Jump Ultimate Stars

[Asura]

Just back from the shops now with my new copy of Jump Ultimate Stars, came out in Japan today.



You've probably already seen the boxart, but a nice gift for early buyers was this postcard book.



Here you can see it on the Kenshin page. I'm not sure if it has cards for every series in the game, but it certainly has a fair few.

I've just started to play it now, so I'll be back in a bit with more info. Sadly I'm on my own, so I can't yet answer the main question everyone is asking, which of course is if the single cart multiplayer has been improved over the original.

[Asura]

Just posting some stuff I posted on Rllmuk here too.

What are the differences between this and the first game?

There are a few. Firstly, cosmetically it's a lot better. It looks like visually it's been designed with the lite in mind, and thus the colours are really vibrant - the original did look better on the lite, but this looks even better. It also has Nintendo Wifi functions, more characters from more series, etc.

Any major gameplay differences?

The stages are now fully coloured with destructible elements and more moving platforms, as well as having things like cannons in the One Piece stages.

The characters have more moves. They have a more "special" move than their previous moves, as well as an attack that reaches upwards. A new counter system that's a little like parrying has been implemented, and the characters are now able to dash. Basically, whilst on the surface feeling the same the fighting system has had a big overhaul.

Any new modes of play etc...? Do we still have to use that really fiddly system from the first game of figuring out which cards fit in which empty blocks? I hope you get what I mean, it's been a while and I've forgotten what they're called. Serif komas?

Currently I'm not so sure. However, I've noticed that after missions you get what I can only call "gems", in different colours, and you use these to upgrade cards in some fashion. My Japanese fails me in this section though so I haven't figured this out. I'd tentatively say that this replaces the old system, but don't hold me to it.

Lastly, the single cart multiplayer may be improved - I've noticed that the game only comes with 1 premade deck that is used in the training sections. So either those decks are only accessible in multiplayer or they're nonexistent, and single cart players make their own - somehow. I'll hopefully know in the next few days.

Overall it seems like a much better package.

[Silvergun X]

Excellent stuff! I really, really enjoyed the first Jump Superstars.

So much that I want to buy recently.

[Bleeders]

I really liked the first one, is this one anymore import friendly than that?

[Oh! My Car!]

The first one was ace though so by the sounds of what they've improved this sounds even better.

are some of the support characters now playable (like that badass bloke from naruto everyone was complaining about before?)

[Ajay1986]

I guess you mean Gaara, he is a support character still unfortunatly.

[Nisa]

I guess you mean Gaara, he is a support character still unfortunatly.

Nah Rock Lee is what everyone wants.

I'm glad they added Fist of the North Star characters to this one, you cant have a manga character ruck without Kenshiro.

How is the online play btw?

[Zanza]

I had a play with this online, and I have to say I am mildly dissapointed. Maybe its something to do with me being in england and most players being in Japan, but there is a heck of alot of slowdown. It's not unplayable and its still alot of fun but it was initially quite dissapointing. I didn't play the original so im not sure if this is a new feature, but you can choose to download other players character sheets when you play them, which are then saved to your sheet selection and you can use them in the singleplayer. However you still have to unlock the characters before you can use them in your own customised character sheet.

My friend code is 004379913775. Feel free to add me or pm me for a game.

Also any info on making the character sheets would be of great help. I know how to unlock the different bits and bobs, however im not totaly sure what combinations work together. I realise there are character pieces, special move pieces, and other smaller pieces (what are they for?), but what works well is beyond me.

[stormbreak]

I am interested in getting this, I sold the first one for ?40 plus two other DS games as he wanted it more than me and I could only play with one other person on multiplayer. But now my brother and my friends brother have a DS so we can play 4 player

Hopefully the single cart is good.

[Asura]

Sadly I haven't tried the multiplayer yet as maddeningly I can't find a wireless network anywhere.

[gaz@manc]

I'm looking at buying this - how import friendly is it? Given that I've never played a non-Eng lang games before? *ducks for cover*

[Ajay1986]

Hmmmmmmmm its pretty hard if your not used to imports. All the stages in the story mode have multiple objectives which are explained in japanese. However most are easier to figure out and the ones that you cant can be solved using gamefaqs.com.

There is a hell of alot of japanese text in it but really most things are ok to figure out esspecially if you read an FAQ on gamefaqs. If you get it you can also feel free to ask me any questions you may have. Its a cool game so id say go for it.

[Asura]

Yeah, though it's hardly a traditional fighting game in nature, it's certainly the best fighter currently on the DS.