JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Heritage for the Future

When are anime video games at their best? Simple, when you are beating the snot out of another recognisable character, in a memorable setting with intense music blaring in the background. Back in the 90’s that’s just about all their was in this category. No open ended story games, no open worlds and no spin-off titles. Just arcade style fighters which allowed fans to control their favourite characters and inflict pain on all that stood in their way. Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Heritage for the Future is a perfect example of this.

This game plays like fighting games of the era such as Tekken, Mortal Kombat, Dead or Alive, Soul Calibur and Soul Blade. Yet also like anime titles such as Jump Force, Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm and any of the Dragonball-Z game additions. This game aims to be a fighter Jojo fans could hold dear forever more. However, is this a game that stands the test of time? We find out in our review of Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Heritage for the Future.

Future Proof Gaming

You know what happens when you go down the arcade route? Well, if you do it right and make the game infinitely replaceable, the game becomes future proof. A feat that the developers of this game manage to achieve with ease. The mechanical bliss when controlling this game is palpable, the simple to understand but difficult to master combos are conducive with a classic arcade fighter and each fighter is unique, offering a varied set of play styles to utilize.

As you the visuals, they are very much in line with the style of Street Fighter II, most likely due to the fact that the same team worked on each game. Of course, the game has themes, environments, models and details that make it a Jojo game. However, the art style is very much Street Fighter-esque. Which, don’t get us wrong, is never a bad thing.

Then you have the fan content. This game follows the story of the third part of the anime. It features some sketches that are lifted directly from the manga and also features a stand mode which would become a staple of later games in the series. It’s a game that is build with care to appeal to long time fans and causal gamers alike and it’s a testament to the experienced fighting game creators who were at the helm.

The Verdict

Overall, Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Heritage for the Future is a arcade fighter that is well worth checking out. There is a reason why this game was made available on modern consoles in 2012.

Pros:

• Infinitely fun arcade format
• Great fan service for fans of the series.
• Plenty of different play styles

Cons:

• Primitive my today’s standards

In the pantheon of classic fighting games, there are many household names, but this adaptation of the massive Japanese manga and anime is one of the most underrated. JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Heritage for the Future has all the characters you love, complete with their eccentric personalities and iconic poses. Often overlooked when compared to its competitors, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Heritage for the Future is a hidden treasure for fans of the 2D fighting genre.

Main Game Features

• Over 20 characters from the popular manga
• Speedy 2D fighting rules
• Vibrant graphics and sound

Main Modes of Play

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Heritage for the Future has three unique modes available to choose from, each with a different challenge to tackle. In Story Mode, you can uncover personal stories for each character in the roster as you battle through a series of fights, leading up to a final boss. Story Mode features a handful of cutscenes to enjoy, with a few characters' stories tying together. There are 22 characters in total, but some must be unlocked before you can choose them by completing different tasks throughout the game. This usually involves beating Story Mode with certain characters, although the requirements vary.

If you're interested in testing your skills, Challenge Mode is a good opportunity, thanks to its added difficulty. In this mode, you must complete ten battles in a row with the same health bar. Luckily, you can replenish your health between fights or pick a boost of energy instead. Challenge Mode is a cool mix of what you'd expect from a Survival Mode, but the option of choosing health or energy adds a risk and reward element not usually seen in fighting games. Additionally, some versions of the game feature Alessi Mode, which is a variant of Challenge Mode that lets you play as child versions of the different fighters. Finally, Versus Mode lets you clash with a friend in local competition, bringing the arcade experience home.

Gameplay

This brilliant fighting game was developed by Capcom and shares many similarities to their other games, including Darkstalkers and Street Fighter 3. The basic concept is the same as most fighting games, as you must deplete your opponent's health bar through successful attacks before the timer runs out. However, JoJo's Bizare Adventure: Heritage for the Future has some smart changes to the formula while also adding in a few interesting elements as well.

The controls are very simple, as each character has a light, medium, and heavy attack. Some characters also have Stands, which are entities that help you in battle by adding different buffs. For example, some Stands let you double jump, while others absorb energy or boost your attack. Other characters have weapons instead of Stands, which have various benefits and can easily win the fight. Characters are very different when it comes to moves and abilities, making some match-ups much easier than others. However, you'll need to bring your all when you challenge bosses, as these fights are some of the toughest in the game.

Conclusion

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Heritage for the Future is an underrated 2D fighter that blows its competition out of the water.

Pros

• All characters are fun to try
• Good amount of modes
• Sprites and stages look amazing

Cons

• Some characters are simply overpowered
• Stands can be hard to control
• Very difficult boss fights