Jonathan Joestar ★ Video Games
A summary of Jonathan Joestar's history and movesets in video games.
Phantom Blood
Phantom Blood (PS2)
Jonathan is the main playable character in the game's Story Mode. Throughout the game, the player controls many different versions of him, sometimes with wildly differing movesets.
This version of Jonathan fights against a young Dio in Chapter 03, attacking in a fury over what Dio did to Erina.
- Story Mode Replay: Chapters 15, 21
- 77 Rings Knights Mode: Ripple Warriors
- 77 Rings Knights Mode: Ripple Warriors
All-Star Battle
All-Star Battle (PS3)
Jonathan Joestar was confirmed for All-Star Battle along with Will Anthonio Zeppeli and Johnny Joestar. He is a Ripple-user character along with Will, Joseph, Caesar, and Lisa Lisa.
Having voiced Jonathan in the Phantom Blood anime, Kazuyuki Okitsu reprises his role for this game, and would continue to do so for future JoJo media featuring Jonathan as well.
Costumes
Command List
Jonathan uses the Ripple (波紋, Hamōn) Battle Style, using various Ripple moves from his appearance in Phantom Blood.
Moveset
Jonathan breathes out to produce the Ripple, charging his Heart Heat Gauge.
Jonathan hyperextends his arm and punches with greatly increased range. A command normal that can chain into any of his skills.
- If Light is inputted, the punch is aimed upwards as an anti-air attack.
- If Medium is inputted, the punch is delivered straight, and causes the opponent to crumple. (Comboable)
Jonathan lunges forward shoulder-first. If not blocked, the opponent is sent flying into the stage wall and into a hard knockdown. A command normal that can chain into any of Jonathan's skills, though Scarlet Overdrive has the best chance of landing.
At any point during the round, Jonathan can spend a stock of his Heart Heat Gauge to initiate this move, which allows him to automatically rise again with a small amount of health after his health initially depletes to zero. Once risen, he gains increased attack power and defense, and all of his skills are permanently Ripple-enhanced. However, his Heart Heat Gauge is disabled entirely.
- If he's struck by "Kosaku Kawajiri's" GHA, Bites The Dust when this skill is activated, Jonathan will lose its effects but regain access to his HHG in turn, assuming he has enough health to survive.
Jonathan lifts the opponent up by one hand, holds them over his head, and throws them to the ground.
Jonathan punches the ground and sends a forward-moving wave of Ripple energy along the ground in a low projectile attack. The Attack button inputted determines the speed and distance of the wave. This skill deals more damage and will knock the opponent into the air if Ripple-enhanced. (Flash Cancel comboable normally; Ripple-enhanced comboable freely)
Jonathan slides forward and delivers a rapid punch barrage, finishing with a small uppercut that pushes the opponent away. The Attack button inputted determines the number of punches delivered. This move deals more damage and knocks the opponent into the air with a the final uppercut if Ripple-enhanced (Ripple-enhanced Comboable).
- This move is able to initiate a Rush Mode struggle with Power-Type Stand users, making Jonathan the only non-Stand-Style character to be able to do so.
Jonathan delivers a sudden short body blow immediately followed by a flaming rising uppercut with the other fist, in a classic "Shoryuken"-style move, doubling as both a reversal and an anti-air attack. This move cannot be Flash-Cancelled once Jonathan leaves the ground. The opponent will fly higher and take more damage if Ripple-enhanced. (Comboable)
Jonathan leaps forward, sword in both hands, and unleashes three slashes, with the final downward swing knocking the opponent into a ground-bounce. The first hit is a middle attack that cannot be blocked if the opponent is crouching (Flash Cancel comboable). If the move is Ripple-enhanced, its damage is increased and Jonathan gains super armor during the whole move, allowing him to shrug off non-throws/HHA/GHA attacks.
Jonathan spins as his hands are engulfed in flames, before diving forward, both fists extended. If the opponent is hit, the two-handed Scarlet Overdrive will strike them in the abdomen, Jonathan punching through them with a fiery Ripple-charged fist. He then follows up with second pulse of the Ripple to send them flying.
Jonathan readies his body with the power of the Ripple before delivering a very fast kick. If the kick lands, the opponent is lifted off the ground as it hits squarely in their abdomen. Jonathan proceeds to pummel them at different angles and knock them into the air with an uppercut, all while reciting his signature lines. After charging up an immense amount of Ripple energy, Jonathan unleashes a relentless flurry of punches into the opponent as they fall towards him, ending with them spiraling away after a two-handed crossing punch.
