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
