The Yatagarasu fighting game represents one of the most bittersweet stories in the indie fighting game scene. What started as a passionate project by ex-SNK developers to create a spiritual successor to Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike ended up becoming a cautionary tale about the challenges of indie game development.
The Dream Team Behind Yatagarasu Fighting Game
The story begins with an impressive pedigree. The core team consisted of just three people, but what a trio they were. Kotani Tomoyuki handled the artwork – you might know him from his sprite work on King of Fighters ’99 through 2001. The programming came courtesy of someone known as “Shiza,” while game design fell to Umezono, a highly respected Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike tournament player.
This wasn’t just another indie passion project. These were industry veterans and competitive players who understood what made classic 2D fighters tick. They had the skills, the vision, and the fighting game community’s attention.
What Made Yatagarasu Special
When the Yatagarasu fighting game worked, it truly shined. The game featured gorgeous hand-drawn pixel art that evoked the best of SNK’s golden era. The character animations were smooth and expressive, with each fighter having distinct personalities that came through in their movesets.
The gameplay mechanics borrowed heavily from Street Fighter III’s parry system, but implemented it in a way that felt fresh. Instead of the risky forward-press parries of 3rd Strike, Yatagarasu gave players dedicated parry buttons, making the system more accessible while maintaining its strategic depth.
Character Roster and Fighting Mechanics
The game featured eight unique characters, each filling different fighting game archetypes:
- Kou – The obligatory Ryu-style character with fireballs and uppercuts
- Hina – A deceptively powerful schoolgirl wielding a katana
- Jet – Essentially Dudley from Street Fighter, complete with boxing moves
- Shimo – A command-run character with tricky mix-ups
- Cheda – The resident grappler in the Zangief mold
What made these characters interesting wasn’t just their movesets, but how they played against each other. The sword-wielding characters created fascinating matchups against the traditional street fighters, adding a dynamic rarely seen in Capcom-style games.
Where Everything Went Wrong
Despite its mechanical excellence, the Yatagarasu fighting game became notorious for its problems. The most glaring issue was the complete lack of rollback netcode. In an era where smooth online play was becoming essential for fighting games, Yatagarasu’s delay-based netcode made online matches frustrating at best and unplayable at worst.
The development timeline tells the story of mounting issues. Starting as a 2008 doujin release with just two characters, the game went through multiple revisions over four years. Each update added characters and features, but fundamental problems persisted.
The Rollback Promise That Never Came
Perhaps the most damaging aspect was the repeated promise of rollback netcode implementation. During the game’s crowdfunding campaign, developers assured backers that modern networking would be added. Years passed, updates were released, but rollback never materialized.
This became a running joke in fighting game communities. Players who genuinely wanted to support the game found themselves unable to enjoy it online, leading to a dwindling player base despite the solid offline experience.
GuileWinQuote’s Analysis
Content creator GuileWinQuote recently revisited the Yatagarasu fighting game in a comprehensive video analysis. His take highlights both the genuine quality of the game’s mechanics and the frustration of its unrealized potential.
According to community feedback, many players share GuileWinQuote’s sentiment: this could have been something special. The core gameplay is solid enough that people still discuss it fondly, even while acknowledging its fatal flaws.
Lessons from Yatagarasu’s Troubled Development
The story of the Yatagarasu fighting game offers several important lessons for indie developers:
Technical Infrastructure Matters: No matter how good your gameplay feels, modern fighting games need robust online systems. Players won’t tolerate poor netcode in 2025.
Team Size Limitations: While three talented people can create something beautiful, certain technical challenges require more resources than a tiny team can provide.
Community Management: Making promises about features like rollback netcode creates expectations. When those promises go unfulfilled, it damages trust permanently.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Yatagarasu fighting game still playable today?
Yes, Yatagarasu Attack on Cataclysm is available on Steam. However, the online player base is minimal, and the lack of rollback netcode makes online matches problematic.
Who developed the Yatagarasu fighting game?
The game was developed by a three-person team of ex-SNK developers: Kotani Tomoyuki (art), Shiza (programming), and Umezono (game design).
What makes Yatagarasu different from Street Fighter?
While heavily inspired by Street Fighter III, Yatagarasu features dedicated parry buttons, sword-wielding characters, and a unique blend of SNK and Capcom fighting game mechanics.
Why didn’t Yatagarasu get proper rollback netcode?
The small development team likely lacked the technical expertise to implement rollback networking, despite promising it during crowdfunding campaigns.
Is Yatagarasu worth playing in 2025?
For single-player or local multiplayer, absolutely. The gameplay mechanics are solid and the art is beautiful. However, don’t expect a thriving online community.
Will there ever be a Yatagarasu sequel?
There have been hints at future projects, but nothing concrete has materialized from the original development team.
Conclusion
The Yatagarasu fighting game remains a fascinating “what if” story in fighting game history. With gorgeous art, solid mechanics, and genuine passion behind its development, it had all the ingredients for success. Unfortunately, technical limitations and unfulfilled promises turned what could have been a beloved indie classic into a cautionary tale.
For fighting game enthusiasts, Yatagarasu serves as a reminder that great gameplay alone isn’t enough in the modern era. Players need complete packages with robust online systems and ongoing support. Still, for those willing to look past its flaws, there’s a genuinely good fighting game hiding underneath all the missed potential.