Blazing Strike
Image: RareBreed Makes Games / Aksys Games

Many readers of a certain age may recall arcades full of fighting game cabinets, in which players sweated out hand-to-hand combat in a scene of rapidly rotating joysticks and frantic button presses. Of course, classics of that 2D pixel-art fighter era are now available in various forms on systems like the Switch, but there's a new title aiming to freshen up the genre in 2022.

Published by Aksys Games and developed by RareBreed Makes Games, Blazing Strike is due in 2022 and aims to blend nostalgia for classics with new gameplay mechanics. Mark Chung, founder of RareBreed Makes Games, is quoted as follows.

I was always fond of classic fighting games and I wanted to make a fun fighting game with an emphasis on mobility. Our goal is to create an homage to the classic pixel art-based 2D fighters, but with updated game mechanics that not only will bring nostalgia to 90’s arcade kids but will offer something new and entertaining to all gamers, regardless of whether they have played fighting games before.

The following description from the press release gives an idea of some of the mechanics that are being developed.

Blazing Strike features a 4-button system with six normal attacks: light, medium and heavy punches and kicks, as well as three defense moves: block, guard and parry. A Rush Trigger enables fighters to execute fast-paced attacks and movements, but using it will slowly drain the Rush Meter, sending the character into a temporary groggy state. This allows players to execute exciting combos while having to manage the Rush Meter. The game will include three play modes: Story Mode, Arcade Mode and VS Mode, with training, sparring and online match via Persona AI, and online play powered by GGPO.

It's still a way off but it is confirmed for Nintendo Switch; we'll be sure to keep an eye out for more details in the coming months.