JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure All-Star Battle: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know

Jojo's Bizarre Adventure All Star Battle

Hardcore fans of the wild and zany Japanese anime JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure got a special gift in 2013 – a fully 3D fighting game that celebrated the series and it’s off-the-wall cast of characters.

The only depressing part of that 2013 release was the fact that it was only available in Japan. Namco Bandai has finally thrown U.S. and U.K. gamers a bone in 2014 by deciding to bring JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure All-Star Battle to both territories. Gamers feared that it would never find it’s way over here in the States and Europe. Thankfully, those fears have all but subsided.

With all that in mind, here’s all the important info you need to know about Namco Bandai’s JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure All-Star Battle’s U.S. and U.K. release!


1. It Was Once a Japanese PS3 Exclusive, But Now It’s Coming to the U.S. and U.K.

Jojo's Bizarre Adventure All Star Battle

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure All-Star Battle was first announced in July 2012 as a Japan-only release. The game officially launched in Japan on August 29, 2013 and received several positive reviews from well known Japanese gaming publications (Famitsu awarded the game a perfect 40 out of 40, plus it received the 2012 Game of the Year Award at the Japan Game Awards).

Kotaku actually imported the Japanese version of the game and reviewed it for themselves. They noted that the game was a impressive love letter to fans of the anime, but it was still plagued by balance issues between each character. Namco Bandai took note of these balance problems and got rid of them through downloadable patches that improved the game for the better.


2. The Western Versions Will Get a New Game Mode

Jojo's Bizarre Adventure All Star Battle

The game modes included in this fighter are Story, an online only Campaign, Versus, Practice, Customize, Gallery and Online. One of the newer additions to the Western versions of the game is the new traditional Arcade Mode. Like the Arcade Modes offered in other fighting games, Jojo Bizarre Adventure All-Star Battle’s version will allow players to face a pre-set number of fighters in order to make it to the final fighter and ending.


3. The Story Mode Focuses on the Major Conflicts in the Anime’s Eight Story Arcs

Jojo's Bizarre Adventure All Star Battle

The Story Mode will feature text-based scenes that deliver the backstory sorrounding each fight that players will get involved in. These text-based cutscenes feature voice acting for each playable character, plus you can unlock the rest of the game’s on-disk roster through the completion of each arc. Secret Missions exist in each Story Mode battle, plus you’ll be able to utilize the game’s antagonists in Another Battle mode. The extra DLC fighters also come with their own Story Mode encounters.

Here’s the full list of playable Story Mode arcs:

– Part 1: Phantom Blood
– Part 2: Battle Tendency
– Part 3: Stardust Crusaders
– Part 4: Diamond is Unbreakable
– Part 5: Vento Aureo
– Part 6: Stone Ocean
– Part 7: Steel Ball Run
– Part 8: JoJolion
Baoh

4. Western Gamers Will Be Able to Play with All 41 Characters (On-Disk and DLC)

For those worried about the Western releases not arriving with the games’ DLC characters already released in Japan, worry no more. The 32 on-disk character roster and the 9 DLC fighters will come along for the ride.

Here’s the full list of playable character below (you can view the English trailer for Jotaro in the video above):

– Jonathan
– Zeppeli
– Dio
– Joseph
– Caesar
– Lisa Lisa (DLC)
– Wamuu
– Esidisl
– Kars
– Jotaro
– Joseph (DLC)
– Kakyoin
– Polnareff
– Avdol
– Iggy (DLC)
– Hol Horse
– Ice (DLC)
– DIO
– Josuke
– Okuyasu
– Koichi
– Rohan
– Shigekiyo (DLC)
– Otoishi
– Kira (DLC)
– Kawajiri
– Giorno
– Bucccllati
– Narancia
– Mista
– Fugo (DLC)
– Diavolo
– Jolyne
– Ermes
– Anasui (DLC)
– Pucci
– Johnny
– Gyro
– Valentine
– Josuke
– Ikuro (DLC)


5. It’s Getting a Limited Physical Release Date, Plus It’s Coming With All the Japanese Version’s Updates

Jojo's Bizarre Adventure All Star Battle

The U.S. and U.K. versions will both release as a PSN digital release and a physical retail copy. The physical copies will be available through a limited run that will only be available through Amazon and the Club Namco website.

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure All- Star Battle’s Western release dates can be seen below:

– Europe & Australia: April 25, 2014
– North America: April 29, 2014

BUY IT HERE!