Force shutdown

The lifetime of Bandai Namco's manga mash-up fighter Jump Force is ending. The publisher will be ending sales of Jump Force today, w??ith an online service shutdown to follow later in the year.

As previously announced, both Jump Force and its downloadable cont??ent will be leaving storefronts today. This includes the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, and Nintend??o Switch iterations of the game. Sales end at approximately 5 p.m. PT today, Feb. 7.

Online services will still be running until Aug. 24 at 6 p.m. PT. At that point, those will shut down, bringing down multiplayer lobbies, online events, and clan functions. You can see the full list of service shutdowns in the tweet from Bandai Namco below:

//twitter.com/BandaiNamcoUS/status/14582983773?85488391

For those who own Jump Force, or run out and make a hasty purchase today, the offline content will still be available. Interestingly enough it looks like online battles will be available too. The caveat is that it won't have?? multiplayer lobbies or ranked matches. DLC will still be usable too, as long as you have purchase?d it before sales end.

Jump Force launched to a so-so reception. It's another in a long line of 3D arena fighters, a genre that's already had a lot of Shonen Jump-related additions. But it did have some unusual characters in it for a fighting game, like Yugi from Yu-Gi-Oh! and Light from Death Note.

It's a shame to see such big crossover fighters go down, and you'd hope that this just indicates another Jump game might be on the way. For now though, today's the last chance to nab Jump Force if you wan??t to keep the 3D brawler on ??your console for the foreseeable future.

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Stumble Force

Bandai Namco has announced that it is making moves to shut down support for its anime crossover fighter, Jump Force. Sales of the game, its DLC, and virtual currency will end across all p??latforms in all territories on February 7, 2022. The majority of online services f?or the fighter will be shutting down on August 24, 2022.

Developed by Spike Chunsoft, Jump Force seemed like a "can't miss" prospect when announced: a one-on-one fighting title that would see heroes and villains from a variety of mega-popular anime series get-together for an almighty throwdown. Starring poster guys and gals from franchises such as Dragon Ball Z, Naruto, One Piece, Bleach, and Hunter x Hunter, Jump Force seemed like a title that would captu?re the hearts and wallets of even the most casual of anime fans.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzgzRDsmtuk

Unfortunately, upon release in 2019, it quickly became apparent that Jump Force was no Dragon Ball FighterZ, receiving un?iversal middle-of-the-road reviews from both critics and fans. Despite building upon its stag??geringly good roster of recognizable faces, it just wasn't a particularly engaging fighter, and swiftly vanished among the better anime-infused fighting games that were on the market. Bandai Namco has not offered a clear reason for the shutdown, so we do not know whether juggling all of the different character licenses plays a part in its decision.

As of February 7, Jump Force and all related DLC will be delisted from the store and will remain unpurchaseable, though players who hold licenses will still be able to redownload their chosen content. As of August 24, the multiplayer lobby, clan battle, leaderboards, online news, reward center, and in-game store will all be permanently closed down. In regards to online multiplayer, players will be able to play online Vs. matches, but will not be afforded acc?ess to lobbies or Ranked.

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Cat got your tongue?

In a somewhat awkward bit of marketing, Bandai Namco has released the teaser trailer for Bleach star Yoruichi Shihouin, who will be joining the roster of anime cros?sover fighter Jump Force in early 2021.

I say "awkward" as Yoruichi has already joined the roster, albeit very briefly. Back in November, the seductive semi-cat gal accidentally went live in-game due to a technical mishap, before her inclusion had even been announced by the publisher. Removed from the roster in double-quick time, many fans h?ad the opportunity?? to check Yoruichi out, months before her development had even completed! Still, for those of you who missed her, here's the mighty moggy in action.

Yoruichi Shihoin is the third fighter making up Jump Force's second character pass, alongside previous DLC characters Hiei from YuYu Hakusho, Shoto Todoroki from My Hero Academia, and Mereum from Hunter x Hunter. The final DLC fighter - also revealed thanks to the aforementioned glitch, will be Giorno Giovanna from the legendary anime JoJo's Bizarre Adventure.

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You saw nothin', right?

Bandai Namco has officially announced that Bleach's seductive cat-gal Yoruichi Shihoin, will be joining the roster of crossover fighter Jump Force in 2021. The pu?blisher's hand was forced after a bizarre mishap caused Yoruichi, (alongside another, previously unannounced character) to momentarily go live in-game before development was even complete.

Yoruichi is the former Captain of Gotei 13's Second Division, and is a master of various martial arts. In addition to her excellent fighting prowess, Yoruichi has the ability to transform into your average common-or-garden moggy, allowing her to infiltrate the enemy or simply get up to hi-jinks. From her impromptu in-game appearance, we already know that Yoruichi will be a fast, close-range fighter, putting her expert combat abilities t?o good use when getting up-close-and-personal.

