Okinawa Rush (Switch) Review
Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox, Switch (reviewed) Developer: Sokaikan Limited Publisher: No Gravity Games Release Date: October 28th, 2021 Price: $19.99
Do you fondly remember the whole battalion of Martial Arts themed fighting games from back in the day? Do you like the gore from 1980s teen slasher movies? If so, bow onto the mat and have a look at Okinawa Rush and see something we’ve seen before. Okinawa Rush is yet another “retro” title that harkens back to the days of 16-bit arcade game from the early 90s. Depending on your point of view, this is either because nostalgia is a thing in marketing or because making good graphics is hard. In this case, it's nostalgia and the developers went all in with the retro concept, right down to scan lines that can be turned on or off and deliberately awful voice acting in a bald face and completely successful attempt to evoke titles like Tekken. The graphics are pixelated, the animation is excellent, and the whole game is swimming in the slasher film style gore typical of these old fighting titles. As a bonus, for those who appreciate the genre anyway, the cutscenes reference at least a couple of old kung fu movies.
Ninjas, why is it always ninjas?
There are three selectable characters, Hiro and his bigger brother, Shin – and the much quicker Meilin. They all have unique moves, different play styles and add some variety and replay value. Of course, there is multiplayer, so you can cooperate with your little brother or beat him until he thinks he’s a tuna salad sandwich. The game has two modes, story and arcade. I like arcade because not only is it a good introduction to the game and its mechanics, but it's what we are really here for, uncomplicated violence. In arcade mode, you face off across the mat against an opponent and to quote another title in the genre, “FIGHT!” This is the typical multi-directional scrolling combat you expect in this game.
We will collect many things, and maybe punch a brick wall!
Story mode adds a little background and structure to the whole thing, with the goal of reaching the final boss after fighting your way through his various traps and underlings. There are also environmental hazards, such as pit traps, that add a bit of random hazard to your quest. As you progress you will encounter artifacts that serve as in-game currency which you can spend to spruce up your dojo and boost your stats in the unlockable mini-games. You can also replenish your health by collecting food, and find various buffs with the usual sort of power ups. The combat is straightforward to learn, but can be quite challenging relying on timing and of course quick reflexes. There are special attacks to learn, including some that evoke the ghost of Macho-Man Randy Savage. I love taking out a ninja with a good ole fashioned piledriver. There are also some scattered weapons which are rare but extremely varied.
Bottom-line, Okinawa Rush is a well-executed homage to the fighting games of old, and it gives you plenty of variation and options to give this title more staying power than most in the genre.
The Good:
Faithful homage to old fighting games
Well Executed
High replay value
The Bad:
Too violent for the little ones
Soundtrack gets a bit old
My 12-year-old kicks my butt