Crunchyroll, the popular anime service, has announced a new One Punch Man game called One Punch Man: World. Unlike the previous major attempt at a game based on the franchise, this one offers a different gameplay experience. One Punch Man: World is an online multiplayer action title set to be released on Android, iOS, and PC platforms. The game follows a free-to-play model and allows players to join the Hero Association to combat an increasing number of villains through missions and raids. Players can unlock and play as various heroes from the first season of the TV show, including Genos, Mumen Rider, and Puri-Puri Prisoner. Key moments from the anime series can also be relived in the game.
In contrast to Bandai Namco’s fighting game adaptation, A Hero Nobody Knows, One Punch Man: World takes on a Devil May Cry-style action approach with combo moves, dodging, and ultimate attacks. Progression in the game involves ranking up, which can be achieved through side missions and mini-games set in Z-City.
The release date for One Punch Man: World is slated for later this year, and pre-registration for the PC version is already available. The development of the game is a collaboration between Crunchyroll and Perfect World, the studio responsible for titles such as Persona 5: The Phantom X and Tower of Fantasy.
While it is too early to judge the game’s mechanics and in-app purchase system, the developers face a common challenge encountered by Bandai Namco: how to balance gameplay when the main character, Saitama, can defeat any enemy with a single punch. To address this, the game seems to limit Saitama’s power (as shown in a video on the official site, where he uses multiple punches to defeat an enemy). However, the true extent of his power and how it is incorporated into the game will likely be revealed upon the game’s completion.
