Despite storytelling blunders, this game has characters galore -- and battles you'll want to watch repeatedly.
That's not all. The game also features the ability to call upon solo and dual partners at just the right time, which can continue your attack in a very cool way. They'll come running in to get off a few hits, like Heihachi from Tekken delivering devastating ground pounds, or Dead Rising 2's Chuck Greene going overboard with an exploding grandfather clock (and screaming about his deteriorating wardrobe in the process). Being able to mix these characters together to see how they play out in battle is part of the fun – and some of the teams you'll create are truly bizarre, but entertaining to watch.
Project X Zone as a whole is made up of this, and the story does drag on a bit for the first hour or two. However, some of the encounters are truly epic, and the multi-hit combos you'll create will keep you drawn in, even longer than you might've expected. Just understand, you won't get the greatest of conclusions here, and you'll probably wonder throughout where anyone would get access to a transdimensional portal to begin with. Have fun with it, and try to not let logistics get in the way.
Banpresto did a pretty good job capturing the look of all three publisher universes in one crazy world. You'll see locations taken straight out of Dead Rising, Space Channel 5 and more along your journey, each filled with strategic points that you can lead your party to. The character design is superb, with everyone – from Frank Castle to Chun Li to Akira from Virtua Fighter – fitting in without losing any hint of their details. The battles are a lot of fun to watch, even if you've already executed your attacks. And the little touches – like Arthur from Ghouls n' Ghosts losing his armor with a final lightning blast – show the company's dedication to the franchises. Bravo.
