Akira is one of the most influential anime works of all time. Featuring a cyberpunk cityscape, futuristic motorcycles, psychic experiments and much more, it sounds like the perfect kind of property to adapt to the realm of video games.
Game companies thought so too. An Akira game did release on the original Nintendo Famicom console in Japan, but unfortunately (or fortunately, judging from reviews) never made it West. Fast-forward a few years to 1993, and another Akira game was in the works for the Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis. Black Pearl Studios, which would later be acquired by THQ, was behind the project.
The game never officially saw release. Development problems caused the game to be cancelled midway through development, but not before it made an appearance at CES in 1994. Via Unseen 64, fans can now get a glimpse at what the Genesis version of the game looked like in action.
The game footage comes from a longer compilation of CES footage via PS Nation that can be viewed here. As for Akira, it's clear the game was a work in progress at the time. In fact, it looks more like a slideshow of possible game ideas than a cohesive whole. There are motorcycle racing segments, first-person levels that aren't so different from what you might see in the first Doom, 2D platforming areas and more. It's almost like four different games all mushed into one.
Perhaps that explains why the game ultimately never saw release. Making games is no easy task, and is, without a doubt, much harder when every level is a completely different gameplay style from the last. According to SNES Akira developer Jim Gregory (via Anime News Network), the plug was eventually pulled on the anime adaptation after numerous team members left the project. Gregory also cited issues with the game's project manager as a reason for the game's cancellation.
Even though fans will never get the chance to play it, it's still fun taking a trip down memory lane and thinking about what could have been. You can watch game footage of Akira below.
