Showa American Story: The Ultimate Love Letter to 80s Pop Culture and B-Movie Madness

If you have ever wondered what the end of the world would look like if it were directed by a fever-dream collaboration between Quentin Tarantino, 1980s Japanese salarymen, and a Kamen Rider stunt coordinator, look no further. Showa American Story (昭和米国物语) is not just a video game; it is a “Romance RPG” that weaponizes nostalgia, satire, and absurdism into one of the most visually distinct titles of the modern era.

While the recent news of its delay to 2026—announced this past November by developer NEKCOM Games—came as a sting to eager fans, the extended wait only serves to heighten the anticipation. After all, fine art (and high-octane B-movie schlock) takes time to perfect.

The Premise: A Cultural Fever Dream

The genius of Showa American Story lies in its setting: Showa 66. In this alternate timeline, the Japanese economic bubble of the 1980s never burst. Instead, it expanded until Japan simply bought the United States.

Fast forward to the aftermath of an apocalyptic “Incident,” and you are left with a landscape that is hauntingly beautiful and hilariously confused. The Golden Gate Bridge is adorned with paper lanterns. The Statue of Liberty dons a kimono. Gas stations sell sushi alongside burgers. It is a world of “Cultural Dieselpunk”—a mesmerizing clash where the American Wild West meets the Japanese Bubble Era.

This isn’t merely a backdrop; it is the game’s soul. The developers have tapped into a unique form of “Reverse-Orientalism.” Just as Western cyberpunk often misappropriates Asian aesthetics for “cool points,” Showa American Story aggressively applies Japanese aesthetics to the American heartland. The result is a satire that feels affectionate rather than mean-spirited—a love letter to the global pop culture exchange of the late 20th century.

The Protagonist: Stuntwoman of the Dead

You play as Choko, a former stuntwoman for action movies who rises from the grave. Revived in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by zombies and monsters, she embarks on a cross-country road trip across the “United States of Japan” to find her missing sister and uncover the truth behind her death.

Choko is not your typical silent protagonist. She is a walking homage to 80s action heroes—part Mad Max, part Sukeban Deka. Her stuntwoman background explains her combat prowess, turning every encounter into a cinematic performance. She doesn’t just fight; she poses, she strikes, and she ensures the camera catches her good side while drills tear through undead flesh.

Gameplay: “Ketchup-Drenched” Violence

The combat in Showa American Story is described by the developers as “free-flowing and brutal,” often leaving the screen (and Choko) drenched in “ketchup”—the game’s tongue-in-cheek euphemism for blood.

The weaponry is delightfully unhinged. While you have access to traditional firearms and katanas, the real stars are the improvised weapons. A giant power drill that skewers zombies? Check. A bicycle that functions as a lawnmower for the undead? Check. The game encourages players to experiment with these tools, turning the battlefield into a playground of physics-based destruction.

Moreover, the game introduces a “Living Activities” system centered around Choko’s RV (Recreational Vehicle). This mobile base is your sanctuary. Here, you don’t just upgrade weapons; you engage in nostalgic mini-games that celebrate the era. From retro 8-bit games to traditional Japanese toys like Kendama, the downtime is just as stylized as the action. It reinforces the “Road Trip” vibe—the feeling that despite the zombies, this is a journey of discovery.

The Enemies: Salarymen and Yakuza Zombies

The creature design deserves a special mention. The zombies in Showa American Story are not generic flesh-eaters; they are thematic caricatures. You will fight “Salaryman Zombies” who bow before attacking, Yakuza thugs wielding street signs, and bizarre mutations that fuse American trash culture with Japanese mythology.

The bosses, such as the towering “Shogun” revealed in recent trailers, are spectacle fights that require pattern recognition and twitch reflexes. They are designed to feel like the climactic battles of a Saturday morning Tokusatsu show, complete with dramatic intros and explosive finales.

Why It Stands Out

In an industry currently obsessed with hyper-realism and grimdark narratives, Showa American Story dares to be fun. It remembers that video games are, at their core, play.

1. The Aesthetic of “Wrongness”: There is an uncanny valley effect to the world design that is intentional. Seeing Japanese kanji neon signs lighting up a Texas desert highway creates a cognitive dissonance that is instantly memorable.
2. The Soundtrack: The game features hit songs from the 80s Japanese pop scene (City Pop and Enka), creating an ironic contrast between the upbeat, jazzy tunes and the on-screen carnage. It’s the same energy as listening to “Walking on Sunshine” while fighting a horde of demons.
3. The Mystery: Beneath the wackiness, there is a genuine mystery. Who killed Choko? What caused the Incident? The “Romance” in “Romance RPG” refers to the classic sense of the word—an adventurous, heroic saga—suggesting that the narrative will have emotional beats that might surprise players expecting only comedy.

The Verdict: Worth the Wait for 2026

While the delay to 2026 is testing our patience, NEKCOM Games has been transparent about their need to polish this diamond in the rough. They are a small studio in Wuhan tackling an ambitious open-world project. The recent gameplay trailers have shown massive improvements in frame rate, lighting, and animation fluidity compared to the initial reveal.

Showa American Story is shaping up to be a cult classic from day one. It is a game for anyone who loves the 80s, anyone who loves zombies, and anyone who understands that sometimes, the best way to save the world is with a katana in one hand and a sushi roll in the other.

Prepare your drills and dust off your cassette tapes. The cross-country tour of a lifetime begins next year.