All-Star Battle R
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle R (ジョジョの奇妙な冒険 オールスターバトルR, JoJo no Kimyō na Bōken Ōru Sutā Batoru R) is a fighting game based on the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure franchise, developed by CyberConnect2 and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. The game is releasing on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X & S, and Steam. All-Star Battle R is a remastered version of the 2013 fighting game JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle, featuring new game mechanics and playable characters.
The first trailer for JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle R was released as part of the Playstation State of Play event on March 9, 2022, with an announced release date of early autumn of the same year. The game is currently slated to release on September 1, 2022, with the international console versions and Japanese Steam version coming the following day.
The color palettes and designs of Part 1 to Part 6 characters in All-Star Battle R are noticeably different from those of the original All-Star Battle, having been modified to closely follow the looks in the various anime adaptations of the series. In addition, the available Japanese voice actors working on the anime reprise their roles in All-Star Battle R.
Gameplay
The gameplay of All-Star Battle R is based on the one-vs-one 2.5D fighting game style of All-Star Battle. Mechanics such as Easy Beat, Stylish Evade, Heat Heart Attack and Rush Mode have been confirmed to return in this game with slight differences.[1]
Gameplay Changes
An additional gameplay mechanic named Support Attack (アシストシステム, Ashisuto Shisutemu, lit. "Assist System") allows players to summon a second character during a match, allowing them to chain together longer combos, set traps, or use long-range attacks as an Assault Assist. Assist characters can also be used to break an opponent's combo with a Reversal Assist, though this produces a longer cooldown (shown by the assist character's icon being tinted red). The lights below an assist character's icon act as an indicator of how many more times they can be used within the round, with the maximum number of lights differing by character. Each character has a unique assist attack that falls into one of several types, creating a new layer of strategy when selecting characters.
In addition to Support Attack, another gameplay mechanic by the name of Stylish Guard (スタイリッシュガード, Sutairisshu Gādo) has been added, allowing players to buffer a Stylish Evade until it is triggered by an attack (similarly to many characters' counter moves). This allows players to create an opening to counterattack, but the move's reliance on predicting the opponent's attack and immobilization of the character performing it serve as drawbacks.
- Improved game speed: Shortened the time it takes to launch an attack, resulting in speedier battles compared to the previous work.
- Added Hitstops: Hitstop is a fighting game term: when you strike the opponent, both parties momentarily freeze, emphasizing the power of impact. The player’s hits and guards implement this, making the game feel smoother and more tactical.
- Added Input Buffers: Relaxed the number of input frames available before the next action. Thus, players can control characters as desired.
- Added Dash Jumps: The player can jump while dashing, allowing them to jump at a lower height than normal jumps.
- Special move commands can be input even with simple commands: Command input can now be omitted (if trying to use ↓↘→ then ↓→ is okay), making it easier to activate special moves.
- Attack adjustments: Changed the behaviors and powers of some techniques. The power of Great Heat Attacks (GHA) changes depending on the amount of gauges accumulated and how many gauges are consumed (two gauges are 100% power, 2.5 gauges are 120% power, and 3 gauges are 150% power).
After receiving feedback from the Early Access Demo survey, more features were adjusted:[2]
- Changed the frequency of Taunt to once per match (opponent’s HH gauge can be reduced only once per match). When the Taunt is activated, the reduction of the opponent HH gauge is changed from 0.1 gauge to 1 gauge.
- Changed Assault Assists (attack) and Reversal Assists (defense) to be separate. They have individual uses with a certain number of uses per round.
- Planning to add a feature in Practice Mode to record opponent's movements and make it able to retry specific character positions.
Aesthetic Changes
- Command List UI Redesigned: Descriptions for each ability in the command list can now be read instantly in a pop-up instead of the sentence automatically scrolling horizontally across the screen.
- Costume Previews: Alternate colors and costumes can now be previewed on the character select screen before battling.
- Animated Victory Poses: The victory poses are now animated like in Eyes of Heaven, unlike the original game, where the poses were static.[3]
Cross-Platform Play
As of current, the game is confirmed to not support cross-play between different platforms.[4] However, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 players will be able to play against one another. Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One will also be able to play against each other.
The Nintendo Switch version can also play multiplayer offline through local communication by wirelessly connecting with another Nintendo Switch. It is not possible to play by using the Joy-Con sideways, so each player needs their own set of Joy-Cons.
Game Modes
All-Star Battle R contains the following game modes:[5][6]
- All-Star Battle Mode (オールスターバトルモード, Ōru Sutā Batoru Mōdo): The player can play through over 100 pre-arranged fights in this game mode. The fights are divided between Normal Battles, which adapt situations from the original series, and Extra Battles, which use scenarios that do not appear in the original work. Both types of battles reward the player with cosmetic features such as new sound effects, taunts, poses, outfit color schemes, special alternate costumes, artwork, and BGM.
