I have always had a soft spot for noir anime and SRPGs. I’m a big fan of old school 90s anime like Big O and Cowboy Bebop, whilst also being a lover of games like XCOM and Fire Emblem. If you are at all interested in any of these genres, Police Team Kazuo is definitely a game you need to keep your eye on. Developed by indie developers Askiisoft, Police Team Kazuo tasks you as a group of ex-mercenaries from the group known as Kazuo, who are brought out of retirement to combat ghosts of the past and threats from the present. It is up to you to marshal this force of veteran fighters, build up your Police Team and face down these new threats.
The game has lain dormant for a fair few months, and has now risen out of the shadows (much like its protagonists) to reveal itself to the world and show off what it has going for it. According to the developers, Police Team Kazuo will have a lot in common with XCOM, with players having to plan their attacks in great details, keeping track of possible entries and exits for enemies as well as comboing their squad’s attacks together in order to finish a mission with as little blood or bullets spent. As for the visuals, the game’s promotional material really captures that anime noir feel, with fantastic pixel art depicting the ragtag group of enforcers that you will control over the course of the game. You have psychic baronesses, vengeful police chiefs and even explosive-mad children. Expect a colourful cast of characters throughout your time with the Police Team, as well as that quintessential anime noir atmosphere.
If you want to keep track of Police Team Kazuo throughout development, you can check out its dedicated Tumblr page here, along with its official website here. We will be keeping track of this game throughout development, hopefully getting a preview or even an interview as the game gets further into development. This one looks like it could be a sleeper hit.