Cave Story creator returns with retro-action gem Kero Blaster, out on PS4 next week

Hi all, I’m the creator of Kero Blaster. Most people know me as Pixel from Studio Pixel, the developer behind Cave Story. Next week, on 11th April, we are releasing Kero Blaster on PS4. A simple action game featuring a bipedal frog, this release will mark the game’s first console appearance.

Moving from Cave Story to Kero Blaster has been an interesting transition in my life. In the beginning, I was making various smaller games. After Nicalis helped me sell many copies of Cave Story, I decided to quit my job making printer software and become a full-time game developer. Kero Blaster is the first game I’ve created since then.

Kero Blaster is the result of much trial and error, considering things like the restrictions of an iPhone touch panel and what I should do to arrive at a completed product. It took some time, but I am really proud of how it turned out.

Some of you who purchase Kero Blaster might be expecting a similar experience to that of Cave Story, so I’d like to explain the game mechanics.

Kero Blaster is a linear side-scrolling action platformer. In contrast to the detailed exploration of Cave Story, in Kero Blaster the player simply proceeds right, encounters enemies, defeats the boss and moves on in a series of seven different stage types.

If the enemies feel too strong, you can power yourself up at the stores located midway through the stages. It’s designed so that players with less experience in action games can take on the challenge at their own pace.

After Kero Blaster’s initial release on iOS and Windows, a new “Zangyou Mode” was added to the game. This mode is for action-game veterans who beat the game quickly and want more. It can be unlocked by beating the game once and is available in the PS4 version.