For those who happen to be feeling a little fury over Studio MDHR's decision to expand Cuphead beyond boss fights, The Game Bakers are putting the finishing touch on a game devoid of grunts and fodder.
Set to arrive on PlayStation 4 and PC next month, Furi is essentially giving gamers one long boss fight. In this cyberpunk arena slasher, the main character awakens in a prison and goes on a gauntlet of boss fights on the way to a showdown with the jailer.
"Furi is all about the tension of one-on-one fights against deadly adversaries," says the studio. "It's an intense, ultra-responsive game with a unique mix of fast-paced sword fighting and dual-stick shooting."
The idea behind Furi, one massive string of boss fights, took hold about a decade ago, when The Game Bakers' Emeric Thoa, who is a creative director and game designer, was asked about what his perfect game would be.
Thoa envisioned "a boss fight against opponents similar to you, not gigantic creatures or demons," the studio says. "A boss fight that [feels] like a duel — a tense, exhausting, and utterly rewarding duel."
Furi is also influenced by some of the Japanese conventions for video games, which also forsake the gritty and realistic for the grand and fanciful. And this game won't hold player's hands. Apparently, the game stuido says it wants to give players "extreme satisfaction" after beating a boss.
"That means s/he'll have to sweat a little for it," adds the studio.
In Furi, players are armed with a sword and a gun, with which they can shoot and parry and dodge. They will also be able to charge up those moves to throw stronger attacks.
And while there are no super powers or a massive cache of weapons, The Game Bakers has indicated that there will be some XP gathering and leveling in a system the studio calls "simple and deep."
The guardians the protagonists will face off with, on the way to the jailer, were created by manga artist Takashi Okazaki, who is also the writer and illustator of Afro Samurai.
Furi will also feature original tunes from famed electronic musicians Waveshaper, Lorn, Scattle, Danger, Carpenter Brut and Kn1ght. Fans will have the option to download the game's soundtrack or to purchase a vinyl decorated with more art from Okazaki.
Furi will land on Steam and the PlayStation Store on July 5. There's no word on whether or not an Xbox One port is on the table or already ruled out.
