Kenji Kaido, who is well known as the producer of PlayStation classics Ico and Shadow of the Colossus, is releasing a new game that brings him back to his arcade beat ’em up beginnings. SAKA-DOH: THE REVERSAL ARTS launches February 6 on Steam, offering 2D fighting action with an unusual setup.

The game follows Masao Sakamaki, a practitioner of the made-up martial art “Saka-jutsu,” as he searches for his missing love, Misora Isakami. The catch: Masao fights while strapped upside down to a moving helicopter. His opponents are also tied to their own helicopters, creating battles that take place mid-air.

Players control Masao’s swinging movements and attacks, using momentum to land punches and kicks according to Saka-jutsu techniques. The game includes a resource called Sen-Qi that powers three levels of special moves. Enemies use weapons like knives, axes, and guns, along with balloon-attached explosives. Players get help from Kohgi Isakami, who fights alongside Masao.

SAKA-DOH includes features common to 80s arcade games: item pickups, a high score system, and limited lives. This matches Kaido’s earlier work at Taito, where he created arcade beat ’em ups and platformers like Sonic Blast Man and Warrior Blade before joining Sony. For SAKA-DOH, he serves as game designer.

Matrix Software is developing the game with a team of experienced creators. Nakayama-Raiden, formerly of Taito’s Zuntata sound team (Grid Seeker, Puzzle Bobble 2), handles sound design. M-Kai, who worked on arcade shooters Judgement Silversword and Eschatos, programs the game. Kentaro Matsumura (Darius Gaiden, Puzzle Bobble 2) provides pixel art, and Hiroshi Makabe (Adventures of Mana, Secret of Mana) is creative supervisor. SAKA-DOH: THE REVERSAL ARTS releases February 6 on PC via Steam.