- Arcade Mode (アーケードモード, Ākēdo Mōdo): In the "Challenge Battle" sub-mode, the player chooses a character and difficulty setting and participates in a gauntlet of eight battles against randomized COM opponents to win Gold and set/beat high scores based on accumulative grading within the selected difficulty. However, the player can choose to play an endless series of battles in the "Endless Battle" sub-mode, fighting until they are defeated.
- Versus Mode (バーサスモード, Bāsasu Mōdo): The player can fight against the COM or another human being, either online or via local multiplayer.
- Team Battle Mode (チームバトルモード, Chīmu Batoru Mōdo): Team Battle allows 3-on-3 matches and separate battle rule settings can be set for each matchup. Including Assists, there would be 12 characters fighting in total. There are two modes of team battles:
- Knockout: Battle on one health bar that stays between rounds.
- Total Points: Fight three battles, changing characters in each one. The team with more victories wins.
- Tournament Mode (トーナメントモード, Tōnamento Mōdo): A tournament with 8 fighters. Up to 8 players can participate, playing against COM fighters. The winner of all three rounds will claim the championship, which is a gold prize.
- Practice Mode (プラクティスモード, Purakutisu Mōdo): The player can practice character attacks, skills, and combos using various battle settings. Though the CPU opponent's behavior can be set to various settings, a second player can also be used to practice. Among the possible settings in Practice Mode are COM difficulty level, a damage display, an attack attribute display, automatic guard, automatic down attack avoidance, the HH gauge's level, counter hit, and an input display.
- Customize Mode (カスタマイズモード, Kasutamaizu Mōdo): The player can customize their Player Card for online matches. They can also customize characters' various taunt and victory poses using lines and sound effects earned in the other modes.
- Gallery Mode (ギャラリーモード, Gyararī Mōdo): The player can purchase and view voice lines, music tracks, concept art, and unlocked poses and costumes using gold earned in the other modes.
- Option Mode (オプションモード, Opushon Mōdo): The player can customize the game's settings and adjust the COM difficulty level.
Stages
As a fighting game, All-Star Battle R features several stages representing the different locations featured in the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure series.
So far, all stages from the original All-Star Battle are stated to return, though Kennedy Space Center only appears in promotional material and is not listed on the game's website.[7] However, promotional material also shows that additional stages have been added to the game, including several from Eyes of Heaven. The Stage Hazard mechanic is also planned to make a return, with new Stage Hazards added to the game's new stages.
Returning Stages
DIO's Mansion (DIOの館, Dio no Yakata): Cairo
Cairo Streets (カイロ市街, Kairo Shigai): Cairo
★ Cairo Overpass (カイロ陸橋, Kairo Rikkyō): Cairo
(While the Cairo Overpass stage did appear in Eyes of Heaven, it was exclusive to the game's Story Mode, where it appeared in cutscenes and the opening battle.)
Morioh Town (杜王町, Moriō-cho)
★ Boyoyoing Cape (ボヨヨン岬, Boyoyon Misaki): Morioh
(This stage previously appeared in Eyes of Heaven.)
Kira Estate (吉良邸, Kira-Tei): Morioh
Naples Station (ネアポリス駅, Neaporisu Eki): Naples
Rome Streets (ローマ市街, Rōma Shigai): Rome
★ Colosseum (コロッセオ, Korosseo): Rome
(This stage previously appeared in Eyes of Heaven.)
Green Dolphin Street Prison (グリーン・ドルフィン・ストリート刑務所, Gurīn Dorufin Sutorīto Keimusho)
★ Everglades (湿地帯, Shitchi-tai)
Kennedy Space Center (ケネディ宇宙センター, Kenedi Uchū Sentā): Cape Canaveral
This stage was added to the game as free DLC on December 1, 2022.
Big Bang
★ Rocky Mountains Village (ロッキー山脈 麓野村, Rokkī Sanmyaku Fumoto no Mura)
(This stage previously appeared in Eyes of Heaven.)
Philadelphia Coastline (フィラデルフィアの海岸沿い, Firaderufia no Kaigan-zoi): The Atlantic Ocean
New Stages
- Stage Hazard: Unknown
- Situation Finish: Time stops and a road roller lands on the loser.
- Stage Hazard: Foo Fighters appears in a bucket nearby and then launches out from the water to attack.
- Situation Finish: The Like a Virgin bracelet explodes.
- Stage Hazard: A dinosaur pops out of a bear's corpse.
- Situation Finish: Unknown
★ Denotes stages that are new to All-Star Battle R and did not appear in Eyes of Heaven as playable stages in Versus/Online modes.
