Skullgirls (Video Game Review)

Every once in a while a game comes along that is so unique and offers so much to an industry built upon repetition that any gamer has to stop and take notice. Skullgirls is that game. Offering up eight unique characters that couldn't be more bizarre, a deep and rewarding battle system and a presentation all games could envy, Skullgirls redefines what a fighting game can be.

The story of Skullgirls places each one of these ladies--that ranges to anything from a schoolgirl with amnesia and a talking hair parasite to a ninja assassin nurse--in a battle for control of a powerful relic capable of granting a wish to any female that possesses the mystic item. When the female is granted their wish, the Skull Heart turns the host into the cursed and powerful being known as the Skullgirl. Within each storyline, a character is granted a different wish at the end of their unique path to taking the Skull Heart for themselves. Many of the stories intertwine at some point, and each story adds its own mythology to the overall great plot the game presents. Combat in the game consists of your normal light, medium and heavy attacks, with special attacks and Blockbuster attacks that consume your special meter upon use thrown in for good measure. Special attacks and Blockbuster attacks are simple to perform, but the real challenge is in the game's combo system. Infinite combos cannot be performed without consequence, and all moves can be cancelled into other moves to ensure perfect control even while in the midst of using your favorite combination attack.

Players will also have to ponder how they want to construct their team, as either player can enter a match with one, two or three characters with modifiers added to ensure matches are always fair. For everything Skullgirls gets right in other aspects of the game, there are equally as impressive features in the game's presentation. Skullgirls is simply a beautiful game. Its style is based on the Dark Deco style used in other modern games, and the game's frame rate is faster than any other fighting game around. The game also has an amazingly addictive and entertaining soundtrack created by the same composer that created the beautiful soundtrack for the classic game Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. And to top off a grand presentation, menus, HUDs and even the game's announcer seem like they came straight from a luxurious movie premiere. The only real downfall to Skullgirls is the game's difficulty. If you aren't willing to spend ample time with the game, you may find Skullgirls far too difficult even when placed on Sleepwalk or when facing off with a random opponent online. Still, the game is so great you will want to spend a lot of time mastering all of the complex techniques the game has to offer and attempt to work your way up to tournament level, so you can compete in the many tournaments being offered around the country being hosted by Skullgirls. If you're a fan of the fighter genre, make sure you go pick up Skullgirls now!

Game Features

Offline 1-2 Players

Online 2 Players

Leaderboards

DLC Support

Achievement & Trophy Support

Game Information
Developer: Reverge Labs
Publishers: Autumn Games & Konami
Rating: T for Blood, Partial Nudity, Use of Tobacco & Violence
Platforms: PlayStation 3 & Xbox 360 (reviewed)
Release Date: April 11, 2012

Score: 9 out of 10