Apple Arcade is getting three new titles in June from legendary Japanese developers and studios. The highlight of the batch isAir Twister, an on-rails shooter from Shenmue director Yu Suzuki that launches on June 24.
Apple has a history of courting Japanese gaming icons to create titles for its service. Itpreviously releasedFantasian, a standout RPG by Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi. Its collaboration with Suzuki, best known for his work onSega franchiseslike Virtua Fighter and Shenmue, continues that pattern.
His latest project,Air Twister,is a touch-controlled on-rails shooter where players fly through trippy levels and blast enemies. A gameplay trailer shows an angel-like character with a huge weapon flying through levels populated with giant mushrooms and flying houses. The game features music by Dutch artist Valensia, whose songs soundtrack each level.
For fans of Suzuki’s career, it’s a bit reminiscent of 1985’sSpace Harrier, though Suzuki emphasizes that it’s not a spiritual successor to that game. Suzuki also notes that the game wasn’t inspired by any recent releases (it bears a striking resemblance toKid Icarus Uprising), but he notes that he previously worked on a canceled touch-controlled shooter for Sega calledSci-Fi.
WhileAir Twisteris the most intriguing project coming to Apple Arcade in June, it’s not the only game Apple has up its sleeve. The service will get a new Cooking Mama game titledCooking Mama: Cuisine!, which is being developed internally at Office Create (unlike 2020’s infamous, outsourcedCooking Mama: Cookstar). The title inverts the usual Cooking Mama formula by having players pick ingredients and create a meal from them, rather than following a set recipe. The title launches on June 17.
Finally, Apple Arcade will get a new Konami title in the form ofFrogger and the Rumbling Ruins. The puzzler sequel to Apple Arcade launch title Frogger in Toy Town hits iOS devices on June 3.