☆ While the Cairo Overpass stage did appear in Eyes of Heaven, it was exclusive to the Story Mode battle between Jotaro and DIO.
Characters
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle R is planned to have a complete base roster of over 50 playable characters, with at least 4 DLC characters. All characters from All-Star Battle are planned to return,[8] with Robert E. O. Speedwagon, Mariah, Pet Shop, and Diego Brando confirmed as new additions in a later trailer.[9] Trish Una and Prosciutto have unofficially been revealed as new characters to the game's roster, having been unintentionally included in game menus shown in promotional materials. On July 1st, 2022, Jotaro from Part 4, Yukako Yamagishi, and Foo Fighters were revealed to also be playable.
Cast
Voice Actor(s):Takuya Kirimoto
Voice Actor(s):Koki Uchiyama
Voice Actor(s):Toru Okawa
Releases and Bonuses
Demos
Early Access Demo
An early-access demo for the game, exclusive to the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, was released on June 16, 2022 and was available to play until June 22, 2022. The only playable characters in the demo were Jonathan, Jotaro, DIO, and Jolyne. Online Mode and Practice Mode were the only playable modes.[10]
Anime Expo Demo
Another demo was available at Anime Expo 2022, from July 1 to July 4. The playable characters were Jotaro, Jolyne, Ermes Costello, and Foo Fighters.
A new stage was featured, called the Everglades, which portrays the farm of the Green Dolphin Street Prison.
The demo was only playable against CPU, with no multiplayer available.
EVO Demo
This section requires expansion.
Yet another demo was available at EVO 2022. The playable characters included Jonathan, Joseph, Jotaro, Josuke (4), Giorno, Jolyne, Johnny, Josuke (8), Wamuu, Iggy, Shigechi, Diavolo, Foo Fighters, Gyro and Baoh.
Two tournaments were held at the event featuring the demo, both with first place receiving a PlayStation 5 and the exclusive Jolyne figurine that is included in the collector's edition of the game. Second and third place also got the figurine.[11][12]
The demo featured the Versus and Tournament modes.
Downloadable Content
There are currently four DLC characters planned for the game. Their estimated release dates are on the European Nintendo eShop.
- DLC 1: November 3, 2022
- DLC 2: January 12, 2023
- DLC 3: March 2, 2023
- DLC 4: May 11, 2023
Note that these characters will not be part of the base 50-character roster.[13]
Season Pass
The season pass grants four new playable DLC characters, two exclusive alternate outfits ("Rohan Kishibe First Appearance Costume" and "Muhammad Avdol's Father? Costume"), and two days of early access to all season pass characters.
"Muhammad Avdol's Father?"
"Rohan Kishibe First Appearance"
Pre-Order Bonus
All pre-orders will receive a bonus Green Dolphin Street State Prison Jacket costume for Jolyne.
Game Editions
All-Star Battle R releases with a Standard Edition, Digital Deluxe Edition, and Collector's Bundle. The Standard Edition only includes the game.
Digital Deluxe Edition
The Digital Deluxe Edition includes the full game, the season pass, and a color set for Jonathan, Joseph, Jotaro, Josuke, and Giorno, based on their white outfits in the JOESTAR The Inherited Soul event.
Collector's Bundle
The Collector's Bundle includes the full game, the special event color set from the Digital Deluxe Edition, and a Special Color version of the Grandista series Jolyne Cujoh 10 inch statue.
The European version also includes a Jolyne Cujoh prison plate, the season pass, and a collector's box. The Japanese version also includes the digital soundtrack and has the option to get the bundle with or without the season pass.
North America
Europe
Japan
Gallery
Expand/Collapse All
Phantom Blood
Battle Tendency
Stardust Crusaders
Cairo street map
Diamond is Unbreakable
Vento Aureo
Stone Ocean
Steel Ball Run
JoJolion
Baoh the Visitor
Trailers
Character Trailers
References
- ↑ GAME SYSTEM | ジョジョの奇妙な冒険 オールスターバトルR
- ↑ All-Star Battle R Showcases Gameplay, Modes, and Improvements
- ↑ JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle R - PlayX4 2022
- ↑ Q&A | ジョジョの奇妙な冒険 オールスターバトルR
- ↑ GAME MODE | ジョジョの奇妙な冒険 オールスターバトルR
- ↑ Your Questions Answered with the Producer of Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle R
- ↑ STAGE | ジョジョの奇妙な冒険 オールスターバトルR
- ↑ CHARACTER | ジョジョの奇妙な冒険 オールスターバトルR
- ↑ JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle R - Street Date Announcement Trailer
- ↑ JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle R Demo Releases on June 16
- ↑ https://twitter.com/jojo_games/status/1556046417788997634
- ↑ https://twitter.com/jojo_games/status/1556101269890093057
- ↑ ASBR Producer Interview 2022/06/16
