IGN has published a hands-on preview of Showa American Story, an eccentric action-RPG set in an alternate late-1980s where Japan economically and culturally colonised the United States. First revealed in 2021 and largely quiet since, the game arrives amid a booming Chinese AAA single-player market, prompting questions about whether its offbeat tone can help it stand out; IGN's roughly two-hour demo suggests a distinctive, genuinely funny world, though combat currently feels mechanically underdeveloped.

Players control Choko Chigusa, a girl resurrected from the dead, across four demo segments covering story-driven combat, camp-based rest and progression, open-world exploration and a large boss fight. Combat blends melee weapons (Bare Hands/Gauntlets, Katanas, Drills and Polearms) with ranged options like shotguns and rifles, each with distinct movesets, including named legendary blades and anime-style stance systems for katanas. A central "Rage Cycle" mechanic builds a meter through dealing or taking damage, converting into capped "Rage Points" that unlock special attacks, though IGN felt the system needed more polish overall.