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If I learned anything from PaRappa the Rapper's eponymous PSOne game (and I'd like to think I did), it's that kicking and punching are all in the mind. Sadly, despite my dedication to Chop Chop Master Onion's teachings, it's going to take more than dexterous mental faculties to succeed in PaRappa's next game, PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale.
Fortunately, SuperBot Entertainment is here to help. For starters, the developer has issued a new PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale strategy video (above) focused on our pal PaRappa. Following up, SuperBot has confirmed that its game will support the preferred implement of fighting game purists: arcade sticks.
SuperBot Entertainment's Sony-branded homage to Nintendo's Super Smash Bros. games recently drew some very public criticism from Platinum Games' Hideki Kamiya, who called All-Stars Battle Royale a "rip off." With the game's release date and open beta still months away, the jury's out on whether that harsh assessment is strictly accurate, and exploring avenues like arcade stick support should help SuperBot to differentiate All-Stars Battle Royale from the game that inspired it.
So, how will PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale play on arcade sticks? SuperBot Entertainment answers that very question on the game's Facebook page.
"By default, nearly all DualShock 3 controller commands are assigned to the same buttons on an arcade stick. The joystick takes care of the character's movement and combines with the Square, Triangle, and Circle buttons to perform the full range of 24 unique attacks. In fact, joystick inputs behave exactly the same as DualShock 3 D-pad inputs would, so arcade stick functionality is natively supported in PlayStation All-Stars. The only exception is the throw command, which uses the Right Stick on the DualShock controller. With an arcade stick, throws are simply performed with an easy button combination, similar to many traditional fighting games."
Despite its support for arcade sticks, PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale probably won't be showing up at EVO anytime soon. Still, that's no reason to play the game like a chump. In a new strategy video, PlayStation.Blog's Sid Shuman and Game Director Omar Kendall focus on PaRappa, who they describe as a short range fighter with devastating up-close attacks. Plus, he can smash enemies over the head with his skateboard, and that's gotta be good, right? The video is definitely worth watching by both PaRappa fans (who are going to love his Level 3 Super) and players who simply want a closer look at how combat works in All-Stars Battle Royale.
Ranters, what do you make of All-Star Battle Royale's fighting stick support -- is it evidence that SuperBot Entertainment is trying to position the game as a more "serious" fighter than Super Smash Bros.? What else can the developer do to set its game apart from the competition? Are you looking forward to beating up a Big Daddy as PaRappa the Rapper? Let us know in the comments below.
PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale release October 23, 2012, for PlayStation 3.
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Follow me on Twitter @HakenGaken.
Source: Facebook, PlayStation.Blog