PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale

About

"PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale" is a sci-fi fighting game featuring iconic characters from various PlayStation franchises, such as Kratos, Sackboy, and Nathan Drake. Each stage is inspired by different franchises, providing a cross-over experience for players. The game offers local and multi-player options, supporting up to 4 players in split-screen mode, and includes both single-player and multi-player modes.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale screenshot

87%

Audience ScoreBased on 134 reviews

gameplay25 positive mentions

monetization2 negative mentions

The game features a diverse roster of characters from various PlayStation franchises, each with unique moves and abilities, making it enjoyable for fans.
The gameplay is fast-paced and strategic, focusing on building up a special meter to execute powerful moves, which adds depth to the combat.
Multiplayer modes, both local and online, are fun and engaging, allowing for chaotic battles with friends and a seamless cross-play experience between PS3 and Vita.

The single-player content is lacking, with a simplistic arcade mode and static cutscenes that fail to provide a compelling narrative experience.
Some characters are perceived as overpowered, leading to balance issues that can frustrate players during competitive matches.
The game suffers from a bland menu design and a small character roster, missing iconic PlayStation characters that fans were hoping to see.

gameplay
43 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
35%
7%
The gameplay is generally praised for its smoothness and fun factor, with a unique mechanic that focuses on kills through special moves rather than traditional health bars, offering a satisfying experience as players master the system. However, some players find the pace slow and the gameplay somewhat repetitive over time, leading to mixed feelings about its depth compared to similar titles like Super Smash Bros. Overall, while the game has its flaws, it is considered enjoyable, especially for those looking for a casual fighting game experience.
- “The gameplay is superb, the game is super fun to play and the more you play, the more you don't want to stop.”
- “The game mechanics are different from SSB; there is no health bar or meter. Instead, the game is based on kills made by character's specials. In theory, this seems not that fun and challenging, but it is quite the opposite. There is a high level of satisfaction when you kill someone with your special power, especially if it is a level 2 or 3 where you had to earn a lot of action points to fill your special bar to perform them.”
- “I recommend it to anyone looking for a fun fighting game that has deep mechanics but doesn't take itself too seriously.”
- “Gameplay is so slow; the gameplay is fluid, but my goodness, the soundtrack is very upbeat and great. However, why is the gameplay so slow? The gameplay speed is not cohesive with the music, and why is this fighting game so slow?”
- “Some may consider gameplay somewhat repetitive after a while, so players may just want to keep this title for parties or to blow off steam.”
- “It's not a bad enough game to make me angry for buying it (for $20), but the fact that it could be a good game with so much wasted potential for more varied gameplay makes me dreadfully disappointed.”
story
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
69%
16%
The story aspect of the game is widely regarded as its weakest feature, with many reviewers noting a lack of depth and engaging narrative. The single-player campaign primarily consists of static 2D art and minimal cutscenes, leading to a repetitive experience across character storylines. While the arcade mode offers some character-specific narratives, the overall storytelling fails to meet modern expectations, leaving players wanting more from a first-party title.
- “Each character has their own story, which is very fun and gives me a reason to play all the characters, even the ones I don't like.”
- “Every single character has their own storyline in which you are able to complete, with the last two fights being the character's rival, and then the all-stars boss.”
- “Replay value: there's an arcade mode with a story, and each character rivals another.”
- “Comparing to its competition, the singleplayer story mode will not fill your expectations, having the opportunity of making a cool and unique story mode.”
- “The storyline leaves a lot to be desired and single player quickly loses its charm.”
- “Buy it but the story mode with the still images and dialogue doesn't cut it by today's standards.”
graphics
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
73%
19%
8%
Overall, the graphics of the game are highly praised, with many reviewers noting their sharpness, brightness, and smooth performance, particularly on the Vita version which runs at 60fps. The interactive arenas and character designs effectively reflect the unique styles of their respective franchises, contributing to a visually appealing experience. However, some critiques mention a desire for a more classic aesthetic and a few find the visuals less impressive compared to other titles.
