If you’re a Genesis shmup fan, then you’re eating good right now, feasting on great new releases like ZPF and Earthion (on Steam, at least). If you’re still hungry, then another title is coming early next year, and it looks to be another awesome release for our favorite 16-bit console. The newest project from Neofid Studios, the creators of Demons of Asteborg and Astebros, is a retro-inspired, steampunk shmup called Copper Storm.
Copper Storm is set in a dystopian Victorian London besieged by the ruthless Blitzmark Empire. Players take on the role of Jim Cooper, a daring war hero and rogue pilot with a makeshift flying car-plane. Cooper flies across Britain to fend off the Blitzmark’s forces and stop a global war. Thanks to fans pushing Copper Storm’s Kickstarter campaign past all of its stretch goals, Jim will not only participate in intense aerial battles but also engage in ground combat after crash landings, armed with only his determination and whatever weapons he can scavenge off the battlefield, like shotguns, machine guns, or Tesla coil guns.
Neofid Studios drew from classics like Metal Slug and Thunder Force IV, a fact to which the development team happily admit. We can see that inspiration in the stage design, where they are several screens in height. The steampunk aesthetic is sharp and gives Copper Storm a look that makes it stand out among the ton of shmups on the Genesis and particularly against the multiple releases we’ve recently seen in the genre. From what we’ve seen, Copper Storm looks to combine fast-paced vertical shooting with beautifully animated pixel art in a style that we haven’t seen much of on the Genesis aside from maybe Steel Empire.
Alongside the Genesis version, Copper Storm will also launch on retro consoles such as the SNES and Neo Geo. As mentioned, the game’s July 2025 Kickstarter campaign was incredibly successful, blowing past its €50K goal in under two hours and ultimately exceeded all its proposed stretch goals. As with its three previous Genesis releases, Neofid has promised that fans can look forward to an exclusive physical cartridge release, which will include a box, manual, and even a 10-year warranty.
We’ll preview Copper Storm once there’s a demo or later build to check out, and give it the full review treatment upon release. In the meantime, check out the promo video and screenshots, and head over to the game’s pre-order page if you missed the Kickstarter campaign.
Recent Comments