What Went Wrong with PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale?

Push Square: "PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale is an excellent game. It may lack polish in areas – the menus in particular are some of the worst we’ve ever seen – but the core gameplay is superb. Developer SuperBot Entertainment clearly invested a lot of time into making each character’s fighting style unique, and it results in a brawler that’s as entertaining to watch as it is to play.

"However, despite a slew of positive reviews – including a firm thumbs-up from the website you’re reading – the game is struggling to make an impression at retail.

"The question is: what's gone wrong?"

[Kamikaze135]

The game itself seems like a hell of a lot of fun. I just wish they put a lot more effort into the story mode and added some more modes....more cutscenes, voice acting, a decent story.

[Akuma-]

nothing went wrong with playstation all stars except people bad mouthing it calling it a copy or people wishing it was like other game. i love playstation all stars for what it is and wouldn't change a thing. the devs made a game that they wanted to so you either like it or you dont. i love this game.

[Outside_ofthe_Box]

Exactly. Nothing went wrong with the game. Is there room for improvement? Sure, but that goes for every game. PS All-Stars Battle Royale is definitely a nice solid first effort by SuperBot.

[MaxXAttaxX]

Exactly.
The game definitely has room for improvement. However, nothing went legitimately wrong with the game itself.

Why can't they write an article about WHAT WENT RIGHT instead?

[nerdkiller]

@ akuma: why im i not surprised you love it, anything sony makes you love. they could be selling bags of doggy doodie and you love it.I have a ps3 but i dont like every sony game, same goes for nintendo and msoft

[Nexgensensation]

I agree with you 100% about, "i dont like every sony game, same goes for nintendo and msoft."

but for PSASBR the only thing that went wrong was the characters and the name of the title. having the name playstation all stars limits the character roster.

This game is only limited towards playstation, that means seeing a 3rd party character in this game kind of turn this game into a mash up! this game should have been called advertiser fighter! lol

in fact the only thing that went well for the game was the game play.
do you guys remember quantum theory? the only thing that went well for that game was the game play! why? it played similar to gears of war.

[MizTv]

Couldn't agree more dude
I fn love this game
And yes raiden is my boy!!!!!

[MizTv]

And I'm happy it doesn't feel like ssbm
I like it the way it is

[killatia]

I wish the game had more game modes as well but its still a fun game. If anything the only thing wrong with Playstaion All Stars is a lack of marketing for the game.

Also lack of Crash and Spyro

[Williamson]

How many game modes are there? just 2?

[Kennytaur]

In terms of combat itself: There are three victory conditions and the choice of FFA or 2v2,combined that makes six.

But there's also a couple different challenge modes. Character specific and general.

[MaxXAttaxX]

1v1, 2v2(team), 1v3/3v1 and FFA.
Time Limit, Stock Limit, and Kill Limit.

[jakmckratos]

Yeah...I mean thy had the oppurtunity for so much more..could of had more boss fights from PS games..more interaction than just ONE cutscene..god that really pisses me off that they touted their "rivalries" so much and all it was was one less-than-a-minute-long video that was prety hit or miss with some of those rivalres making NO sense like Radec vs. Sir Dan or Evil Cole vs. Fat Princess....single player for PS All Stars 2 must be more enoyable. Id also like a mode that featured a health bar....the super thing can get pretty annoying

[Knight_Crawler]

LOL...story will never happen because most of these guys are X Nintendo developers who worked on Smash Bros and we all know Nintendo does not give an F about Story because we can save the princess a million times.

[Deku-Johnny]

One of the problems is they don't have enough 1st party characters for a game that celebrates their 1st party characters.

[TenkoTAiLS]

Yeah that always baffled me, it's called Playstation All-Stars and yet a good portion of them are not owned by Sony or the Playstation brand at all. Even the extra characters people are yammering for are not owned by them. It kind of goes to show just how few memorable or decent characters Sony has these days. NOT GAMES, before people jump all over me, i am talking characters here!! Bring back proper mascots!! Bring back unique characters and not just <insert generic guy with guns>!!

