Battle Fantasia

Go back a few years and the once-proud beat-’em-up genre was all but on its last legs. Arcades had pretty much died outside Japan and there seemed little hope that players would ever lock in mortal combat over a joystick ever again. Move forward to the present and a huge resurgence in the genre has seen some of the biggest titles get remakes or new games altogether, and as the dust settles it seems we’re now about ready to start seeing some newcomers to the party. Battle Fantasia comes courtesy of the development team behind Guilty Gear, and what’s immediately striking is the wonderful art style that’s been used to create a rather unique look.

As a beat-’em-up, though, Battle Fantasia keeps things relatively simple. Each of the 12 characters is varied enough in moves – and size – that it remains interesting, and the whole experience is actually quite friendly for beginners. Combos are easily achieved and bouncing characters off the walls, though annoying when on the receiving end, is a viable tactic. Even performing some of the spectacularlooking moves is much easier than in some of the so-called ‘hardcore’ fighting games. The characters themselves come with that quirky Japanese flavour, and it’s nice to see a developer take its time over the story, which is played out in RPG-style conversations in the story mode.

Unlike most beat-’em-ups, Battle Fantasia includes an HP meter alongside its health bars. This doesn’t add much other than giving you some idea of how powerful the larger characters can be. Different attacks are assigned hit point values, again like in RPGs, but pulling the left trigger sends your character into a temporary ‘Heat Up’ state, allowing for more powerful attacks.

Battle Fantasia’s original art design, odd characters and simple gameplay make for a refreshing take on a genre that for a long time has been overlooked. It may hark back to a simpler time in gaming – and our own lives – but with a few neat changes Arc System Works’ game feels like it would be a shame if it were lost in the wake of its big-name competition.