Gameplay Overview
As the first and original JoJo, Jonathan is understandably designed as a balanced, beginner-friendly character, embodying the "Shoto" archetype. As such, he carries with him hallmark moves of the archetype such as a projectile, a rising anti-air/reversal attack, and a forward-moving attack that hits multiple times, among other abilities, making him reliable and easy to grasp to those familiar. Due to being a Ripple User, Jonathan's special skills offer more damage and combo extensions when enhanced. With Ripple-enhanced skills, Jonathan has a wealth of methods to power through attacks and knock his opponent into the air for generous follow-up potential, and when applied together, lengthier and higher-damage combos come naturally to him.
However, Jonathan predictably struggles at range especially against Stand Users, requiring him to extend himself well into other characters' ranges to battle, although some of his moves help alleviate this. He also lacks any special movement options, rendering his maneuverability somewhat limited despite excelling at close combat. Jonathan's biggest weakness is a reliance on Heart Heat, as he tends to suffer more than other Ripple Users due to his short range and lack of strong combos in the absence of Ripple-enhanced abilities.
Overall, Jonathan is an effective well-rounded character leaning towards close-ranged high offense, and with good management of Heart Heat, his damage output and other capabilities will remain steadfast. Should he have a surplus of Heart Heat to spend, Jonathan may secure himself a chance to make a comeback during a losing battle. In all, he is a reliable character for those familiar with fighting games.
Jonathan holds both arms to his side, referencing the cover art on The Thirst for Blood!.
Jonathan extends out his arm, referencing the way he performs Turquoise Blue Overdrive in Chapter 28: Tarkus and the Dark Knight Bruford, Part 3.
Jonathan mid-air, bending and extending out his arm, referencing the cover of Chapter 31: The Knights' Ruins.
Jonathan's back faces the camera, referencing his pose after defeating Dio Brando in Chapter 41: Fire and Ice, Jonathan and Dio, Part 3.
Jonathan extends both his arms at the camera, referencing the way he defeats Dio Brando in Chapter 40: Fire and Ice, Jonathan and Dio, Part 2.
All-Star Battle R
All-Star Battle R (Various)
This section requires expansion.
Jonathan Joestar (ジョナサン・ジョースター, Jonasan Jōsutā) was confirmed for All-Star Battle R during the game's initial announcement trailer.[2] He was one of the four characters playable in the game's first Early Access Demo[3] alongside Jotaro Kujo, DIO, and Jolyne Cujoh. He was also 1 of 15 playable characters during the Evo 2022 Demo in August 5.[4]
His moveset is fundamentally the same as his from 'All-Star Battle', with a few tweaks being made to both balance the character and fit him into the overall gameplay tweaks that All-Star Battle R brought.
As Kazuyuki Okitsu had already voiced Jonathan in the Phantom Blood anime, as well as All-Star Battle, he reprises his role as Jonathan's voice actor in this game too. As with the majority of the game's roster, voicelines for Jonathan were either added or re-recorded.
Costumes
Like the rest of the roster currently featured in the anime adaptation of their Part, Jonathan, by default, sports the outfit that he wears in the Phantom Blood anime adaptation. This makes the most significant alteration to his appearance being the colors of his clothes and a new belt.
As part of the Digital Deluxe Edition[5] of the game, Jonathan – as with Joseph, Jotaro, Josuke and Giorno – receives an exclusive costume based on his white outfit in the JOESTAR The Inherited Soul event.
This section requires expansion.
Command List
Jonathan uses the Ripple (波紋, Hamōn) Battle Style, using various Ripple moves from his appearance in Phantom Blood.
Assists
A three-stock assist. Jonathan appears and delivers a sudden short body blow immediately followed by his Scarlet Overdrive with the other fist, a flaming rising uppercut. It is a reversal and an anti-air attack, and is valuable for extending combos due to its generous launching property.
Jonathan lands into the enemy, striking them down with his fist before taunting and jumping away.
Moveset
Jonathan breathes out to produce the Ripple, charging his Heart Heat Gauge.
Jonathan hyperextends his arm and punches with greatly increased range. A command normal that can chain into any of his skills.
- If Light is inputted, the punch is aimed upwards as an anti-air attack.
- If Medium is inputted, the punch is delivered straight, and causes the opponent to crumple. (Comboable)
- Both versions are performed much faster than in All-Star Battle, with the Medium input now executing quickly enough that it can be chained into from normal attacks.
Jonathan lunges forward shoulder-first, which grants him light armor to power through a single hit. If not blocked, the opponent is dealt great knockback. A command normal that can chain into any of Jonathan's skills, though Scarlet Overdrive has the best chance of landing.
