Yatagarasu, the doujin fighter developed by former SNK artist Kotani Tomoyuki and fighting game player Umezono, is now officially available outside Japan thanks to the folks over at Zen United and Rice Digital. Originally released for PCs in Japan back in 2011, this Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike and King of Fighters inspired indie title is now available through the Rice Digital store for only £7.99.

You may remember this game from an earlier article that mentioned it was scheduled to release on Nintendo’s 3DS handheld sometime last year.

Yatagarasu features eight characters, a unique parry system using two separate high and low parry buttons, and an active damage mitigation system that allows defending players to alleviate the damage they take by pressing the same button as the incoming attack. In addition to this, the game includes network play with eight person lobbies as well as the ability to select a “trash talking” commentary track from one of three top Japanese players – MCZ|Tokido, Kokujin, or KSK.

Take note however that the game has only been partially localized and still contains some Japanese, particularly in the game’s launcher application. That said, the game’s manual does come with a guide for using the untranslated launcher.

A handful of screenshots and the full press release have been included below.

The work of ex-SNK and King of Fighters artist Kotani Tomoyuki alongside one of Japan’s best fighting game players, Umezono – Yatagarasu is one of the most exciting new fighting games to emerge from Japan’s doujin scene. Taking in a range of influences from Street Fighter 3: Third Strike to King of Fighters, Yatagarasu features: Eight unique characters.

Stunning sprite artwork and animation from King of Fighters artist, Kotani Tomoyuki.

Choose your trash talking commentator from top Japanese players, Tokido, Kokujin and KSK – who’ll react to your play style.

Innovative ‘button locking’ parry system to give you the defensive edge.

Unique damage mitigation system where tapping the attack buttons to correspond with incoming attacks, limits damage taken.

1-2 players with 8 player lobbies.

Exclusive part-localised version, only available on Rice Digital. ‘We are so pleased that Hotapen have decided to introduce Yatagarasu to a Western audience’ says Geraint Evans, Director of Rice Digital. ‘It’s a superb 2D fighter and support from the Fighting Game Community for Yatagarasu will ensure we can continue to bring more hidden gems like this to the West. For fans of 2D fighters – Yatagarasu is an experience not to be missed’. Yatagarasu is now available, internationally, on the Rice Digital store for just £7.99 http://www.ricedigital.co.uk/store/yatagarasu About Rice Digital Rice Digital (http://ricedigital.net) is a curated site for niche Japanese games – combining an editorial site and a store which includes hand-picked titles from Japan’s growing ‘doujin’ indie scene. Rice Digital’s mission is to bring wider awareness of smaller Japanese Games to a Western audience while providing a platform for smaller developers to have their games talked about, seen and sold via the Rice Digital store. Rice Digital is partner company to the videogame publisher Zen United Ltd. About PDW: Hotapen PDW: Hotapen are a doujin circle consisting of ex-SNK artist Kotani Tomoyuki, top Japanese fighting game player Umezono and programmer Shiza, together they have created Yatagarasu, a 2D fighter which is available for the first time in the West via Rice Digital. PDW: Hotapen’s website can be fund here. http://yatagarasuinfo.web.fc2.com/

Source: Zen United