PGC NEWS

The gaming world is awash with adaptations, from movies and TV shows to board games and novels. Bandai Namco, however, has been a pioneer in this arena, particularly with anime and manga-based games, boasting a rich history spanning nearly 15 years. Their latest offering, My Hero One’s Justice 2, based on the popular manga and anime My Hero Academia, follows the moderately successful first installment. Does this sequel surpass its predecessor, or is it simply a rehash with a new number? Let’s dive in and find out.

A World of Quirks and Heroes

My Hero One’s Justice 2 immerses players in a world where almost everyone possesses superpowers, known as Quirks. This abundance of power, however, leads to the rise of villains who misuse their abilities. In response, hero organizations emerge, and with public support and media attention, being a hero becomes a legitimate and coveted profession. Our protagonist, Izuku Midoriya, dreams of becoming a hero despite being born Quirkless. Fate intervenes when he meets All Might, the world’s number one hero, who passes his Quirk, “One For All,” to Midoriya. This sets the stage for Midoriya’s journey to become a true hero.

My Hero One

The game’s story picks up after Midoriya’s acceptance into UA High, a prestigious hero academy. Players experience his adventures and challenges as he hones his skills and confronts new threats, mirroring events from the anime’s third season and parts of the second.

My Hero One

Frantic Combat and Familiar Faces

My Hero One’s Justice 2 retains the fast-paced, over-the-top combat of its predecessor. Players utilize a combination of normal attacks, partner assists, and special moves to create visually stunning combos. The game simplifies traditional fighting game mechanics, making it easy to jump in and button mash your way to victory, even incorporating Quick Time Events (QTEs). For those seeking more strategic depth, mechanics like dashing, blocking, and countering add a layer of complexity, alongside a rock-paper-scissors-style advantage system. Exaggerated effects and environmental interactions further enhance the frenetic pace.

The game boasts a roster of over 40 playable characters, a significant improvement from the first game. The menu system has also been revamped, with new modes like Arcade and Custom adding to the replay value. The cel-shaded graphics effectively capture the spirit of the source material, thankfully abandoning the less-than-stellar art style seen in Jump Force.

Repetitive Gameplay and Shallow Mechanics

Despite the expanded roster and game modes, My Hero One’s Justice 2 suffers from the same core issue as its predecessor: repetitive gameplay. The simplified combat mechanics make most characters feel similar, reducing battles to frantic button mashing. While blocking and countering exist, they are easily circumvented, encouraging an aggressive, attack-heavy playstyle.

The “Plus Ultra” special attack mechanic feels poorly implemented. Earning Plus Ultra points seems random, making it difficult to strategically utilize these powerful attacks. Points can vanish seemingly at random, further frustrating players.

My Hero One

Outside of Arcade mode, other modes feel underdeveloped, including the Story mode, which offers a condensed and somewhat restrictive retelling of the anime’s events. The Mission mode initially promises an engaging experience with hero recruitment and training, but quickly devolves into a repetitive grind. The Custom mode also disappoints, offering limited customization options primarily focused on color swaps and existing assets. Online play, unfortunately, feels like battling against another CPU with a random name.

Conclusion: A Missed Opportunity

My Hero One’s Justice 2 delivers on the visual spectacle and fan service expected from an anime-based game. However, its shallow gameplay and repetitive mechanics ultimately hold it back from reaching its full potential. While it offers a fun, accessible entry point for fans of the series, it lacks the depth and nuance to keep players engaged long-term. Perhaps the next installment will address these shortcomings and deliver a truly Plus Ultra experience.

References

• BANDAI NAMCO. My Hero One’s Justice 2. https://www.bandainamcoent.com/games/my-hero-ones-justice-2