With the advent of mobile gaming, in-browser entertainment has become a thing of the past, but a brand new collaboration between Capcom, the Japan Racing Association, and the Japan Sumo Association conjures up some nostalgia with one of the weirdest mashups we’ve ever seen.
Japan Sumo Cup is, at its core, a rhythm game about horse racing. Things veer off course, however, with the addition of Street Fighter characters and real-life sumo wrestlers as jockeys.
Upon starting the game and getting past the beautiful title screen at the top of this article, you’re given the option of two rounds: the first includes Ryu, Dhalsim, and Blanka, while the second features Chun-Li, Guile, and E. Honda. A third is blacked out at the start but appears to tease a showdown against M. Bison.
After that, it’s the all-important character selection. Japan Sumo Cup offers a choice between four different sumo as well as Street Fighter V newcomer Necalli. A fifth sumo, a playable version of Ryu, and Akuma appear to be unlockable.
While the game itself isn’t much to speak of, the pure insanity offered by it’s alternate universe horse races has to be experienced first-hand. At certain points in the match, the racers “power up,” usually by using one of their iconic moves or, in Necalli’s case, jumping up and down on a moving horse.
Oh, and before I forget to bring it up, Dhalsim rides an elephant instead of a horse. Nothing I really want to expand on here, just thought it should be mentioned.
If you want to try Japan Sumo Cup for yourself (and I very much hope you do), you can do so by following the link below.
Source: Japan Sumo Cup via NeoGAF, Crunchyroll
