Nostalgia gets a contemporary spin in the retro-inspired, 2D pixel art fighter

Aksys Games announced today that Blazing Strike, the 2D fighting game from developer RareBreed Makes Games, is coming to consoles and PC in spring 2022. Inspired by classic arcade fighting game series from industry greats such as Capcom and SNK, Blazing Strike evokes the excitement and nostalgia of 2D pixel art genre pioneers while incorporating a unique games system with modern mechanics.

“As the interest in fighting games continues to grow, we’re excited to see a title that explores new ideas in fun and creative ways while tipping its hat to grandfathers of the genre,” said Akibo Shieh, founder and CEO of Aksys Games.

“I was always fond of classic fighting games and I wanted to make a fun fighting game with an emphasis on mobility,” said Mark Chung, founder of RareBreed Makes Games. “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.”

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.