JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle

 PlayStation 3
Metascore
71

Mixed or average reviews - based on 53 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 53
  2. Mixed: 32 out of 53
  3. Negative: 0 out of 53
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  1. Gaming Age
    May 8, 2014
    100
    Bandai Namco has done an amazing job and deserves praise for bringing this extremely heavy Japanese title to the USA. As a fan of the original and fighting games in general, I highly recommend this one.
  2. IGN Italia
    Apr 24, 2014
    90
    Simply put, this is the fighting game every JoJo fan dreamed to play and it's a great example of how to take inspiration from the best games out there and add something of yours.
  3. JeuxActu
    Apr 25, 2014
    85
    Fans of Versus Fighting or 2D fighting games in general, do not miss the gem called Jojo's Bizarre Adventure All Star Battle, even if you don't know a thing about the series or the manga. Like Street Fighter 4, CyberConnect2's title will appeal to newbies and veterans alike thanks to its arcade stick and its smooth gameplay, but it's also filled with subtleties that require skill if you get into it. Top all this with brilliant direction (awesome graphics) and a base roster of 32 characters with many interesting game modes (besides the useless campaign mode which has a despicable business model) and you'll get an explosive mix. A very nice game to pick up while waiting for Ultra Street Fighter IV, set for this summer, and which is going to be another update of Capcom's fighting game.
  5. Cheat Code Central
    May 5, 2014
    84
    One heck of a good time. It feels like a lot of love and care was put into the game, in an attempt to make it appeal to both hardcore fighting game fans and anime fans, and it does! If you are looking for an awesome fighter with some unique systems, check this one out.
  6. LaPS4
    Apr 24, 2014
    82
    Cyberconnect2 offers us the first game of the franchise that arrives to the West. Many playable modes, astonishing visuals and a vast array of characters to play. Without a doubt, the best JoJo's Bizarre Adventure game.
  7. Meristation
    Apr 24, 2014
    82
    A great fighting game that will appeal to fans of the manga and veteran players of fighting games.
  8. Hardcore Gamer
    May 1, 2014
    80
    Pick it up if you’re looking for a fighting game that’s a little different and packed with personality.
  9. Everyeye.it
    Apr 29, 2014
    80
    An incredible homage to one of the best manga ever created. A solid beat'em up, not technical as a Street Fighter but deep enough to please the fan of the genre.
  10. Play UK
    Apr 28, 2014
    80
    A fun if slightly shallow fighting game for most, JoJo’s Bizzare Adventure fans will absolutely adore All Star Battle. For that select few, this is a must have.
  11. God is a Geek
    Apr 25, 2014
    80
    A visually ballistic and staggeringly polished fighter that offers great lip service for fans of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure while also delivering a game with enough flair to appeal to both determined and casual fans of the fighting genre. And if there’s one thing people will remember about All Star Battle, it’s that it’s stylish. Mission accomplished, Cyber Connect 2.
  12. 3DJuegos
    Apr 25, 2014
    80
    A really good fighting game based upon the characters created by Hirohiko Araki. Full of fighters to choose from, game modes and nice humourous touches.
  13. Multiplayer.it
    Apr 24, 2014
    80
    JoJo's Bizarre Adventures: All-Star Battle is not a perfect fighting game by any means and shows how inexperienced CyberConnect2 still is in that department. However, it's fun and bizarre as much as the series itself and it delivers tons of fan service by totally understanding its source material.
  14. Vandal
    Apr 24, 2014
    80
    Obviously there are better options if you're looking for a fighting game, but this game is a must-have for fans of the franchise.
  15. SpazioGames
    Apr 24, 2014
    80
    Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle is a great fighting game, featuring an amazing roster, well-implemented mechanics and the same charm of the fascinating manga by Araki. Its only weaknesses lie in the field of content, which is particularly noticeable in the simplistic story mode.
  16. Pelit (Finland)
    Jun 12, 2014
    78
    A cartoony fighting game based on the world of Jojo's Bizarre Adventure? That sounds really promising for people who are already fans of the manga but everyone else are going to be confused because they don't know the source material and the game doesn't explain it well enough. The end result is a decent fighting game that has a big roster of goofy characters and a nice looking cell-shaded style but a weak story mode and laggy online experience. [June 2014]
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  17. Games Master UK
    Jun 7, 2014
    78
    A loving uppercut aimed squarely at the jaw of manga nuts - but it might leave fighting fans frustrated. [July 2014, p.77]
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  18. Digital Chumps
    May 6, 2014
    78
    Fighting game fans should endeavor to at least try All-Star Battle before dismissing it on the grounds of not knowing anything about JoJo's universe. On the other hand, JoJo's fans have ample reason to support Namco and CyberConnect2 by picking this one up.
  19. Gamer.nl
    May 29, 2014
    75
    JoJo's Bizarre Adventure All Star Battle is a remarkable game. Not because of its generic combat system, but because of the noticeable passion developer CyberConnect 2 has for the manga in which the game is based. It's a must-have for any JoJo fan; any layman who's interested should start reading the manga before playing the game.
  20. XGN
    May 26, 2014
    75
    JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure All-Star Battle is a nice game full of action and great battles. The colorful and cartoonish design adds to the game play experience. Sadly enough, the story is quite difficult to follow if you are new to the franchise.
  21. Destructoid
    May 17, 2014
    75
    Overall, despite its shortcomings, Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle is a colorful spectacle that both fans of the anime and future fans of the anime will want to pick up and experience, even if just to watch a man use only his upper body strength after hopping off his horse to hold his own in combat. It's funky, gorgeous, and oozing with style.
  22. Gamers' Temple
    May 9, 2014
    75
    JoJo's Bizarre Adventure once again makes a very stylish fighter but it still doesn't match up well against the competition of fighters out there.

