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Jump Force Game Videos Reveal 2 Yu Yu Hakusho Characters, Original Characters by Akira Toriyama, February Debut
posted on by Crystalyn Hodgkins
Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe began streaming two new Tokyo Game Show videos on Thursday for its Jump Force crossover game. The videos reveal the game's launch in February 2019.
The first video features the recently revealed Killua and Kurapika characters from Hunter X Hunter in action, and also reveals that Yusuke and Toguro from Yu Yu Hakusho will also be playable characters in the game. The video also reveals a new Japan stage, which will feature the famed Himeji Castle. Additionally, the video reveals that the game's season pass will allow players to access nine additional characters. Those who pre-order the game will get a new lobby vehicle, and three costumes. The game's collector's edition in Europe will feature a diorama, three art boards, and a steelbook case.
The second video previews some of the original characters who will be in the game, designed by Dragon Ball's Akira Toriyama.
Bandai Namco Entertainment also began streaming a third battle gameplay video on Thursday.
Additionally, the Polygon website reported on Thursday that players will be able to create their own avatar character in the game.
A closed beta test is slated for October 12-14 for the game's PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions. Spike Chunsoft is developing the game, which will launch on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC via Steam. The game's Japanese videos released on Thursday still list the game for a general 2019 release.
Other confirmed playable characters in the game include:
- Naruto and Sasuke (Naruto)
- Goku, Frieza, and Vegeta (Dragon Ball Z)
- Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, Blackbeard, and Sabo (One Piece),
- Ichigo, Rukia, and Aizen (Bleach)
- Gon, Hisoka, Killua, and Kurapika (Hunter X Hunter)
- Yūgi Mutō (Yu-Gi-Oh!)
Light and Ryuk from Death Note will also appear in the game.
Bandai Namco Entertainment describes the game:
Universes collide as legendary manga heroes and villains are transported to our reality. Massive battles fill epic locales as good and evil clashes, while humankind hangs in the balance.
The game's producer Kōji Nakajima noted in an interview at E3 that the game will contain characters that will have their first video game appearance. The game will also draw primarily from Weekly Shonen Jump franchises that are based on "heroes" with "superpowers;" Nakajima downplayed the possibility of the appearance of franchises such as The Prince of Tennis and Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma.
Spike Chunsoft previously worked on the J-Stars Victory VS+ game. Like Jump Force, that game is also a crossover featuring characters from Weekly Shonen Jump characters. That game shipped in Japan for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita in 2014, and in the West for the same platforms as well as the PS4 in 2015. Spike Chunsoft also developed the One Piece: Burning Blood game, which shipped in 2016.
Sources: Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe's YouTube channel, Bandai Namco Entertainment's YouTube channel, Polygon (Michael McWhertor)
Disclosure: Bandai Namco Filmworks Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Bandai Namco Holdings Inc., is a non-controlling, minority shareholder in Anime News Network Inc.
