Players are primarily frustrated by the game's aggressive monetization, particularly the gacha system, which makes character acquisition difficult and feels pay-to-win. Rampant cheating, ineffective anti-cheat measures, and severe character imbalances (especially with specific overpowered characters) also contribute significantly to player frustration. Additionally, technical issues like bugs, lag, and poor matchmaking, along with a steep learning curve and grindy progression, exacerbate the negative experience.
Disappointment stems from the game's unfulfilled potential, largely due to its predatory gacha system and aggressive monetization that limits character accessibility and content. Players are also let down by persistent character balance issues, ineffective anti-cheat measures, and a general decline in game quality, often feeling that developer decisions prioritize profit over player experience. The presence of bots, low player counts, and a lack of cross-save further contribute to the overall letdown.
Players express satisfaction primarily through the game's fun and unique battle royale gameplay, especially when playing with friends. The faithful adaptation of the My Hero Academia IP, including character designs, abilities, and overall aesthetic, is a significant source of enjoyment. Positive aspects also include continuous improvements, accessible controls, and the game's free-to-play model, which allows for a good experience despite monetization concerns.
Anger is predominantly driven by the game's perceived 'cash grab' monetization, including the gacha system, which is seen as unfair and unrewarding. The prevalence of hackers and cheaters, coupled with ineffective anti-cheat systems, infuriates players. Severe character imbalances, particularly with overpowered new characters, and a perceived lack of developer action or competence in addressing these issues, further fuel player anger.
Joy in the game is largely derived from the overall fun and engaging gameplay experience, particularly when playing with friends. The game's competitive nature, combined with its faithful adaptation of the My Hero Academia characters and universe, contributes significantly to player enjoyment. The inclusion of cross-play also enhances the social aspect, allowing more players to connect and share positive experiences.
Verdict
Mostly negative
Summary
Positive 50% · Negative 50%. Score: 50 / 100
Positives:
Players consistently praise the game for its high entertainment value, especially when played with friends. Many consider it one of the best anime-themed battle royale games, highlighting its addictive nature and overall enjoyable experience.
The game's diverse and expanding roster of characters is a major highlight. Players appreciate that each character feels unique, with faithful abilities and distinct playstyles, enhancing replayability and strategic depth.
The game is lauded for its faithful adaptation of the My Hero Academia universe, from character designs and abilities to the overall aesthetic. This strong connection to the source material is a significant draw for fans and provides a unique battle royale experience.
Reviewers frequently commend the game's free-to-play model, noting that it is not pay-to-win and allows players to earn most content, including characters and skins, through gameplay. The gacha system is also considered fair and accessible.
The combat system is described as fast-paced, dynamic, and highly competitive, offering thrilling matches. Players enjoy the strategic depth and the satisfaction of mastering characters and coordinating with teammates.
Negatives:
Players consistently report severe issues with character and overall game balance. New characters are often perceived as overpowered, leading to a 'pay-to-win' dynamic and making older characters obsolete. This imbalance, coupled with inconsistent or ineffective developer adjustments, significantly detracts from the competitive experience and overall enjoyment.
A pervasive and unaddressed cheating problem, particularly at higher ranks, is making the game unplayable for many. Players report frequent encounters with hackers using various exploits, and the in-game anti-cheat and reporting systems are widely considered ineffective, leading to frustration and a decline in player engagement.
New players face an exceptionally steep learning curve and are frequently matched against highly experienced, max-level opponents, often with superior characters and gear. This unfair matchmaking, combined with a lack of effective tutorials and a punishing progression system, creates a very unwelcoming environment for beginners, leading to early frustration and abandonment.
Players express significant difficulty and frustration in acquiring desired characters, with many feeling that the initial roster is uninteresting or ineffective. The current character ticket system is seen as unrewarding and restrictive, making it hard to try out or permanently unlock new characters without relying on the problematic gacha.
The progression system, particularly for leveling up and acquiring characters, is described as an excessively slow and tedious grind. This, combined with the frustrating gacha mechanics, means players must invest an unreasonable amount of time or money to unlock content and feel competitive, leading to burnout and disengagement.
Gameplay:
The game heavily relies on a gacha system for character acquisition and skill sets. While some characters are initially free or can be unlocked over time, many are obtained through gacha pulls, often requiring duplicates or specific tickets.
The game is a free-to-play battle royale, similar to Fortnite but with a unique hero-shooter twist. It features 24 players divided into 8 teams of 3, emphasizing character abilities over traditional gunplay.
Characters are central to the gameplay, each possessing unique 'Quirks' and distinct roles (Attack, Rapid, Technical, Support). Understanding and utilizing these diverse abilities and class types is crucial for strategic team play.
The game has a significant learning curve, especially for new players, due to the variety and complexity of character abilities. Players need to invest time in training and practice to master different characters and their unique Quirks.
The core gameplay is a competitive fighting game with a strong emphasis on melee combat and special abilities. It incorporates mechanics like combos, grabs, and a hierarchy for ability priority, making it feel like an arena fighter.
Performance:
Player experiences with game performance are mixed, with some reporting significant lag and poor optimization, especially on lower-end PCs or during intense action. However, some issues like tutorial bugs can be mitigated by adjusting graphics settings.
While generally stable, some players have experienced game crashes, particularly after specific updates like Season 7. These crashes can be frequent for some, though they might also be system-specific.
Recommendations:
Overall player sentiment is highly divided, with many recommending the game for its fun aspects, especially when played casually or with friends, while an equally significant portion strongly advises against playing due to various issues. This polarization is reflected in the wide range of ratings and recommendations.
The game is highly recommended for fans of the My Hero Academia anime or manga, as it allows them to play as their favorite characters. However, some suggest that non-fans might not find the game as enjoyable or worth the investment.
A significant number of players strongly advise against playing the game, citing it as a waste of time and money. This sentiment often stems from frustration with monetization, grind, or overall game quality.
The game's gacha system and overall monetization are major points of contention. Many players feel these systems are predatory, expensive, and negatively impact the free-to-play experience, making character acquisition difficult and frustrating.
While some find the battle royale aspect fun and unique, others feel it lacks depth, balance, and strategic elements compared to other titles in the genre. There's a desire for more robust anti-cheat and character balancing.
Miscellaneous:
Players are strongly requesting more game modes, particularly ranked and solo/duo/trio options, to enhance variety and competitive play. Cross-play is also a highly desired feature, with many expressing frustration over its absence.
Players are concerned about the presence of cheaters and issues with matchmaking, including players leaving mid-match. They also desire more frequent and stable updates to address these and other ongoing problems.
Players are requesting character rebalancing and the addition of more characters, particularly villains, to diversify gameplay and roster options.
The game is generally perceived as having potential and being 'okay,' but it lacks polish and is not considered a standout title. Many believe it can improve significantly with continued development and funding.
The game's primary draw is its My Hero Academia IP. Many players are fans of the anime and play specifically because of their love for the series and its characters.