By the Power of Grayskull! The He-Man Beat 'em Up We've Always Dreamed Of
The Highlights: A Developer Who Understands the Assignment
The main quality assurance lies with the development team, Bitmap Bureau. This British studio is known for its expertise in the genre, especially thanks to their work on titles like Final Vendetta and Battle Axe.
Bitmap Bureau has remained faithful to retro gameplay formulas, always with an unyielding foundation of exceptional 2D work. While He-Man is their second licensed work (they are also responsible for the promising Terminator game), their classic approach allows them to play it safe: bringing back "side-scrolling beat 'em up" action with impeccable art.
The game will feature up to 12 levels that will tell an original Masters of the Universe story, and most importantly, it will offer co-op action. Players will be able to join He-Man with confirmed companions like Teela the Sorceress and Duncan (Man-At-Arms). In addition to confirmed combos, abilities, and powers—such as the ability to summon a massive, enemy-scorching dragon—we will see He-Man riding Battle Cat!
The Art Style: From Cartoon to Pixel Art
Visually, Dragon Pearl of Destruction is a direct and nostalgic tribute. Its trailer begins by honoring the original action figures and their television commercials.
The game uses good, sprite-based art with a clear orientation towards the cartoon aesthetic, mixing the look of the original animated series with pixel art that results in "spectacular modeling" of characters. The game is full of references to the classic cartoon. For example, comparison videos have shown the perfect recreation of Prince Adam raising the Sword of Grayskull to transform into He-Man, and the transformation of Cringer into Battle Cat.
The 2D beat ‘em up genre, where players traverse environments fighting hordes of enemies, was particularly popular in the 1980s.
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe: Dragon Pearl of Destruction joins the glorious tradition of titles like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Streets of Rage, utilizing that gameplay mechanic which inevitably evokes nostalgia.
The new game not only embraces the classic "side-scrolling beat 'em up" core, but it also includes more than appropriate nods to other genre greats, such as Golden Axe. Thanks to Bitmap Bureau's expertise in 2D and retro fidelity, this title is expected to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with these iconic references.
What is the Best He-Man Game to Date?
While the track record of Masters of the Universe on consoles has generally been subpar, there is a notable exception that currently holds the title of the best video game in the saga: He-Man: The Most Powerful Game in the Universe.
Released in 2012 for iOS and Android, this 2D action, platformer, and puzzle title managed to grasp what made the franchise great in the 80s. In it, He-Man battled Skeletor's hordes across 7 regions of Eternia with the help of allies like the Sorceress, Orko, and Man-At-Arms.
While it is no longer available on app stores, this game had a magic that recalled classics like Gunstar Heroes, offering a charming and solid adventure that surpassed all other entries in the franchise.
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe: Dragon Pearl of Destruction aims to change that history, and with its arrival planned for 2026 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC, it seems that, finally, we will be able to shout "I HAVE THE POWER!" with a controller in hand and true nostalgic joy.
