HunterXHunter NenXImpact raises an interesting question: how important is appearance to the success of a fighting game? This game is an intense fighting game that is very fun and easy to play. But at the same time, it is not a good-looking game. After going hands-on with the game at Evo 2024, I can safely say that it is now one of my most anticipated games of the year, but how well it actually performs remains a mystery to me.
This game comes from the wild mind of Eighting, a beloved entity in the fighting game world. The company has previously made legendary hits like Marvel vs Capcom 3, crazy romps like DNF Duel, and the most ridiculous games of all, Fate Unlimited Codes. It’s my favorite – a developer willing to throw mass appeal out the window in favor of truly exciting fighting games with ridiculous combos and gorgeous depth. NenXImpact is fantastic to play and hilarious to look at, and it’s the same story. Eighting has done it again.
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As a 3v3 team battle game, those familiar with Eighting’s history might think this game plays like Marvel vs Capcom 3, but it’s not as similar as you might think. The game is slower-paced and less intimidating, more like Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid in terms of feel and pacing. You still run at a frantic pace and chain high-flying combos with powerful assists, but from my brief experience with the game, it seemed much more tame. A few months after release, though, I’m confident players will be able to push NenXImpact to its limits.
The character roster in the version I played was certainly limited. There were only eight in total, ranging from series protagonists to a couple of villains. Each one felt distinct, with their own unique move set and abilities. Some, like Killua, were fast and hard to stop in the hands of a talented player. Others, like Uvolgin, were exactly the type of characters I like. These monsters were powerful, a bit slow, but capable of really hurting people. There’s a lot of variety in the gameplay among the small cast of characters, and some mechanics, like Hisoka’s bungie gum — which lets you manipulate the position of the opponent you hit — are mean-spirited in both practice and potential.
The game feels good and is a blast to play. As for the look… it’s clearly not pretty. NenXImpact is a low-budget fighting game, and that much is obvious. Facial animations aren’t great, super moves don’t look particularly impressive, and the opening/ending of matches aren’t particularly flashy. Think of this game as the antithesis of those fan-oriented arena fighting games like Demon Slayer and Kagami Chronicle. The game isn’t as competitive as the visuals. Even if the version I played looks better than the original, there’s only so much you can do on a limited budget.
One thing I do like about NenXImpact is its simplified combos and special moves. The traditional input methods are of course still there if you want to learn the game in depth, and players who do so will undoubtedly find some of the more devastating strategies in the game, but it’s a good option for those who want to start at a basic level. By holding down the left trigger, you can perform an automatic combo with each attack button press, and holding down the right trigger and another attack button can unleash special moves. This should bridge the gap between new and intermediate players and break down the wall that has historically scared people away.
Apparently, the real appeal of this game could be felt outside of the private demo at the Los Angeles Convention Center and on the show floor where people were playing against each other. This is a multiplayer game, and watching people try to figure out the ins and outs of NenXImpact was a glimpse into the final product. This is definitely a game you have to play with other people – no matter what single-player modes it may eventually have.
I do worry. I worry that fighting game fans will buy the game when it launches and give it a fair review of its near-term prospects, but it may be cast aside. This is a worry for all fighting games except for those with higher budgets and resources. Add to that the obvious disappointment with the demo that HunterXHunter fans had, and Eighting’s next game may not get the player base it deserves. It’s been in this position before, and even with these thoughts, I still believe that its value will outweigh this belief in the long run.
NenXImpact is a game that’s worth keeping your eye on over the next month, and one you should consider buying when it releases on PC, Xbox Series X/S, and PS5 later this year.