- The change to Tackle results in the opponent getting launched at a slower velocity; it no longer sends the opponent flying into the stage wall.
At any point during the round, Jonathan can spend a stock of his Heart Heat Gauge to initiate this move, which allows him to automatically rise again with a small amount of health after his health initially depletes to zero. Once risen, he gains increased attack power and defense, and all of his skills are permanently Ripple-enhanced. However, his Heart Heat Gauge is disabled entirely.
- If he's struck by "Kosaku Kawajiri's" GHA, Bites The Dust when this skill is activated, Jonathan will lose its effects but regain access to his HHG in turn, assuming he has enough health to survive.
- This skill leaves Jonathan with a much smaller amount of health than in All-Star Battle upon revival.
Jonathan lifts the opponent up by one hand, holds them over his head, and throws them to the ground.
Jonathan punches the ground and sends a forward-moving wave of Ripple energy along the ground in a low projectile attack. The Attack button inputted determines the speed and distance of the wave. This skill deals more damage and will knock the opponent into the air if Ripple-enhanced. (Flash Cancel comboable normally; Ripple-enhanced comboable freely)
- The wave travels much faster, and pushes the opponent back further on-hit than in All-Star Battle.
Jonathan slides forward and delivers a rapid punch barrage, finishing with a small uppercut that pushes the opponent away. The Attack button inputted determines the number of punches delivered. This move deals more damage and knocks the opponent into the air with a the final uppercut if Ripple-enhanced (Ripple-enhanced Comboable).
- This move is able to initiate a Rush Mode struggle with Power-Type Stand users, making Jonathan the only non-Stand-Style character to be able to do so.
- The input for this move was changed in All-Star Battle R.
Jonathan delivers a sudden short body blow immediately followed by a flaming rising uppercut with the other fist, in a classic "Shoryuken"-style move, doubling as both a reversal and an anti-air attack. This move cannot be Flash-Cancelled once Jonathan leaves the ground. The opponent will fly higher and take more damage if Ripple-enhanced. (Comboable)
Jonathan leaps forward, sword in both hands, and unleashes three slashes, with the final downward swing knocking the opponent into a ground-bounce. The first hit is a middle attack that cannot be blocked if the opponent is crouching (Flash Cancel comboable). If the move is Ripple-enhanced, its damage is increased and Jonathan gains super armor during the whole move, allowing him to shrug off non-throws/HHA/GHA attacks.
- This skill has a longer start-up period than in All-Star Battle, but the slashes are delivered much faster.
Jonathan spins as his hands are engulfed in flames, before diving forward, both fists extended. If the opponent is hit, the two-handed Scarlet Overdrive will strike them in the abdomen, Jonathan punching through them with a fiery Ripple-charged fist. He then follows up with second pulse of the Ripple to send them flying.
Jonathan readies his body with the power of the Ripple before delivering a very fast kick. If the kick lands, the opponent is lifted off the ground as it hits squarely in their abdomen. Jonathan proceeds to pummel them at different angles and knock them into the air with an uppercut, all while reciting his signature lines. After charging up an immense amount of Ripple energy, Jonathan unleashes a relentless flurry of punches into the opponent as they fall towards him, ending with them spiraling away after a two-handed crossing punch.
Poses
This section requires expansion.
Eyes of Heaven
Eyes of Heaven (PS3/PS4)
This section requires expansion.
Jonathan Joestar was confirmed for the game alongside Will Anthonio Zeppeli and Robert E. O. Speedwagon. Unlike the previous game.
Jonathan's main color scheme is now based on his anime appearance. Additionally, Kazuyuki Okitsu reprises his voice acting role from All-Star Battle, having also voiced Jonathan in the Phantom Blood anime adaptation.
Costumes
Moveset
Most of his moveset and character model remains the same from All-Star Battle. New additions to Jonathan's attacks includes him using the spear he attacked Dio with shortly after his transformation as a Powerful Attack. Several of his new combos and sidesteps are now based on his boxing skills (displayed during his childhood in Part 1).
As a Ripple User, Jonathan has a Ripple Gauge that determines the strength of his attacks.
Jonathan performs a pose and Ripple Breathes, filling up the Ripple Gauge. He cannot move and is vulnerable to attacks while doing so. Filling up the gauge will passively strengthen his Normal and Powerful Attacks, and enhance/alter the properties of all his skills. It will also shorten the cooldown time on said skills. Using skills will drain a portion of the Ripple Gauge until there's an insufficient amount to use.
