One-Punch Man is getting a brand new game this year, and CBR got hands-on with it at SDCC. Here are our first impressions of the title. One of the biggest manga/anime properties in the world is One-Punch Man, created by One, with a third season adapting the hard-hitting story currently in development. Crunchyroll Games has teamed up with developer Perfect World for the upcoming One-Punch Man: World. CBR went hands-on with an early version of the game at San Diego Comic-Con 2023, courtesy of Crunchyroll. The demo promises to be an immersive and engaging adaptation of this fan-favorite world and story.
An adaptation of the first two seasons of the anime series, One-Punch Man: World opens with Saitama, the titular hero, who can defeat any opponent with a single punch, much to his chagrin as he longs for a worthy challenge. Saitama is joined by a host of other crime fighters and monster hunters as part of the Hero Association, a private organization defending several cities in Japan from various threats. From progressively more destructive monsters to invading the world from the oceans, realms beneath the Earth, and above from the vastness of space, these heroes are sure to have their hands full, despite their impressive array of powers and abilities.
One Punch Man World Beast King fight
One-Punch Man: World features a large and diverse roster of playable characters, including different versions of the same hero that reflect changes in their abilities throughout the story, the most notable example being the cybernetic Genos. Although the broad strokes of the game are similar, with a basic attack, dodge/evasion, and special abilities that can be triggered with different cooldowns, these changes will keep the action fresh as players find the heroes that best suit their playstyle. And part of the fun is seeing how well different combinations of heroes work together in battle, especially given the similar variety of enemy types.
As for the combat itself, the battles take place in an enclosed arena, not unlike 2020’s One-Punch Man: A Hero Nobody Knows, but much larger and easier to navigate. One-Punch Man: World doesn’t play like a 3D fighting game, but more like an action RPG that brings its combat closer to Guild Wars and World of Warcraft, which will likely make it more mobile. Combat is intuitive, including some timed combos to keep players engaged rather than mindlessly spamming basic attacks and dashes.
One Punch Man World Saitama in the city
One-Punch Man: World features several open-world maps, usually composed of various cities from the anime that players can fast travel between, along with their corresponding neighborhoods. More than the various side quests, these areas also have fun additions like convenience stores and game centers that you can visit to add to the immersive feel. This is complemented by a trial mode for those who want to jump right into boss fights straight from the anime, either alone or with a bunch of allies to help you out.
It will be interesting to see what the final version of One-Punch Man: World will look like. The version provided seems pretty close to being finished as it currently is, and that’s a compliment. The biggest questions are how the game will ultimately fare on mobile platforms (the SDCC hands-on experience was played on PC) and with planned cross-platform play, but those are questions that will need to be answered later. Meanwhile, One-Punch Man: World looks good, both for fans of the property and those just looking for a fun action RPG.
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