Yoruichi Shihoin will be the third character released as part of Jump Force's second character pass, alongside previous DLC fighters Hiei from YuYu Hakusho, Shoto Todoroki from My Hero Academia, and Mereum from Hunter x Hunter. The fifth and final DLC fighter - as revealed by the aforementioned glitch, will be Giorno Giovanna from the legendary anime JoJo's Bizarre Adventure.

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Nintendo Switch to follow in early 2021

Bandai Namco has announced that Hunter x Hunter's Meruem and YuYu Hakusho's Hiei will both be unleashed upon the Jump Force roster next week. Both characters will be made available to purchase on PS4, PC, and Xbox One on October 27, although Nintendo Switc?h players will unfortunately ha?ve to hold on until early 2021.

Son of the Chimera Ant Queen, Meruem was the main ant-agonist of Hunter x Hunter's "Chimera Ant" story arc. An initially violent and sociopathic ruler, capable of horrendous acts even toward his own fellow Chimera Ants?, Meruem would eventually face deep-seated reflection upon encountering a steadfast and noble Gungi player ?named Komugi.

Hiei is an expert fighter, having mastered martial artist and swordsmanship at a young age,?? with his abilities further bols?tered by his command of the "Darkness Flame", a highly dangerous skills that increases the powers of his bone-shattering strikes. A valued member of Team Urameshi, "The Master of the Evil Eye" is a indomitable foe on the battlefield.

You can check out a typical Bandai Namco "blink-and-you'll-miss-it" trailer for the t??wo new DLC c?haracters below.

Jump Force DLC chara?cters Meruem a??nd Hiei launch October 27 [Gematsu]

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Third Eye Unkind

Another day, another lightning-fast Bandai Namco trailer. This time we get our first look at YuYu Hakusho's Hiei, as he prepares to wage war in the publisher's anime crossover fighter Jump Force.

Known as "The Master of the Evil Eye," Hiei is a member of the dangerous group of fighters that together comprise Team Urameshi. Though an expert swordsman, it appears that Hiei's Jump Force form will focus on t?he demonic one's powerful telepathic abilities and command of the "Darkness Flame" to take down his superstar opponents. As is typical of Bandai Namco's fighting game trailers, this preview is very much a "don't blink" affair.

Hiei will be available to purchase in Jump Force this fall on PS4, PC, and Xbox One, and will arrive in the Nintendo Switch edition of?? the ?game in early 2021.

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Where does he rank on the Schmidt Pain Index?

Bandai Namco has released a very, very generously titled "gameplay trailer" for the next superstar headed to its anime crossover fighting game, Jump Force. The previously revealed Hunter x Hunter ant-agonist Meruem will be availab?le to purchase in-game this fall on PS4, PC, and Xbox One, and will arrive on Nintendo Switch in early 2021.

While Bandai Namco are notorious for their, shall we say, fleeting fighting game trailers, Meruem's preview kind of takes the tradition to a whole new level. In the scant 36-second video, we get about 12 seconds of actual gameplay, consisting of rapidly-edited shots of the Gungi lover in action. You ??can check out Meruem for yourself below, just don't blink.

Jump Force is available now on PS4, PC, Xbox One, and Nintendo Sw??itch.

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The Darkness Flame cometh...

It might not be the best or most popular fighter on the market, but Bandai Namco remains loyal to its star-studded release, Jump Force. Almost two ??years since launch, the publisher continues to provide f??ans with new content for the anime-crossover slugfest.

As revealed by Bandai Namco and developer Spike Chunsoft, the next hard-hitter headed to the Jump Force roster is the "Master of The Evil Eye" Hiei, whom anime fans will recognise from popular detective/fighting franchise YuYu Hakusho.

A member of the formidable fighting squad Team Urameshi, Hiei is an expert swordsman and hand-to-hand fighter - his powers enhanced thanks to his "third eye" (oh, grow up) that offers him powerful abilities such as telepathy and telekinesis. A selection of screenshots posted to Twitter shows Hiei figh??ting sword-free, but utilising the strength of his "Darkness Flame," imbuing his strikes with devastating and ea?rth-shattering force.

Hiei is expected to launch sometime this fall on PS4, PC, and Xbox One, before arriving on Nintendo Switch in 2021. Jump Force is available now on the above-listed platforms.

Never let a Spirit Detective handle a demon's job. Hiei is joining #JUMPFORCE!

Will you be able to handle the Dragon? of the Darkness Flame?

