous.
Lots of good looking stuff in that Indie World. This was one of them.
It looks really nice; but the whole rogue / procedural generation is a big red flag for me so will sit on the fence and wait for more info first.
Roguelike means I'm out but I like to see Konami doing stuff
I was absolutely not expecting to ever see a new Getsu Fuma Den game. This was the announcement in the presentation that took me the most by surprise.
For anyone who doesn't know, Getsu Fuma Den is a 1987 Famicom game that played a little bit like Zelda II, except it also had some pseudo-3D dungeons. This doesn't look like a remake at all, it's more of a new game using the old IP.
Castlevania fans might also recognise Getsu Fuma Den - a playable character and a map based on the game appeared as DLC content for Castlevania Harmony of Despair (which, btw, you should probably buy before the PS3 store closes forever in a couple of months)
Wait, uh... is Konami is doing something cool again?!
@TheFrenchiestFry yeah it could be.
They are just gonna publish the game. Remind me again why Konami is in indie world showcase
@mr_somewhere yeah sort of now
I am confused. Is it a sequel or a remake of a game
@nessisonett I’m kind of glad you didn’t bother mentioning Contra Rogue Corps actually.
It's modern Konami, so I'll wait for reviews. They've produced some absolutely atrocious games in the last few years so by default I don't have much faith in this game.
@Rika_Yoshitake
You're ridiculous.
Everyone knows Konami makes way more than MGS. Also, anyone who's even half paying attention can tell that Konami is a pale, pale shadow of their former selves.
Forget MGS for a moment, remember Castlevania, Gradius, Suikoden, Silent Hill, Boktai, Zone of the Enders, Goemon, Track & Field, etc., etc. , etc.? Because Konami doesn't make games in those popular series anymore.
@nessisonett Momotaro densetsu has outsold most of those franchies on switch alone. Good try
@Rika_Yoshitake Yes, Konami are clearly a giant of the video game world because they released a Japan-only train simulator board game. If it’s really a stone cold classic then they should release it in the west. Good try.
I'm so curious on what has gone on behind the gaming scenes of Konami in recent years.
Like who decides Metal Gear Survive and Contra: Rogue Corps are good enough to release as is, but then also decides to spend money to support a dev to make a game look this good that's based on some old Japanese only game they put out in the 80s? How does that happen, who makes those decisions?
I was planning on picking up the famicom version, but I may get this instead.
This looks amazing! Really surprised as I thought Konami would stick to remasters and pachinko... damn! This looks great!
@kkslider5552000 My thought is some people at Konami still want to produce awesome games! As a broken clock still gets the time right at least once a day!
@Rika_Yoshitake You just wrote a comment that games journalists pretend Konami doesn’t put games out, on an article written by a games journalist about a game Konami is putting out.
What a pleasant surprise! I’ll wait and see, ‘cause that last Contra game they put out was the hottest of garbage. Maybe they learned something from that? I’m remaining hopeful.
NINJA APPROVED
https://youtu.be/CNt0WMaeULY
This looks bloody awesome and can't wait!!
@Rika_Yoshitake Wow! They made an entire one other game that sold that was Japan only! Truly Konami is a company of great renown nowadays
That art style is so blimmin cool!
Not really too big on the artstyle myself but I'm glad to see Konami put their properties on use.
Looks real good.
It looks really good!
It's a shame that this game will bring out negative conversations because of Konami's name attached to it because this is one of the more visually striking indie games I've seen yet. This artstyle is fantastic and if it plays well then I'm all in.
@Wexter is this game a remake or a sequel
Going by what I read online, Momotaro Dentetsu was originally a Hudson game that almost didn't come back because of Konami. If the creator of the series didn't speak up, it probably wouldn't have came back at all.
I'm a bit skeptical since it seems to be going in a bit of a different direction from the original game, but I hope this new Getsu Fuuma Den turns out well. The original game plays similar to the first NES TMNT, but is actually a more polished game, despite being released earlier.
@Rika_Yoshitake Ah yes, referring to the success of a Japan-only franchise that they didn't even create, a franchise that was already beloved when they devoured Hudson Soft in 2012. That absolutely speaks well of Konami when the works with the licenses they originally created keep bombing. Good try.
I love how triggered people get when reality smacks them in the face.
This, to me, looks like old school Konami. Hard as nails. Honestly, I have had to watch the trailer a few times. It looks fab! Hope it does well. Konami going back to their roots on Switch is nothing but win from me!
@Rika_Yoshitake You mean the reality you seem to be struggling with? Sure, whatever you say, have fun defending a corporation that doesn't care one bit about you
Highlight of the show for me.
@Rika_Yoshitake The extent of their """game output"""" this entire time has been PES, some Yu Gi Oh card games, Castlevania gacha crap on mobile, pachinkos and the occassional console release that looks and plays like it was programmed on a Sunday afternoon in a Starbucks
This is literally their first actual game with a budget since...Metal Gear Solid V The Phantom Pain
Thank y’all for reminding me to pick up momotetsu. Ugh I gotta buy a new sd card first. Sigh.
Trailer: https://youtu.be/A3iuulEeQl8
I literally don't buy anything Konami has their name attached to so I'll be passing on this.
Looks great, but that rogue bit screams at me to stay away. I hope they aren’t implementing it to be lazy at designing the levels.
@Zebetite This. Don’t get your hopes up.
@anoyonmus from what I've read a "remake". But considering this is an obscure Japan only Famicom game this is wayyyyy out of Konami's comfort zone of easy money. The game looks lovely!
I saw it's M rated, but it barely seems like it hits that M rating. I might pick it up, since the art style interests me, and so do rogue-like type games.
Well this is exciting! I was hoping something would happen to the Getsu Fuma IP because it always had an interesting history and story. After we got that Go Getsu Fuma song in Smash Ultimate that was included in the Castlevania stage music I looked it up and thought it'd be cool if we got a new release for current consoles. Random but it actually happened. Now maybe Takamaru can get some love?
Now this is interesting. I'm familiar with the original game but as of yet to actually play it. The remake looks intriguing.
No one who pays attention thought Konami stopped making games. They've actually been hiring for game development.
I was excited until I read "procedurally generated levels". Dammit.
@Onion I mean, Covid did decimate their Pachinko and their health club businesses. Konami is only now ramping up game development because they are suffering financially.
@EarthboundBenjy For me, the cameo is the music track in SSBU on the Castlevania stage.
@Zebetite "keep bombing" — pun intended?
Good on Konami for hiring Indies! Let's get more of this! Nintendo should hire the team behind Axiom Verge to make a Super Metroid remake, or even the next game, and that guy who made Bloodstained would probably make a really good Castlevania game! ...waitaminute
Looks fantastic! I'll wait for the Switch release. It reminds me of Muramasa: The Demon Blade. This seems like the adult, heavy metal version of it.
Thanks for posting this! I saw a real quick glance of this game at the end of the presentation and had no idea what it was and now that I see these screenshots it’s been identified. This one would’ve slipped right under my radar.
the original, and this just looks awesome. It's definitely not a remake, though, it doesn't seem to have anything in common with the original, except for the main character and the final boss, plus the game being a sidescroller.
heh, i beat a repro nes cart of this game 100% a few years ago
This game looks so cool
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