[P_Bomb]

There are lots of Sony owned charachters that aren't playable in-game, so it doesn't "go to show how little there are". They're out there but they capped it at 20 for launch for whatever reason. The first SuperSmashBros though, only had around 10 charachters give or take.

There's 2 more coming as free DLC while some of Sony's best exclusives still aren't represented yet with in-game charachters (Resistance, Demon's Souls, Valkyria Chronicles, Yakuza, Journey, Warhawk, Syphon Filter). All added unique charachters to the Sony brand and/or histories. I'd rather have Kazuma Kiryu in a fighter over another fuzzy/furry/kiddy mascot. Not sure why they didn't add him when they have a guy from Tekken, who is a beast btw.

But point is, the charachters *are* there. Just odd they'd have no Chimera for example, despite having Resistance arenas and player pics/backgrounds.

[Nexgensensation]

I'd rather have Kazuma Kiryu in a fighter over another fuzzy/furry/kiddy mascot.

lol fuzzy furry and kiddy mascot!

your whole logic on this type game style is bacwards! lol i bet if they had only fuzzy furry and kiddy mascots this game would have been perfect.

I think you would like ryu from street fighter in a game like gears of war!

2.) if the only difference of the game is building meter and releasing special moves at the right time to the opposing building enough percentage and knocking enemies off the stage, the game isnt such a big difference.

3.) if superbot didn't want to be as similar to ssb they should have made a addiction to the fighting genre not borrowed.

[P_Bomb]

[QUOTE]I think you would like ryu from street fighter in a game like gears of war[/QUOTE]

Because I think a Sony exclusive brawler like Kazuma Kiryu would work well in a Sony exclusive brawler like PSABR?What's wrong with that?

Are you at all familiar with the gameplay in the Yakuza games? It's punches/kicks/throws and over the top finishers. PSABR is all about punches/kicks/throws and over the top finishers. How do you see that in a 'StreetFighter Ryu in Gears of War' context? Pretty sure I don't have Superbot's concept backwards. They already have guys like Heihachi from Tekken. Kiryu'd be a shoe-in.

[TenkoTAiLS]

@P_Bomb
And how many of those games/characters you mentioned owned or developed by Sony? Valkryira Chronicles and Yakuza aren't, they are Sega IP's. Demon's Souls isnt a Sony exclusive or owned by them. Starhawk had a generic guy with a gun last I checked, as does Syphon Filter and Resistance, tho they are exclusive to Sony and the IP's owned by them. Journey's studio may have been funded by Sony originally so I could let you off with that one, but they are now independent.

You missed my point entirely, a lot of the characters even in this list you have are either not Sony owned IP or unique characters. Sure you could add those three extra guys with guns to your roster but what makes them unique? What could they do that another guy with guns can't?

At least Smash Bros until the introduction of "guest" characters had only Nintendo owned or developed characters. They didn't have to borrow other studios stuff or ask anyone for permission. My point was, that Sony, as a whole doesn't have that many unique characters anymore. They are mostly 3rd party or guys with guns aside from the few already in the game that actually do belong to them.

[poo342947294792]

cliffy b 4 life

[Kennytaur]

Keep going, you might make it to just one bubble yet.

[Silly gameAr]

A couple more of these articles, and we might just figure this puzzle out.

[cleft5]

One of the major problems was that the damage you did to the other characters only builds meter, which is just a bad idea. It surprises me that the fighting game guy they hired, Seth something, didn't explain to them properly why this was such a poor idea. Then you had the fact that you couldn't k/o players by knocking them out of the stages. I know they made these decisions to limit the comparisons to Smash Brothers, but they should have just added this and not worried about it.

Also the insistence that this isn't a Smash Brothers rip off is just silly. Smash Brothers is hardly the first game like that, PowerStone anyone, so there was nothing to be a shamed of at all, rather they should have been proud of their game and boasted that they where offering something new to that genre of games.

[Kennytaur]

I don't know if you've played it or not, but the supers based gameplay has its merits. The fact that you can take others AP or just make them lose it while building your own is actually a very interesting and fresh take on the genre. I thought it was kinda crap at first, but it grows on you and I'm glad it's different from Smash Bros, cause if I want to play SSB, I play SSB.

