Konami revealed that its bringing back an older 8-bit property that never made it out west. GetsuFumaDen: Undying Moon is a follow up to Getsu Fūma Den, which graced the Famicom back in 1987. I doubt that anyone would have predicted another game in the series was on its way after 34 years — but it is. GetsuFumaDen: Undying Moon is heading to PC via Steam in Early Access this May.
GetsuFumaDen: Undying Moon was revealed earlier today during the Nintendo Indie World Showcase. The game takes place 1,000 years after the story of the original. Ryūkotsuki, a demon lord, was defeated and thrown back to Hell along with his horde, and peace returned to the world. But, as demon lords are wont to do, Ryūkotsuki has returned. Now, it’s up to you and your arsenal of weapons (and your umbrella) to send the beast back to its home.
Admittedly, I never played the original game. It was, like for many, way out of my reach when I was a kid. Looking at some longplays of the 1987 game, you’d be hard-pressed to spot many similarities between it and its sequel. The game blended side-scrolling combat while periodically sending you to an overhead view. Enemies in the latter scenario wander about, and touching them sent you to short, side-scrolling combat area. It’s similar to the overworld in Zelda II: The Adventure of Link. Some have claimed that GetsuFumaDen inspired the 1989 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game on NES, also by Konami. I can see it.
Pretty as a picture
GetsuFumaDen: Undying Moon is not completely trying to be like its predecessor, however. The game is still a 2D hack ‘n slash RPG, but with massive boss fights, as well as roguelike and Metroid-like elements. It’s the indie game bingo. You have to rely on expertly timed reactions in order to survive attacks, while striking back with katanas, clubs, and spears. There’s also a “battle umbrella,” which is just super.
What should stand out the most is not entirely the combat, but the aesthetic. Konami and co-developer GuruGuru are making some real art with GetsuFumaDen: Undying Moon. The game looks mesmerizingly gorgeous, with visuals inspired by the Japanese ukiyo-e art style. If you’re struggling to picture what that means, think of the famous “The Great Wave off Kanagawa” or other works by Katsushika Hokusai. It looks even better in motion, so be sure to check out the trailer.
GetsuFumaDen: Undying Moon is set to launch on PC via Steam as an Early Access game on May 13.