Hiei arrives later this Fall and to Nintendo Switch in 2021. //t.co/oPVdEifrSY pic.twitter.com/dGzjjBlrBS

— Bandai Namco US (@BandaiNamcoUS) September 15, 2020

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The 'other' Ant-Man

Bandai Namco continues to add a variety of anime all-stars to its crossover fighting title Jump Force. The publisher has released screenshots (as seen on Gematsu) featuring another roster addition, Hunter x Hunter's Meru??em, who will be joining the roster sometime this fall.

Meruem, son of the Chimera Ant Queen, was the main villain of Hunter x Hunter's "Chimera Ant" story arc. Initially callous beyond comprehension, Meruem dominated his fellow ant hive by destroying, even devouring, anyone who challenged his authority, strength, or ego. Meruem ultimately g??oes through a moment of clarity when he realises the spirit of humans, demonstrated by the will and integrity of a Gungi player named Komugi.

There is currently no video of Meruem in action in Jump Force, but no doubt we will be getting a trailer nearer to his launch date. It was recently announced that Jump Force is to receive a Deluxe Edition on August 28, br?inging the base game and its initial run of seven DLC characters to Nin??tendo Switch.

Jump Force is available now on PS4, PC, and Xbox One and wil??l launch on Switch August 28.

Jump Force DLC character Meruem first screenshots [Gematsu]

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Might as well Jump (again)

[Update: Bandai Namco has announced that Jump Force Deluxe Edition for Switch will l?aunch in North Ame?rica on August 28.]

Bandai Namco has announced its anime crossover fighter Jump Force is finally coming to Nintendo Switch this summer. Jump Force Deluxe Edition will launch in Japan on August 27, while the European release d??ate is set for August 28. No doubt North America will receive the re-release within a similar time frame.

Jump Force Deluxe Edition will contain the base game, all updates, and all nine ??DLC characters from the fighter's first Character Pass. The Switch edition will offer online communication battles for two players, and also support offline battles for ?a whopping six players on one console.

Jump Force Deluxe Edition launches on Nintendo Switch in Japan August 27 and in Europe on August 28. Pre-order customers will bag themselves some exclusive avatar items for use in the game's lobby. You can check out ?all of the cool bonus characters and new features in the trailer below.

Jump Force Deluxe Edition for Switch launches Au??gust 27 [Gematsu]

The post (Update) Jump Force Deluxe Edition h??itting Nintendo Switch in August appeared first on Destructoid.

Seeing Red

It's been well over a year since the launch of crossover fighter Jump Force, but publisher Bandai Namco isn't done filling out its all-star cast. The next anime headliner stepping into the ring is none other than My Hero Academia's Shoto Todoroki.

Todoroki is a quiet and reserved young student who carries himself with an aloofness that can be misinterpreted as arrogance. The product of an unhappy childhood, Todoroki tends to shut himself off from his fellow students, but is actually a loyal and fai??thful ally in battle, clearing the field with a juxtaposition of fire and ice-based powers.

As we can see from the above trailer, Todoroki will utilise these dueling eleme?nts in-game, with his ice abilities allowing for speedy maneuverability and the freezing of his opposition, while raging fireballs and streams of?? flame can cause colossal damage.

Shoto Todoroki will be made available May 26 as a part of the Jump Force Character Pass 2, or can be purchased separately for around $4. Jump Force is available now on PS4, PC, and Xbox One. It will la?unch on Nintendo Switch later in 20?20.

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Go ahead and jump

As reported in Japanese magazine Weekly Jump (coincidentally) Bandai Namco's anime fighter Jump Force will be headed to the Ninte??ndo Switch plat?form later this year, following on from its 2019 release on PS4, PC, and Xbox One.

Jump Force sees famous characters from the world of manga and anime collide, featuring throwdowns between such intergalactic megastars as Dragon Ball's Goku, Vegeta, and Cell; Hunter x Hunter's Gon and Kurapika; Naruto's Naruto and Sasuke; Bleach's Ichigo and Ranji and many more recognisable warr??iors from page and screen.

The Jump Force Deluxe Edition will include the base game and its nine previous DLC characters. The Switch edition will feature on??line battles for up to six players and will support two-player wireless for local? showdowns.

In addition to the Switch port news, Weekly Jump also announced that a second character pass was in the works, which will add five more fighters to the game's already expansive roster. First up is My Hero Academia's Shoto Todoroki. You can check ??out his trailer below.

Jump Force is availab??le now on PS4, PC, and Xbox One. It will launch on Switch later th??is year.

Jump Force coming to Switch in 2020 [Gematsu / Ryokutya2089]

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Big pink globule ain't Kirby

Bandai Namco has released a new trailer giving us a quick look at the next famous fighter coming to their crossover title Jump Force. Following the recent addition of My Hero Academia's Bakugo, the next character in line is Dragon Ball Z's Majin Buu, who will be made availa??ble to purchase at ??some point this summer.

