What is "Sushi Lane Musical Action Adventure"? The playable showcase of "Étrange Overlord," where the villainess protagonist rises from hell, at [TGS2025]
Note: the original Japanese article can be found at:
https://www.4gamer.net/games/842/G084201/20250927013/
Editorial Department: Mizuki Akki Photographer: Nagayama Wataru | 2025/09/29 06:28 (UTC)
From September 25 to 28, 2025, Etrange Overlord (PS5/Nintendo Switch/PS4) was featured as a playable exhibit at both the Happy Network booth and the Gem Drop booth during Tokyo Game Show 2025.
This title is an upcoming action adventure scheduled for release on March 26, 2026 by Broccoli. It’s based on the web novel Etrange Overlord, written by Rômantaka Tachiyama, and produced by Sohei Nishikawa—well known for his work on the Disgaea series during his time at Nitroplus Japan. Notably, “Rômantaka Tachiyama” is actually a pen name used by Sohei Nishikawa. The game tells the story of Etrange, an evil noblewoman cast into Hell, who embarks on a journey to rise from the depths.
A standout feature of the game’s mechanics is the “SUSHI Lane”—a unique conveyor belt-like system placed across stages. Items that boost character stats, resources to trigger stage gimmicks, and even the gimmicks themselves (such as machine guns or devices that gather surrounding enemies) flow along this rotating lane. Players must strategically use these flowing elements during combat.
Thumbnail image for Gallery No.003 / What is “SUSHI Lane Musical Action Adventure”? Etrange Overlord, where the villainess protagonist rises from Hell, is a playable exhibit at TGS2025 Thumbnail image for Gallery No.004 / What is “SUSHI Lane Musical Action Adventure”? Etrange Overlord, where the villainess protagonist rises from Hell, is a playable exhibit at TGS2025
Stage objectives vary widely—during the demo, players experienced stages that required not only defeating enemies but also collecting macarons (Etrange loves sweets) faster than the enemy team. Players can switch between Etrange and four other available characters at any time during gameplay. There are over ten playable characters in total.
During Tokyo Game Show 2025, 4Gamer conducted an interview with Sohei Nishikawa, the game’s producer. We’ve included his comments below.
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[September 27, 2025, 11:00]
- Keywords:
- Interview
- OTHERS: Exhibition/Fairs
- OTHERS
- :Etrange Overlord
- :Etrange Overlord
- :Etrange Overlord
- :#HoloRivers
- :MYRIAD DEATH
- :PIXEL DASH: Toast of Destiny
- TGS 2025
- Tokyo Game Show
- Editor: Aki Mitsugetsu
- Photographer: Wataru Nagayama
- OTHERS: Demons Night Fever
Sohei Nishikawa:
Among the titles I’m involved in at this year’s Tokyo Game Show, I’d like to highlight Etrange Overlord. It’s a game adaptation of a web novel written by Rômantaka Tachiyama, and I’m serving as producer. This work is truly distinctive—its genre is “SUSHI Lane Musical Action Adventure.”
4Gamer:
You can’t find anything like that anywhere else (laughs).
Sohei Nishikawa:
The “SUSHI Lane” serves as a symbolic element in battle scenes—it’s a rotating conveyor belt-like structure. Items, weapons, and gimmicks flow along it, and players must collect these while building their strength to clear stages.
4Gamer:
Where did the idea for implementing SUSHI Lane come from?
Sohei Nishikawa:
Although this game has a comical visual style, it’s quite action-heavy. To accommodate players who might find that challenging, we introduced the SUSHI Lane as one way to adjust difficulty. By customizing it, you can make the incoming items stronger—effectively lowering the challenge level. Even someone like me, who isn’t particularly good at action games, can tailor it so I’m able to enjoy the game smoothly.
4Gamer:
I’m also curious about the musical aspect of the genre.
Sohei Nishikawa:
Games are a form of comprehensive entertainment. While mechanics matter, so do music, singing, storylines, and characters—all these elements come together to create something special. To me, musicals—where characters suddenly burst into song—are emblematic of entertainment itself. I wanted to bring that kind of spontaneous musical flair from Disney or Indian cinema directly into a game.
4Gamer:
So you’re saying the character Etrange might just start singing out of nowhere?
Sohei Nishikawa:
Yes, exactly. When I think of musicals in this context, it naturally brings to mind my time at Nitroplus Japan and their Marr Kingdom series.
4Gamer:
The musical element came about quite uniquely—don’t you think that’s a bit unusual?
Sohei Nishikawa:
Back then, I was the first new graduate hired by Nitroplus Japan. My classmate at the time was Yūichirō Kitao, CEO of Gem Drop. Now we’re working together on Etrange Overlord—it’s truly emotional for me.
4Gamer:
By the way, since Etrange Overlord is based on a novel, does it cater mainly to fans of the original?
Sohei Nishikawa:
Not at all. Feel free to play without any prior knowledge. I believe content should exist before a game—whether that’s in the form of a novel, manga, or even a video game. The goal is for people to enjoy it regardless of where they start. That said, each medium has its own unique way of storytelling and enjoyment. A game should be enjoyable as a game, a manga as a manga, and a novel as a novel—so no matter how you approach it, there’s no problem.
I think this game is an intense, spicy, almost overwhelming kind of entertainment—with experiences that can’t be found anywhere else. I’d be thrilled if players enjoyed something truly unique.