JUMP FORCE

Fighting games and anime go hand to hand, but there has never been one quite as huge as Jump Force. Even though back in 2015 we got J-Stars Victory VS which had a similar concept, it doesn't compare with Jump Force. As you may know, Shonen Jump is one of the bigger manga publishers in Japan, and it's popular for most of the popular action anime around. To celebrate their 50th anniversary they released Jump Force, but is the game good enough to endure such pressure? Well, let's check that out.

Bringing them all together

The game launched with 40 characters from the most popular franchises Shonen Jump has to offer. This includes characters such as Naruto, Goku, Ichigo, Luffy, Seiya, and many more. The characters are all fully voiced by their original actors. Not only is it the most varied roaster in anime games ever, but it's one of the biggest too. And it has been expanded after the release through DLC, and a special ultimate release with all the new characters included.

3D Fighting

A lot like J-Stars Victory VS Plus and many other anime fighting games, Jump Force uses a 3D, tag battle system. In this game, you also form a team of three members, but most of the time there are only two characters on screen at the same time. All three members of the team share the same HP bar, so basically, you get a team life bar. You can swap between the characters in your team and even perform crazy tag combos with different team members.

Stunning visuals

One of the things that separate this game from most other anime games is the excellent visuals. Unlike some other anime titles, Jump Force doesn't really try to emulate an anime with its visuals. It delivers some excellent 3D models complete with textures and great lighting too. It's an interesting take to the genre, and it also feels a lot like you're playing with some really high-quality action figures. The levels are stunning, and so are the special effects that appear in the battles. Even though they don't emulate anime visuals, the particles and lights are excellent.

Game modes

As usual, it features some interesting game modes so that there's more than just fights. There's a story mode, and you can walk around a city and enter stores, go to different missions, and all the things you'd expect to see. To do this you'll have to create and customize it so you can get through the story with your avatar.

Review

Jump Force is the most ambitious anime fighting game at the moment. With a huge roast from over a dozen different series, there's a big chance one of your favorites is here. However, partly because of how high expectations were for this game, it can be a bit disappointing. The gameplay is too simple sometimes and the story is really bland.

Pros

• Tons of characters
• Fan service
• Great visuals
• Fun gameplay

Cons

• Bland Story
• Unbalanced roaster
• Plenty of room for improvement

Jump Force is a crossover fighting game celebrating the 50th anniversary of Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine. Developed by Spike Chunsoft and published in 2019 by Bandai Namco Entertainment, it brings together over 50 playable characters from 16 iconic manga series for epic tag team battles.

Fighting Mechanics

The core fighting of Jump Force will instantly feel familiar to fans of 3D arena brawlers. Players control a team of three characters, with fast-paced battles revolving around switching between them on the fly to strategize the best matchups. Combat utilizes light attacks, heavy attacks, ranged attacks, guards, dodges, and unique special moves tailored to each fighter. Successfully landing blows builds up a power meter that unlocks devastating ultimate moves for massive damage.

The pacing feels intuitive, with smooth movement and responsive attacks allowing players to chase opponents around the fully 3D stages. Combos feel satisfying to pull off, chaining light attacks into launchers and juggle air combos without overcentralizing the fighting experience compared to some other anime fighters. New players can mash out combos while veterans will appreciate the technical nuances offered by cancels, ult meter management, side steps, and setups for extended combos against wall splats or downed foes.

Massive Character Roster

Boasting over 50 playable fighters, Jump Force’s roster is a dream list of manga all-stars featuring fan favorite heroes and villains. Well-known protagonists like Goku, Naruto, Luffy, Ichigo, and Naruto are joined by menacing villains such as Frieza, Sasuke, Blackbeard, and Buu.

The massive cast enables players to live out their fantasy crossover matchups. Having Dragon Ball’s Goku square off against One Piece’s Luffy or teaming up Naruto and Sasuke with Yu Yu Hakusho’s Yusuke feels like a dream collaboration. The tag team aspect allows for significant experimentation to find which team synergies work best. Dedicated players can spend hours exploring the creative combination potential across the Jump library.

Is it really that unique though

J-Stars Victory Vs for PlayStation 3 and PS Vita was the previous crossover celebrating Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump anniversaries by pitting its manga stars against each other. However, Jump Force improves upon J-Stars’s formula in every way as a modern next-gen successor. The graphics showcase more realistic manga renditions compared to J-Stars’s sprites, while the expanded roster dwarfs J-Stars’s roster. Gameplay also feels faster and smoother, translating better to 3D arenas compared to J-Stars’ side view battles. Overall, Jump Force feels like the ultimate evolution of the manga mashup concept.

Review: 7/10

Jump Force is a fun fan service showcase brings together decades of Weekly Shōnen Jump icons, even if the gameplay grows repetitive over time. The fighting mechanics are solid, if basic, with countless dream tag team matchups available across the wide cast.

Pros:

• Slick arena fighting mechanics
• Massive 50+ manga crossover roster
• Faithfully renders iconic 2D art styles in 3D
• Combos are satisfying without being overwhelming
• Encourages creative team combinations

Cons:

• Lackluster story mode
• Stilted character interactions
• Bland player custom character
• Repetitive mission structure