NEKCOM and 4Divinity have unveiled a brand-new trailer for SHOWA AMERICAN STORY during gamescom Opening Night Live, offering a closer look at the upcoming post-apocalyptic RPG and its bizarre alternate-history take on 1980s America.
Set in a world where Japan has purchased much of the United States, SHOWA AMERICAN STORY combines Japanese and American pop culture with zombies, monsters, over-the-top combat, and plenty of strange characters. The latest trailer focuses on protagonist Chigusa Choko’s journey through California while introducing several of the characters she will encounter along the way, including companions Michael Hero and Bubba, as well as the mysterious Mutsuki Akitora.
The trailer also highlights some of the activities Choko can participate in when she isn’t fighting her way through the wasteland. Players will be able to take part in a variety of mini-games and recreational activities, including the arcade games SpaceBunny and ShowaRun. Of course, things eventually take a much bloodier turn, with the trailer showcasing Choko’s brutal combat abilities through a series of bloody combos, executions, and creative takedowns.
SHOWA AMERICAN STORY follows Choko, a young woman who mysteriously returns from the dead and awakens to a world overrun by zombies, monsters, and eccentric survivors. As she travels across the United States searching for answers, Choko will uncover more about what happened to the world and the mysterious powers she has gained.
Combat will combine melee and ranged weapons, with Choko able to turn everything from traditional weapons to bizarre objects into instruments of destruction. Players can switch between different weapons and make use of weapon-specific attacks, dodges, counters, and executions while taking on hordes of enemies in fast-paced real-time battles.
Choko can also improve her abilities as she levels up, allowing players to customise her stats and unlock new skills. Completing mini-games and other activities will provide additional opportunities to enhance her abilities, giving players more reasons to explore the game’s unusual take on post-apocalyptic America.
The game’s world will take players across a “Japanified” version of the United States, featuring reimagined locations and cities including Neo Yokohama, formerly Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, and Neo Tokyo #4, formerly Austin. Along the way, Choko will meet a variety of survivors, with some joining her as companions. Dialogue choices and player actions will also have an impact on the world and its characters.
Combat is just as unconventional as the game’s setting, with Choko gaining access to an extensive arsenal that includes samurai swords, firearms, a drill arm, and even an American flag. The game also features numerous side quests and mini-games designed to expand the world while providing stat boosts and other rewards.
The unusual setting and visual style of SHOWA AMERICAN STORY are rooted in the experiences of NEKCOM’s development team. Creative director XY.Luo and other members of the studio grew up in China during the Reform and Opening-Up era of the 1980s, when American and Japanese popular culture became increasingly influential. The game draws from that cultural experience, combining Japanese influences with an alternate version of North America through the perspective of Chinese creators.
SHOWA AMERICAN STORY is set to launch on Windows PC via Steam and PlayStation 5. The game is currently available to wishlist.
For more information, players can visit the official SHOWA AMERICAN STORY website and follow the game on social media.