Table of Contents
amazon Kill la Kill IF reviews
Plot and Narration
The plot of the game “Kill la Kill IF” is totally different from that of the anime where you get a “what if” scenario and the door for the players to explore another version of events. The story follows them in this game primarily focusing on taking the plot of Satsuki Kiryuin, another one of the major characters in the anime, while in this version, she becomes the protagonist. The narrative is set after the occurrences of the anime and explains an alternate reality in which Satsuki faces newer challenges and opponents.
Inasmuch as the anime was well-known for its racing pace, witty remarks, and a deep-laden story, the plot of the game seemed to be more straightforward and quite shallow as compared to the original series. The presentation attempted to be most faithful to anime storytelling, but in a somewhat uneven manner-the story mode is divided into episodes, each containing both cutscenes and fights. The cutscenes include fully voiced performances, animated within the unique living-in-art style of the game, and are mediocre at best in capturing the characters’ individuality and the high-energy atmosphere of “Kill la Kill.” However, the pacing of the story has its disjointedness, with some episodes having rather righteous runs, while others are quite rapid in their own jammin events.
One of the best features of the game is that it goes deeper into the characterization of Satsuki. The anime built her as a hard-fighting, almost unknown individual, but “Kill la Kill IF” lets players understand better her motives and inner conflicts. The alternate plot creates an entirely new perspective of the story for these fans. To the untrained eye about the anime, the plot is likely to sound muddled and very much underdeveloped, as virtually all understanding is derived from frame contexts around characters and events by the players.
Gameplay Mechanics
“Kill la Kill IF” is a 3D arena fighter; a category that over the years has met with mixed fortunes. The combat engine is meant to be picked up by a beginner but not so easy that a veteran will be left disappointed. Controls are quite simple on a whole, with emphasis on quick, stylish combos and flashy special moves. Basic attacks, ranged attacks, special moves, and a special kind of mechanic-“Bloody Valor,” which serves as an add-on gimmick to the whole fights-are what’s available to the players.
However, the game changes its flavor very much due to the use of the ‘Bloody Valor’ system. It also introduces a mini-game during fights whereby players can choose to spectate the taunts and provocations of their opponents. Winning this mini-game earns them a few bonuses, such as increased attack rating or perhaps a strong execution move. This brings a rather psychological aspect to fights since players need to guess what their opponents would do and how they would retaliate. It doesn’t greatly change the way the battle flows but adds a nice flavor and can quickly turn the tide if played well.
The roster of the game consists of such extreme characters from the very popular anime, with each of them having their own unique fighting style and moveset. Characters such as Ryuko Matoi, Satsuki Kiryuin, and Nui Harime are beautifully copied into the game as they show their ability and personality through their fight styles. The game did beautiful work to make each character as distinct as possible, which anime fans would enjoy in the detail they would notice in their animations and voice acting.
But it has its own flaws with the gameplay aspect. The combat system is dazzling and enjoyable, but it also has the tendency to get a little bit repetitive in a longer play session engaged. Because of the simplicity of its controls, chances of creativity and experimentation lessen once a player masters just a few basic combos. Compared to other fighting games, there is less depth and complexity to the game, which in reality, leaves a gap for more advanced players. Along with adding to the problem is the 3D arena format sometimes, which can lead to slightly awkward camera angles and imprecision in movement and attacks. Making it unplaceable in the whole experience.
The only bright spot of Kill la Kill: IF lies in the image and sound.
Made by Arc System Works, the character image is built almost the same as the original, using the company’s famous engine in recently released fighting games such as Guilty Gear, Dragon Ball FighterZ. With such a look, it feels like the player is playing the role of the characters in the movie, directly controlling them to launch blinding blows on the screen.
The soundtrack was also carefully scrutinized as the actors who voiced the characters of the anime’s series participated in the voice acting of the game. The intense background music also contributes to the fire quality of the games in the game, although there are a few situations that make you not understand at all.
The game’s temporary bright spot lies in its easy-to-approach, easy-to-learn gameplay. Arc System Works is famous for being a game company that makes fighting games with deep and complex gameplay. However, in Kill la Kill: IF, the company turned 180 back to its traditional style, only introduced gameplay based on simple buttons. If you can make a comparison, Kill la Kill: IF is more like a Devil May Cry 5 on a resistance platform than a real fighting game.
Because of the above reason, the game can reach the majority of gamers, who do not need to watch the frame rate, do not need to study techniques to maximize the capabilities of the character they control. Players only need to press one or two buttons, coordinate them together that they can perform the same moves as in the movie. Hands and eyes can be said to be the main criterion of Kill la Kill: IF that Arc System Works aims at.
Because of the gameplay mentioned above, its “retention” level of players is almost zero. The game has only 11 characters, including the characters in the DLC download. The shallow gameplay with a few characters compared to a modern fighting game in 2019 is an unfortunate minus point that Kill la Kill: IF encounters.
Besides, the single-player item of the game is also too trivial and boring. Completing each mission of the campaign part is a pain that the writer must go through to finish the game screen. After going through the main game screen for all the characters, the game has nothing for you to play except the fighting game between two people and opposing players on the internet. And since the game is quite… boring, finding a match online is also a pain, something not much fun.
Perhaps this is the point that makes the game superficially received by the opposition and almost absent from advertising.
where can you get a Kill la Kill IF online
Kill la Kill – IF – Nintendo Switch: Buy it now
Kill LA Kill: If (PS4): Buy it now
Kill la Kill The Game: IF [Japan Import]: Buy it now
Kill LA Kill – If PS4: Buy it now
Final Decision
“Kill la Kill IF” is a game that fulfills the criteria of bringing forth the anime in which it is founded. Spectacular colors, cool combat, and downright loyal character portrayals earn it its rightful place in the hearts of series fans. All in all, it does lack some depth in gameplay and character roster and online features, which is unfortunate.
Nostalgia kicks in for any fan of the anime who wants to appreciate “Kill la Kill IF”; however, new elements have also been added to give a light-hearted feeling-a new experience-for gamers to enjoy. The alternative story gives another twist to the stations of events familiar to fans of the series, and the entire visual presentation fits well within the chaotic, extravagant world of “Kill la Kill.”
“Kill la Kill IF” seems flimsy for those fighting game enthusiasts who are not privy to the anime-would not excite long hours of substantiated engagement. The fun combat lacks the repute the genre possesses of complexity in some quarters, followed closely by its small roster and lackluster online features, which further dispel its appeal as a competitive title.
To sum up, “Kill la Kill IF” simply knows who will be playing it and plays to its own strength. The anime’s adaptation is definitely more solid than it is weak, but its weaknesses would not be too noticeable for fans who love the style and spirit of Kill la Kill. If the game really deserves your time and money depends on how you feel about the source material and what you expect a fighting game to deliver.