Earlier this week we brought you the news that a new beat ’em-up is heading to Dreamcast titled Blood Rush. Although it’s still early in development we caught up with John Roo from The Retro Room to get some more info about what we can expect. Checkout the trailer that shows some early gameplay and read on to hear more about Blood Rush.
How did you come to be making a Zombie game for the Dreamcast and PC?
I wanted to make a solid beat ’em-up game and when I started playing with functions and I found it fun to destroy handfuls of enemies at once. It was neat to get rushed by ten enemies and to obliterate them all in one go. After testing that and coming to the determination that it was something I wanted in the game, I tried to think about what sort of scenario that could happen in. And I thought that there was nothing better than a hoard of zombies.
What other games have influenced Blood Rush?
It’s heavily influenced by the original games in this genre like Golden Axe, Streets of Rage, and of course games in the zombie genres.
What type of game is it, and what can players expect?
It’s definitely one where you just beat up enemies. So far there is no levelling system. It’s just a good old-fashioned couch co-op game where you and your friends just slaughter zombies. It also can be played single-player, which will yield a completely different experience in my opinion. In some circumstances, just like if zombies were real, sometimes it’s best to just run away.
How far into development are you?
I want to say I’m more than halfway done with the game. I have about six or seven different environments to explore such as cities, sewers, and a mall. I want to add bosses and refine some details. The trailer is alpha footage so hopefully, it will be even cleaner when I’m finished.
Is anybody else helping with any aspects of Blood Rush?
I’m working on this one alone programming wise although I’m sharing some of the artwork duties with a contractor.
When can we expect it to be released and will be made available physically?
My girlfriend just had our baby four months ago, so it has been challenging trying to juggle things after she was born, but I am hoping to have it finished and on shelves by early to mid-2023. I will keep everyone updated as I progress on it.
Why should gamers be interested in a Dreamcast game in 2022?
I’m an avid supporter of keeping older consoles alive and well with new games. I run an entire business dedicated to releasing cancelled games that deserve a release as well as new games made by indie developers. These consoles and games still hold a lot of joy for people and retro gaming is more popular than ever. The Dreamcast is a totally underrated console and deserves more attention.
