It's Not Smash Goddamn It; Deal With It...

Gameplay - 10/10

Storyline - 8/10

Graphics - 10/10

Game Score : 28/30

Let me start off by saying my sincerest apologies for the late review. Went on a company retreat where I thought would have free net access to do the blog on Friday only to discover that there is no WiFi in the rooms and the internet is pay per use. This to me is so dumb especially for an all inclusive hotel in this the 21st century so filled with technology. Anyways I wrote up the review in Microsoft Word and this is it as you read. As an added bonus I managed to get some game-play recorded by some fellow gamer friends of mine which is a rarity as far as me reviewing a console game goes but I love you guys so enjoy. You can skip to the 14:33 mark in the game-play video for my special guest appearance on the Video Game Console Junkie's Stream.

Ok so before I even go any further let me just say do not approach this game with the mindset that its just a Super Smash Brothers rip-off by Sony. It has less characters, a different fighting engine, a lot more customization and unlockable content, etc. I'm so sick of seeing reviews just highlighting that its a clone. Yes they took some elements familiar to the Smash brothers franchise since its a genre of game that is not heavily saturated, but it retains enough originality to stand on its own two feet. PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale is a crossover fighting video game which was released on November 20, 2012 in North America and is scheduled for a January 2013 release in Japan. Up to four players can battle each other using characters from various Sony franchises such as God of War, PaRappa the Rapper and Sly Cooper, as well as third-party franchises like BioShock.  During the game, players damage other players to build their super meter. They can also receive orbs that build up their super meter at the bottom of the screen from stage areas and opponents. Earning enough power allows players to use one of three levels of super moves which can be used to defeat opponents and earn points. The game features cross-platform play between the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita versions.

What’s Good:

Superbot did a great job providing a universe roster of characters which can appeal to any and all Sony fans past or present. The combat mechanics of the game represent each character very well from their respective game universes. A well thought out online ranking system that rewards the player for not only participating but also for completing session objectives for a given period of days. The game features an insane amount of unlockable rewards to keep the player engaged and ever hungry to play for longer to achieve everything available for their favorite characters. Proper net code to enable suitable matchmaking for online play; as well as minimal dropped/lagged frames during game-play online. Customization options are too numerous to count, they vary from titles, player card backgrounds, things called minions that cheer you on during battle, costumes and more. Stellar game soundtrack that will have you singing along to songs stuck in your head; couple that with spectacular well meshed level designs from famous Sony PlayStation franchises. Robust training regiment to help you master your favorite characters; from a practice mode to combat trials all available tools for upping your level of play are present in this game.

What’s Bad:

Item design needs more fleshing out and variety. Bugs from the games open beta are still present in the final build of the game. Lack of key franchise fan favorites from the roster such as Crash Bandicoot, Spyro the Dragon, Rayman, etc.  The game needed to have a more fleshed out story mode to explain the circumstances behind how all these characters became rivals and what they are fighting for. Full CGI (Computer Generated Imagery) would have been nice for all the cut scenes and story mode elements but then again the games main selling point is the multi-player.

What Should Have Been Added:

MORE FREAKING CHARACTERS!!! A staple point of any fighting game, the larger the roster the less of a chance to alienate any potential players. With more characters also comes the opportunity for more stages to be meshed together from various franchises. Last but not least I would have liked to see a justifiable use for taunts even for something as simple as extra points in a round or a trophy requirement. 

Final Thoughts:

This is a brawler game but it does not make it a rip odd of the smash brother game franchise. People need to realize that even tough comparisons will be drawn and compared never forget that at its core it is its own individual entity. PlayStation All Stars Battle Royale fills a long lasting void that many people would love to see filled as the Super Smash Brother franchise has had the monopoly on the market for far too long. I personally am not planning on ever owning a Nintendo console ever again, as the only thing I would be still drawn to play are the games from the Pokémon series so I was filled with joy when I heard about this game being made for the PS3.

Remember to skip to the 14:33 mark int he video for my special guest appearance on the Video Game Console Junkie's Stream

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