Reverge Labs and their “sprite-based’ game engine have created a visually amazing 2D fighter that is as charming and addictive as it is challenging. A digital-download for PS3 and Xbox 360; the colorful cast of characters and fine-tuned gameplay mechanics define Skullgirls as a tier-one fighter.
As we mentioned in our preview of the game, Skullgirls takes place in the Canopy Kingdom. In this world you will play as one of eight female fighters aimed at securing the “Skull Heartâ€. This artifact can grant your wish, “but at a cost”. A ‘Skullgirl’ is a name given to an “impure soul” that has wished on the Skull Heart. Now the very wish and the person that made it, will be forced to haunt humanity as a monster with unforeseen powers.
The story mode offers you insight into the “world” of Skullgirls, as well as gives single-players a means to practice and achieve trophies or achievements. Story-lines are told in a classic fashion, without voice-overs, the game uses a subtitle bar and hand-drawn animation that changes with different emotions. It’s a classic throwback to earlier games and it fits well in the title. The cast of characters in the game are well designed and carefully crafted. Each character has its own unique personality as well as different connections to others in the game. it was easy for me to find likable characters that I could identify with and enjoy playing as. Although characters can range from sexy-vixen, to a dead catlike acrobatics expert, none of the cast seemed out of place. The “Dark Deco” design and unique setting of the title achieved a constant through-line in which the story unfolds.
The game is a consistant challenge even at the lowest difficulty setting. Enemy AI is relentless in its attacks, brandishing outlandish combos in a whirl of dazzling light and colors. It can be hard to get your footing when starting out. Skullgirls could be a difficult game to step into if you aren’t an experienced 2D fighter. Even for those of you that are, the game seems more than ready to meet your challenge, supporting multiple difficulty settings, an online and offline mulitplayer mode and a training session to hone your skills.
Expanding on the hand-drawn animation in the game, the visual aspect of Skullgirls is unparalleled in any 2D digital-download fighter I have played. The animated effects, combos and attacks are seamless in the game, and respond to precise controls with amazing accuracy. The combos themselves are easy enough to manage once you know them. The official website will eventually make these available for gamers.
Skullgirls could easily be expanded to include future DLC to make up for the shorter single-player campaigns but as it stands now is is shorter than most disc-based fighters, which should be expected. The random encounters in the story advancement highlight the shorter cast, by making you fight the same person more often than you would like. This can get more annoying if you are trying to beat the game with all of the included fighters. Though it is a downside, it pails in comparison to the game’s successes.
Anyone in the fighting-game tournament scene should know that fellow tournament fighter Mike Zaimont, was the project lead and designer for Skulllgirls….and it paid off in the end. Skullgirls has tournament-challenges written all over it. The precise controls and specialized combos and attacks for each fighter, bring a new set of challenges and strategy to every fight. Mastering a character and overcoming their initial hindrances to make them unstoppable is what defines a devoted player of 2D fighters. Not knowing if your challenger knows these hindrances, or if you have mastered them, is what makes it unpredictable and enjoyable.
Experienced fighter will enjoy the multiplayer, it runs and operates (as of now) exactly as it should, without lag and optional settings to improve performance. Speaking with Autumn Games in the past about the title, the publisher and developers at Reverge Labs are working on more content to bring the community closer together and teaching them how to be better players at Skullgirls The future will bring with it; move-lists, community tournaments and a lot more community based features. It’s easy to say that the game seems to be well supported and shining with hopeful possibilities.
The review scores below are based on the title’s comparison to other games of its kind and launch price-point.
Graphic Design 9: Stylish and beautiful, the hand-drawn sprites are what every game like it should strive for.
Gameplay 9.5: A tournament grade fighter with precision controls and a creative and unique setting to enjoy them in.
Presentation 9: Highly stylized set-pieces, carefully crafted characters and smooth gameplay controls.
Replay 8.5: Though I wished the single player was expanded, the multiplayer, difficulty settings and trophies/achievements are more than enough to keep this game on your hardrive.
OVERALL RATING: 9.0/10
decyphersmc yes it is, it is $14.99 I believe, had a blast playing it and look forward to some more multiplayer
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