For gamers unfamiliar with Fubuki: Zero in on Holoearth, don’t worry—you’re not alone. But the moment you boot it up, the nostalgia hits fast. The wall jumps, air dashes, and charged attacks feel like a direct inspiration from the Rockman series, reminding players of Rockman X4 and its era. Developed by PEPOSOFT and published by Phoenixx Inc., Fubuki is indeed a challenging side-scrolling platformer game.
To players unfamiliar with Hololive, it’s a Vtuber universe by Hololive Production. There are well over 90 VTubers as of 2025, and Fubuki is one of the first to break the mould with a more unique initiative out of the typical idol narrative. You play as Shirakami Fubuki, accompanied by her sword Muramasamemaru. This marks the start of her side-scrolling journey, hacking and slashing her way through hordes of yokai from the underworld in a quest to restore peace.
The fast-paced action combat is matched by a gorgeous pixel-art aesthetic, which screams pixel-perfect in its art direction. Each stage is crafted with a unique and personal touch. Several stages bring their own set of challenging obstacles. To be frank, the game is not easy. Defeating the boss for each stage rewards Fubuki with their abilities, adding a clear Rockman-esque gameplay recipe.
For some ungodly reason, the first few early stages were quite a struggle to complete. Even seasoned players familiar with this genre might find themselves stumbling before fully adapting to the game’s mechanics. One classic difficulty element that might frustrate modern players: you start off with 5 lives, and once they’re gone, it’s game over—forcing you to start right from the very beginning. The loop repeats.
One of the major issues with the game is the visual clutter. While it’s common for retro-style games to have wild particle effects blown to the player’s face, it becomes a problem when the particles themselves are enemies. You’ll often take damage without knowing why, and it can throws you off during intense moments.
With that said, Fubuki: Zero in on Holoearth is both a fun and challenging experience. It’s filled with Hololive references and fan service that will definitely bring a smile to Hololive fans. The music and sound effects are also well-crafted, tying the whole experience together. Fans and newcomers alike will find a lot to enjoy in this game.
