My Hero One’s Justice is the second video game based on the popular manga/anime My Hero Academia. Play as all your favourite characters from the series in this 3D fighting game. You can pick up My Hero One’s Justice now on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
My Hero One’s Justice Details
Platform: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Developer: Byking
Publisher: Bandai Namco
Genre: Fighting
Modes: Single-player, multiplayer
ESRB Rating: T (Teen)
Awesome 3D fighting action
I often get to review fighting games that draw from manga/anime properties. Sadly, they normally aren’t the best titles. More often than not it seems that the known franchise and its familiar characters are the selling point, while the gameplay remains somewhat lackluster.
I’m very happy to say however that My Hero One’s Justice is clearly an exception to the norm. The combat mechanics employ excellent game design and are a pleasure to experience. I had a ton of fun playing this game.
With only the brief tutorial built into My Hero One’s Justice I was able to pick up the basics. The learning curve is very accommodating and even as a newcomer I could instantly jump in and enjoy every match. The controls are well built and extremely satisfying to execute.
That said, there is still a lot of depth to My Hero One’s Justice as well. Even though I find the game to be easy to jump into, there is still a lot of technique to master. Fighting in a 3D space with so many unique permutations of powers and skills opens up so many possibilities on the battlefield.
A “quirky” fighter
The story of My Hero Academia revolves around a world where most people have super powers. This dynamic leads to a society where heroes and villains are the norm. Some 80% of the population has a unique ability, known as a “quirk”.
In My Hero One’s Justice each character’s quirks become the basis of their special moves. A meter fills up during normal combat which will ultimately allow you to execute different quirk moves in combat. The higher the meter, the more powerful the resulting quirk.
These moves are really fun to play with, and come frequently enough to enjoy without turning matches into pure super-move competitions. The game is balanced very well for newcomers—although I admit that fighting game veterans may find the standard gameplay a bit less challenging, especially when playing single-player modes. Still, quirk moves are simply the icing on the cake of a fun and engaging combat system.
Gorgeous anime art style
Probably the most impressive thing going for My Hero One’s Justice is its amazing art style. The graphics and fighting animations look like they came straight from a television episode. It often feels as much like playing the show as it does like playing a video game.
My Hero One’s Justice leans heavily into the tropes of superhero comics/manga and incorporates them into the art style well. Everything from the comic book storyboard features of story mode to word balloons and effects built right into combat serve to infuse the game with a unique manga style.
The best part is that the art style blends seamlessly into gameplay without adversely affecting it. These animations and flourishes add to the experience without detracting from the precision and ease of the combat itself.
Side-kicking some butt
Another fun aspect of My Hero One’s Justice is the sidekick system. In most matches you’ll not only select a fighter to play as, you’ll also choose 2 additional characters as sidekicks for additional support.
Much like quirks, your sidekicks are represented by meters that fill up based on your performance. Once a sidekicks meter is full, you can summon them to do additional damage to your opponent.
It’s important to note that each sidekick attacks differently, and summoning a sidekick does not guarantee a direct hit to your opponent. This adds another layer to combat as it is helpful to be familiar with your sidekick and their attack in order to know when is the optimal time to engage their support.
Since My Hero One’s Justice roots itself fairly steeply in fan service, the sidekick system is a great addition. It lets players bring even more of their favourite characters onto the battlefield. I’m sure otherwise it could be difficult always having to choose just one!
Tons of customizations
The replayability of My Hero One’s Justice roots itself in its vast capacity for customization. There are hundreds of unique accessories available to unlock and equip to each fighter.
You’ll earn customization items simply by playing through the game. Unlocking specific items is usually tied to a certain goal, such as winning X number of matches with character Y, or performing a certain move a number of times, and so on. Attempting to unlock as many customizations as possible will encourage players to explore the game fully, instead of simply focusing on a single character or game mode.
What I really appreciate about the customization in My Hero One’s Justice is that there is no economy driving it. Everything is achievable simply by excelling at playing the game. In an age where similar games us loot boxes and real-world currency to facilitate a marketplace for their customizations, My Hero One’s Justice nobly just asks you to play and enjoy the game.
My Hero One’s Justice is a fun 3D arena fighter with a spectacular anime art style
My Hero One’s Justice is definitely the best fighting game I had the pleasure to review this year. For my skill level I found it to offer just the right level of challenge to continue to engage me. More savvy fighting game veterans may find combat to be a bit on the easier side, but in my opinion it strikes a good balance between skill and fun.
Graphically My Hero One’s Justice is a feast for the eyes, and its blending of manga/anime inspiration is done extremely well. I would recommend it for both fans of the series as well as newcomers who would appreciate its unique artistic style.
+ Fun combat system
+ Unique art style
+ Tons of customization
– May not be as challenging to fighting game veterans
OVERALL ASSESSMENT OF MY HERO ONE’S JUSTICE
Gameplay: 4/5
Graphics: 4.5/5
Sound: 4/5
Lasting Appeal/Replayability: 4/5
Overall Rating 4.1/5 (83%)
Get My Hero One’s Justice for PlayStation 4
Get My Hero One’s Justice (Digital Download) for PlayStation 4
Buy My Hero One’s Justice for Xbox One
Buy My Hero One’s Justice (Digital Download) for Xbox One
Get My Hero One’s Justice for Nintendo Switch
Get My Hero One’s Justice (Digital Download) for Nintendo Switch
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I’ve purchased a few fighting games based on anime properties out my gaming history, but I find I would much rather buy an adventure style game based on that anime license. Even if it isn’t an original storyline. There are enough fighting game franchises out there that I think we’d be better served if game studios chose a different genre to make a game from an anime property.
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