- “Graphics: very sharp and bright with plenty of interactive arenas.”
- “Presentation 9/9: game graphics are superb.”
- “The graphics are great, smooth, and clean.”
- “Graphics: it's what you would expect in a highly promoted PS3 game.”
- “Granted the game does feature such favorites as Jak and Daxter, Sly Cooper, Dante, and Kratos, I find myself looking for that 'classic gamer' aesthetic that SSB was actually able to bring to the table.”
music
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
35%
15%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some tracks praised for their upbeat and fitting nature, particularly the mashups of popular franchises, while others are criticized as being less impressive or even childish. Players appreciate the character-specific victory music and the detailed sound effects during gameplay, but some feel the soundtrack does not cohesively match the slower pace of the combat. Overall, while there are standout tracks, the soundtrack is often described as less than memorable.
- “The music, while not as great on a few maps, was awesome.”
- “The audio is pretty stellar with the different themes being mashed together just like the stages; I really enjoy the Resistance stage music.”
- “Music is awesome and fits well with gameplay.”
- “I also heard complaints about the music being horrible.”
- “The music sounded a bit childish, but that added to it.”
- “The music when they win is not memorable and feels out of place.”
replayability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
43%
29%
The game boasts exceptional replayability, rated 10/10, primarily due to its extensive content to unlock, including costumes, badges, and minions. While the adventure mode may not significantly enhance replay value, the multiplayer experience and diverse character tactics ensure players will enjoy numerous hours both online and offline. Overall, the game is highly engaging, especially when played with others.
- “Replayability 10/10: there are tons of content to unlock, from costumes, badges, to minions.”
- “This game delivers, it is fun to play, especially with other players; the more, the better. You will probably spend a lot of time on this game online and offline, and its replay value is extremely high.”
- “Each character has a wide variety of moves and tactics to learn. Adventure mode is slightly lacking, but that's not a bad thing; it just doesn't add to replay value, which is mostly in the multiplayer mode.”
- “Replay value: there's an arcade mode with a story, and each character rivals another.”
optimization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
Overall, the game's optimization is commendable, with users reporting smooth performance and no frame rate issues in both local and online multiplayer modes. Connections are easily established, ensuring a lag-free experience, although some noted a lack of customization options for offline play.
- “Performance: I was afraid to run into frame rate issues, but thankfully, this isn't the case.”
- “Both local and online, the multiplayer section is flawless; connections are easily established and maintain a lag-free performance.”
- “There's a lack of customizables for offline versus, but it runs smoothly.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is generally considered hilarious and enjoyable, especially when played with friends or online, despite some criticisms regarding the voice acting and cumbersome mechanics. While the character stories are amusing, the use of still frames detracts from their potential, and the items and sound effects could be improved to enhance the humor further. Overall, players find the humor to be a strong point, even if it has some shortcomings.
- “The game is hilarious and fun to play with friends or online.”
- “The stories that go with the characters are pretty funny.”
- “Otherwise, you will find it funny.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews do not provide relevant information about the monetization aspect of the game, focusing instead on the historical context of the character Polygon Man. Therefore, no summary regarding monetization can be derived from the provided texts.
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The provided texts do not address the emotional aspect of the game, focusing instead on technical instructions for connecting to PSN and using versus mode on the PS Vita. Therefore, no emotional summary can be derived from this content.
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The character development is praised for its excellent design, with characters staying true to their respective series, enhancing the overall authenticity and appeal of the game.
- “Great character design that remains true to their respective series.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, often feeling that it detracts from the overall enjoyment and pacing of the experience.
- “Grinding feels like a never-ending chore that takes away from the enjoyment of the game.”
- “The repetitive nature of grinding makes it hard to stay engaged and motivated.”
- “I find the grinding aspect to be incredibly tedious and draining, making it difficult to appreciate the game's other features.”