Axel City 2, the long-awaited sequel to the early-2000s Windows doujin fighting game, is now available to pre-order for the exA-Arcadia arcade platform. The project has been in development for five years, and it is expected to ship to buyers by the end of August 2023.
This 1v1 fighter features hand-drawn artwork and a roster of 40 playable characters. The size of the cast contributed to the lengthy development period, with every fighter receiving an individual story, background and combat style. Character archetypes include grapplers, zoners and hard hitters.
Each fighter is fully voiced, with Arcade Mode presenting their stories through an anime-inspired dramatic format. Fighting Mode challenges players against 25 CPU-controlled opponents, while the combat system supports combos from footsies and normal attacks, juggles, special moves and super finishers. The exA-Arcadia platform also advertises sub-one-frame response times.
Players can use Dash Counters to close distance quickly, attack or create a feint. Footsies help establish positioning, while High Jump lets fighters escape traps. Ground-to-air and air-to-ground combos add further options for turning an opening into a finishing sequence.
Modes and competitive play
The solo options are Story, Fighting and Training. Fighting Mode is set to maximum difficulty, making it a particularly demanding challenge for experienced players. Challenge mode provides the expected head-to-head option for two players.
Gameplay is built around spacing, movement and combo conversion. Dash Counters, footsies and High Jumps give players several ways to manage distance and respond to pressure, while the ground and air combo routes add depth to each matchup.
Arcade kit details
Axel City 2 is an exA-Arcadia cartridge release available through selected regional distributors. In areas where ordering through the manufacturer is supported, the pre-order page lists the kit at around $1,550 before shipping. That pricing reflects an arcade-operator market rather than a home-console release.
Each kit includes an A1 poster, A3 instructions, instruction strips and a manual. The game also supports TATE, or vertical-orientation, operation, an approach expected to feature across future exA-Arcadia releases.
Part of a growing fighting-game catalogue
Axel City 2 joins Dynamite Bomb!! among exA-Arcadia titles unavailable on PC and consoles. It is the platform’s sixth fighting-game release, with additional announced projects including Daemon Bride exAGAIN, Arcana Heart 3 Xtend and The Fallen Angels Revenge. Several other fighting games have been announced, while further titles remain unannounced.
For Australian operators and collectors planning an arcade setup, the Arcade Machine Buying Guide offers useful preparation before choosing a cabinet or platform. Browse arcade machines or explore more arcade news from RETROCADE.
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