And with the inclusion of the gorgon head item that can KO, we might see some interesting evolution with additional game modes or something take place. The next gen sequel could be truly amazing.

[smashcrashbash]

You are talking complete BS. Please if you have nothing sensible to add to the conversation please don't talk.If you had actually played the game which I doubt you did you would see that the build up meter crap as you call it works very well. It is not as simple as just building a meter it is the whole risk and reward and unleashing it at the right time. Just because they wanted to do their own thing and didn't follow SSB because you believe that the game is no good because you can't throw people off of stages is just the type of ignorance that prevents games from carving their own niche into the gaming world.

People are so stupid that they can't simply just let a game be what it wants to be instead of insisting that it should be like another game.You can't drop it and harp on and on about what what game it should be like instead of accepting it for what it is. It's like the people who insist everything should be like Halo because that is what they cling to and you feel everyone should toss aside their own ideas just so they can follow what ever you think they should.It's exactly like Okami were people INSISTED they were following Zelda when in reality it was even better then Zelda but ignorant gamers could see passed that to see the wonderful game Okami was and just marked it off as a Zelda clone.

Please just stop with what went wrong with every PS3 game that comes out. We got the scores it was above average and I seriously couldn't give a crap about what gamers think these days after watching a ton of good games get ignored for a bunch of mainstream games that developers crap out every year. PASBR is fun and challenging and the MP rocks especially 2vs2. If you don't play it you are just missing out on ANOTHER good game just like Resistance 3 and Rayman Origins and it's your loss. Keep up the narrow mindedness and see where gaming ends up.

[cleft5]

You mad bro?

[SmilyTheSyko]

I totally agree with everything you said, every game that comes out always could have been something else every game can get delayed over and over again adding and changing and new trailers everyone goes wow i cant wait but well never play it. Games have to stop adding things one day and release so we can play them. I love playstation all stars battle royal its so much fun. Resistance 3 was as well. I cannot wait to get the last of us i have it preordered already. I have all 3 systems (i save my money :) but my favorite system for fun games is Ps3 because of the exclusives. Almost all not 100% all of them are great a few do suck but so do some for all systems. Killzone resistance uncharted infamous are all great games and many others are as well.

[DivineAssault]

I think its a pretty fun game & has a decent amount of unlockables but its not as much fun if u dont play with friends.. Its missing a few things that are keeping it from being great but for a 1st attempt, its a good job.. I bet a sequel will hit the nail on the head

[miDnIghtEr20C_SfF]

What went wrong is PS3ers are too busy with Netflix these days.

[Ares90]

The game is doing pretty well on PSN, that's probably it's lacking on retail.

[kornbeaner]

Presentation is what went wrong with this game. We are a visual creature, we enjoy with our eyes first and everything in this game outside of the action looks bland. The game is fun and enjoyable; that triumphs all the presentation short comings. But when going through the UI on all screens it just looks bland.

[P_Bomb]

Gameplay's where it counts though, and the presentation during the fights is fantastic. The music remixes from different games and stage transitions, original voice actors, smooth animations and movesets right from the games, nice looking wallpapers and icons for your online tags, nice looking alt-skins including the preorder bonuses, and the level 3 finishers just pop off the screen.

Nothing "went wrong" with the game. Wish more games would do free DLC. The game is good. From a consumer standpoint it delivers where it should imho.

[kornbeaner]

The games fun factor and presentation during the action is pretty good. The opening trailer is really good as well, but all the nice things only last for the time while in battle. All the other time that might be spent in the game, SP, menus, customization, etc. is not up to par. I even said it in my first post "The game is fun and enjoyable; that triumphs all...." I play the game and rather enjoy my time with it, but there are a ton of shortcomings that would've been acceptable 6 years ago. For this late in a consoles lifecycles they must be pointed out.