When Jonathan health hits zero for the first time, if his partner is still alive, he will be granted a decent portion of continuously draining health to continue on. All attacks and skills are unusable, leaving Jonathan with only a special final attack in which he attacks with crossed fingers, dealing considerable damage. Once his health reaches zero once more, or if he successfully lands his final attack, Jonathan will formally be Retired.
Jonathan slides forward and hyperextends his arm to punch at great range.
- Ripple-enhanced: The skill will execute quicker and Jonathan may chain follow-up attacks from it.
Jonathan slides forward and unleashes a short flurry of punches ending in an uppercut. The last hit will send opponents flying. Jonathan may perform this this in mid-air. This skill's damage is proportional to how much of the Ripple Gauge is filled.
- Ripple-enhanced: The skill will execute quicker, unleash more punches, and receive a damage boost.
Jonathan punches the ground and sends his Ripple energy spreading out over a wide radial area for a few seconds, damaging and crumpling opponents caught.
- Ripple-enhanced: The skill will execute quicker, deal more damage, and have a larger area of effect.
- EX Version: Jonathan will be invincible when first executing the skill. The Ripple wave will be unblockable, and Jonathan's recovery time from the skill is reduced as well, allowing him to immediately follow up. This is in addition to other benefits granted by the Ripple Gauge.
Jonathan spins as his hands are engulfed in flames, before diving forward, both fists extended. If an opponent is hit, the two-handed strike will hit them in the abdomen. Jonathan then pulls one fist back before punching them off, sending them flying as he very briefly turns around and looks down. This skill's damage is proportional to how much of the Ripple Gauge is filled.
- Ripple-enhanced: The skill makes Jonathan invincible during its execution, deals more damage, and travels farther and faster during the dive.
- EX Version: The skill will execute even quicker than when Ripple-enhanced, has increased speed and distance of the dive, will make Jonathan invulnerable while he is diving, and receives a damage boost. This is in addition to the damage benefits granted by the Ripple Gauge.
Jonathan forcefully kicks the opponent off their feet in the abdomen, before he proceeds to pummel them at different angles and knocking them into the air, all while reciting his signature lines. After charging up an immense amount of Ripple energy, Jonathan unleashes a rapid flurry of punches into the opponent as they fall towards him, ending with them spiraling away after a two-handed crossing punch. Compared to All-Star Battle, most of his speech is removed in favor of several grunts.
The two of them attack the opponent's head, sequentially with a Ripple-charged Zoom Punch from Jonathan and a Sendo Wave Kick from Zeppeli, before they charge up and run up to the opponent and unleash a double Sendo Ripple Overdrive-enhanced Zoom Punch into them, the two reciting the phrase commonly associated with Overdrives.
JoJolities
- One-in-a-Million Potential: Jonathan must completely fill his Ripple Gauge. (200 Points)
- Father! Grant me your final power!: Jonathan must connect a Powerful Attack as the third step in a mid-air combo. (200 Points)
- I want to become a true gentleman!: Jonathan must successfully execute 5 Combo Breakers. (300 Points)
- I'll knock you until you cry like a little girl!: Jonathan must achieve a collective hit count of 200. (500 Points)
- Own your fear!: Jonathan must Retire an enemy with a Dual Heal Attack. (800 Points)
Tournament
He is paired with DIO in the Eyes of Heaven Tournament, defeating Baron Zeppeli and Koichi Hirose in the first round and Wamuu and N'Doul in the second. In the semifinals, they defeated Mariah and Esidisi in the first round, but were eliminated by Kars and Pet Shop in the second.
Relationships in Eyes of Heaven
(The information below derives from a Video Game not written by Araki. As such, it may not be considered canon.)
- Giorno Giovanna: When the two are the same team, Giorno will ask Jonathan everything he knows about DIO. If victorious, Giorno will mention that DIO is his father, surprising Jonathan.
- Jotaro Kujo: At first it was upsetting that Jotaro referred to Jonathan as his ancestor. Later Jonathan felt in his heart that he was succeeding his own lineage, to the point of asking Jotaro to finish Heaven Ascension DIO in his place during the main story's final battle. Also, if Jotaro is Part 4 version, he mentioned to Jonathan's grandson and Jotaro's grandfather Joseph Joestar.
- Joseph Joestar: Jonathan is impressed by Joseph's tactics and Ripple. He states that Old Joseph reminds him of his father.
- Kars: Upon encountering him, Jonathan will recognize Kars as the one who created the Stone Masks and seeks to kill him and destroy the Stone Masks. Kars seeks to kill Jonathan simply because he is a Hamon user and later attempts to recruit him to his side, considering his death to be a waste.
