Pocky and Rocky Reshrined introduces some radical new heroes

The Dynamic Duo aren’t coming alone

It’s been an undeniably long time since I first brought y’all news of Pocky & Rocky Reshrined, the delightful-looking anime shmup currently in the works at veteran developer Natsume. Well, following a lengthy wait and an unwelcome delay, the ghost-bashing buddies are almost set to make their return.

As a quick refresher, Pocky and Rocky Reshrined — despite the connotations of its title — is a fully-fledged sequel to 1992 SNES release KiKi KaiKai: Nazo no Kuro Mantle, localized in the west simply as Pocky & Rocky. The shrine maiden and her tanuki buddy will return in a brand new bout of top-down run ‘n’ gun action, taking on hordes of undead creatures in an effort to protect the town from the duo’s returning nemesis: The Black Mantle.

As you can see from the new trailer above, Pocky and Rocky will not be alone in this particular quest, as they are accompanied by three additional new characters. While full details (including localized names) are still to be revealed, new protagonists Ame no Uzume, Gozen Hotaru, Ikazuchi will be on hand to lend our faithful heroes some assistance, each supporting their own unique weapons, skills, and abilities.

I love the samurai gal!

Pocky & Rocky Reshrined might be taking its sweet time to arrive, but lordy it looks like a solid dose of classic arcade action. I can’t wait to check it out when it arrives, later this spring, on PS4 and Nintendo Switch. In the meantime, check out this delightful, old-school splash art below.