Nicalis and Studio Saizensen announced that the cross-branded fighting game, Blade Strangers, will launch for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and on Steam for PC starting this summer for $39.99.
The game will be available both as a physical and digital release on the Switch and PS4, but will only receive a digital release on PC.
The game is currently in development by Japanese outfit Studio Saizensen and will feature a both online and offline modes, a four-button control scheme, counters, combos, and special moves.
Much like Capcom, SNK and Arc System Works, Studio Saizensen opted to use 3D character models for the game. However, they also decided to utilize filters to give the game a sprite-based look by using individual frame rendering with rasterization effects, this allows the models to appear as if they were hand-animated like sprites.
You can see the intro for Blade Strangers with the video below to get an idea of what sort of art-style they’re going for with the game.
The confirmed roster so far includes characters from Cave Story+, Code of Princess EX, Umihara Kawase and two all new characters originally created specifically for Blade Strangers. You can check out the full roster below:
• Curly Brace (Cave Story+)
• Solange (Code of Princess EX)
• Ali (Code of Princess EX)
• Liongate (Code of Princess EX)
• Master T (Code of Princess EX)
• Kawase (Umihara Kawase series)
• Noko (Umihara Kawase series)
• Emiko (Umihara Kawase series)
• Lina (all-new character)
• Helen (all-new character)
The game will come jam packed with a full offline story mode, a mission mode, an arcade mode, and a versus mode, along with online competitive modes and leaderboard support.
It’s nice to see more fighting games coming to the Nintendo Switch, which I think will certainly help flesh out the system’s library of software. My only issue is that Nintendo really needs to do more to put a spotlight on a lot of these games because I think some of the more noteworthy titles are being swept under the rug during release due to a lack of hype and marketing promotion.
Nevertheless, if you want to learn more about Blade Strangers, feel free to pay a visit to the official Nicalis website.
