exA-Arcadia has opened pre-orders for Jitsu Squad Featuring Samurai Pizza Cats, an arcade adaptation of Tanuki Game Studio’s four-player beat ’em up. The release arrives as exA-Arcadia marks five years on the market and follows the recent shipping launch of Fixeight EXA LABEL.
By late November 2024, the game was available worldwide to arcades running an exA-Arcadia system. It is not limited to Japan, matching the international availability of exA releases.
What is Jitsu Squad?
First revealed through Kickstarter in early 2021, Jitsu Squad follows four animal heroes attempting to rescue their master from the villainous Origami. Their journey also brings them face to face with unresolved parts of their past.
The original game supports one to four players. Tanuki Game Studio has cited Marvel Vs. Capcom, Super Smash Bros. and Dragon Ball FighterZ among its inspirations, while the finished design strongly recalls the fast, colourful brawlers associated with the mid-1990s arcade scene.
After releasing on home consoles, including Nintendo Switch, Jitsu Squad was confirmed for an exA-Arcadia conversion. The wait for that arcade edition has now ended. Readers comparing formats can also browse RETROCADE’s arcade news and features for more release coverage.
How the exA version changes the game
The console and arcade editions do not play identically. On Switch, regular enemies can absorb considerable punishment before being defeated. The exA version adjusts the balance for arcade play, making the tougher damage sponges largely a feature of the boss encounters.
Other refinements include changes to input lag, event timers, text boxes and animation. The available footage represents an early build from 2023 and does not show every element of the completed version.
The headline arcade-exclusive addition is Speedy and Yattaro from Samurai Pizza Cats. The pair count as a fifth playable fighter, joining the existing cast. Their voice performance comes from Kappei Yamaguchi, the original voice of Yattaro and a major figure in anime voice acting.
The Jitsu Squad arcade kit
Jitsu Squad is supplied through exA-Arcadia distributors, with the correct artwork depending on the cabinet installation. The kit is priced at approximately the standard US$1,600 level associated with many exA titles.
It supports four-player cabinets and is also compatible with a two-player setup. A typical kit includes the materials shown below, with orders scheduled to begin shipping during November 2024.
Operators planning a new installation can compare cabinet formats in RETROCADE’s arcade machine buying guide, while existing machines may benefit from the right arcade parts and control hardware.
Why this release matters
Jitsu Squad is a welcome addition for players who enjoy traditional arcade beat ’em ups, particularly operators with a four-player exA cabinet looking for fresh group-play content. Outside a small number of modern releases, including Raw Thrills’ Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the genre has not received a large supply of new arcade games in recent years.
The game also brings a playful sense of humour to its action, including the song title “Surfin’ On The Lava?”. Its arrival is not the end of exA-Arcadia’s beat ’em up plans, with another title expected to debut at IAAPA in the following weeks.
For Australian venues and home operators, the worldwide release makes Jitsu Squad Featuring Samurai Pizza Cats a notable option for a multiplayer arcade line-up. Those considering a dedicated setup can explore RETROCADE’s upright arcades and compact bartop machines.
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