Fighting games have become increasingly sophisticated over the years, with elaborate combo systems, increasingly complicated mechanics, and demanding execution becoming a major part of the genre. However, not every developer is interested in following that direction. XENOH: DYNAMIC BOUT, an upcoming 2D fighting game from PROJECT ATSUKI, is instead looking to capture the appeal of classic arcade fighters with a more accessible approach to combat.
Published by Henteko Doujin, XENOH: DYNAMIC BOUT takes considerable inspiration from the 1990s era of fighting games, particularly the visual presentation associated with Neo Geo releases. Its large character sprites and traditional 2D presentation give it the appearance of something that could have occupied an arcade cabinet decades ago, but its approach to combat is arguably its more interesting feature.
Rather than relying on complicated command inputs, the game uses a straightforward four-button control scheme consisting of Punch, Kick, Super Power Attack, and Gauge. Special actions are performed using the Gauge button, making it easier for newcomers to experiment with their characters without having to memorize extensive move lists. That doesn’t mean the developers are abandoning competitive mechanics, however, as players will still need to understand their opponents and recognize opportunities to counter their attacks.
PROJECT ATSUKI is also bringing back the Dash Counter, a signature mechanic from its AXEL CITY fighting game series. Joining it is a new technique called Crash Hit, which can leave an opponent’s Dash Counter vulnerable to a punishing follow-up combo. These mechanics should give experienced fighting game players something to explore while keeping the basic controls relatively approachable.
XENOH: DYNAMIC BOUT will feature 13 playable fighters, each with their own martial arts styles and motivations for entering the titular Dynamic Bout tournament. The game will include a Story Mode featuring 10 consecutive battles against randomly selected opponents, alongside Versus and Training modes. Players looking to test their abilities against others will also have access to online multiplayer with rollback netcode, ranked matches, and worldwide leaderboards.
The combination of simplified controls and rollback networking is particularly interesting, as it suggests PROJECT ATSUKI isn’t simply interested in recreating the appearance of an old arcade fighter. It is also attempting to make that traditional fighting game experience work within a modern competitive environment.
XENOH: DYNAMIC BOUT is currently planned for an early 2027 release on PC through Steam. The game is being developed for Windows 10 and Windows 11, with support for nine languages, including English, Japanese, Korean, French, German, and both Simplified and Traditional Chinese. More information can be found through its Steam page.