Ship shop shape.
Written by Jason Venter
Published Jul. 31, 2024
Minnapad, a self-described "NFT marketplace," has added a new project to Kickstarter that looks to serve as a “love letter to retro Japanese games.” Titled Dhalman, the game includes characters from former Capcom artist Satoru Yamashita and a soundtrack featuring musical compositions from Akari Kaida.
Satoru Yamashita worked on a number of leading titles for Capcom during what I would call its first golden age. Those titles included Street Fighter 2 and Final Fight, along with Ghosts 'n Goblins. Mostly, Yamashita contributed pixel art, logos, and supporting illustrations and cover art for such titles.
Working alongside other Capcom talent, Akari Kaida composed music featured in a number of well-regarded games, including console arrangements for Street Fighter Alpha, selections for Breath of Fire III and Dino Crisis, and various songs in later Mega Man titles. Now a freelance composer, she has also contributed to games from other developers, including her contributions to the Luminous Arc and Earth Defense Force games.
Dhalman tells the story of the eponymous character, who travels the world in search of spices as he works to assemble the best curry shop in the world. He'll fight various monsters from Chinese and Indian mythology, with a particular focus on the latter.
“Dhalman came from my travel experiences and watching travel videos on YouTube,” explained Satoru Yamashita. “I'm currently keen on India, with its friendly people, cows walking on the streets, loud noises, ancient ruins, and vibrant dances. I thought it would be great to capture the intense aspects of India in visuals.”
Minnapad couldn't help but notice the excitement fans felt for past Kickstarter projects such as Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night and Eiyuden, and that's exactly the sort of success the company apparently is keen to facilitate. If you'd like to learn more, you can check out the Dhalman Kickstarter campaign and be one of the first people to contribute toward its goal of $500,594 USD.
