All-Star Battle/Josuke Higashikata (JoJolion)

Josuke makes his debut in the PS3 game, as the only Part 8 playable character. He was confirmed for the game alongside the first DLC character, Yoshikage Kira.

Josuke's appearance in the game was a surprise for fans, as Part 8 was still fairly recent and only 3 volumes into its story. As a result most of his moves, animations, taunts and such are based on those three volumes, along with a few liberties, making a couple of his animations and skills somewhat limited or even awkward.

As one of the mass majority of playable characters in the game with the "Stand" Style, Josuke can turn Soft & Wet on/off, changing movesets, as well as having access to the Stand Rush ability returning from the Capcom game, being able to attack in conjunction with his Stand. Josuke has 1000 HP.

Story Mode
With the absence of a major antagonist and main plot at the time, Part 8 's Story Mode consists of Josuke facing all the previous JoJo protagonists (starting with Jonathan all the way to himself) with no logical reason. They all appear from the Wall Eyes like Josuke and see him as an enemy, sinking back into the ground when defeated. Baoh also appears as the last Extra Story fight with Josuke, with their battle named "Baoh the Visitor". After defeating them all, Josuke proceeds to search for Yasuho Hirose before the "To Be Continued" arrow appears, putting in motion the story of JoJolion proper.

Command List
During battle, Josuke can use various abilities and maneuvers featured in the early portions of JoJolion.

Gameplay Overview
Josuke a simple-yet-effective fighter who specializes in defensive play and spacing. With a variety of ranged abilities including projectiles, a stationary trap, and a plethora of mid-ranged skills carrying various evasive properties, he can easily engage in combat from afar whilst keeping himself out of his opponent's own effective range. This aligns his playstyle with that of zoners, though by comparison, he is much more capable up close than said archetype. One of Josuke's most notable traits is his HHA's property of leaving the opponent crumpling and vulnerable to follow-up attacks, which allows him to extend combos and deliver considerable damage utilizing less Heart Heat than most.

However, aside from his homing GHA, Josuke lacks a substantial anti-air, and none of his moves function well as reversals or counters. This makes him especially vulnerable to heavy aggression and rushdown tactics, and it can be difficult for him to break free of his opponent's offense. When playing offensively himself, his ability to pressure the opponent up close is also somewhat weak, requiring him to use his projectiles and trap to cover an approach lest he leaves himself open.

Josuke has the tools necessary to engage in excellent spacial control and punishment strategies, and once he lands a solid hit, his most devastating combos are considerably Heart Heat-efficient due in no small part to his utilitarian HHA. As each of his abilities possess a clear and cohesive purpose in battle, he is a combatant that is surprisingly easy to wield, while at the same time carrying great potential for advanced setplay and strategies.

Localization
For the western version of the game, Josuke was named "Josuke Higashikata 8" to avoid confusion with Part 4's Josuke Higashikata, who was named "Josuke Higashikata 4".