Retro-Inspired Game “Earthion” Launching on Nintendo Switch

Limited Run Games and Ancient Corporation—gotta love those names—are cooking up something wild called Earthion for the Nintendo Switch. So, what’s the deal with this game? It’s a 16-bit shoot ‘em up, if that rings any bells. You play as Azusa Takahashi, a space fighter pilot navigating eight levels. Each spot’s got its own vibe, complete with enemies and these massive bosses that fill up your screen like those old-school arcade games. Who doesn’t love a bit of nostalgia, right?

And talk about a power team working on this. There’s Makoto Wada, who you might have heard of from games like Gotta Protectors. Music? Oh, they’ve snagged Yuzo Koshiro, famous for Streets of Rage. And the art? That’s covered by Mitsuhiro Arita, who did stuff for Marvel and Pokémon. Funny how they bring the big guns for what seems like a simple side-scroller.

Okay, diving into the game features. Here we go, but don’t quote me on this because I’m just a tad scattered. You’ve got eight stages—yeah, I already said that, but it’s worth repeating because each one’s a new adventure. And Koshiro’s music? It’s like 27 tracks of pure retro bliss. Sound effects are there too, of course. For those who love tweaking settings, there are configurable scanlines and display options, helping you relive those CRT days. Remember password systems? They’re back! Oh, and a music player mode. I mean, because why not? Plus, there’s online leaderboards—so you can show off.

Oh, one sec, almost forgot! They’ve got some playable demos from the game’s development, so if you’re a geek for behind-the-scenes content, you’re in for a treat.

They’re planning to drop Earthion on the Nintendo eShop worldwide later this year. Who knows exactly when? Just keep your eyes peeled.