The folks over at Tribute Games (Wizorb, Mercenary Kings, Curses ‘N Chaos) have just shared details of their upcoming release Panzer Paladin. As with their previous games, this pixelated retro affair is a 2D action game that’s very deliberately drawing inspiration from the classic 8-bit and 16-bit era.
We’ve just had the release date confirmed as July 21st, via this cinematic trailer:
Although if you want to get an idea of how the game plays, you’d be better off checking out this earlier gameplay focused trailer.
Based on the footage released, I’d say it’s going for a somewhat Castlevania or Mega Man vibe, but with plenty to set it apart, and give it it’s own identity. Particularly cool is the way you jump in and out of a mech-suit, depending on whether you need the brute strength and defensive capabilities of a giant robot suit, or the nimble agility you can use when outside of the mech-suit. If it’s anything like Tribute’s prior games, it’s going to feel solid to play, and be easy to learn but hard to master. Perhaps this will be 2020’s Shovel Knight?
This is how the developer says the game’s weapon system works:
“Swordplay is the core of the game mechanics in Panzer Paladin. The player can equip and use any weapon dropped by defeated enemies, attack or block, aim high or low, use weapons advantageously through a rock-paper-scissors style weapon type system, and cast spells by breaking weapons. Weapons abound in levels, so the player is encouraged to use them profusely. The Paladin is the main way to fight enemies, but players can also eject and control Flame, the small-but-swift Squire pilot. Flame uses a laser whip to attack enemies, swing across gaps, and even recharge the Paladin’s energy.”
Panzer Paladin is due out on Steam and Switch on July 21st.