THESE CYBER CITIZENS ARE HERE TO SAVE THE DAY!
Originally launched in 1997 on the Satellaview, a satellite-based service in Japan for the Super Famicom®, Kaizou Choujin Schbibinman Zero was the first of the Schbibinman series to stray from the PC Engine. This entry introduced two new protagonists, Raita and Azuki, into this beat 'em up platforming game that was easy to pick up but challenging to master. However, this was its only release, and it faded away with all the other Satellaview exclusives when Nintendo® and St.GiGa pulled the plug on the broadcast service in 2001. A Japanese release surfaced in 2017, but the West would not have to wait much longer! We're proud to re-release another Masaya cult classic with a new English translation as well as exclusive art done by Moises Juarez aka DANMAKUMAN.
Schbibinman Zero - Shockman Zero
Dr. Gotokuji’s newly invented engine has been stolen by the evil B.B. Dan group! They have begun to invade the city using their cyber henchmen under the orders of their leader, the mad scientist Dr. Shen Kung! It’s up to the Schbibinman to stand up to them - the powerful duo of Raita and Azuki. In this action title, you’ll go through 8 stages filled with unique enemies and big boss fights. Available officially in English for the first time, this game is easy to play but challenging to master. Grab a friend to enjoy the two-player mode to unleash powerful team attacks!
2,900 Units Shipped Worldwide
ALL COPIES DELIVERED DECEMBER 2024
March 1989
Developed by Winds and published by Masaya Games, Kaizō Chōjin Shubibinman (改造町人シュビビンマン), which translates to Cyber Citizen Shockman, was released exclusively for the Japanese PC Engine. This game follows Tasuke and Kyapiko who are turned into "Shockmen", basicaly androids, and are tasked with stopping the evil Dark Skull. The game even had two-player co-op. It would be re-released on the Wii Virtual Console (2007), PlayStation 3 (2011), PlayStation Portable (2011), Wii U Virtual Console in Japan (2015), and then re-released by Ratalaika Games in May 2023 for the Switch, PS4, PS5, XBO, and Series X|S.
April 1991
Kaizō Chōjin Shubibinman 2: Aratanaru Teki (改造町人シュビビンマン2 新たなる敵) or Cyber Citizen Shockman 2: A New Menace was released for the Japanese PC Engine. The story takes place two years after the previous entry where Tasuke is now a cook at a restaurant and Kyapiko is still a student. The Doc is kidnapped as part of an invasion by an alien empire who also have Dark Shockmen within their ranks.
November 1992
The second entry was translated and released in the United States for the TurboGrafx-16 as Shockman. Various names were updated for this release with the main characters now called Arnold and Sonya.
February 1992
Kaizō Chōjin Shubibinman 3: Ikai no Princess (改造町人シュビビンマン3 －異界のプリンセス), which translates to Cyber Citizen Shockman 3: The Princess from Another World was released the following year for the PC Engine CD-ROM in Japan develop[ed and released by Masaya. While on vacation from being heroes, Shockmen Tasuke and Kyapiko receive a please for help from an alien princess. The Shockmen go into action on this CD-ROM based title which added in animated cutscenes with voice acting and CD quality music. A port for the TurboGrafx-CD under the title Shockman 2 was planned for North America but it was later canceled.
April 1995
A collaboration between Nintendo and satellite company St.GIGA resulted in the Satellaview, which worked as an addon for the Super Famicom and allows owners to download and play games or media by downloading them on special cartridges via a satellite connection. Despite requiring users to own a Super Famicom, a subscription to St.GIGA, the Satellaview addon, a special cartridge, memory packs, and owning or renting a satellite dish, the service was popular enough to provide content for 4 years and even had game kiosks at convinience stores.
Major publishers provided downloadable games and content during those years. Some titles were exclusive to the platform and made use of in-game announcements, voice-overs, online competitions, and high quality audio in order to re-release game, create remakes of older games, and even entirely new games. However, financial problems at St.GIGA plagued the company and in 1998, Nintendo finally pulled their support with other sponsors also pulling out after that. The service was terminated in June 2000 with some titles specific to the service lost to time.
Major publishers provided downloadable games and content during those years. Some titles were exclusive to the platform and made use of in-game announcements, voice-overs, online competitions, and high quality audio in order to re-release game, create remakes of older games, and even entirely new games. However, financial problems at St.GIGA plagued the company and in 1998, Nintendo finally pulled their support with other sponsors also pulling out after that. The service was terminated in June 2000 with some titles specific to the service lost to time.
March 1997
Kaizou Choujin Shubibinman Zero (改造町人シュビビンマン零), translated to Cyber Citizen Shockman Zero, was originally developed for the Super Famicom for release in 1994. However, the completed game was withheld and eventually surfaced on the Satellaview as part of a broadcast download in March 1997. Similar to the previous games, the side-scrolling action platformer brought about two Shockmen, this time Raita and Azuki, who seek to prevent the end of the world.
The game would never see a physical release until 2017 when Columbus Circle would re-release the game for its 20th anniversary and was sold online.
The game would never see a physical release until 2017 when Columbus Circle would re-release the game for its 20th anniversary and was sold online.
December 2024
Retro-Bit Publishing released Schbibinman Zero - Shockman Zero for the SNES® for both NTSC-U and PAL consoles, fully translated into English officially for the first time. This release also includes totally new artwork made by the talented DANMAKUMAN. Pre-orders for the game closed back in August 2024.
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