Majin Buu first appeared in the over-the-top Dragon Ball franchise way back in 1994. Primarily an antagonist, Majin Buu has many forms, including his rather rotund, good-natured form, who is featured both here also in Bandai Namco's excellent tag-title Dragon Ball FighterZ. Although this preview is a ??little brief, we at least get to see that his childlike nature and destructive powers are in check, along with his insatiable appetite and ??penchant for turning opponents into sweet treats.

Jump Force is available now on PS4, PC and Xbox One.

The post Jump Force DLC trailer spotlights Dragon Ball Z’s Majin Buu appeared first on Destructoid.

Jump Force came out this past Febr??uary and introduced a few new characters into the mix: two of which (Kane, Galena) were boss charac?ters. Much to the chagrin of the community, however, Bandai Namco did not make them playable, even as unlocks...until now.

Due "the week of July 22" (so any day now), Jump Force is getting a hug??e free update that adds Kane and Galena as playable fighters, as well as a type D sword style, and online raid boss battles. As Bandai Namco notes, raid boss battles are "limited time events" that allow you to partner up with clan members, so long as you have event tickets from the in-game shop. ??In turn you'll get event points, which you can turn in for extra rewards.

So yeah, if you haven't booted up Jump Force in ?a while, you could ?potentially recruit some of your friends to clan up and try out these weekly events.

1.10 and 1.11 patch notes [Bandai Namco]

Release Date
Week of July 22, 2019

• General Notes

・Added playable character "Kane"
・Added playable character "Galena"
・Added sword fighting style "Type D"
・Added Online Event "Raid Boss Battle"
・Added Clan Boost (Raid Attack Boost / Raid Physical Resistance Boost)
・Added purchasable event tickets at Shop Counter
・Added purchasable costumes at Shop Counter
・Improved game stability

More additions and updates are scheduled for the future.
We hope you continue to enjoy playing Jump Force.

Vertex Event
Thank you for playing Jump Force.
The follow??ing is an announcement of the even??t schedule.

• Event

Vertex

• Period

2019/7/25 15:00 JST - 2019/8/7 14:59 JST
2019/7/25 08:00 CEST - 2019/8/7 07:59 CEST
2019/7/24 23:00 PDT - 2019/8/6 22:59 PDT

• Reward Distribution Time

After 2019/8/7 15:00 JST
After 2019/8/7 08:00 CEST
After 2019/8/6 23:00 PDT

• Rewards

15 Umbras Cubes

10 Umbras Cubes

5 Umbras Cubes

Work together with your clanmates to gather Clan Points.
Compete with other clans to increase your rank! Clan Points can be earned by battling, purchasing items in shops, or performing various challenges in the game. You can check how many Clan Points you have in the Vertex section of the?? leaderboard. At the end of the event period, the clans in each rank will be grouped based? on the number of clans that participated. Clans in the upper group will be promoted, while clans in the lower group will be demoted.

Rank Up Conditions
Bronze Top 50% Promoted to Silver
Silver Top 20% Promoted to Gold
Gold Top 5% Promoted to Platinum

Rank Down Conditions
Silver Bottom 20% Demoted to Bronze
Gold Bottom 20% Demoted to Silver
Platinum Bottom 20% Demoted to Gold

Raid Boss Event
Thank you for playing Jump Force.
The foll??owing is an announcement of the event schedule.

• Event

Raid Boss Battle

•  Period

2019/7/25 15:00 JST - 2019/8/7 14:59 JST
2019/7/25 08:00 CEST - 2019/8/7 07:59 CEST
2019/7/24 23:00 PDT - 2019/8/6 22:59 PDT

• Reward Distribution Time

After 2019/8/7 15:00 JST
After 2019/8/7 08:00 CEST
After 2019/8/6 23:00 PDT

• Rewards

Great Saiyaman 1 Costume (Top)
Great Saiyaman 1 Costume (Bottom)
Great Saiyaman 2 Costume (Top)
Great Saiyaman 2 Costume (Bottom)
5 Umbras Cubes

Great Saiyaman 1 Costume (Top)
Great Saiyaman 2 Costume (Top)
20 Event tickets
5 Attack Boosts (Large)

5 Event tickets
1 Attack Boost (Large)
1 Health Boost (Large)

Raid Boss Battles are limited-time events. You can team up with m??embers of your clan to take on Raid Bosses! Also, event tickets are required and you must be in a clan to participate. Event tickets may be purchased from the Shop.

In? this event, you use Event Points earned by defeating Raid Bosses ??to compete with other players. You can check your rank on the leaderboard. Save up enough Event Points and earn rewards! You can check the rewards at the Event Counter.

The weak point for this Raid Boss is fire. B??eat the Raid Boss to climb the leaderboards!

