Santa Monica Studios and SuperBot Entertainment is bringing a fighting game that we have long been waiting to contain, PlayStation characters. You have heard the announcements, you have seen the trailers, and you have heard the hype, but will the game live up to what we are hoping it to be?
We had a booth appointment with Sony and I was able to get my hands on PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale. I played a few times to make sure that I could get a good feel for the game, by using different characters. I used Nathan Drake, Big Daddy, and Parappa the Rapper.
The game allows the player to charge up their "super" while fighting. Each player will have up to three supers available to be able to charge up to. The first super will be a strong attack that will allow the player to rake some havoc on the opponents, with the second and third super being even more powerful than that of the previous one. The player can either use the power up that they have gained, or save it to obtain the next level up for maximum strength. However, like most fighting games with this type of ability, the player must keep an eye on the time left, so as not to lose whatever super that they have altogether. The supers, much like the moves, match the character's personality or persona. For example, Big Daddy's super brings out a Little Sister to help gain some kills.
We have our special attachments to the Sony characters in the game and to bring them into a fighting game was genius. PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale captured the mannerisms and personalities of the characters perfectly that you find yourself getting excited to see Nathan Drake's famous long jump, Parappa's kick-punch moves, or even using his microphone to grab the opponent who is out of reach and draw him/her near, and Big Daddy's charging ability.
Not only is it amusing and endearing to watch the characters themselves, but to also have them incorporated into backgrounds that are created from other Sony games. One of the levels I played on featured a Patapon background, with Patapons in the background and an enemy from God of War attacking the characters as they fight. The player must be careful because you want to gain kills, not get killed. If you die, you lose points.
The beginning of each match opens with each character having their own special opening. Which also is unique and matches the character in accuracy to their game of origin. With each move they make, from simple moves to fighting moves, they are accurate to that character. Some are short range characters, like Parappa the Rapper, while others are slow but strong characters, like Big Daddy. Some can even play long range, like Nathan Drake, with all his guns and grenades. The game's fighting mechanics felt smooth and were easy to maneuver. Utilizing the square, triangle, and circle buttons, the player is able to switch up the moves to be able to use a variety of skills on the opponents.
PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale also offers Cross Play. With up to four players on-screen, some can be playing on their PS Vitas and some can be playing on their PlayStation 3's or all on one system. There is a large variety of ways to play that will make the game even more convenient to pop in and play at home, or on the go. You can read Jason's impressions of the PS Vita's gameplay HERE.
PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale is not lacking in fan service when it comes to the characters, their fighting styles, and their skills. They had just recently announced the Big Daddy and Nathan Drake as playable characters and with so many more under their belts, we can expect Sony to announce a lot more in the days to come.
Here is the E3 2012 trailer for PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale!
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