Dragon Ball FighterZ,Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet, andNaruto Shippuden Ultimate Ninja Storm 4: Road To Borutoare a handful of theanime games on the Nintendo Switch, and these titles are considered to be some of the better and most popular examples on the console. Licensed games have a terrible reputation, and while projects based on anime have probably a better batting average than adaptations of movies, they are still usually budget products with limited appeal.
A few exceptions aside, anime games are rarely critical darlings and often land Metascores in the 50-75 range. Consequently, these releases tend to be ignored by everyone besides the most die-hard fans of the source material, and that’s assuming the latter are not turned off by a game’s reception. Do these adaptations deserve a second look? Here are someunderappreciated Switch anime games.
How Long To Beat (Main Story)
10 Hours
Despite being one of the most popular shonen manga of all time,One Piecedoes not have a video game resume that compares to the likes ofDragon BallorNaruto. In fact, an argument can be made that the franchise has yet to produce a truly great game, although there is hope thatOne Piece Odysseymight change that. Switch owners looking to jump into a Straw Hat-themed adventure can pick either thePirate Warriorsseries orUnlimited World Red Deluxe Edition, an enhanced port of a game that debuted on the 3DS. The former are enjoyable Musou romps, but their gameplay is not for everyone and they do not run particularly well on the Nintendo Switch.
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Conversely,Unlimited World Redis a straightforward action-adventure brawler with impressive visuals, a decent storyline that would not feel out of place in the anime, and an overabundance of charm. The gameplay is clunky but serviceable and offers quite a bit of variety due to a respectable selection of unlockable characters. More importantly,Unlimited World Redcaptures the spirit ofOne Piecebetter than most other games in the franchise.
14 Hours
An iconic sports manga and anime,Captain Tsubasahas been producing games since the early ’90s, some of which have been quietly influencing the genre. Unlike sayFIFAorPro Evolution Soccer,Captain Tsubasa: Rise of New Championsplays closer to an RPG than a standard soccer game.
Not only do characters like goalkeepers have HP but players with better stats will nearly always win. Along with a fun single-player mode that highlights some arcs from the anime,Rise of New Championsallows players to create their own characters who will gradually level up, acquiring new abilities along the way.
5 Hours
The firstMy Hero One’s Justiceis a half-baked fighting game with a limited roster, an underwhelming story mode, and somewhat decent combat. Although hardly terrible, the game is by no means good, and it probably will not motivate people to pick up a sequel that, on the surface, looks to offer more of the same. Here is the thing,My Hero One’s Justice 2is indeed very similar to its predecessor, but the sequel also fine-tunes quite a few elements.
The combat is smoother and more satisfying, while the visuals are notably superior to the first game. The story is still likely to be indecipherable for non-fans, but this game is mostly for those who are already aboard theMHAtrain.My Hero One’s Justice 2should have been the first entry in this series, and if someone is interested in trying asuperhero-themed fighting game, they can do worse than this sequel.
Hack and Slash
11 Hours
OK,NeptuniaandSenran Kaguraare predominantly gaming franchises, but since both licenses have anime adaptations, this crossover warrants a mention. In an article consisting of almost nothing but niche releases,Neptunia x Senran Kagura: Ninja Warsmight be the rarest acquired taste, especially since these franchises excel in different genres.
RELATED:Things We Wish We Knew Before Starting Neptunia x Senran Kagura: Ninja Wars
Still, as far as hack and slash crossovers go,Ninja Warsis more than competent in the combat department. Along with boasting 10 playable characters who have discernible traits that set them apart in battle, the game has a surprisingly robust array of customization options in the form of secondary weapons, special attacks, and items. The story is also perfectly in keeping with the standards set by both franchises, and it even comes with a couple of fun boss battles.
Mocked upon release by critics and fans,Jump Forcehas such massive flaws that they dominate most discussions regarding the game. Yes,Jump Force’s art style is certainly achoice, and the story’s cutscenes are consistently awkward and stilted to the point that they are robbed of any personality.
Just to be clear,Jump Forceis not some misunderstood gem that is secretly one of the best 3D fighters of the last generation. However, the game has its share of positives; while not perfectly balanced, the combat is flashy, fast-paced, and deeper than it might initially seem to be. Although the selection of franchises could have been wider,the roster is nonetheless fantastic. If someone grew up with these anime,Jump Forcemight strike a chord that few other games can reach.
23 Hours
From the developers behind theAtelierseries,Fairy Tailis a turn-based JRPG that came and went without leaving too much of an impression. Clearly intended for existing fans since the story does not waste time reintroducing the characters,Fairy Tailadapts quite a few arcs from the manga, and the game does a good job of not only covering the basics but also expanding on certain aspects that are only lightly touched by the anime adaptation.
Gust delivers above-average combat that comes with an engaging Magic system and a few neat additional mechanics like chain combos. Outside of battles and story missions, players spend their time completing requests in order to revitalize Fairy Tail as a guild, which includes developing the facilities of its headquarters.Fairy Tailmight not be a masterpiece, but it is a decent JRPG that allows fans to spend more time with these characters.
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