MLGG: Pop Culture News, Reviews & Interviews

It’s arguably never been a better time to be a retro gamer – as publishers left, right and centre are releasing both classic games and hidden gems from yesteryear in their droves.

One such hidden gem is on the way from indie publisher Ratalaika Games and Shinyuden, who have announced the forthcoming release of Cyber Citizen Shockman, on May 19th 2023.

A title previously only released in Japan on PC Engine, Cyber Citizen Shockman has never before released in the West – yet, at last, it’s venturing outside of its home territory on modern consoles.

Launching on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Microsoft Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch, this retro arcade action platformer starring both male and female protagonists, it’ll have a number of improvements over the original game, while still retaining the elements that made it so popular in its native Japan upon release.

Set to be the first title in the series releasing in the West, the plan is to release the entire Shockman titles over the course of the year.

Cyber Citizen Shockman features two Japanese school kids named Tasuke and Kyapiko, who – in a fairly Astro Boy-esque twist – are actually androids built by a mad scientist.

The scientist – known only as ‘Doc’ – built the robot school children with the ability to morph into armoured superheroes, known as the titular Shockman.

Their mission is to battle the forces of Dark Skull – who was Doc’s first attempt at a cyborg, which went rogue!

With the Skull Force seeking to take over the city, they have captured innocent civilians – and as Shockman, you’re tasked with rescuing the civilians and taking back the city, one building at a time!

The 2D, hack and slash gameplay takes players on an adventure through 18 stages with multiple routes to explore, collecting items and power ups as they progress.

This new version features an image gallery, rewind functions, save states and an entirely new English translation alongside the original Japanese version of the game.

For added faux authenticity, a CRT filter is also included!

Cyber Citizen Shockman is definitely one for old school players and fans of classic, pixel art, 2D titles – it’s coming to a console near you on the 28th of May, so get ready to take on Dark Skull’s evil forces!

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