Developer Nekcom and publisher 4Divinity released new footage for the action role-playing game Showa American Story during the opening night of Gamescom. The game is set in an alternate version of the 1980s, where Japan purchased much of the United States and influenced them culturally. After a zombie epidemic breaks out, the scene becomes post-apocalyptic. The game is in development for PC (via Steam) and PlayStation 5. The relevant person in charge has not yet given a specific release date.
In Showa American Story, you take on the role of Machiko Chigusa. The protagonist wakes up from death for unknown reasons and finds himself in a world filled with undead, monsters and various human survivors.
Choko travels across the United States to discover the cause of her resurrection and the collapse of social order. This route takes you through famous Japanese-influenced locations, including Shin-Yokohama (formerly Los Angeles), San Francisco, Las Vegas, and Shin-Tokyo #4 (formerly Austin).
Gameplay is based on real-time combat against a large number of opponents. A range of close and ranged weapons can be used in combat, from katanas to drill prosthetics to improvised attack tools.
You can use evasive maneuvers, counterattacks, weapon-specific attacks, and executions to eliminate enemy forces. As you level up, Choko’s stats can be adjusted and different weapons can be combined with each other.
Additionally, the game offers a variety of mini-games and casual activities away from the main route. These include playable arcade machines (such as SpaceBunny and ShowaRun), dumbbell workouts, and other retro activities.
By completing these side jobs, you can unlock additional combat skills. According to developer NEKCOM, the game’s visual design is based on influences from the 1980s, when American and Japanese pop culture increasingly merged.
