Nintendo Legend Takaya Imamura Joins Nightmare Buster Rebirth as Stretch Goal on Kickstarter

Pix'n Love Games has made a significant announcement for fans of classic Nintendo titles and indie game development: Takaya Imamura, the celebrated artist and game designer recognized for his iconic contributions to series like F-Zero and Star Fox, has been revealed as a stretch goal guest of honor for Nightmare Buster Rebirth.

The news comes as the studio’s Kickstarter campaign for an HD reimagining of the SNES classic Nightmare Busters continues its successful run, now entering its final weeks with new rewards on the horizon. Nightmare Buster Rebirth launched on Kickstarter last month, inviting backers to support a modern revival of the cult 1995 run-and-gun platformer that originally appeared on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES).

Within weeks, the campaign exceeded expectations, raising €125,873—more than double its original €60,000 target.

This enthusiastic backing has enabled Pix'n Love Games to achieve a series of stretch goals, introducing features like new levels, a behind-the-scenes museum mode, a physical manual, and a dedicated thank you screen honoring supporters.

However, the team isn’t done yet: with 16 days remaining, they have set a new target milestone. Pix'n Love Games officially confirmed that if fundraising reaches €150,000, Takaya Imamura will join the project to design an exclusive new boss for Nightmare Buster Rebirth.

Imamura is widely known among Nintendo fans for his creative work at the legendary gaming company, where he was instrumental in shaping the visual style and character roster of F-Zero and Star Fox, and contributed to The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask.

Having started at Nintendo in 1989, Imamura’s artistic influence spanned multiple generations of hardware before his departure in 2021 to pursue personal creative ventures. “Takaya Imamura is a true pillar of Nintendo’s history, responsible for fan-favorite franchises and memorable character designs.

Having his vision contribute to Nightmare Buster Rebirth is an exceptional opportunity for our team and backers,” Pix'n Love Games noted in its latest campaign update. Following his departure from Nintendo, Imamura has continued making waves in the creative space with projects such as the sci-fi comic Omega 6—which is set for English release this October via Dark Horse Comics—and the adventure game Omega 6 - The Triangle Stars.

His involvement in Nightmare Buster Rebirth marks a celebration of his decades-long legacy, now reaching a new generation of players on Nintendo Switch and other platforms. As Nightmare Buster Rebirth prepares for its final push on Kickstarter, existing fans and new supporters alike have a unique opportunity to see a Nintendo legend’s artistry brought to life in an anticipated indie title.

Those interested in helping the campaign reach this latest stretch goal can find more details, reward tiers, and updates on the official Kickstarter page.

Nintendo Switch F-Zero Nintendo Switch Pix'n Love Games Kickstarter Star Fox Takaya Imamura Nightmare Buster Rebirth The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask Omega 6 Dark Horse Comics Super Nintendo Entertainment System SNES