"Night Striker" Kenjin Kadomaru and "Custom Robo" Kouji Miki Make Their Entrances with Unique New Titles [TGS2025]
Note: the original Japanese article can be found at:
https://www.4gamer.net/games/950/G095056/20251002029/
Writer: Senbon Shunichi | 2025/10/02 05:56 (UTC)
At the MATRIX booth during Tokyo Game Show 2025, two new titles were showcased: “Sakadoh: The Reversal Arts” by Kenjin Kadomaru, creator of Night Striker, and “Kai no Spiral” by Koji Mikiyoshi, director of the Custom Robo series. Here are our impressions of these two games, both offering deep gameplay through simple controls.
The game developer MATRIX, founded by Yasuhisa Oohori, author of the legendary doujin work Zebius: Solution to 10 Million Points, has launched a new label called “MATRIX CREATORS,” bringing in legendary creators to release nostalgic yet innovative titles (link). The first releases under this banner are Kenjin Kadomaru’s “Sakadoh: The Reversal Arts”—a follow-up to his acclaimed works Night Striker, Camel Triage, and Sonic Blast Man—and Koji Mikiyoshi’s new title, “Kai no Spiral,” a sequel to the popular Custom Robo and Cosmo Gang: The Video series.
Fighting with an entirely new martial art combining helicopters and inverted suspension: “Sakadoh: The Reversal Arts”
The protagonist of this game, Masao, is suspended upside down from a helicopter—but not as part of torture. This inverted position is the core style of his martial art: “Sakadoh.” Driven by his desire to rescue his missing lover, Misora, Masao travels across skies worldwide.
The controls are extremely simple: one stick and two buttons. Move the helicopter with the stick, attack with A, and guard with B. Opponents are also masters of Sakadoh—men suspended upside down from helicopters who swarm in waves alongside Masao’s chopper. Instead of attacking the helicopter directly, you must punch the suspended fighters themselves. Moving the helicopter causes the inverted rope to swing as well; timing your swings properly increases attack power and allows for swift takedowns.
The game focuses on an intuitive system where swinging equals increased power, combined with a unique feel arising from inertia affecting both movement and swing mechanics—after just a few minutes of play, you’ll naturally become immersed in the strategic depth. The visual presentation is striking: multiple groups of suspended fighters attacking together makes this game instantly recognizable among others.
Thumbnail image No.004 / Kenjin Kadomaru of “Night Striker,” and Koji Mikiyoshi of “Custom Robo” appear with their distinctive new titles [TGS2025] Thumbnail image No.005 / Kenjin Kadomaru of “Night Striker,” and Koji Mikiyoshi of “Custom Robo” appear with their distinctive new titles [TGS2025]
What’s remarkable is the strong 1980s arcade atmosphere permeating the entire screen. From fonts to color schemes, everything evokes Kadomaru’s past work at Taito arcades—so much so that it would fit right in on a 1980s arcade floor. According to Kadomaru himself, this was intentional: rather than imitating an “80s style,” the goal was to recreate authentic 1980s arcade games without any modern “style” attached. This philosophy extends into game design—content is crafted for market success, ensuring strong sales and high turnover.
Furthermore, the technology used mirrors that of the era. The rope swing effect isn’t based on advanced physics simulation but instead uses a single internal rod mechanism. Sound-wise, the music features classic FM synthesis and PSG-style tones reminiscent of 1980s arcade soundtracks.
Taito-inspired color schemes and fonts, arcade-style instruction cards, and other nostalgic elements evoke strong memories for those who experienced the 1980s Thumbnail image No.006 / Kenjin Kadomaru of “Night Striker,” and Koji Mikiyoshi of “Custom Robo” appear with their distinctive new titles [TGS2025] Thumbnail image No.007 / Kenjin Kadomaru of “Night Striker,” and Koji Mikiyoshi of “Custom Robo” appear with their distinctive new titles [TGS2025]
The inverted hanging was inspired by classic movie scenes where characters fight while suspended from helicopters. However, simply having them hold onto ropes with their hands and kick each other would look dull. By flipping the position upside down, players can use their arms freely, giving a more dynamic, capoeira-like appearance—leading to the final design.
According to Kadomaru, one of his dreams is releasing this title as part of Taito’s “Arcade Archives” series for arcade game re-releases. Personally, I’d love to see an explanation comparing how 1980s arcades generated income and how Sakadoh applies those same principles today.
Kenjin Kadomaru, designer of “Sakadoh: The Reversal Arts” Thumbnail image No.008 / Kenjin Kadomaru of “Night Striker,” and Koji Mikiyoshi of “Custom Robo” appear with their distinctive new titles [TGS2025]
A monochrome world where a ninja dashes freely—A roguelike “Kai no Spiral”
Set in the Sengoku period, Kai no Spiral follows a ninja named Spiral as he battles to reclaim towns and castles taken over by demons emerging from underground. The game’s field is unique: countless platforms float midair in all directions. While platform orientations vary wildly, Spiral pays them no mind—he can move freely regardless of whether the surface is vertical or upside down. He leaps across these floating platforms upward toward higher ground, making route planning crucial, with the key word being relentless change.
Platforms are connected via “Jump Zones.” To reach a Jump Zone, players must pass through a “Reversal Zone,” which flips the platform’s surface and underside. This means that in the Reversal Zone, ceilings become floors and vice versa—requiring careful navigation to find the correct path upward.
Navigation is further complicated by enemies. Spiral carries various weapons like shuriken—but since they auto-attack, he can’t always react fast enough during emergencies. If a platform lacks a Jump Zone connection, you must leap into empty space where enemies lurk before firing your grappling hook—dramatically increasing the risk of contact.
Dashed lines represent “Jump Zones”—Spiral can jump from one platform to another along these paths. The red dashed line in the photo is one-way; once jumped, you cannot return Thumbnail image No.011 / Kenjin Kadomaru of “Night Striker,” and Koji Mikiyoshi of “Custom Robo” appear with their distinctive new titles [TGS2025] Thumbnail image No.012 / Kenjin Kadomaru of “Night Striker,” and Koji Mikiyoshi of “Custom Robo” appear with their distinctive new titles [TGS2025]
The rules are simple: move upward. The controls are also basic—just one stick and one button. Yet, amid rapidly changing gravity due to shifting platform orientations and Reversal Zones, you must skillfully use gimmicks like Jump Zones, Reversal Zones, and grappling hooks while timing your actions to counter enemies’ auto-attack patterns. The sheer number of tasks quickly overwhelms in a satisfying way—your mind gets pleasantly tangled.
Both “Sakadoh: The Reversal Arts” and “Kai no Spiral” are scheduled for release this winter, with PC (Steam) as the target platform. MATRIX CREATORS plans to continue releasing diverse titles, so further updates will be worth watching.
Additionally, 4Gamer has published a special interview between Yasuhisa Oohori, President of MATRIX CREATORS, and Taro Ohashi, founding editor of Microcomputer BASIC Magazine (related article). Readers interested in these creators’ insights are encouraged to check it out.