When you have spent your whole life in video game development, it is normal to want to make your own video game. Something you consider your own. It is not the same to work on part of a larger development than to direct a game; the former is something you feel is yours, but it is not entirely yours, and the latter is creating something that comes from your gut, even if there are more people involved. And it is normal that after a lifetime working in the industry, many developers feel that need.
The latest to embark on this adventure has been Yuzo Koshiro. Considered the first star among video game composers, some of the most memorable compositions in the medium are his. He defined how a JRPG should sound with his work on The Tower of Druaga, Romancia, Dragon Slayer, and Ys, shaped SEGA’s sound with the soundtracks of The Revenge of Shinobi and Streets of Rage, and his soundtracks like those of Etrian Odyssey may be among the best in the history of the medium.
Talking about video game music without mentioning Koshiro is impossible. He was the first to introduce elements of ethnic music, he was one of the pioneers in introducing electronic music, and also in introducing orchestral music. And now, what he has decided is to create his own game.
A game that works on your MegaDrive
Created specifically for MegaDrive, its name is Earthion and it is a horizontal shoot ’em up. As we move through the stages, we must survive and eliminate unnecessary waves of enemies while the absolutely fabulous music by Koshiro plays. Everything, moreover, under the most amazing of all: what happens on screen can be handled by a MegaDrive without any kind of modification. This is the last game released for the console so far.
Although, for now, we fear that it is not time to dust off your old MegaDrive and bring it to life. The cartridge with the game will be released sometime in early 2026. For now, the game is only available in digital format, on Steam, for PC gaming.
This does not detract from the fact that the game is tremendously original, fun, and vibrant. Packed with action, filling the stage with bullets, it never becomes a bullet hell, but it is challenging and constantly forces us to make decisions and work with them. To compensate for the number of bullets and enemies on screen, our ship has a shield, which can be upgraded, that regenerates over time if we do not take damage. This makes the game more manageable by ensuring that a single hit does not automatically result in a Game Over, as in many other examples of the genre.
In addition to that, there is a wide variety of weapons and upgrades, as well as a challenge mode, which brings a lot of life to the game. If we add to all that its spectacular graphics for a 16-bit game, it is a must-play for any fan of shoot ’em ups, but also for anyone curious about an excellent action game with a classic tone. Because this is a perfect gateway to the genre.
Seeing a legend like Yuzo Koshiro fulfill a dream like creating a video game is always a reason for joy, but the fact that Earthion turned out so well is excellent. Because if you have any curiosity about action games, or if you are a fan of shoot ’em ups or retro aesthetic games, you shouldn’t miss Earthion. One of the indie games of the year.