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It's good to be bad

According to the latest issue of Japanese publication V-Jump, the antagonists of anime crossover fighter Jump Force, Kane and Galena, will be added to the roster as playable characters in a new update.

The nefarious pair, designed specifically for Jump Force by Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama, currently serve as boss characters within the fighter's story mode, but have been unplayable since release (outside of PC mods). This new update, free on all platforms, will add both characters to the growing Jump Force roster.

Although this news is yet to be officially confirmed by publisher Bandai Namco, both characters are obviously already fully fleshed-out with complete movesets, so it seems logical, even inev??itable, that players should be able to take a walk on the bad side with the devious duo.

These characters are, of course, in addition to the various fighters planned as part of Jump Force's ongoing paid DLC plans, including My Hero Academia's Bakugo and Dragon Ball's Majin Buu, among others. Jump Force is available now on PS4, PC and Xbox One.

Jump Force free update to add playable Kane and Galena [Gematsu / Ryokutya2089]

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Upcoming DLC character prepares for battle

At this weekend's Anime Expo event, Bandai Namco, (among a glut of other news and announcements), released a trailer for the next character headed to their anime crossover fighter Jump Force. Joining the roster this summer will be Katsuki Bakugo of My Hero Academia fame.

A?lthough the young hothead's inclusion as paid DLC has been known about for some time, this new trailer gives fans the chance to check out Bakugo in action. Blink and you'll miss it as, in true Bandai Namco fashion, the trailer whizzes by at a scant 20 seconds. Still you can see Bakugo neat-looking character model, as well as some of the prideful st??udent's trademark attacks. Dude needs to chill, life ain't so bad.

Bakugo joins the Jump Force roster alongside Dragon Ball's Majin Buu this summer. Jump Force is available now on PS4, PC and Xbox One.

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Hot-head en route to anime fighter

Bandai Namco has released a few teasing screenshots of My Hero Academia star Bakugo, who is headed to anime crossover fighter Jump Force as one of the title's DLC characters.

Katsuki Bakugo is a hero-in-training from super-popular anime series My Hero Academia. Of the series cast, Bakugo has one of the more unlikable personalitie?s. Brash, rude and highly volatile, Bakugo obsession with victory, eye for strategy and fragile pride make him a formidable hero, but a questionable personality. Still, he's on the side of the good guys, regardless of his crappy attitude.

You can check out the screenshots of Bakugo in action below. There is currently no specific date for when he will be joining the roster, but he will be made available as part of the Jump Force' Character Pass, alongside fellow MHA alumni All Might, Naruto's Madara Uchiha, One Piece' Trafalgar?? D. Water Law, and several other anime all-st??ars.

Jump Force is available now on PS4, PC and Xbox One.

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Looks can be deceiving...

Bandai Namco has released one of their typical "blink-and-you'll-miss-it" trailers for anime crossover fighter Jump Force. This time around, the spotlight shines on the next upcoming DLC character, Biscuit Krueger of fantasy anime Hunter x Hunter.

Although the cutesy gal has a quite demure look, not unlike that of a china doll, this is merely a front. Biscuit's true form sees her?? transform into a muscle-bound woman of incredible power, capable - as you can see in the trailer below - of splattering foes into orbit and beyond.

Jump Force' first DLC pack will contain Biscuit Krueger, alongside My Hero Academia's All Might and Yu-Gi-Oh!'s Seto Kaiba. The intrepid trio will launc?h on all platforms on May 28, as the first three of a set of nine DLC characters headed to the? colourful punch-fest.

Jump Force is available now on PS4, PC and Xbox One.

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Various State Smashes

My Hero Academia's star character, All Might, will be coming to Jump Force as DLC soon. Bandai Namco revealed the news on its Facebook page with a plethora of screenshots to show him off. I'm curious if his super move will be the "United States of Smash," which could honestly be a good name for a Smash Bros. tournament.

All Might is the second DLC character revealed for Jump Force. The First, Yu-Gi-Oh's Seto Kaiba, was said to be released in May alongside two other fighters, so All Might is likely to be accompanied by another mystery dueler. I'm not sure what the price is for individual fighters, but you can nab them all in the "Character? Pass" for $29.99 on your respective platform.

Jump Force DLC character All Might announced [Gematsu]

The post All Might Califo??rnia smashes his way into Jump Force appeared first on Destructoid.

Less is more, I guess

Namco Bandai has released a sliver of a trailer giving us a glimpse at the next DLC character headed to so-so-so anime crossover fighter Jump Force. As revealed last month, it's the turn of Yu-Gi-Oh! star Seto Kaiba, who? will ar?rive alongside two as-yet-unannounced characters.