[TheBatman_Fanatic]

I have never played this game and the fact that it looks just like Super Smash Brothers completely turns me away from this game. I'm not saying it is just like Super Smash Brothers, It just looks like it. I need to play it though, I will admit that.

[P_Bomb]

When you play it you'll see where they did things differently. I just find it odd that so many games from other genres copy and paste the same basic formula (Burnout to NFS, Forza to GT, Marvel vs Capcom to StreetFighter X Tekken, Crysis to FarCry) yet get a free pass, whereas AllStars brings out the SSB police.

[Nexgensensation]

but the same time like for example the racing genre. the formula for the racing genre is pretty much to race to get first place! now to set a difference between each other racing game is the style of game play, thus creating sub genres.

now this is when things get complicated. there's the originator and there's the imitator. most of the time the imitator falls flat when trying overthrow the originator and eventually down the line the imitator redefine the genre making it shine in its own light.

in this case the originator is ssb and the imitator is PSASBR. and to me what makes PSASBR fall flat on its face is that it the genius who was making the game, made it like its originator with a roster that doesn't really fit the game play style.

[ScubaSteve1]

there's no advertising only one commercial that's it

[miyamoto]

The game is fine.

Though it could have been
much much much much much better
and saved us all the big hoopla and trouble

if Sony & Superbot gone full 3=D like using the God of War Ascension Game Engine and game play

Fully utilizing the PS3's power to fully recreate & flesh out each characters' 3-D nature, origins, game levels, cast of characters & universes allowing players deep franchise immersion while fighting.

Unlike the flat, limiting, dull, lifeless level designs.

And where are the tag teams & assists?

Imagine if let say Drake can call Sully or Elena to assist him during battle in his own level.

Sony & Superbot should have taken inspiration from
1 Sega's Fighter's Megamix,
2 Dissidia Final Fantasy,
3 Power Stone
4 Dead or Alive
5 God of War: Ascension
instead of Sup...

I hope it sells well these holiday season.

[ginsunuva]

Ps3 owners other than hardcore gamers just buy MLB and FIFA and CoD

[ACEMANWISE]

I agree with the reasons the author says. Many people, including myself, who haven't purchased the game will have a hard time relating to the purpose of this game.

The genres are way too spread out (as the author mentions) so every player will likely dislike 75% of the roster or not see interest in the fighting match ups. The characters range from cartoon vs. real, mortal vs. immortal, humanlike vs. animallike, etc., to the point where there can't be an established foundation for an interesting challenge.

Those that have purchased this game have seemed to defend it...and for good reasons. The biggest being the gameplay mechanics and the fun experience it allows.

Sony should stop focusing on the premise of having all the characters come together in a fighting game. Instead they should focus on the gameplay mechanics that every fighting genre gamer will enjoy. If they can get past this barricade I think it may sell better. Selling it using the picture on the box seems to be a misinterpretation of the game's true value. Typically one should never judge a book by it's cover...but the masses are too ignorant to know anything more than what's displayed on the shelf box.

[Hicken]

The purpose of the game is exceedingly simple: combine notable characters that have appeared on Playstation consoles for a brawler. The game exists because people wanted that very thing. Seems like a pretty simple purpose, to me.

With that in mind, Sony should NOT stop focusing on the idea that all these different characters are duking it out. Could they focus MORE on advertising the gameplay and fighting mechanics? Sure.

But what you're suggesting is that they tell no one about the very reason the game exists.

Edit: You have two very weak complaints.

The first doesn't make any sense at all. The game isn't about comparing anything, really. Not swordplay, not fighting styles. It's about picking your favorite character that appears on a Playstation console, and beating the crap out of the others.

That's it.

All that other crap you're talking about is pointless, as that's not what PSAS is about. And what brawler IS?

Your other complaint is equally as pointless: they can only get who they can get on the roster. If you want to know where Snake is, ask Konami. Eve: Square-Enix. Redfield: Capcom. Spyro: Activision.

Ask the people that own those licenses why their characters aren't involved. But that's no reason to rate the game down.

And even if they ARE first party, you don't just stick em in there. How varied do you think Ico's moveset would be? Add someone from Resistance, and you have to make sure they're different enough from the other gun-using characters.

