Get ready for throwback action because developer Maple Powered Games is working on a new G.I. Joe beat ’em up. The studio announced G.I. Joe: Wrath of Cobra with Q1 2024 release plans on Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac, and Linux via Steam, Epic Games Store, and GOG.
G.I. Joe: Wrath of Cobra promises both online and couch co-op for up to four players in Story and Arcade Mode. Duke, Scarlett, Snake Eyes, Roadblock, and other classic characters are getting in on it, so you can shelve your figures for a while after launch. A trailer accompanied Maple Powered Games’ announcement, providing an idea of how the retro-style brawler looks.
The forces of nostalgia are firing on all cylinders. There’s music from Tee Lopes (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge) with vocals from Crush 40 vocalist Johnny Gioeli. We’ve also got rough animation that honors the stupendously goofy spirit of the G.I. Joe cartoon. Then it all ends with a quick dash of in-development gameplay footage, which looks like a slightly slower beat ’em up in the vein of The Punisher or Captain America.
Wherever there’s trouble
Some locales planned for Wrath of Cobra include G.I. Joe headquarters, “The Pit,” Cobra Island, and Cobra’s secret underwater base. You won’t get much of a feel for it from the trailer, but apparently Wrath of Cobra sports a parry system. That should come in handy when dealing with enemies like Ninja Vipers, the Crimson Guard, and HISS Tanks. Man, I’d say I miss ’80s toys, but you can literally go to Target and pick up exact replicas right now.
However this turns out, at least it’s likely to have a killer soundtrack. I don’t know that it will reach the heights of the villainous twist theme song from 1987’s G.I. Joe: The Movie, but there’s plenty of time to dream big.
