"An Awesome Manga Masterpiece Combination"

You ever thought of what would happen if Jojo Bizzare's Adventure's Jotaro was fighting with Naruto's Kakashi. One Piece's Zoro with Samurai's X Kenshin, or Bleach's Ichigo with Shaman King's Yoh?

This is what you get. Everything seems like another senseless fighting game that looks like another Super Smash Brothers: Melee. But this is not the case when it comes to Nintendo's and Jump's latest masterpiece, JUMP SUPERSTARS.

Like Super Smash Brothers, you get to play with up to three (a total of four, including you) competitors. Unlike Super Smash Brother's combat style, you can switch characters as and when you want (provided you put them in your "deck").

This isn't exactly a card game when I said "deck". Throughout your adventure, you'll collect "cards", which is known as "Komas" in this game. They are like a small Manga page that appears on the bottom of your screen when you battle. You will need them to unlock characters and use them in battles.

Since the Nintendo DS have two screens, the top screen is the fighting screen, and the bottom screen is a little manga screen. Where you use your Komas. Don't be confused, this certainly isn't a card game, this is a fighting game which resembles the battle system found in Super Smash Brothers.

Combos can be used and you can use power-ups. Characters are split into Support, Help and Battle. Three different type of powers like Laughter, Power and Knowledge. They are used to counter powers and such, sort of like a Scissors, Paper, Stone concept. Each overwhelming the other.

Gameplay 10 out of 10

Definitely one of the best battle system used, resembles Super Smash Brothers, but you get quirky and amazing powerups. There's healing items, power boosting items and even ones that lower your properties, such as an item that slows your character down or even one that poisons your character.

Characters 10 out of 10

With a total of 150 combination of characters, and different type of playing style. You'll find yourself messing around to get the correct Komas to help fit into your little Manga page. A wide range of characters to the latest Manga. Though you have to admit, some of the characters are not very welcomed if you didn't watch the series or do not like the character. (Like why Rock Lee from Naruto is not a battle character, but a support)

Audio 10 out of 10

Rather fun music to keep you into the mood of having fun while beating your competitors, the audio itself isn't used to induce violence but fun and keeps the entertainment value intact.

Variety 10 out of 10

Definitely a 10 out of 10 because you get to edit your Komas and obtain lots of characters. You get to go through the adventure mode with lots of missions or/and objectives. The replay value is high after you complete the adventure mode because you can then use your Komas in multiplayer mode. That is when the real fun begins!

Final Verdict 10 out of 10

With high replayability, great multiplayer fun, and just in case you didn't know, it has a Download option in case your friend doesn't own a copy of JSS (Jump Superstars in short). If your friends have their own copy, you can each use your own set of Komas to battle, exchange 'em and have plenty of fun. True value comes solely from the multiplaying option.

However, do take note that this game is in Japanese and there is a need to import it.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 09/02/05