Jump Force

The opinions of the critics regarding the story of Jump Force are quite varied. Some critics, such as God is a Geek and Impulsegamer, praise the game's storyline setup, with Impulsegamer describing it as a cataclysmic event where different universes collide with the real world, and players joining a task force to restore order. This suggests that the concept of merging different anime worlds and the heroes and villains coming together is seen as a positive aspect of the story. However, the majority of critics express negative opinions about the story. CGMagazine, Critical Hit, GameSpot, Gamer.nl, Hardcore Gamer, IGN, Metro GameCentral, PlayStation Universe, Push Square, TheSixthAxis, VideoGamer, and TrueAchievements all criticize various aspects of the story. They mention that the plot lacks depth, is generic, uninteresting, and poorly presented. The cutscenes are described as awkward, painful, and lacking voice acting or emotional nuance. The campaign is criticized for dragging on for too long and focusing more on repeated excuses for fighting rather than interesting character interactions. Some critics, like Critical Hit and Metro GameCentral, even go as far as calling the story terrible, boring, and overlong. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that the story of Jump Force is a weak aspect of the game. While there are a few positive aspects, such as the concept of merging different anime worlds, the majority of critics highlight the lack of depth, uninteresting plot, and poorly presented cutscenes. The campaign is often criticized for being too long and lacking meaningful character interactions. The negative opinions expressed by multiple critics, such as Critical Hit, GameSpot, and TheSixthAxis, further support the overall sentiment that the story of Jump Force is lacking and fails to engage players.

The opinions of the critics regarding the gameplay of Jump Force are quite varied. Many critics praised the enjoyable combat mechanics and flashy visuals of the game. GameSpot, Gameplanet, and GameSpew all highlighted the enjoyable combat with excellent mechanics and flashy visuals. They appreciated the diverse move set, dramatic attacks, and the ability to switch between characters, which added variety to the gameplay. The combat system was described as fun, fast-paced, and satisfying by IGN Italia and ZTGD. The Digital Fix also mentioned that the gameplay was enjoyable for casual fighting fans. However, there were also several criticisms regarding the gameplay of Jump Force. Some critics mentioned that the combat system lacked depth and became repetitive over time. IGN, Hardcore Gamer, Push Square, and Video Chums all expressed concerns about the gameplay becoming repetitive and lacking depth. Critical Hit mentioned that the majority of characters felt too similar to one another, resulting in drag-out fights. Gamer.nl also stated that the combat system's simplicity led to boredom quickly. Additionally, God is a Geek pointed out that the combo system could feel unfair, and the three characters sharing a single health bar was a drawback. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that Jump Force offers enjoyable combat mechanics with flashy visuals. The ability to switch between characters and perform flashy combos was highlighted as a positive aspect. However, there were concerns about the lack of depth and repetitive nature of the gameplay. Some critics also mentioned issues with character similarity and the combo system. Despite these criticisms, the game was still praised for its accessible and enjoyable combat mechanics by several critics.

The opinions of the critics regarding the Graphics and Visual Design of Jump Force are quite diverse. Some critics, such as Critical Hit and Video Chums, praise the visuals and describe them as fantastic, unique, and gritty. They appreciate the detailed character models, vibrant fighting arenas, and impressive anime action. Critical Hit specifically mentions the stunning art styles and palettes from various manga artists, while Video Chums highlights the more detailed and gritty approach compared to other anime/manga fighters. However, several critics express negative opinions about the Graphics and Visual Design of Jump Force. CGMagazine, Gameplanet, Gamer.nl, and Impulsegamer criticize the game for poor animations, horrible animation, technical issues, and poorly rendered facial expressions. They mention that the character models appear off, poorly animated, and resemble fan-made skins rather than those of an AAA title. Gameplanet even compares the animation to games created in 24 or 48-hour game jams. IGN Italia and TheSixthAxis criticize the choice of a realistic art style, stating that it negatively affects characters with more exaggerated designs and makes them appear cold and poorly represented. TheSixthAxis goes as far as describing the visual quality as an absolute mess. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that the Graphics and Visual Design of Jump Force have both positive and negative aspects. While some critics appreciate the unique aesthetic and stunning locations, others criticize the stiff animations, poor character representations, and clash between the art style and different character designs. The visuals are described as a mish-mash of anime characters in real-world locations, with some praising the detailed character models and environments, while others find them lacking or low budget in terms of presentation. The conflicting animation styles and lack of proper animation in cutscenes are also mentioned as drawbacks. Despite the mixed opinions, it is clear that the Graphics and Visual Design of Jump Force have sparked a debate among critics, with some praising certain aspects while others criticize them heavily.

The opinions of the critics regarding the Sound Design and Music of Jump Force are quite mixed. Some positive aspects mentioned include the graphical flourishes and crunchy sound effects that add impact to each hit, as mentioned by Push Square. The recognizable voice actors and catchy music are also praised by Xbox Achievements. These elements contribute to the overall entertainment value of the game for fans of the source material, according to PC Gamer. However, there are several negative aspects pointed out by the critics. Gamer.nl mentions that the voice acting is inconsistent, which can detract from the overall experience. God is a Geek criticizes the poor mouth animation in some voiced cutscenes, which can be distracting. IGN and Metro GameCentral both mention the lack of voice acting in most cutscenes, making the interactions between characters feel lifeless and the cutscenes themselves less impactful. Softpedia points out that only Japanese audio is available, which can be a drawback for players who prefer English voices. Additionally, Push Square mentions the annoyingly repetitive screaming, which can become tiresome over time. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that while there are some positive aspects to the Sound Design and Music of Jump Force, such as the impactful sound effects and catchy music, there are also several negatives. The inconsistent voice acting, poor mouth animation, lack of voice acting in most cutscenes, and excessive shouting by characters are all mentioned as drawbacks. These negative aspects can diminish the overall enjoyment and immersion of the game. Therefore, it can be said that the Sound Design and Music of Jump Force receive mixed reviews from the critics.

