Three years after the original game’s events, the rock revolution returns in No Straight Roads 2 with bigger ambitions, new gameplay mechanics, and a publishing deal that could open doors to anime and manga adaptations.

We got the opportunity to have an exclusive interview with Wan Hazmer, CEO and Game Director at Metronomik, to discuss the highly anticipated sequel to No Straight Roads. The indie developer has partnered with Shueisha Games for NSR2, marking a significant milestone for the Malaysian studio and their musical action-adventure franchise.

From Indie Studio to Major Publisher Partnership

The collaboration with Shueisha Games began through a chance encounter at Level Up KL, where a Shueisha representative connected with several companies, including Metronomik. “We told him about two of our upcoming games, and when we pitched them to the company, Shueisha Games really liked one of them—and bam, the collaboration happened,” Hazmer explained. The partnership involved extensive discussions and meetings, including a major summit where both companies could meet properly.

This publishing deal has sparked speculation about potential media adaptations. When asked about the possibility of No Straight Roads becoming a manga or anime, Hazmer remained cautiously optimistic: “Personally, I’d love to see No Straight Roads adapted into a comic or even an animated series. But at the end of the day, it depends on what Shueisha Games wants to do with the IP. Our job right now is to finish the game first.”

Expanded Gameplay and New Characters

NSR2 represents a significant evolution from its predecessor. While the original game was primarily a boss rush experience, the sequel offers much more content between major encounters. “This time, there’s a lot more to do in between boss fights. Players will get to explore, interact with the world, and dive deeper into the lore before each major encounter,” Hazmer noted.

One of the biggest changes is the expanded cast of playable characters. “NSR1 had two playable characters, NSR2 has four,” he revealed. The story takes place three years after the original game’s events, and players can already see character development reflected in the designs. Mayday now wields Kool Fyra’s guitar and a mysterious bandage on her leg, showing her growth toward a more indie style while respecting NSR’s legacy, while Zuke sports new braids.

The core identity of the band remains unchanged, as Hazmer confirmed: “Absolutely. They’re still a rock band. That’s part of who they are. But this time, they’ll face off against a wider variety of musical genres—not just EDM anymore.”

Beyond Vinyl City

No Straight Roads 2 expands the game world beyond the familiar streets of Vinyl City. Players will travel to new locations using a van, complete with driving mini-games and interactive segments. “You’ll be doing interactive segments while driving,” Hazmer explained, noting that these additions represent a significant expansion of gameplay mechanics compared to the original. When asked about the purpose of traveling outside Vinyl City, he remained mysterious: “You’ll be traveling outside Vinyl City this time, riding in a van. For what purpose? I can’t say yet—but yes, you’ll be going places.”

The trailer revealed glimpses of these new mechanics, which Hazmer confirmed: “Yes, there will be mini-games during travel. And yes, there was also a reticle shown in the trailer—that’s part of it. We’re expanding gameplay far beyond what we had in NSR1.”

Improved Music Integration

Music remains at the heart of the NSR experience, but the development approach has evolved significantly. “In NSR1, the composers were involved, but usually the music was done first, and then we tried to fit it into the gameplay. This time, composers are involved much earlier and are collaborating with the game designers directly,” Hazmer said. He described this as “a big step forward, and it really improves how music and gameplay are connected.”

The team has also refined their approach to rhythm-based gameplay in No Straight Roads 2, studying other games in the genre while maintaining NSR’s unique identity. “Unlike some beat games that are purely rhythm-based, our game requires players to listen. For example, when the chorus hits, that’s often when a big attack comes. It’s not just about timing, but about understanding the song’s structure.” Hazmer noted they “studied other rhythm-based games—even one that starts with an ‘H'” but emphasized that understanding “the song’s structure” remains “a core part of NSR’s identity.”

Regarding the challenge of categorizing diverse musical genres, Hazmer shared his philosophy: “Genres are getting more fused and experimental. I love this game called Pop’n Music, which makes up genres like Ancient Euro, Cat Jazz and Ninja Metal. Sometimes it’s nonsense, but when you hear the music, it just clicks. For NSR2, we still aim for familiar genres so players can recognize them easily—but we always add our unique Metronomik touch.”

Visual and Audio Improvements

The team has focused on improving clarity in battle scenes while maintaining the game’s distinctive art style. “Yes, the animations and VFX are much clearer now. We’ve improved clarity in battle scenes based on feedback from fans and playtesters,” Hazmer confirmed. The sequel will also feature a wider variety of musical genres beyond the EDM focus of the original, though boss fights remain the central climax of each section.

“Yes, definitely. Each boss is still the climax of their section, and they all have their own story—why they make music, what they represent. You can see it through both dialogue and visual storytelling, all thanks to the genius direction of my cousin and co-founder, Daim Dziauddin, who’s also the Creative Director” he explained. “Two bosses are already shown in the trailer, and fans are already coming up with theories, which is fun to see.”

Original Team Returns

Many original team members from NSR1 continue to work on No Straight Roads 2, bringing their experience and understanding of the game world to the new project. “Yes! Many of the original team members from NSR1 are still at Metronomik. They know the world, the gameplay style, and they bring a lot of experience. Add to that Shueisha’s perspective as a publisher, and NSR2 is shaping up to be something much bigger and more refined,” Hazmer said.

Voice actress Su Ling Chan returns as Mayday, though she initially didn’t realize she was being approached for NSR2. “She actually thought it was for another game! When she found out it was for NSR2, she was totally shocked,” Hazmer recalled. “She sent me a message saying, ‘Oh my god, I didn’t know you were making it!'” he added with amusement. Voice actor Steven Bones has also made his return as Zuke.

The voice cast has been kept in the loop through a WhatsApp group where the team shares updates, maintaining the close-knit community feel that characterized the original game’s development. “We kept it a secret from the voice cast too, because Shueisha is very strict about leaks. Now that they all know, they’re super excited. We’ve even got a WhatsApp group going where we keep in touch and share updates,” Hazmer revealed.

Release Plans and Future Collaborations

Metronomik is targeting a 2026 release window for NSR2, with confirmed availability on PC and consoles. “We’re aiming for 2026. No specific date yet,” Hazmer stated. Steam already has a wishlist page live, though specific console platforms will be announced later. “We’ll announce the specific platforms later. But yes, Steam is confirmed—we already have a wishlist page up. It will definitely be released on PC and consoles, but we’ll share the exact details in due time.”

Regarding potential collaborations with other indie games or musicians, Hazmer expressed enthusiasm while acknowledging the publisher’s role in such decisions. “As an indie developer, I’d love to do collaborations—not just with other indie games, but also with musicians. Collaborations help bring new perspectives and widen the audience. But whether or not we do it again depends on Shueisha as well.” He mentioned their previous experience: “We’ve done it before with content creators like The Anime Man.” However, he remained cautious: “I can’t confirm anything at the moment… It’s definitely something we’re discussing.”

With its expanded gameplay, improved music integration, and the backing of a major publisher, No Straight Roads 2 appears positioned to build significantly on its predecessor’s foundation while maintaining the charm and creativity that made the original game stand out in the indie gaming landscape.