Nowadays, it feels like many games pull elements from other stories, rather than doing anything new. Some developers choose to pay tribute to the past through spiritual successors, such as Yooka-Laylee to Banjo-Kazooie, or Pizza Tower to Wario Land. On the other hand, there are games that take a subtle approach in highlighting their influences, and do so through easter eggs or similar mechanics. I think this approach is a great one, and the best examples of both approaches are ones that balance the homages with the new ideas. Then, there’s whatever Showa American Story is.
I had heard about Showa American Story when it was first revealed, and immediately, I was staggered by the premise. A Chinese company making a game that homages both Japanese and American media? How could that possibly work? The most recent Gamescom 2026 trailer only furthered my confusion, especially when I saw the protagonist wielding an American flag as a weapon against zombies. When I was given the chance to play it in person, I really had no idea what to expect. What Showa American Story gave me was a game that is arguably one of the weirdest I have ever played in my life. Yet, despite that, it still manages to be a great time both despite and due to its oddities.
You play as Chigusa Choko, a protagonist wearing a mask who is operating as a vigilante throughout Neo Yokohama. As she wanders the streets in search of her sister, she is accompanied by allies Michael Hero and Bubba. Currently, their backstories and origins are unknown, but more will likely be revealed in the full release. What was immediately apparent though, was just how consistently referential the writing of Showa American Story is.
Within seconds of walking around, the protagonists encounter members of the faction known as The Warriors, a group that wears clown make-up and leather jackets. In each subsequent fight with the gang, they will always make comments about a certain classic American show, or rant about how they want to make Neo Yokohama back into Los Angeles. The example of this that stuck out to me the most was in the second fight with The Warriors, where they harass a guy who claims he was “just running home to watch Knight Rider.” Then, one of the Warriors remarks that he’s lying because “Knight Rider airs on Wednesdays!”
This is applicable to everything I experienced within the demo. Leaders within The Warrior faction will wear outfits based on the Statue of Liberty, with their boss theme even being a patriotic American track. One of the weapons you can utilize, a drill, directly references Gurren Lagann. Even the name, “The Warriors,” is a very unsubtle nod to the 1979 movie of the same name. At first, I found these constant references exhausting. The more I played, though, the more I started to love it. It is undeniably charming to see the many allusions to both American and Japanese media as a fan of both, and I would be lying if I said there were not moments where I cackled at some of the dialogue spoken.
Another reason why I fell in love with Showa American Story is its gameplay. It may feel like the Yakuza games at first, but the far greater brutality will immediately dispel that notion. You can build up a stun on opponents, and then “execute” them with your weapon. These execution animations are incredibly violent, perhaps unsurprisingly, with the sword one in particular having Chigusa cut a character’s head off. There is also a far greater emphasis on combos and super moves, both of which can do devastating damage to opponents. There are even air combos, which I certainly was not expecting.
On paper, Showa American Story should have been a disaster. Nothing about it makes sense, and its continuous desire to reference other media goes far beyond a “cute little homage” and often borders on absurdity. But it is in that absurdity where the game is at its best. The references are as charming as they are groan-worthy, and at least one gag will get a chuckle out of any player. Most importantly, the gameplay is so addicting, and by the time I got to the end of the demo, I was hooked on everything it had to offer.
I am so interested to see what other references Showa American Story has up its sleeves, as well as how its story develops, when the game releases at a later date for PC via Steam and PlayStation 5.