The opinions of the critics regarding the voice acting in Jump Force are varied. Some critics, such as Xbox Achievements, praise the recognizable voice actors in the game. This suggests that the casting choices for certain characters were well-received and added to the overall enjoyment of the game. Additionally, Screen Rant mentions that while the voice acting may not perfectly capture the essence of each manga hero, the experience of seeing iconic characters crossover and battle each other is still enjoyable. This indicates that despite any shortcomings in the voice acting, the excitement of witnessing beloved characters in action compensates for it. On the negative side, several critics express disappointment with the limited amount of voice acting in Jump Force. IGN states that the lack of voice acting in most cutscenes makes the interactions between characters feel lifeless. This suggests that the absence of voice acting hampers the immersion and emotional impact of the game's narrative. Similarly, Gamer.nl mentions that the voice acting is inconsistent and highlights the diminishing impact of later cutscenes due to the lack of spoken dialogue. The Digital Fix adds that the limited movement of mouths and limbs during dialogue creates a surreal feeling, further detracting from the overall experience. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that the voice acting in Jump Force is lacking. Metro GameCentral points out the very little voice-acting present in the game, reinforcing the notion that the amount of voiced lines is insufficient. God is a Geek criticizes the poor mouth animation accompanying the voiced cutscenes, indicating a lack of attention to detail in the presentation. Furthermore, GameSpew highlights the silence of certain characters, like Ryuk from Death Note, in scenes where others are voiced, which can be jarring and disrupt the overall cohesion of the game. While there are positive aspects, such as the use of recognizable voice actors, the negative opinions regarding the limited amount of voice acting and its impact on the overall experience seem to outweigh the positives.

In terms of the technical performance on the PS4, several critics highlighted the long and frequent loading times as a major flaw of Jump Force. CGMagazine and Gameplanet both mentioned the frustration caused by the loading times, while Hardcore Gamer and Impulsegamer emphasized the relentless and atrocious loading times. Additionally, God is a Geek pointed out frame rate struggles, judder, missing animation frames, and long loading times, further indicating technical issues with the game. IGN Italia and Metro GameCentral also mentioned stuttering frame rates and frame rate drops during cutscenes. TheSixthAxis and VideoGamer criticized the choppy framerates, character pop-in, clunky animations, and lengthy load times present in various aspects of the game, including cutscenes, the hub-world, and menus. These negative aspects of the technical performance on the PS4 are consistent across multiple critics' opinions. On the PC platform, Softpedia mentioned that the game performs well online with little to no lag, indicating a positive technical performance aspect. However, GameSpace and PC Gamer highlighted issues with lag and missed connections in the online fighting system. While Softpedia's positive experience suggests a relatively smooth technical performance on PC, the negative experiences mentioned by GameSpace and PC Gamer indicate potential inconsistencies or issues with the online functionality. For the Xbox One platform, Game Informer criticized the insufferable loading times and the need for loading screens when accessing menus or stores. GameSpew mentioned a low framerate and frequent and lengthy load times in the small open-world hub, negatively impacting the overall experience. TrueAchievements highlighted severe slowdown when too many effects are on screen, as well as excessive loading screens, although an update has improved load times. Xbox Achievements criticized the lack of attention to detail, frequent loading screens, and poor presentation. These negative experiences on the Xbox One platform suggest a subpar technical performance, with issues such as long loading times, low framerate, and slowdown. Overall, the consensus among critics regarding the technical performance of Jump Force is predominantly negative. The long and frequent loading times are consistently mentioned as a major flaw across all gaming platforms. Frame rate issues, including struggles, drops, and choppy framerates, are also frequently criticized. Other technical issues such as clunky animations, character pop-in, and lag in online modes are mentioned by multiple critics as well. While there are a few positive mentions of smooth multiplayer experiences on the PS4 and PC, the overall sentiment leans towards a disappointing technical performance. Critics like Game Informer, GameSpew, and Xbox Achievements highlight various technical shortcomings, further contributing to the negative consensus.

Jump Force, according to the opinions of several critics, offers a number of positive aspects that contribute to its replay value. The multiplayer feature, as mentioned by CGMagazine, GameSpot, and Push Square, provides an avenue for players to engage in competitive modes and enjoy battles with friends online or locally. The large roster of playable characters, as highlighted by Shacknews and Video Chums, adds to the appeal of the game, allowing players to experiment with different fighters and their unique abilities. Additionally, the customizable character feature, as noted by Wccftech, offers further opportunities for players to personalize their experience and enhance replayability. However, there are several negative aspects that critics have pointed out, which may hinder the game's replay value. The single player missions, as mentioned by CGMagazine and ZTGD, are criticized for being tedious and lacking depth. The combat system, as noted by Metro GameCentral, is described as shallow and repetitive, which may deter players from engaging in prolonged gameplay sessions. The lack of meaningful content, as highlighted by Xbox Achievements, and the absence of certain modes such as arcade, survival, and time attack, as mentioned by GameSpew, are also seen as drawbacks that limit the game's replayability. Overall, the consensus among the critics is mixed regarding the replay value of Jump Force. While the multiplayer feature, large roster of fighters, and customizable character feature are seen as positive aspects that contribute to replayability, the tedious single player missions, shallow combat system, and lack of meaningful content are viewed as negatives that may detract from the overall replay value. It is important for players to consider their preferences for multiplayer versus single player experiences, as well as their tolerance for repetitive gameplay, when determining the potential longevity of their enjoyment with Jump Force.