One of the longest-running anime franchises running, Baki The Grappler, first aired in 1991 from creator Keisuke Itagaki. This beloved series is known for its insane over-the-top violence and musclebound action. Main character, Baki, has fought giant praying mantises, cavemen named Pickle, Mike Tyson, and many unbelievable characters on his journey to defeat his father, Yujiro Hanma.
In a move that seems like a no-brainer, Baki The Grappler has revealed a new video game come down the pipeline that’s looks eerily similar to Nintendo’s classic Punch Out!! game (which also featured Mike Tyson).
Here’s the official description:
Enter the brutal world of Baki Hanma: Blood Arena, a thrilling 2D action game inspired by the Netflix anime phenomenon Baki. With gameplay reminiscent of the classic Super Punch-Out!!, this game blends precision, timing, and shonen-style flair to deliver a high-energy combat experience.
Baki has gotten video game adaptations before that have landed in Japan, but this entry will also make its way to North America. Publisher Purple Play and developer Purple Tree have teamed up with TMS Entertainment to bring the 2D fighter to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch and PC this September.
Baki Hanma: Blood Arena promises battles against 12 opponents across five “iconic battle arenas,” complete with anime-inspired special moves and an original soundtrack.
What’s Next for Baki?
In March, 2024, Netflix announced that it was working on a new anime series to continue Baki’s story. Baki-Dou, the name of the next series, sees a legendary Japanese figure, Musashi Miyamoto, brought back from the dead to take on the strongest warriors of the present. Since Baki is now considered the strongest being walking the planet Earth, it should be an epic showdown.
Does a Baki The Grappler video game get your juices flowing?