The stoic young man is one of Yu-Gi-Oh's primary characters, and wields his signature cards "Blue-Eyes White Dragon?" and "Obelisk the Tormentor" with devastating precision. ?Not one for pleasantries, Kaiba. A modern incarnation of Priest Seto, Kaiba is arrogant and generally disrespectful of others, though he does look out for his younger brother, Mokuba.

You can check out Seto Kaiba in action below. Look fast, as the spot lasts barely 20 seconds. There is no specific date for his release, but he will be a part of May's DLC drop. Jump Force is available now on PS4, PC and Xbox One.

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Anime fighter plots its course for summer

Namco Bandai has revealed one of a selection of characters headed to the roster of the comprehensive-but-not-great anime fighting game Jump Force. Yu-Gi-Oh!'s Seto Kaiba will join t?he game alongside two further my?stery characters in May.

The publisher has also taken the opportunity to lay out the calendar for Jump Force' DLC and other updates going forward. Next month will add clans, avatar costumes and the "Vertex Effect". May will bring the three paid DLC characters and a new ??stage, June and July will bring Tournament and Arena Events, along with more avatar costumes, whilst August will see three mor?e newcomers arrive in the form of paid DLC.

So that should keep fans busy until summer, at any rate. Launching in February, Jump Force brings together characters from a wide variety of classic and modern anime for an almighty punch-up, although the game was slammed on release by critics and fans.

Jump Force is available now on PS4, PC and Xbox One.

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You're a Jump Forge mod Raggy, hehehehe

After being declared a "dead meme" by Mortal Kombat's NetherRealm Studios, Scooby-Doo's Shaggy is making a glorious entrance into the fighting game arena compliments of a Jump Force mod.

Shown below going toe to toe with Frieza, the sandwich-eating fiend is fully voiced, has his own custom character model and even goes Super Saiyan (Blue). Thankfully there's a super easy place for all things Jump Force mods: ahem, Jump Force Mods, so you can grab him for yourself.

I actually wasn't even aware that Shaggy was a meme, as I've been watching the various Scooby-Doo shows since childhood. One of the more recent series, Mystery Incorporated, even had a lengthy Twin Peaks tribute. Yeah, I wouldn't mind seeing Shaggy in things.

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If y'all are still playing by then

Bandai Namco's crossover anime fighter Jump Force has not been too warmly received. Both critics and fans have criticised the chaotic arena brawler - which stars characters from franchises such as Dragon Ball, One Piece and Bleach - for having flawed, unbalanced ga??meplay, terrible cutscenes, a poor st?ory mode and lengthy load times. Still, neat roster.

Regardless, these are modern video game days and thus, for better or worse, DLC has to happen. The publisher has announced that Jump Force will receive its first DLC content drop in May, although no word was given on ??what that content would entail. We do know that Jump Force has a $30 Character Pass, which promises nine unknown entities.

Frankly, considering Jump Force's less than lukewarm reception, the idea of shifting a $30 pass, for content drip-fed out of the coming year or so, is opti?mistic to say the least. Still, we'll be sure to let you know when the mystery characters are announced.

Jump Force is available now on PS4, PC and Xbox One.

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Rock the dragon, and the Gum-Gum Fruit, and...

There's so much raw potential for games bas?ed around anime. Most of it is squandered in favor of style over substance, but every so? often a developer will surprise us.

Jump Force isn't one of those projects that elevates itself above the framework of a brawler, but it isn't just pure pageantr??y either.

Jump Force (PC, PS4 [reviewed on a PS4 Pro], Xbox One)
Developer: Spike Chunsoft
Publisher: Bandai Namco
Released: February 15, 2019
MSRP: $59.99

Here's the gist: you, a player character and innocent bystander in an attack against a major city by Dragon Ball big b?ad Frieza, have been granted superpowers to help stave off the assault. After customizing your character you subsequently join up with "Jump Force," an organization comprised of popular Shonen Jump characters (42 playable in all) and original creations from Akira Toriyama.

Your avatar is based around three schools of fighting: Dragon Ball (martial arts), One Piece (pirate style) and Naruto (swift ninja movements). Those all play into the three story teams led by Goku, Luffy, and Naruto. That's basically it as you fly through the tame, low-en??ergy storyline. If you're expecting an English dub, you're out of luck. I can't imagine the nightmare involved wi?th wrangling up voices for this, but there you go.

So yeah, it's a predictable and alright setup for what essentially amounts to a framework for a slugfest of a brawler. You'll take mission after mission, level-up your character in menial and significant ways, and occasionally view a cutscene that moves the plot along. It's not as mind-blowing or as high-stakes as, say, the anime-flavored Asura's Wrath, and while a lot of the interactions are fun enough, Jump Force's real strength lie??s in wait in its combat system.

