Cardboard Robot Games' Pocket Rumble is a proposed 2D fighting game that homages the beautifully nostalgic style of handheld Neo Geo Pocket Color fighters and offers accessible, strategy centric gameplay. It can be difficult to jump into more established titles these days given their strict execution requirements and wide skill gaps between beginner and advanced players. Even something like Ultra Street Fighter IV can make for an alienating experience when someone new to the series hops into the shark infested waters of online battle. Pocket Rumble addresses this issue head on.
Each of Pocket Rumble's characters will have access to four special moves of their own, all of which are easily executed by pressing forward or back, down, and a button at the same time. Normal moves are also streamlined, with only two attack buttons available. Despite the simplicity, the cast will have diverse play styles (including classic fighting game archetypes such as zoners and grapplers) that give the game depth. The primary focus is on basic strategy, creating classic gameplay that should appeal to newcomers and established fans of the genre.
Some of the game's other features are seriously forward-thinking. For example, the versus mode allows you to pick a "backup character" that you can switch to before the round starts if you're uncomfortable using your main against whomever your opponent selects. Another concept uses statistics regarding your play style to create a ghost AI. If you find a player online that you struggle against, you can actually download their ghost to practice against. That brings competing with recorded runs in Mario Kart time trials to mind, and its potential as a learning tool can't possibly be understated.
The ambition of Cardboard Robot Games doesn't end there however. They also hope to include DLC and mod support, secret characters based on newer gaming icons like the Candyman from Lethal League, and a port of the game that actually works with the Neo Geo Pocket Color. I mean, whoa. Full details can be found in the lead programmer's video below:
At present, Pocket Rumble is being funded via Kickstarter. The goal is a fairly modest $22,500, an amount the developers hope to attain by December 9th, 2014. Several rewards are available for backers, ranging from exclusive t-shirts to the chance to design your own secret boss battle.
By combining a loving nod towards old Neo Geo handheld titles like Fatal Fury: First Contact and accessible gameplay, Cardboard Robot Games has a recipe for what looks to be a tremendously fun fighting game with broad appeal. I hope I'm one of many playing Pocket Rumble on its projected release date in December, 2015.
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