Awards & Rankings

32
#32 Best PS3 Game of 2014
23
#23 Most Discussed PS3 Game of 2014
23
#23 Most Shared PS3 Game of 2014

User Reviews

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User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 96 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 68 out of 96
  2. Mixed: 17 out of 96
  3. Negative: 11 out of 96
  1. mikesm
    May 2, 2014
    10
    A lot of the critical reviews for this game appear to be from people who have probably never read the JoJo manga before and are simply judgingA lot of the critical reviews for this game appear to be from people who have probably never read the JoJo manga before and are simply judging it on the basis of being a complete outsider to the series. To me this seems unfair to what this game was meant to be; first and foremost, this game was designed to be fanservice for fans of Jojo's Bizarre Adventure. So far only Parts 1-3 have been animated, and the other 5 story arcs most likely won't be animated for a few years. However, this game brings the entire manga to life. If there's one thing you can truly say about this game, it's that it is incredibly loyal to the manga that it's based on. While there is a heavier focus on characters from Parts 2-5, no story arc in the manga has been left in the dust. You can play as several of your favourite characters in the series, and if you can't fight as them, at the very least you're likely to find them appear in the background of a stage, as a stage hazard, as one of the many characters guiding your around the game's menus, as one of the characters giving you support items and battery charge in the campaign or appearing in some other way. In Japan at least, the game's release was such an affair that the game itself had it's own training with JoJo characters all over it running for a few weeks.

    The game itself has great graphics, some have complained in the past about the Japanese version being only 30fps, but the game itself looks so fluid now that I think the fps has become better. only during certain animations or stages does the fps seem to drop slightly. The game at it's core is a pretty solid fighter. It's not about to redefine the genre or give Street Fighter and Guilty Gear a run for their money, but overall I could imagine people playing this game at tournaments. With that said, at the very top levels of play, certain characters do have an edge over others (Jolyne and Johnny come to mind) and some characters just aren't going to fare that well against others (Valentine). However, most players don't play at this level, and the game is designed so that even newer players stand a chance against experience players who use combos and understand the mechanics of the game well. As for mechanics specific to this game, there are stylish moves which are similar to parrying in 3rd Strike (block at the exact time someone attacks you), Stand Rush (using a stand attack, and then being able to rush down the other player with your character as your stand attacks; can be used for certain combos), puttstun cancelling (similar to roman cancel in guilty gear) and also taunt cancelling to do certain combos.

    One thing about this game is that it stays incredibly loyal to the manga in terms of poses the characters make, outfits that can be unlocked, dialogue the characters have among one another. Also the abilities themselves, even the ones that seem broken at first, are in the game and made to be somewhat balanced overall. For example, you can become Ultimate Kars, Use C-Moon and Made In Heaven as Enrico, you can get Gold Experience Requiem as Giorno, you can stop time and reenact the final battle of Jotaro vs DIO in Jotaro vs DIO matches, you can upgrade Tusk up to Act 4 and use him essentially exactly as Johnny does (complete with "Chummiiii!" sounds), you can use all of Mista's Sex Pistols to have bullets flying all around the screen, you can make Joseph taunt by telling people what they're going to say next. As I've said previously, this game is at its core, a work of fanservice for fans of the JoJo manga. In this sense, it's a great work. Some have complained about renamings in the localizations, but at the end of the day these renames are mostly in subtitles only. You will always hear Avdol call Polnareff "Polnareff" even if the subtitles say "Eiffel". You can always turn subs off, but honestly if you've read the manga and know all the characters, you are always going to hear Jolyne crying out "Stone Free!" or Giorno saying "Gold Experience Requiem!" among others.

    Overall, I would say if you are a fan of Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, you're just depriving yourself if you don't buy this game. If you're a fan of the fighting genre, try the game out as a demo or at a friend's house and see if you think it would be fun for you. I would almost give this game a perfect 10, but the lack of character balance at top tiers, the sloppy launch by Bandai-Namco USA and the occasionally laggy netcode all detract from the experience. If the netcode and character balance was improved by patching from Namco/CC2, I'd give this game a perfect 10 as being one of the best new fighters and one of the best products ever produced in the JoJo franchise.    … Full Review »
  2. Elizaguirre
    May 2, 2014
    10
    Excellent game for jojo fans. This game is a dream come true for fans of the manga. I haven't had this much fun playing a fighting game in aExcellent game for jojo fans. This game is a dream come true for fans of the manga. I haven't had this much fun playing a fighting game in a while. Most of the critics nitpicks are because they don't realize that this is a love letter for jojo fans first and foremost.… Full Review »
  3. Spryt5
    Apr 30, 2014
    8
    I'm not very good with fighting games and usually don't like them, so take that as you will. As for the game, it is a lot of fun, there are aI'm not very good with fighting games and usually don't like them, so take that as you will. As for the game, it is a lot of fun, there are a lot of cool things in it for fans of the series; the random stage dangers are all pretty iconic things despite being very annoying. The only problems I've had with the game is the story being somewhat bare and is really not for someone new to the series. In between fights are some different pages of text explaining very briefly what happens. Also some characters have had name changes, AC/DC was changed to EsiDesi and Polnareff was changed to Eiffel. The only big problem is that if you buy the digital version of the game the game won't recognize the Campaign Pack (without this you can't do the Campaign mode which unlocks most of the things in the game excluding characters, and online Versus is also blocked without the pack) and as of 4/30 it has not been patched. These problems aside it is still a must buy for fans of the series.… Full Review »
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