Culinary Quests and Pixelated Adventures: Unveiling Dhalman, a Metroidvania with a Flavorful Twist

In a fascinating fusion of genres, a renowned character designer from a famous fighting game is venturing into a realm that blends pixel art, action, and culinary management. The creative mind behind the iconic visuals of Street Fighter 2 is now developing a side-scrolling Metroidvania offering that promises to deliver an engaging experience alongside a unique restaurant simulator.

The game, titled Dhalman, introduces players to a young protagonist on an exciting journey to discover rare spices, all in a bid to elevate his family's curry business to new heights. This quest will require players to engage in battles to earn the necessary funds for the restaurant, as well as to confront challenging foes and manage the operations of the shop itself.

While Dhalman isn't a direct continuation of any established fighting game series, it appears that the influences from the iconic arcade title may still resonate within its character designs. Observing the concept art, one can spot resemblances to well-known characters like Chun-Li and Bison. The visual style of the game aims to reflect the distinctive pixel art aesthetic that Yamashita is celebrated for.

Despite the intriguing concept, securing the necessary funding presents a challenge. Currently, the project is being supported through Kickstarter, yet it has a considerable distance to cover before achieving its target. As of now, approximately $1,257 (£974) has been raised towards a goal of $512,233 (£397,097), a figure that falls short compared to recent successes in the JRPG funding arena. There is still some time left, as the fundraiser lasts until September 2.

If the funding objective is attained, the developers plan to release Dhalman on PC, with potential for additional platforms if certain stretch goals are met. However, the specific financial requirements for these additional versions have not yet been disclosed, as many of the proposed stretch rewards remain unconfirmed. A release date hasn't been specified either, but current Kickstarter incentives estimate delivery for August 2026.