PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale

Sony's crossover fighter brings iconic characters together.

PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale is a 2012 crossover fighting game developed by SuperBot Entertainment and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita. It brings together characters from various video game franchises owned by or strongly associated with PlayStation, allowing up to four players to compete in multiplayer battles. The game was one of the first to be included in Sony's cross-buy program, offering a free PlayStation Vita copy to purchasers of the PlayStation 3 version.

Quick Facts

Developer: SuperBot Entertainment
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Designer: Seth Killian
Director: Omar Kendall
Producer: Chan Park
Composer: John King
Genre: Platform fighter
Modes: Single-player, multiplayer

Facts from the source article.

Development

Development of PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale began in 2009 under the working title Title Fight. Naughty Dog was originally slated to develop the game but was busy with The Last of Us, so Sony Computer Entertainment formed SuperBot Entertainment in 2009 specifically for this project. The creative team included members from several Sony and former third-party development teams. Omar Kendall, previously a designer on the UFC series, Backyard Wrestling, and X-Men: Next Dimension, became game director.

In early 2011, it was discovered that SuperBot, an independent California studio, was working on an unannounced combat-heavy multiplayer title for the PlayStation 3. Images leaked in November 2011 showed Sweet Tooth and Kratos, and claimed the game featured characters like PaRappa the Rapper, Sly Cooper, Nathan Drake, Colonel Mael Radec, and Fat Princess. Sony declined to comment on the rumors. Other developers, including Santa Monica Studio, Bluepoint Games, Blind Squirrel Games, and Magic Pixel Games, also contributed.

Release

Originally scheduled for October 2012, PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale was delayed and released on November 20, 2012, in North America, with subsequent dates in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Ireland, and Japan on January 31, 2013. Pre-orders included a voucher for a downloadable content pack with exclusive costumes for all playable characters; third-party costumes were later offered as free DLC. As part of Sony's cross-buy program, PlayStation 3 purchasers received a free copy of the PlayStation Vita version.

On May 1, 2012, Sony announced the PlayStation Store Royale Contenders Sale, offering discounts on titles like God of War Collection and Killzone 3 Multiplayer. At Gamescom 2012, Sony announced the cross-buy program, with PlayStation All-Stars among the first games included. The music track Genesis by Justice was used in promotional material, and the game's opening uses Finale by Madeon. A television commercial was produced by the Robot Chicken creative team.

Reception

PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale received generally average reviews, with a Metacritic score of 74 for the PlayStation 3 version and 75 for the PlayStation Vita version. Critics praised the multiplayer and fighting mechanics but criticized the lack of content, still images in campaign mode, and few cutscenes. The super move mechanic, the only way to defeat opponents, received mixed reception: some found it lacking depth, while others felt it added strategy.

Two presenters of the video game talk show Good Games each gave the game a 6 out of 10, praising combat mechanics but criticizing the super move system, noting that missing a super could erase all progress. The character selection was also criticized, with some feeling characters were chosen for marketing appeal rather than suitability for a fighting game. PaRappa character designer Rodney Greenblat expressed happiness at PaRappa's return but disappointment at seeing him in a violent game, though he acknowledged the game was fun and hoped for new PaRappa titles.