Publisher and developer Rocket Panda Games has announced it will be bringing its anime side-scrolling beat 'em up Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Ultimate to the Nintendo Switch in 2024.
This game is a complete remaster of the original title, rebuilt "from the ground up" on Unreal Engine 5. Players can expect enhanced visuals, improved gameplay mechanics and exciting new features. This title will also support 8-player cross-platform online play.
Here are the key features, direct from the PR:
Revamped Gameplay: Experience smoother, more fluid gameplay with retuned battle system, ensuring that every punch, kick, and special move is executed with precision.
Co-op and Online Multiplayer: Team up with friends in local co-op or challenge up to 8 fighters from around the world cross-platform.
Playable Enemy Characters: Take on the role of powerful adversaries from the Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds universe, each with their own distinct combat styles and abilities in Arcade Mode.
Original Soundtrack Remastered: An all new soundtrack has been added to immerse yourself in the game's dynamic atmosphere and also includes all of the tracks from the original and Overdrive.
Phantom Breakers All-Girl J-Rock Band Debut: All new opening song performed by the Phantom Breakers consisting of the in-universe characters, Mikoto, Waka, Itsuki, Yuzuha and Maestra.
Phantom Breakers started out in 2011 as a 2D fighting gamed developed by 5pb and MAGES, with the original spin-off Phantom Breakers: Battle Grounds arriving in 2013. Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Overdrive was previously released on the Switch eShop in 2017 and was well-received. Here's a look at the gameplay in this particular version:
Would you be interested in the upcoming remaster? Check out the teaser trailer and leave a comment below.
Comments 19
Mostly I just find myself baffled what the point is of a remaster of a sprite-based game for a bunch of consoles it's already available on.
i wanted to see gameplay not a dumb anime music video with nothing
@Lizuka Yeah, if anything this is making me want to reinstall the original & give it another spin.
So this is why the original-original was delisted on Xbox. Had nothing to do with a bunch of games leaving the 360 store at the same time. Veeeery cool off them.
Edit: Clarity I did not have at midnight.
@ObamaCare I agree where the heck is the gameplay lmao.
@shoeses The original still shows up for purchase for me. Granted I already own it anyway but even in an incognito tab they have it listed for $10.
Wait, what? Why? Remaster for this game is nonsense, imo. Also, if the game's opening is performed by CVs, then, I have a good question – what's about Waka Kumon's voice? Her seiyû, Mieko Matsuki, is dead... And, what's about the owners of the original game? Will we get some kind of discount or something?
Every new feature sounds like something that should have been offered as free updates. Also, what's the point of that teaser trailer?! It's a game! Show us some actual sodding gameplay!
Want to see more of it before saying if this remaster will be worth it or not, but even I will admit that as is it's a weird choice for a remaster.
@shoeses Here in Italy so most likely in Europe in general the original is still available on the eShop and @Lizuka mentioned it still being available in the US so I really don't know what you're talking about.
I will echo that this seems redundant, but add that those characters are like Precious Moments 6 year-olds, except also someone's nightmare fetish. Why are they dressed like that?
gross
I think trailers with no gameplay footage are my number one pet peeve in gaming media. What is even the point?
@LikelySatan Dressed like what? Generic anime characters?
@ArcticEcho I meant sexualized depictions of kids, but I think you know that. But yes. It's been normalized for some.
@LikelySatan You need to get your eyes checked if you can't tell the difference between adult women depicted in a chibi art style and children.
Also, if these outfits are too sexualized for you, then you wouldn't survive two seconds of playing the game series from which the character in your avatar originates.
@JohnnyMind @Lizuka Edited.
@Seanmyster6 I didn't realize these were chibi versions of other things because I don't think I have played those things. The embarrassing trailer had me gloss over, and I try to avoid anything anime or chibi, for the most part. I appreciate your concern, bit it's not a vision problem, it's an "I hate all of this hard" problem.
And actually yeah the kiddie versions of the Darkstalker ladies in Puzzle Fighter were pretty embarrassing too, now that I think of it. Good point!
So instead of just adding online multiplayer to the version already available, like on the PS4, they decide to release an "Ultimate' edition. Feels like a Capcom move...
@Vyacheslav333 I too hope there's a discount but I wouldn't bet on it.
@Handsomistic15 Yeah, me too...
Yeeeeah. I had been waiting on the online feature to be added to the original release for yeeeeaaars. Although I’m glad they are giving us that, I’m disappointed that they’re basically making a rerelease of something they should’ve just added to the original. Nonetheless, I’m glad I never bought it on Switch. At the same time, my cousin will have to buy the “Ultimate” version just to play online with me, and she loses her progress. Hopefully they’ll make something like an add-on or DLC to turn the original into the Ultimate.
Edit: Also, they never even released Ogre Tale on the Switch like they were supposed to! Maybe that’s a MAGES thing though. Noticed this didn’t have MAGES’s sig in it anywhere in the video, unless I missed it.
Second edit: I guess I never knew Rocket Panda acquired the Phantom Breaker IP from MAGES back in mid-2022. That may explain this “Ultimate” release.
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