Lost CAVE Shmup?

[undamned]

For years I recalled having seen a teaser in one of my old game magazines for an upcoming CAVE project with unique art that never saw production, but I struggled to ever find that teaser again. While cleaning up my garage, I recently found my box of 40 or so JP gaming mags and I thought I'd flip through a few. Well, I found it. Arcadia No.017, Oct. 2001:



It was featured on the "News Transmitter" page:



Closer:



The magazine date puts it between Progear and DOJ/Ketsui, so it may very well be simply a scrapped character design for one of the latter titles. Or perhaps it was a game concept scrapped altogether?
-ud

[Some-Mist]

looks like the guwange mask

[CStarFlare]

Guwange was before Progear by 2 years so it’s unlikely to be hinting that. They probably recycled the mask design for a promo image/dug out some old concept art. (The glasses also don’t point to Guwange).

When was Oni Death’s development and cancellation in the timeline...?

[Sumez]

Guwange was before Progear by 2 years so it’s unlikely to be hinting that. They probably recycled the mask design for a promo image/dug out some old concept art. (The glasses also don’t point to Guwange).

Also, Joker Jun does seem to like a similar style across many different projects. The mask design is strangely similar though, and why is a guy with modern (pilot?) sunglasses holding a demon mask.
Maybe a sequel to Guwange set in modern times?

Even if this was actually a planned title at some point it's probably unlikely much more was created than that promo image.

[Jonpachi]

Batman-sugun

[PerishedFraud ឵឵]

You gotta respect a dude who wears shades under his mask.

[_rm_]

What about the Kanji around the picture? Anyone know what they mean?

[Ceph]

"Who am I?"

[6t8k]

You gotta respect a dude who wears s̶h̶a̶d̶e̶s̶ under his mask.

A sleep mask.

"Who am I?"

Could it be a self-portrait?