The development team at Nekki might have just gotten the next single-player kung-fu combat game. I was able to play a 10-minute demo of the alpha version of SPINE, and it shows a lot of promise.
The game takes place in a cyberpunk-esque world ruled by AI, and you’re playing a protagonist I can only compare combat-wise to an Angela Mao with guns. You have every bit of slick combat, parries, and finishers that can be compared to many other games of its kind
With it being a ten-minute demo, there was a lot to be seen, but one thing I really liked was the skill tree. You have a giant web of abilities that are sure to bring out the combo fiends and unlimited juggles that we have become popular with these types of titles.
As you can see in the image above, there’s a tab for a spray can. Here’s the kicker: Along with hand-to-hand combat and guns, spray cans can be used at will to blind or distract enemies. The best part about it is that it’s more than one color of spray paint, and it never leaves the opponent or the surrounding environment. Imagine a horde of enemies, and after defeating them all, I see rainbows of colors all over the ground and walls alike. There’s something poetic about it, and I wonder if we can select the color order and combinations in the future. One thing I wanted was an option to use brass knuckles or nunchucks. I hope that gets added.
SPINE is slated to release in 2026, and I’m excited to see what future presentations they will have for this game before its full release.