Update [Thu 8th Sep, 2022 10:45 BST]: ININ Games has officially announced that it is bringing Cannon Dancer to the west in early 2023. It has also revealed that the game is getting special physical editions for selected platforms.

Here's the PR:

ININ Games is happy to announce that Cannon Dancer by Mitchell Corp. is coming to Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 (PS4), PlayStation 5 (PS5) and Xbox for the first time ever, with a planned release in Q1 2023. Originally only released for arcade machines in Japan and North America, ININ Games unearthed the game and will bring it to consoles as a digital download version for the first time ever - with a brand-new translation, additional features, and more.

After being released during the 90s fighting-game hype Cannon Dancer, also known as “Osman” in the US, slowly began to fade out of arcades due to the small number of units. Over the years, the title became a video game legend, with fans around the globe interested in getting their hands on it. Almost 30 years later, ININ Games has teamed up with two key members of the original development team to finally bring the game to modern home consoles: the game designer Kouichi Yotsui (also known as "Isuke" and famous for his work on “Strider”) and the artist Takashi Kogure (better known as “Utata Kiyoshi”).

Cannon Dancer will also be part of the ININ Games line-up at Tokyo Game Show 2022 and there will even be a meet-and-greet opportunity with Yotsui-san and Kogure-san on Saturday the 17th of September at the ININ booth in Hall 2 D6. The exact details will be released on Twitter soon.

As is so often the case, ININ Games is creating a special limited edition version of the game via Strictly Limited Games. The 'regular' Limited Edition will consist of a physical copy of the game and a manual, while the 'Collector’s Edition' comes with several additional items.

These will both be available for the Nintendo Switch, PS4 and PS5, and pre-orders commence on Sunday, September 18th, at 12 AM CEST via the Strictly Limited site.

Screenshot2022 09 08 At10.41.23 Am

The Collector’s Edition will include the following:

  • Cannon Dancer Game + Game Manual

  • High-quality Collector’s Edition Box

  • Artbook (B5)

  • Soundtrack in Jewel Case

  • Tenugui (Japanese-style towel)

  • Arcade Coin

  • Acrylic Diorama

  • Reversible Poster (A2)

  • Arcade Instruction Flyer (A5)

  • Calendar & Photo Frame (metal) with 2023 Calendar

  • Postcards

  • Marquee Sticker

Original Story [Wed 31st Aug, 2022 12:15 BST]: While it is one of Capcom's most beloved arcade hits, Strider wasn't the runaway commercial smash the company had hoped for, and its designer Kouichi "Isuke" Yotsui would eventually leave to join Mitchell Corp., where he created what many consider to be an unofficial sequel in the form of Cannon Dancer (AKA Osman) in 1996.

During production the game was referred to by its staff as "Strider Hiryu Part 2", and even Yotsui considers it to be "his" Strider sequel (Capcom would produce the 'true' Strider 2 in 1999, without Yotsui's involvement, and the US Gold-made Strider 2 from 1990 is best forgotten if we're honest). It's a wonderfully chaotic and often dazzling action platformer, but one that has sadly remained exclusive to arcades since its release.

Cannon Dancer was never ported to any home system at the time and was considered to be something of a lost classic by many. Thankfully, it is now getting another chance to shine due to the efforts of Konami and ININ, who are releasing it on PS4 and Switch:

Have you played this one, perhaps via emulation? Or were you lucky enough to experience it in arcades back in the '90s? Let us know with a comment.

[source twitter.com]