Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact

The story mode of Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact receives mixed reactions, with some critics acknowledging its attempt to adapt the source material through re-creations of iconic scenes and partial voice acting. Gamezebo highlights that the narrative “includes partial voice acting and re-creations of iconic scenes,” while GameSpew notes it offers a “fun, if simplistic, approach to the story.” Additionally, some reviewers appreciate its role as an accessible entry point for newcomers, with Critical Hits mentioning that players “learn character concepts” through gameplay. However, these positives are overshadowed by broader criticisms, as most critics feel the story mode lacks depth and fails to engage beyond a basic tutorial framework. The negatives dominate the critique, with nearly all reviewers condemning the story mode’s brevity, lack of narrative cohesion, and reliance on static images. Digital Chumps calls it “extremely short (around 15 minutes),” while TierraGamer criticizes its “abrupt transitions between arcs” and failure to recreate iconic battles. IGN Spain and IGN France both highlight the mode’s minimalism, with the latter noting it “omits key battles and developments from the anime.” Many also point out the absence of meaningful character development or context, as seen in TheGamer’s critique that it “fails to properly introduce characters or their motivations.” The reliance on stills, text-heavy presentation, and lack of voice acting—cited by multiple critics like But Why Tho? and GameGrin—further diminishes its appeal, leaving players feeling disconnected from the source material. Overall, the consensus among critics is that Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact’s story mode falls short as a meaningful adaptation of the franchise. While a few praise its simplicity or re-creations of key moments, the overwhelming sentiment is that it feels like a rushed, shallow tutorial rather than an engaging narrative. Critics like IGN Benelux and Push Square describe it as an “extended tutorial” with “little depth,” while Gamekult and Voxel emphasize its failure to capture the series’ complexity or character richness. Despite some minor positives, the story mode is widely seen as a missed opportunity to honor the anime’s lore, leaving fans and newcomers alike unsatisfied with its execution.

The gameplay of Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact receives praise for its innovative mechanics and accessibility, with several critics highlighting its polished execution. COGconnected lauds the triple-tag system, combo mechanics, and control scheme as comparable to top-tier fighters like Street Fighter 6 and Tekken 8, while TierraGamer notes the simplified 3v3 format with auto-combos that makes it approachable for newcomers. The Nen Stance, Rush mode, and unique character abilities are frequently cited as standout features, with IGN Benelux and TheGamer emphasizing its "freeflowing combo system" and "fun combo system." Critics like Digital Chumps and TheGamer also appreciate the game’s fast-paced, chaotic combat style, which draws comparisons to Marvel vs. Capcom 3 for its emphasis on experimentation and high-speed action. These elements collectively position the game as a fresh take on tag-team fighters, balancing depth with accessibility. However, several critics point to significant flaws that undermine the experience. Balance issues dominate the negative feedback, with Critical Hits and IGN Spain criticizing overpowered characters, unbalanced mechanics, and "infinite loops" that make matches feel unfair. Gamezebo and Final Weapon highlight control schemes that are either overwhelming or favor controllers over arcade sticks, while IGN France and TheSixthAxis note a lack of fluidity and depth compared to predecessors. The character roster is another recurring criticism: Digital Chumps and Push Square point out the limited 16 characters, which restricts team composition variety, and Gamezebo mentions missions that feel simplistic despite adding structure. Additionally, issues like repetitive combo mechanics, weak online functionality, and exploitable systems (e.g., "Touch of Death" in GameBlast) detract from competitive viability, leaving many to question the game’s long-term appeal. Despite these criticisms, the overall consensus leans toward a mixed but generally positive reception, with critics acknowledging the game’s charm and accessibility despite its flaws. While COGconnected and IGN Benelux praise its innovative mechanics and fun combat, they also concede that balance and depth are areas needing improvement. The game’s focus on casual playability and unique Nen-based systems, as noted by TierraGamer and Gamezebo, makes it appealing to fans of the franchise or tag-team fighters, even if it falls short of competitive excellence. Ultimately, Nen x Impact is seen as a bold but imperfect entry in the genre, with its strengths in accessibility and creativity offsetting its technical shortcomings, though many agree it struggles to match the polish and complexity of its inspirations.

