Yo! Joe! We’re getting a brand new retro-inspired beat ’em up game called G.I. JOE: Wrath of Cobra!
The announcement came in the form of an animated reveal trailer, complete with a very ’80s theme song about the Real American Heroes. Several classic characters make an appearance, including Snake Eyes, Duke, Gung Ho, Cobra Commander, Destro, Scarlett, Destro, Storm Shadow, Road Block, and Zartan.
The gameplay shows off what looks like a pretty standard side-scrolling brawler. Oddly, we’re only shown single-player combat, but the title will support local and online co-op.
Rather than matching the aesthetics of the Hasbro toy line, G.I. JOE: Wrath of Cobra follows the look and feel of the Sunbow and Marvel Productions cartoon.
G.I. JOE: Wrath of Cobra is being developed by Maple Powered Games, a company also responsible for a retro-styled farming RPG called Monster Harvest. Publishing duties are being done by Freedom Games.
G.I. JOE: Wrath of Cobra can be wishlisted at the Epic Games Store and Steam. The game is expected to be released in 2024.
Over the past few years, we’ve seen a trend with retro franchises getting the beat ’em up treatment. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles returned with the excellent Shredder’s Revenge, and in the near future, the Toxic Crusaders will also be joining the mix.
“Yo Joe! Cobra returns once again with its most fiendish plot yet, and it’s up to G.I. JOE to defeat them once more! Pick one of the real American heroes, gear up, and get straight into the fight in this retro side-scrolling beat ’em up – and make Cobra RETREAT yet again!”
- Retro Gameplay in a Modern Era: Wrath of Cobra takes the classic arcade beat ’em up and brings it into the modern age: Easy to play, hard to master, and smoother than a ride in a H.I.S.S. Want to play with your friends? The game supports local multiplayer (eg. from your couch) and online co-op!
- Play as Classic Heroes: Fight Cobra as your favorite G.I. JOE heroes, painstakingly recreated in beautiful pixel art. The differences between characters aren’t just cosmetic: Each hero has different movesets and unique abilities. From the fast and nimble Snake Eyes to the rough and tumble Roadblock, each character is true to form!
- Battle Iconic Villains: Cobra isn’t just the Cobra Commander, it’s also its legions! Face hordes of troopers, armored Alley Vipers, artificial B.A.T.s, armed with some of the most iconic weapon systems in the franchise, including the H.I.S.S., C.L.A.W., and the notorious Trubble Bubble.
- Retro-Infused Soundtrack: Foil the Commander’s plot to the beat of classic G.I. JOE themes, reimagined by industry veterans at Kid Katana Records, bringing a modern twist to classic arcade music!
- Post-Launch Support: Like Destro’s plots, Wrath of Cobra will continue with extensive post-launch support, bringing more G.I. JOE heroes into the fray, adding new game modes, levels, and more to keep the G.I. JOE legacy alive!
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