Lost RPG From Metal Slug Team Finally Surfaces
Decades-Old Game Boy Advance Title Set for Switch Release
A unique role-playing game, conceived by the creators of the iconic Metal Slug series, is poised for release after being shelved for over two decades. Navinosuke: The Yo-Kai Buster, originally developed for the Game Boy Advance, was hampered by the lack of a compatible GPS accessory and is now being revived by Kohachi Studio.
A Pioneering Concept
The game’s development predates the widespread adoption of location-based gaming. Akio, a designer on Metal Slug, penned the script for Navinosuke and shared his thoughts on its potential. In retrospect, if development continues as planned, the concept of ‘turning into a game’ might have been formed 15 years before Pokémon GO.
he posted on social media.
実は、ゲームボーイアドバンス時代に、GPSを使ったRPGを開発していた事がありました。
主人公は、陰陽師を目指す少女。日本列島を旅して、妖怪を封印したり、友達になったり、世界の秩序を取り戻す物語。
残念ながら、GPSの周辺機器が発売されなかったため、日の目を見ることはありませんでした。
しかし、今、このゲームが日の目を見る日が来そうです！https://t.co/wJqJq9wJ9q— AKIO (@akio_1963) February 15, 2024
The game centers around a young woman aspiring to become an Onmyoji—a traditional Japanese spiritualist—who journeys across the Japanese archipelago, sealing monsters and forging friendships to restore balance to the world.
The Rise of Location-Based Gaming
The resurgence of Navinosuke highlights the growing popularity of location-based gaming. In 2023, the global augmented reality (AR) gaming market was valued at approximately $17.9 billion and is projected to reach $84.9 billion by 2032, according to a report by Grand View Research (Grand View Research).
A Long-Lost Project Resurrected
Kohachi Studio, comprised of developers who previously worked on Metal Slug and R-Type, successfully secured the rights to the game and is preparing it for release on the Nintendo Switch next year. Akio further described the game’s core premise:
“…A Japanese fantasy role-playing game, a puppet that dreams of becoming an Onmyoji (spiritualist) girl who travels through the Japanese archipelago, seals monsters, becomes friends with them, and restores order to the world.”
—Akio
Fans of classic RPGs and the Metal Slug team’s unique style will have a chance to experience this long-lost adventure when Navinosuke: The Yo-Kai Buster arrives on the Nintendo Switch, offering a fascinating look at a game that was ahead of its time.
