PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale was not the success Sony wanted it to be, but over the years many gamers have asked the publisher to take another shot at a PlayStation-focused fighting game. On paper, the idea of bringing Sony’s various mascots and powerful characters like Kratos together so that they could fight in a tournament is a sound one. Unfortunately, it did not work, as a lack of content and poor presentation proved detrimental to the overall experience.

With PlayStation All-Stars releasing exactly a decade ago on November 20, 2012, many are using the game’s 10-year anniversary as a jumping off point to ponder what could have been. Further, a reference to the flawed but fun title in God of War Ragnarok has sparked even more discussion. PlayStation All-Stars had a tremendous amount of potential, and though it remains to be seen whether a sequel will ever happen, now would be an excellent time for Sony to give it a chance.

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The Platform Fighter Genre is No Longer Completely Dominated by Smash Bros.

super smash bros 4 wii u 8 player smash with computers

When PlayStation All-Stars released, it was instantly dubbed a Smash Bros. clone like most competitors are. Though it had better multiplayer functionality, and the idea of two areas from different franchises being merged to form one stage was clever, Smash Bros. still had the edge. While PlayStation had more characters to pull from than Xbox in 2012, it simply lacked the roster depth of Nintendo, which proved to be a major issue. The lacking singleplayer mode only furthered the problem, and when a new Smash game dropped in 2014, most gamers forgot about Playstation All-Stars entirely.

However, in 2022, gamers are warming up to the idea of Smash Bros. being challenged for the spot of best platform fighter. While Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl fumbled its strong concept and failed to meet expectations, MultiVersus surpassed them, becoming a surprise hit. The free-to-play approach likely contributed to this success, and with the game constantly getting new content and characters, its future is bright. With Smash Bros. on hiatus following the completion of Ultimate’s DLC run, there is a massive platform fighter void to be filled, and MultiVersus could use the competition. Had PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale released right now, it could have had a great chance at success, so it would be nice to see a sequel dropping while Smash Bros. has moved into the background.

PlayStation Has a Far Larger Roster of Characters To Pull From Now

Playstation All Stars 2 Great Potential Roster

One of the biggest criticisms of PlayStation All-Stars was its roster, and it is easy to see why gamers were disappointed in the lineup. The fact that good and evil versions of Cole McGrath from Infamous took up two slots speaks volumes, as there was some clear roster padding present. Further, the game used the heavily disliked version of Dante from the DmC reboot of Devil May Cry instead of the original, and Raiden was used to represent Metal Gear Solid instead of the beloved Solid Snake. While niche picks like Killzone’s Radec are always going to be seen in fighting games, missing a heavy hitter like Snake makes picks like Fat Princess a lot less acceptable.

However, things have changed since 2012, as Sony went through its best generation of exclusive games with the PlayStation 4. In the last decade, gamers have met several new characters, some of which are now synonymous with the PlayStation brand. Another game could pull all of these new heroes in, leading to a stacked roster - instantly fixing one of the key issues with the original PlayStation All-Stars.

Joel and Ellie from The Last of Us are two of the most celebrated video game characters ever, and either could be added to the roster. Assuming he uses his bike to mix things up, Days Gone’s Deacon St. John could also work, and Death Stranding’s Cliff would be a perfect summoner. Aloy has made a name for herself thanks to two great Horizon games, and the Savior of Meridian could wield everything from bows to spike throwers in a platform fighter. Bloodborne’s Hunter could pull out some trick weapons, Astro could beat foes down with various PlayStation props, and Ghost of Tsushima’s Jin Sakai could use stealth against his foes. Insomniac’s versions of Spider-Man and Wolverine could also be on the table.

Whether it is Infamous’ Delsin Rowe using his many leeched powers, Cloud Strife wielding his buster sword, or Returnal’s Selene dashing through an arena, the list of potential roster members goes on and on. Even Kratos would be significantly different and have a deeper moveset, as he could be given the Leviathan Axe and the Blades of Chaos. His son Atreus has also grown into a formidable fighter, and his transformation abilities would make for some fun mechanics in a modern PlayStation All-Stars.

If a new PlayStation All-Stars were to be released, Sony could also be a bit more careful with the selection of characters from outside its first party lineup. Picking characters closely associated with PlayStation through exclusivity deals, like Deathloop’s Colt or Forspoken's Frey, would be wise. Though it was fun to play as the Big Daddy from BioShock and Dead Space’s Isaac Clarke, neither had specific ties to PlayStation. Also, choosing the main character from Metal Gear Solid and the more popular version of Dante would help a bit.

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PlayStation All-Stars’ Flaws Were Clear and Are Easy To Fix in a Sequel

Playstation All Stars Battle Royale 2

Apart from a roster overhaul that incorporates the many new characters from PlayStation’s biggest franchises, whoever develops the game could aim to correct the original’s other flaws. Super moves could be given another look, as though some liked how the mechanic added strategy, as it was required for knockouts, others thought it was too punishing. Presentation would also be key, with the singleplayer mode needing proper cutscenes instead of static images. The various franchises’ music would have to incorporated better, too. MultiVersus has shown how to do stage themes well, and with so much great music in PlayStation first party titles, using it poorly would be a big mistake.

Ultimately, content is key, as Sony could provide far more than 20 characters and 15 stages at launch. Further, the publisher is reportedly looking to get into live service titles, and MultiVersus has shown just how viable this approach can be for a platform fighter. If a new PlayStation All-Stars could continuously add fighters, stages, and skins to its lineup, it would thrive. The original PlayStation All-Stars simply came too soon, as a version with a modern roster would be infinitely more exciting. If it had better presentation and used the traditional knockout system instead of super moves, too, the game could have been huge. Hopefully, Sony revives this concept with a new platform fighter, as there is no better time to try again than right now.

PlayStation All-Stars: Battle Royale is available now on PS3 and PS Vita.

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