JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle R Review: A Gorgeous Love Letter Hampered by Technical Flaws
Overall Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.5 / 5.0)
Review Summary: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle R is a remaster of the 2013 PS3 fighter that serves as a definitive, fan-service-packed celebration of the series. It boasts a massive roster, gorgeous presentation, and an accessible but surprisingly deep combat system. However, it's dragged down by a disappointing replacement for the original's story mode, lackluster offline content, and notoriously broken online netcode. It's a dream game for die-hard JoJo fans, but a frustrating one for competitive fighters.
Detailed Evaluation Breakdown
Category Rating Analysis
Fan Service & Roster ★★★★★ The game's strongest aspect. With over 50 characters spanning all eight parts of the manga (Parts 1-8), it's an encyclopedia of JoJo. Each character is lovingly crafted, with faithful movesets, original voice actors, and iconic battle cries, making every fight feel like a scene from the anime.
Visuals & Presentation ★★★★☆ While the models are from the PS3 era, the stylized "manga aesthetic" holds up incredibly well. The vibrant cel-shaded art style and stylish UI are a perfect fit for the source material, though the arenas can feel a bit flat.
Gameplay & Combat ★★★★☆ The combat system is a highlight. It's easy to pick up with its 3 attack buttons, but offers decent depth for those willing to experiment. The variety of fighting styles — from Hamon to Stands and even horseback combat — ensures every character feels unique.
Offline Content ★★☆☆☆ This is a major weakness. The "All-Star Battle" mode replaces the original PS3 game's story mode with a series of disconnected, gimmicky fights. Besides that, you get a standard Arcade mode and little else.
Online & Performance ★☆☆☆☆ The game's fatal flaw. The netcode is notoriously poor, with matches suffering from severe lag and unresponsiveness. Even with a good connection, the online experience is often a "hellish" and "broken" mess.
Key Strengths & Weaknesses
✅ Strengths
Unmatched Fan Service: A character roster and presentation that is a pure joy for any JoJo fan.
Gorgeous, Faithful Art Style: Captures the look and feel of the manga perfectly.
Accessible Yet Fun Combat: Easy to learn, but with enough variety to keep things interesting.
Massive Roster: Over 50 playable characters from the series' entire history.
❌ Weaknesses
Broken Online Play: The lack of rollback netcode makes online matches an exercise in frustration.
Lackluster Offline Modes: The "story mode" is a pale imitation of the original, and content is shallow.
Iffy Balance: Some characters are noticeably more powerful than others.
Niche Appeal: Without a love for JoJo, the fighting game fundamentals might feel average.
Final Verdict & Recommendations
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle R is a game caught between two worlds. For the passionate JoJo fan, it's a nearly perfect celebration of the series, offering a huge roster and a faithful, stylish experience. For a fighting game enthusiast, it's a product with good fundamentals that is crippled by its inadequate online infrastructure.
You should play All-Star Battle R if:
You are a dedicated JoJo fan who wants to experience the ultimate crossover of the series.
You plan to play locally with friends or enjoy the game for its single-player fan service.
You might want to reconsider if:
You are looking for a competitive, online-focused fighting game. The netcode is a dealbreaker.
You are not familiar with JoJo. The heavy fan service won't resonate, and the core gameplay might not be enough to hold your interest.
Final Score: 7.0 / 10 — An essential purchase for JoJo fans, but a deeply flawed fighting game for everyone else.
