Resident Evil Creator Gets God Hand
Atsushi Inaba and Shinji Mikami take time off to deliver a new fighter steeped in blood and laughs. First screens.
Capcom's upcoming lupine action game Okami has been hailed as one of the most artistic titles yet. For its next PlayStation 2 game, though, developer Clover Studios is trading paintbrushes for gilded hands in a tale of violence and comedy.
God Hand, the latest game from Viewtiful Joe creator Atsushi Inaba and Resident Evil boss Shinji Mikami, sees lead character Gene going up against hordes of superpowered bandits who are looking for the fabled God Hand - a golden hand that carries special powers, and which just so happens to have replaced Gene's amputated appendage.
While the justice is meted swiftly and the action is brutal, God Hand will not be without its comedic overtones, which producer Atsushi Inaba says will let you "laugh while playing". These slapstick moments range from metal baths falling out the sky on our hapless hero to everyone's favourite kicks to the groin.
Rather than a typical one-on-on fighter, God Hand is more along the lines of classic scrolling brawlers such as Final Fight - themselves in fashion these days. Don't expect swords or guns though. Inaba said he set out to create a bare-hands action game, though you will be able to use items lying around levels to attack foes.
So far Capcom has only confirmed God Hand for release in Japan, some time later this year.
Alex Wollenschlaeger
Editor, Kikizo Games
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