Spike Chunsoft isn't as well-known as studios like Arc System Works when it comes to tactical fighting mechanics, but they've been putting in work for years crafting flashy brawlers. The "rush sys??tem," which is basically code for "auto-combo," facilitates that. You can rapidly press a button to hit some cool-looking attacks, with the power to hold up or down on the analog stick to smash enemies into the air or onto the floor. Holding down the attack button initiates a charged smash, and the exact same thing goes for the heavy attack button alongside a dedicated throw key. Guarding and sidestepping work in tandem with the same button (with movement input).

Standard fighter fare, yes, and while it seems like a surface-level button masher, playing online for just a few matches against capable opponents will straighten you out: there's finesse involved, no doubt about it. You can guard at the right moment to execute a "high-speed dodge" to avoid getting pummeled, then punish with a counter-attack. There's also a chase mechanic with a super dash that ?runs on a cooldown that you can use to get out of a combo (like a combo breaker, if you will).

Supers, which are always given such a huge emphasis in anime games, help differentiate the cast and add extra layers. Some of them are instantaneous, many are ranged, and a few have significant amounts of charging time before they go off. Learning each of them is key to survival and makes nearly every matchup fun to play. Saving that instant-pop ultimate for a key punish (and being aware that your opponent has one available) is a reality you'll have to deal with. You can also "awaken" (read: go Super Saiyan and power up your stats, which is a liter?al transformation for some characters) in addition to your ultimate.

Where it all comes together is the sheer number of different styles. Watching the gun-toting Ryo Saeba, who is basically a detective from the City Hunter manga, go up against Yugi Mutou, who summons card companions, is hilarious. Abilities that put up guard walls and force enemies to change positioning on the fly are also key to ensuring that Jump Force isn't just a run-of-the-mill mash-fest. There's a lot of ?room to find a "main" that suits your personal playstyle.

Your core modes on top of the campaign are offline and online (ranked and non-ranked) brawls. Here, characters that aren't acquired yet from story mode are un??locked so you can battle with whomever (nice). Online was available for testing and seems stable (even pre-launch matchmaking only took 10 seconds or less), but that may change. If it?? does, we'll let you know.

While the actual gameplay is deep enough, the setup for each battle is going to be polarizing depending on personal preference. Everyone has some idea of what fighting games should be, whether that's the tag-team Marvel vs. Capcom style, all-in insane bouts with multiple characters on-screen like Wu-Tang: Shaolin Style (there's a reference for you), or strict heads-up 1v1s. Jump Force kind of takes a little of c?olumn A and column C and, as a result, has a slight identity ?crisis.

I view Jump Force as a chill brawler, so I want to see everyone in the mix at once similar to how the previous all-stars fighter J-Stars Victory Vs did it. This is a crossover game with myriad colorful characters; let me watch them interact. But Jump Force, while technically a 3v3 affair, only allows you to fight with one character at a time. That isn't inherently bad, mind, as I'm game for fighters of every variety, but all tho?se roster members share the same health bar. It makes some brawls feel smaller in stature than they really are, even with the occasional assist power popping in.

I'm also torn on the ultra-realistic style. I do have a soft spot for cel-shaded visuals that make something look like a playable version of the anime. FighterZ is the perfect example of this, implementing tech from Guilty Gear Xrd to get the job done. But with so many different properties spanning multiple decades here, this keen focus on current-generation character models makes sense, even if they do loo?k a little off for certain cast members (Luffy looks like he's one bad day from going insane). On the flipside of the engine, Gaara, master of sand, has some really neat-looking abilities. The particle details, the bruises when getting roughed-up, and the ripped clothes also make for much more heightened and emotional battles.

The other annoyance is the forced hub, which also functions as your menu. Once you get past the first 30 minutes or so you'll see other players appear and it won't be so lonely, but having to run to a counter to select a mode when a simple pause option would do is trying. It's sort of interesting to witness player creations running about and clearly the great "social" push of all late 2010 games plays a part. The ide??a is obvious: you'll see someone riding on a cloud or frog mount, go "cool I want that!," and keep playing. I get it. But the long load times also play a part in the vexing presentation.

Like the Dissidia series, Jump Force is something I'm going to be coming back to for random bits of fun throughout the years. The core is good, it's just let down by some odd design choices and an average campaign. This is an older brawler in an HD skin: if you wan??t something more than that, look elsewhere.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

The post Review: Jump Force appeared first on Destructoid.

3v3

Jump Force kind of snuck up on us.

It's set to debut on PC, PS4 and Xbox One in just a few days (February 15 worldwide) and is a celebration of all things Shonen Jump. That means characters from Black Cover, Bleach, Boruto, City Hunter, Dragon Ball, Dragon Quest, Fist of the North Star, Hunter x Hunter, JoJo, My Hero Academia, Naruto, One Piece, Kenshin, Saint Seiya, Yu-Gi-Oh, Yu Yu Hakusho and non-playable Death Note cameos. That's 42 play??able fighters in a 3v3 format with nine m??ore to go as DLC.

