One Punch Man: A Hero Nobody Knows

One-Punch Man fans have a lot to be excited about with this game and should definitely check it out! Even though the game is not centered around Saitama, it does closely follow the first few major story arcs in the manga, which makes this nerd very happy. The game is also simple enough for a young child to follow and enjoy (if the parent is okay with violence and chaos, that is). All in all, I give this game a 75 out of 100 for its easy to grasp combat system, endless player customization, and the beautiful visuals.

I’ll admit, I’m not great at fighting games. The complexities of titles like Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter elude me, no matter how many hours I put into them. So it would make sense then that a game like One Punch Man: A Hero Nobody Knows (OPM) would be right up my alley. The combat is easy to grasp, being simplistic enough for literally anyone to pick up and play, and the fan service for followers of the One Punch Man anime is excellent. It’ll never top the Mortal Kombats and Street Fighters of the world, but OPM potentially packs a lot of punch for the right kind of player.

Even with its issues, One Punch Man: A Hero Nobody Knows is likely to be a pleasant surprise for those who were expecting the worst, or even just a bog-standard anime brawler. It’s a single-player game at heart; a lengthy action RPG experience with multiplayer offerings serving as both a diversion and reward for your efforts. You’re never going to be amazed by it – it’s pretty by-the-numbers – but you are going to be engrossed as you turn your wimpy wannabe hero into a saviour admired by all.

Look, I'm going to be honest with you, despite its flaws I still really like One Punch Man: A Hero Nobody Knows, it's just so far removed from what it feels like it could have been. There's a vast gulf between the unique ideas that make this feel special and the basic gaming stuff that it doesn't quite get right. It's a real shame because this could have been one of the best anime games to date.

One-Punch Man: A Hero Nobody knows is an incremental improvement compared to last year’s very similar Jump Force, but combat can still be frustrating as it struggles with the identity crisis of being neither a solid action RPG or a focused fighting game. The lackluster presentation and limited cutscene animation undercuts its attempt to feel like a worthwhile, interactive translation of the source material, but playing as the intentionally overpowered Saitama is always fun.

One Punch Man: A Hero Nobody Knows has ideas it wants to bring to the table, and with some patience, players can find those ideas and have a blast seeing how they can be applied to a fighter. Overall though, its flaws make it hard for those ideas to shine, and hold the game back from being anything other than a fan service title.

The groundwork of a solid game is there– even if those roots mainly have to do with the character customization and world design. Mechanically, the game isn't anything special, far from it, in fact. But that may not be why players are here in the first place. For those that simply want to experience One Punch Man as a part of the narrative, there's no better alternative than A Hero Nobody Knows, even if it would fall apart were it not for One Punch Man's recognizable heroes reminding players what universe they're in.

That doesn't mean this game is a total fail. It's a strong introduction to the One Punch Man mythos and when this fighting game gets down to the actual fighting, it's actually pretty fun. And there are enough different ideas at work to make it stand out from other anime and fighting games. It's a novel effort, but nothing else beyond that.

The One Punch Man franchise deserves the best. As both a bald man and a big One Punch Man fan, I expect the best from this series. I've been tainted by the spectacular Madhouse anime adaptation, and Yusuke Murata's incredible manga redraw of ONE's original webcomic. Both are outstanding in their fields and showcase both some of the best animation and artistry in the mediums respectively, all held together by ONE's comedic flair and heartwarming writing. I expect the best from this series, but One Punch Man: A Hero Nobody Knows is not the best it could be. It is incredibly admirable and has som...

It's a shame because One Punch Man: A Hero Nobody Knows could have been a great game. The developers have proved they a strong grasp on the style and flair of the series. The hero arrival mechanic also lends itself perfectly to the lore and separates this from other anime arena fighters. Sadly, One Punch Man: A Hero Nobody Knows lands a glancing smack instead of a one-hit knockout.

Despite flashy visuals and a relatively entertaining story mode, One Punch Man: A Hero Nobody Knows's fighting mechanics are shallow and unsatisfying.

One Punch Man: A Hero Nobody Knows throws players into a world of heroes. While the game looks flashy with big attacks and heavy cosmetic customization, the framework that this game is built on is pretty sparse. If you want a fighting game this is dime a dozen, though fans might get a tickle out of hurdles made to make Saitama 'balanced.'