Most fighting games are themed around one-on-one, button-mashing combat. Gamers are encouraged to learn complex combinations and timing based counter attacks in 60fps battles. However, Nicalis wants to take that concept but apply it to the competitive puzzle genre with their upcoming game, Crystal Crisis.

The game is very similar to SNK’s old Puzzle Bobble games or the Puzzle Fighter titles; but instead of simply playing a game of match-3, you’ll have to bust gems in a Tetris style setup in order to build up your gauge and launch attacks against your opponent, eventually defeating them with your puzzle-popping skills.

Crystal Crisis sports 19 total playable characters, many coming from a wide range of indie games, but four of whom are original. The full roster includes:

• Quote, Curly Brace and Ballos (from Cave Story)
• Isaac (from The Binding of Isaac)
• Atom and Black Jack (from Tezuka Productions)
• Princess Solange (from Code of Princess EX and Blade Strangers)
• Aban, Tina and Jim Hawkins (from 1001 Spikes)
• President Thompson and a Zombie (from The Tempura of the Dead)
• Akuji (from Akuji the Demon)
• Knight (from Hydra Castle Labyrinth)
• Johnny Turbo (notorious TurboDuo spokesman)
• Helen – a noble warrior inspired by Greek mythology (also appearing in Blade Strangers)
• Hunter – a whip-wielding vampire killer
• Elise – a bat-winged gothic vampire girl
• Ninja – a mysterious and acrobatic shinobi

What a weird selection of characters.

Anyway, the puzzle-battling game will see players attempting to use their wits and their special attacks in order to overcome their opponents. Much like other versus-fighting games out there, each character will have their own stage, musical them, and special attack abilities, along with accompanying voice acting. Yes, they seem to have gone all out on this one.

You can get a brief glimpse of what the gameplay is like with the trailer below.

So as you can see, the game has fairly fast-paced battle sequences based on how well and how quickly you can match-up the blocks. According to the press release you’ll need to raise the burst gauge for your character so that when it fills up to the top you can unleash a devastating and powerful attack.

This seems like the kind of game that will fit in nicely with the rest of the Switch’s library of titles.

You can look for Crystal Crisis to launch this fall, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch for $39.99. Later on Nicalis has plans on announcing the availability of the physical release as well, which will come with a physical collectible item.