To get a gist of what the narrative is all about, you can watch the fast-moving launc?h trailer below. Man I wish Light?? and Ryuk were part of the roster! In the meantime I'll more than deal with Kakashi, Gaara, Piccolo and Kenshin.

The post See pretty much every anime fighter there is to see in Jump Force’s launch trailer appeared first on Destructoid.

It includes the nine-character season pass

Directly following the reveals of Kenshin, Shishio, Piccolo and Cell, Bandai Namco has unveiled the existence of a special edition of the anime crossover-fest Jump Force??. It's a hardcover joint that includes a steelbook, three art boards, postcards and the full game plus the nine-character season pass. This version will ??be available for all three versions (PC, PS4, Xbox One).

There's also a mega "collector's edition"  up for pre-order now on Amazon, which will net you the same basic package with a diorama of Goku, Naruto and Luffy (from One Piece). That'll run you $259.99.

Jump Force ??is still s??lated for a February 26, 2019 release.

Jump Force Premium Edition [Bandai Namco]

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Oro?

Rurouni Kenshin is one of the most entertaining shows I've ever watched and I'm glad it continues to prosper today. Its namesake is not only joining Jump Force as a roster addition: he?'s hosting an entire universe alongside of Shishio Makoto, one of his greatest foes from the Kyoto Arc of the anime.

Jump Force is still due on February 15, 2019 on PC, PS4 and Xbox One. It'll feature characters from Bleach, City Hunter, Dragon Ball, Fist of the North Star, Hunter x Hunter, Naruto, One Piece, Kenshin, Saint Seiya, Yu-Gi-Oh and Yu Yu Hakusho, as well as original chara??cters from Akira Toriyama.

Death Note cast members will also be appearing as guests based on a comment from the game's producer (because they could just write names in the Death Note book a??nd insta-kill people), though the door is open from now until launch for Bandai Namco to clarify they were kidding.

The post Kenshin and his nemesis Shishio join Jump Force’s roster appeared first on Destructoid.

Let the games begin

Jump Force isn't due until February 15, 2019, but Bandai Namco is moving right along with its character reveals. Appropriately ??announced by way of V-Jump magazine, Cell and Pic?colo will be joining the ranks of Frieza, Vegeta and Goku to represent the Dragon Ball universe. 

Piccolo is one of those guys you can just always count on to appear in pretty much every Dragon Ball related piece of media. While characters like Yamcha don't always make the cut Piccolo is representing his Planet Namek often. Cell, perhaps more of a fan-favorite, is usually the same way as time has passed and more Dragon Ball games have been pumped out.

As a reminder right now Dragon Ball is tied with One Piece for representation, with five characters each cemented in the roster. Next up is Hunter x Hunter with four.

Piccolo and Cell [V-Jump via Gematsu]

The post My man Piccolo enters the Jump Force arena alo??ng w?ith Cell appeared first on Destructoid.

Vegeta and Golden Frieza were already in

Of all places, we're learning more about an anime game at Microsoft's? X018 event today.

Jump Force has been gaining mo?mentum since its E3 reveal and today publisher Bandai Namco confirmed two more characters: SSGSS (Super S??aiyan God Super Saiyan, or Super Saiyan Blue - I know right?) Vegeta and Golden Frieza. The latter was basically a shoe-in based on footage earlier this year but Vegeta is getting a second form as well.

Yep, second forms: Goku, Vegeta and Frieza were all set back at E3. Don't worry, SSGSS Goku was confirmed earlier this year. So far three six Dragon Ball Z characters are representing the Jump Force roster. As a recap as to what's been happening with Dragon Ball recently, its latest anime series Super just ended in March of this year, Dragon Ball FighterZ continues to break fighting game stream records, and Xenoverse 2 amazingly is still updated despite arriving a??ll the way back in 2?016.

Dragon Ball will never die: just saiyin'.

The post SSGSS Vegeta and Golden Frieza join Jump Force appeared first on Destructoid.

ATATATATATATATATA

Bandai Namco's upcoming manga crossover fighter Jump Force will be releasing worldwide on February 15, 2019. When it launches, it will be sporting the almighty Kenshiro from Fist of the North Star. Why you would pick anyone else when the master of Hokuto Shinken is on the roster is beyond me, but Ryo Saeba from City Hunter was also announced.

You can catch a glimpse of the "Paris" stage in this brand new trailer along with Ryo and Kenshiro. I'm most??????????????????????????ly just thinking how unfai?r a match-up between Kenshiro and Naruto will be, though.

JUMP FORCE - Paris Games Week 2018 Trailer | X1, PS4, PC [Bandai Namco via YouTube]

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