Publisher Limited Run Games, Superdeluxe Games and developers Ancient and Bitwave Games have released a release date trailer for their action shoot ‘em up title Earthion. Gematsu reports that the title is set to launch on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC on July 31.
Earthion is set on a future earth devastated by environmental collapse and resource depletion, where humanity has fled to mars. Earth is under attack from hostile space invaders, leading the counterattack is the player who will assume the role of Azusa Takanashi, a space fighter pilot and environmental researcher; She pilots the advanced space fighter ‘YK-IIA’. Your primary goal is to defend Earth from the invading forces and secure the future of humanity.
In it’s press release, the Earthion development team shares that the title was “ designed on actual 16-bit hardware.” Players can destroy enemy crafts and steal their resources to enhance their ships capabilities including subweapons. Earthion features an in-game music player with compositions from Director Yuzo Koshiro of Streets of Rage fame. Yuzo Koshiro shares on his social “”Even the outtakes for Earthion are keepers, so I’ve decided to integrate them into the ROM and use them somewhere in the game,” and that “There are no throwaway tracks at all!” The title features an additional difficulty mode in ‘Challenge Mode’ with difficulty extending beyond the main story. Earthion is being developed from the studio that created Beyond Oasis and Actraiser.
Developers Ancient and Bitwave Games, led by Yuzo Koshiro, aim for Earthion to be an authentic style 16-bit 2D shoot ’em up. Yuzo Koshiro has seemingly pushed the limits of this 16-bit title, as well as it’s sound elements. Koshiro is cited as saying this endeavor may surpass Streets of Rage 2 in its soundtrack. With these elements coming together fan’s may look forward to this title come next month.