For all we know, many MANY more characters will be coming. There're plenty to choose from, after all.

But how long do you think we'd be waiting for the game if we were waiting for these characters that you and everybody else in the world wants to see in the game?

You can say "half-assed," but that's BS. A 20-character roster is substantial for a first entry; look at EVERY other fighter on the market, and not one of them had a roster as large in the first game. And NOT ONE of them needed to negotiate with a bunch of third parties for characters before the game came out.

Really, give it a rest. It's a great game, a solid first entry. It CAN be a lot better, but there's no reason for the ridiculous level- and types- of criticism that the game and Superbot has been subject to.

[ACEMANWISE]

I liked Tekken for it's ability to integrate real martial arts styles. I found it interesting to see which art was more effective against other art styles. I also liked Tekken for being one of the first fighters to have a throw move/takedown as a moveset. Granted I never liked some of the characters (like a Panda bear, Yoshimitsu, and stick man) that didn't fit the roster but at least the foundation of characters seemed complete. Doesn't seem so with All Stars.

Same goes with Street Fighter to a great extent. Fighters from different parts of the world coming together in a tournament representing their respective fighting styles.

Heck even Soul Calibur was a fun franchise. Although a bit magical in nature, at least it was founded on a theme of sword fighting.

With All Stars it's like there is no foundation of fighting comparison outside them being a Playstation brand.

To top it off they have a fragmented roster that seems incomplete. They've got Radec but not Sev. They got Raiden but not Snake. They've got good/evil Cole but not the final boss. Even on a fighting level they don't include the most obvious matchups for their respective franchises.

To top that off they got characters included that aren't really exclusive to the Playstation brand. So one must ask why they have been given a pass into All Stars.

Take Dante for example. Regardless if he was once a Playstation 1 exclusive franchise it isn't even the old Dante. It's the reboot coming to multiplatforms...by Capcom no less. Not Playstation. Not Sony. So there is inconsistencies there.

Now we look back at why. Why are these oddball, illogical inclusions present inside the game. The answer becomes apparent when grouping them together.

(continued below...)

[ACEMANWISE]

Big Daddy is represented in Bioshock, a non-Playstation, non-exclusive character that just so happens to be releasing a third Bioshock. Raiden is represented in a couple Metal Gears, a non-Playstation, non-exclusive character that just so happens to be releasing an entirely new franchise spun off stealth. Yeah, then we got the new Dante who represents the NEW Devil May Cry reboot which of course follows the same situation as above. That boils down one thing. These characters made the Playstation hall of fame because....

Well because they have some kind of business benefit for Sony. None of these characters are, in any way, representative of Sony, Playstation, or any gamer's memories of the past. Yet they are included despite obvious absences that truly represent a Playstation All Star.

Again, where's Sev, Solid Snake, or Big Boss? If we were to at least follow Sony's rules of including franchisea that used to be a Playstation exclusive then many are missing. Especially when Sony includes some characters that meet this requirement, like Raiden. Where's Eve from Parasite Eve? Where's Cloud and Sephiroth? Where's the guys from Reloaded (PS1)(Yes I was a gamer since the PS1, so I know the PS heritige.)

Lara Croft? Raziel? Kain? Dino Crisis? Chris Redfield? Any Resident Evil Character?

Okay, fine let's just stick to 1st party games strictly made by Sony. Where's Crash Bandicoot? Characters from Legend of Dragoon? Resistance? Ico? Shadow of the Colossus? Dark Cloud? Heavy Rain?

We can go into DLC as a counter if you'd like. Yet going there would only justify that DLC ruins the purpose of gaming. To elaborate, DLC should be optional purchases to add to the foundation of a video game...not to replace it. Yet here they seemed to half-ass the roster and leave the really high rollers out.

In a really complicated conclusion your simplistic approach is far beyond what is really happening here. It's much more about not focusing on the character "get-together"....be cause if they do, then guys like myself who've been around will rip this debate apart...something I don't wish to do with fellow PS fans...much less a fellow gamer.