The reviews of Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact highlight several commendable aspects of its graphics and visual design, particularly its fidelity to the source material. COGconnected praises the character models for accurately capturing the anime’s aesthetics, while TierraGamer notes the “solid and well-designed” visuals with smooth performance on the Nintendo Switch. Critical Hits acknowledges the art style aligns with the 2011 anime adaptation, and Voxel emphasizes “ótimas” (great) animations that reflect loyalty to the source material. Additionally, GamingTrend and IGN France mention that effects like sparks and hit animations bring characters’ styles to life, even if they admit some cinematic moves rely on budget-friendly shortcuts. These positives underscore the game’s effort to maintain a connection to its anime roots, though they are often tempered by broader criticisms. However, the negatives dominate the critical reception, with many reviewers criticizing the game’s visual polish and technical execution. DBLTAP and IGN Spain describe the graphics as “cheap,” “outdated,” and reminiscent of PS3-era quality, citing simple character models, static stages, and lackluster special moves. TheGamer and Gamekult label the visuals as “low-budget” and “quite ugly,” respectively, pointing to stiff animations, comically simplistic hit effects, and repetitive environments. Multiplayer.it and GameBlast further criticize the game’s inability to leverage the manga’s style effectively, with low-resolution clips and poorly designed stages failing to meet modern standards. Even critics like IGN France and GamingTrend acknowledge that the presentation feels underwhelming compared to other anime games, with budget constraints evident in both character design and environmental details. Overall, the consensus among critics is that Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact prioritizes stylistic fidelity to the anime over technical polish, resulting in a mixed but largely unimpressive visual experience. While some praise its accurate character designs and smooth performance (as noted by TierraGamer and Critical Hits), the majority criticize its outdated aesthetics, lack of detail, and budget limitations. The game’s visuals are seen as a significant drawback, with reviewers like DBLTAP, IGN Spain, and Gamekult emphasizing that it fails to match the quality expected from modern titles. Despite efforts to honor the source material, the collective sentiment suggests that the graphics and visual design fall short of delivering a compelling or immersive experience, leaving many critics disappointed by its overall presentation.

The sound design and music of Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact received a mix of praise, though the positive feedback was relatively sparse. Final Weapon highlighted the soundtrack as “strong,” suggesting it met or exceeded expectations in terms of quality and cohesion. Game8 noted that the audio design was “decent” with acceptable sound effects and music, even calling it one of the game’s stronger aspects. While TierraGamer acknowledged the energetic nature of the original soundtrack, they pointed out its lack of distinct identity—a minor positive in terms of pacing but a drawback in memorability. These reviews indicate that while some critics found elements of the audio to be functional or even commendable, the overall impression was not overwhelmingly enthusiastic. The negatives were more pronounced and consistent across multiple critiques. COGconnected described the soundtrack as “bland” and “forgettable,” likening it to “elevator music,” which underscores a lack of originality or emotional resonance. TierraGamer echoed this sentiment, criticizing the absence of licensed anime music, which could have enhanced the experience for fans of the franchise. GameBlast went further, stating that the music “lacked impact” and failed to contribute meaningfully to atmosphere, while IGN Turkey noted that the sound effects were present but not immersive, with minimal voice acting that felt underutilized. These critiques collectively paint a picture of an audio design that, while serviceable, fell short of creating a lasting or engaging auditory experience. Overall, the consensus among critics was that the sound design and music of Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact were average at best, with few standout qualities. While Final Weapon and Game8 offered some positive remarks—particularly regarding the soundtrack’s strength and functional audio elements—the majority of reviews highlighted its mediocrity. The lack of memorable tracks, minimal use of licensed music, and underwhelming voice acting created a sense that the audio aspects were not prioritized as strongly as other elements of the game. This mixed reception suggests that while the sound design met basic expectations, it did little to elevate the experience or leave a lasting impression on players.

The voice acting in Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact receives mixed but generally favorable remarks from critics, particularly for its use of the anime’s original Japanese cast. Gamezebo highlights that iconic moments, such as Hisoka’s “Bungee Gum” line, are effectively enhanced by voice work, creating a nostalgic and immersive experience for fans. Similarly, Game8 notes that leveraging the anime’s original voice actors is a positive aspect, even if it isn’t explicitly scored. Critical Hits and GameBlast also acknowledge the adequacy of the Japanese dub, with GameBlast emphasizing that the actors perform well during battles despite limited localization options. These critiques suggest that when voice acting is present, it aligns with the source material’s tone and characterizations, offering a satisfying experience for those familiar with the anime. However, several critics point to significant limitations in the game’s voice acting, particularly its scarcity and lack of accessibility. COGconnected criticizes the absence of an English dub, which disappoints fans preferring localized audio. Digital Chumps and But Why Tho? describe the voice work as minimal, with only brief lines or occasional grunts that fail to engage players emotionally, especially newcomers. IGN Spain explicitly calls out the story mode’s reliance on text and static images without voice acting, calling it a missed opportunity for immersion. Additionally, GameBlast and IGN Turkey note that the lack of Portuguese subtitles and localized voices restricts accessibility, while IGN Benelux and others mention minimal spoken dialogue overall, leaving little room for deeper character interaction or narrative depth. The overall consensus among critics is that Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact’s voice acting is underutilized and inconsistent. While the use of the anime’s original Japanese cast is praised as a strength, most reviews highlight its limited scope—whether due to sparse dialogue, lack of localization options, or minimal integration into gameplay. COGconnected, Digital Chumps, and IGN Spain all emphasize that the voice work fails to meet expectations for a game rooted in a richly developed anime universe. Despite these shortcomings, the presence of iconic lines and familiar voices provides some value, but the overall experience is seen as lacking in depth and accessibility. The mixed reception reflects a balance between appreciation for the source material’s authenticity and frustration with its execution.

