The game had a very interesting description given by Kondansha: “Karaage. Japanese fried chicken. Does anyone squeeze a lemon or drizzle mayonnaise over this tender, bite-sized treat? When presented with a single dish, a dispute over this age-old question escalates into an epic showdown between the two rival factions of this superpower family!” The theme they mentioned was around the ‘family feud’ of how each family member had a different take on the perfect karaage dish and how they could be resolved in 2v2 co-op battles. Indie game creators Kondansha Game Creator’s Lab (GCL) explained that the importance of having two players on each team was that one player would be the Attacker and the other the Support. The basic idea would be that the Attacker would dish out and dish out a lot of melee damage while the Support player would help out with ranged attacks and a varied skill set. Kondansha GCL noted that “teamwork was key”. They stated how each character could play as Attacker or Support, but their skills change depending on the role they would be chosen to play. For example, the eldest son came equipped with fast movement speed, so being an Attacker could be advantageous. Then, if Grandpa is equipped as a Support, he would have an ability that would allow him to hit bouncing bombs that would limit the opponent’s movements. So far, four characters have been revealed: Brother Kuon, Sister Akane, Grandpa Ryugen, and Father Kokushi. Of course, each playable had a story with different personalities and skills. They have already teased that more characters will be introduced later. With the rise of fighting games like MultiVersus and teases from Riot Games’ League of Legends-based Project L, the limits could be endless for the fighting genre. While Kondansha’s game will focus on the 3D aspects, Project L will use 2D side-scrolling art. And MultiVersus reflects the style of the Super Smash Bros. games. that have been released in the past. The fighting genre quickly evolved from the roots of Tekken, Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat and many others. Kondansha GCL revealed that Early Access would last around three months. They noted how the price could change later, especially if there was additional content. Family Battle was currently about $9.00 with the small, introductory discount, but $11.49 for its regular price. The game team also answered questions about the available play modes. For now, players will only be able to participate in online custom match mode and online match mode. However, they already said that the full version will have an online ranked match system. The game’s publishers recognized that three months would be enough time to gather feedback from the community through videos and actual gameplay. Like many Japanese-made games, Family Battle will not currently be supported in English. The interface, characters, and menus will all be in Japanese text, and the audio will be in Japanese. The creator of the game, neganmeteacher (Yoshiaki Nakamichi) is known for his other games such as Super Drink Bros. and the Spy Rumble. When Super Drink Bros. was released on Steam on November 13, 2020. Nakamichi posted and continues to stream his game’s development footage on YouTube and Twitch. He was famously known for his Twitch live stream that featured his attempt to create a game in 48 hours and was titled Ultimate Super Powers Old Maid ~3 Days~. Overall, the game seemed to be Nakamichi’s biggest project to date—especially with Kondansha Ltd.’s significant support. Family Battle 2vs2 Arena is currently available to purchase and play on Steam (PC) starting August 5, 2022. Here’s a list of the four characters and their descriptions to whet your appetite:
Brother: Kuon Calm and collected, he tends to take after his father. However, he talks a lot and has a somewhat admirable love of starting arguments on social media. For some reason, though, he finds it hard to trust when his sister is around. Kuon’s weapon of choice is his trusty laser weapon. When it comes to karaage, it usually goes with neck meat.
Sister: Akane Always overconfident, he is the most competitive member of the family. However, she loves them all dearly and often dedicates poems to them on her social media. Her weapon of choice is a giant hammer. When it comes to karaage, thigh meat is her choice.
Grandfather: Ryugen Dedicated craftsman and inventor. Although he holds a large number of patents, few of his inventions are of the kind that actually benefit society. His weapons consist of various junk and machine guns of his own creation. When it comes to karaage, it’s all about the coat.
Father: Kokushi A typical workday consists of battling pesky sales quotas using his unparalleled office processing skills. However, when the true fight begins, he enters the fray wielding the power of darkness. Due to his inability to properly express his feelings outwardly, a strong storm of human emotions is hidden inside his heart. When it comes to karaage, he prefers wings.
