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Kill la Kill, the notoriously over-the-top anime, captivated audiences with its unique style and frenetic energy upon its 2014 release. Despite its dedicated fanbase and status as a signature work for Studio TRIGGER, it wasn’t until 2019 that Arc System Works released the tie-in game, Kill la Kill: IF. While the gameplay attempts to capture the essence of the anime’s battles, the overall quality falls short of expectations. The game received a lukewarm reception, unfortunately following the trend of many movie/anime tie-in games struggling to achieve widespread success.

What You’ll Love

Stellar Presentation

Kill la Kill: IF’s most redeeming quality lies in its impressive visuals and sound design. Developed by Arc System Works, renowned for their work on fighting games like Guilty Gear and Dragon Ball FighterZ, the character models faithfully recreate the anime’s distinctive aesthetic. Utilizing the studio’s signature cell-shaded graphics engine, the game truly looks like the anime in motion, with players controlling characters and unleashing screen-filling attacks. The audio is equally impressive, featuring the original anime voice actors, further enhancing the immersive experience. The energetic soundtrack amplifies the intensity of the battles, although the narrative can sometimes feel confusing.

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Accessible Gameplay

Another positive aspect is the game’s approachable and easy-to-learn combat system. Arc System Works is known for creating complex and deep fighting games, but Kill la Kill: IF deviates from this tradition, opting for a simplified, button-mashing approach. It feels more like a Devil May Cry 5 with a versus mode than a true fighting game. This accessibility makes it appealing to a wider audience, including those who aren’t interested in frame data or complex techniques. Players can execute flashy, anime-accurate moves with just a few button presses, prioritizing spectacle and immediate gratification.

What You’ll Hate

Low Replay Value and Repetitive Gameplay

The simplified combat, while accessible, contributes to the game’s biggest flaw: its extremely low replay value. With a limited roster of only 11 characters, including DLC, and shallow gameplay mechanics, Kill la Kill: IF feels lacking compared to other modern fighting games released in 2019.

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Furthermore, the single-player campaign is tedious and uninspired. Completing the story mode for each character feels like a chore, offering little in the way of engaging gameplay or narrative. Once the campaign is finished, there’s little else to do besides local or online versus battles. However, due to the game’s limited appeal, finding online matches can be difficult, further diminishing its long-term enjoyment. This lack of depth and content likely contributed to the game’s underwhelming reception within the fighting game community and its general lack of visibility.

Conclusion

Kill la Kill: IF offers a visually stunning and aurally satisfying experience that captures the essence of the anime. However, its simplistic gameplay, limited roster, and lackluster single-player content significantly hinder its replay value and long-term appeal. While fans of the anime might appreciate the faithful recreation of its characters and style, those seeking a deep and engaging fighting game experience are likely to be disappointed. Ultimately, Kill la Kill: IF serves as a missed opportunity to deliver a truly compelling game based on a beloved anime.

Game Information

• Developer: Arc System Works
• Publisher: Arc System Works
• Genre: Fighting
• Release Date: July 26, 2019
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch

Minimum System Requirements

• OS: Windows 7
• CPU: Intel Core i5-7500
• RAM: 4 GB
• GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760
• DirectX: 11
• Storage: 16 GB

Tested System Configuration

• OS: Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
• CPU: Ryzen R7 1700 @ 3.7 GHz
• RAM: 16 GB
• GPU: MSI Rx Vega 56 Airboost
• SSD: Samsung 950 Pro 256GB