Diamond Records
Diamond Records (Android/iOS)
Pitter-Patter Pop
JoJo's Pitter-Patter Pop! (Android/iOS)
Cooldown: 85
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Jump Titles
Jump Ultimate Stars (Nintendo DS)
Jonathan appears as a support and help character in the game. His 2 Koma support summons him, after which he headbutts his target and performs a combo on them. His 3 Koma support involves him tossing Ripple roses at the enemy, striking them with LUCK & PLUCK and performing a Scarlet Overdrive on them. His help koma gives the character 1 SP bar more after being defeated.
He serves as an ally boost with DIO, mocking his classic line "it's useless!" and Mutou Kazuki (from Busou Renkin), by saying he feels the sun's power in Kazuki (since they need the sun's light in some of their attacks, Jonathan's Ripple and Kazuki's lance).
J-Stars Victory Vs (PS3/PS4/PSV)
Jonathan is a playable character along with Joseph Joestar (Part 2), both representing the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure franchise in the game.
Jonathan's color scheme is the same one from the TV Anime series. Both Jonathan and Seiya (from the SAINT SEIYA franchise) share the same battle theme, called "Brave Soldiers".
He also makes brief appearances in the game's opening sequence, as he can be seen alongside other Jump heroes, and at some point watches Gintoki race against Ryotsu (from KOCHI-KAME franchise).
Moveset
Jonathan's moveset consists of most of his attacks featured in Part 1. His main gameplay-style involves regular combos ending with his Sunlight Yellow Overdrive (it can be extended for more damage up to 49 hits), his Zoom Punch as a long range attack, a ranged variation of his Scarlet Overdrive wave on the floor and his Luck & Pluck sword return as a 3 Hit-Combo that can be used to inflict large amounts of damage. Aside from similar attacks from his All-Star Battle moveset, Jonathan's new moves include him using a spear (the same one he used in the Joestar Mansion to fight Dio) and a charged dash attack that continues until he hits his target with his shoulder.
His special move unleashes a stronger version of the Sunlight Yellow Overdrive, following with a Scarlet Overdrive that launches the opponent away. Some of his famous JOJO poses appears as taunts and intro/victory poses.
Story Mode
Jonathan's role during the Story Mode is limited to quick appearances. During Toriko's team arc, the player takes control of the duo Gintoki Sakata (from the GINTAMA franchise) and Boa Hancock (from the ONE PIECE franchise), as they both claim to have seen a person walking across the water towards their direction. The person is revealed to be Jonathan, who challenges the player's team, claiming that he's training to defeat Dio (likely a reference to Zeppeli's Ripple training, when they followed Poco by running over the water). After the battle, Jonathan appears surprised he lost the match and says he still needs more training, then introduces himself by saying "My name is Jonathan....Jonathan Joestar."
Interactions
Despite not having any specific conversation or interaction with Joseph, they both appear as rivals in one of the promotional videos for the western version of the game, J-Stars Victory Vs +, with their battle titled "WHEN GRANDSON MEETS HIS GRANDFATHER!". Oddly enough, the trailer begs the question "IS THE FLAME OF YOUTH STRONGER THAN THE WISDOM OF AGE?", which erroneously implies that Jonathan, as Joseph's grandfather, is much older than him, as well as alive by the time Joseph is 18 years old, rather than the game's incarnation of him being only two years older than his grandson as the two are from completely different time periods.
Miscellaneous
JoJo's Venture (Arcade/PS1/DC)
Jonathan appears near the end of JoJo's Venture's intro in a montage of various manga panels from Phantom Blood and Stardust Crusaders, along with Speedwagon, Erina, and Dio. This small appearance marks Jonathan's first appearance in a video game.
GioGio's Bizarre Adventure (PS2)
Jonathan appears in the game's title screen demo cutscene along with Jotaro, Josuke and Joseph, representing how Giorno inherited their "golden soul." Jonathan is mentioned in the game's prologue cutscene, and also makes an appearance as part of two manga panels representing the events of Phantom Blood in the same cutscene.
Stardust Shooters (Android/iOS)
Jonathan is one of the first 3 available characters the player must choose to be his first team leader (alongside Joseph and Jotaro). Several of Jonathan's appearances appear as Medal Strikers.
Jonathan's FINISH move consists of an animation wherein he strikes his enemy with several punches in a second while his Special Level 3 Leader ability has him use Scarlet Overdrive on all enemies on the field.
Puzzle & Dragons (Android/iOS)
Jonathan is one of the 23 playable characters in Puzzle and Dragons.
References