The technical performance of Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact varies significantly across platforms, with some positives noted. On the Nintendo Switch, COGconnected praised the online mode’s rollback netcode and stable execution, while TierraGamer highlighted smooth gameplay without frame drops. For the PS5, Critical Hits commended the offline performance, noting no freezes or frame rate issues, and Voxel acknowledged stable offline modes like Heavens Arena. On PC, few positives were mentioned, though some critics noted that offline mechanics functioned adequately despite broader online flaws. These observations suggest that the game’s technical foundation is generally solid in single-player contexts, with platform-specific optimizations contributing to a more consistent experience. However, the negatives are stark, particularly in online multiplayer. The Switch version faced criticism for lacking rollback netcode (Digital Chumps) and unreliable online play (Gamezebo), despite TierraGamer’s praise for stability. On the PS5, multiple critics—such as Final Weapon, Gameliner, and IGN Benelux—highlighted severe issues with rollback netcode, lag, matchmaking, and inconsistent match quality. The PC version fared even worse, with GameGrin calling its online mode “fundamentally unplayable 90% of the time” and Gamekult comparing its netcode to outdated systems from 2011. Across all platforms, technical shortcomings in online multiplayer overshadowed offline strengths, creating a fragmented experience that frustrated players. The overall consensus among critics is that Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact suffers from significant technical flaws, particularly in online functionality, which detract from its appeal. While the Switch and PS5 versions showed some stability in single-player modes, the PC version faced the harshest criticism for its outdated netcode and poor matchmaking. Critics like IGN Spain and Push Square emphasized that these issues persist despite developer delays, while Gamezebo and Digital Chumps highlighted how technical shortcomings—such as lag and inconsistent rollback netcode—undermine the game’s potential. Despite occasional praise for offline performance, the consensus is clear: the game’s technical execution, especially online, falls short of expectations, leaving players with a mixed but largely disappointing experience.

The reviewers generally acknowledge some positive aspects of Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact’s replay value, particularly its diverse gameplay modes and potential for future content. COGconnected highlights the inclusion of arcade, time attack, and combo trial modes, which offer varied experiences, while Gamezebo praises mission-based rank goals and character variety as incentives for experimentation. GamingTrend notes that combo trials, survival modes, and fanservice elements like collectible cards encourage exploration, and TheGamer finds the chaotic combat system engaging enough to warrant repeated playthroughs. These critics suggest that the game’s mechanics and structured challenges provide a foundation for replayability, especially for dedicated fans of the franchise or fighting game enthusiasts. However, the negatives dominate the critiques, with most reviewers pointing to significant limitations in content depth and long-term engagement. TierraGamer criticizes the small roster of 16 characters (plus battle pass additions) and a disjointed story mode, while Critical Hits and Gameliner highlight balance issues and repetitive gameplay in modes like Arcade and Heaven’s Arena. IGN Spain and Push Square emphasize the lack of meaningful rewards and shallow single-player content, with But Why Tho? and GameBlast noting uninteresting incentives like profile pics and titles. Online challenges are also a concern, as DBLTAP and TheSixthAxis point to a dead community and poor stability, further reducing appeal. Many critics agree that the game’s core mechanics, while enjoyable, fail to sustain interest without substantial updates or expansion. The overall consensus among reviewers is cautiously mixed but leans toward disappointment. While some see potential in future DLC or updates (as noted by COGconnected and Gamezebo), the majority argue that Nen x Impact falls short of delivering a compelling long-term experience. The game’s reliance on a limited character pool, repetitive modes, and underdeveloped single-player content creates a sense of incompleteness, as highlighted by IGN France and GameGrin. Despite its mechanics and niche appeal to fighting game purists, the lack of ambition in addressing these flaws—such as TierraGamer’s critique of high pricing or IGN Turkey’s dismissal of unengaging story content—leaves many feeling the game is underwhelming for its price point. Ultimately, while there are glimmers of replayability, the critical reception suggests it will struggle to retain players beyond initial curiosity.