Summary
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventurehas become a major name in the world of anime and manga within the West, and this has predictably come with a fair share of video game releases. With several titles preceding even the series’ widespread international popularity,JoJo’s Bizarre Adventurehas been the subject of many attempts from different studios over the years. One game from the early 2000s, however, sets itself apart by featuring an action-adventure style that hasn’t been seen in the franchise since.
In an understandable trend that fits the style ofJoJo, most of its adaptations have been in the fighting game genre. Since the release ofHeritage for the Futureby Capcom in the 90s, the series has been known for fighting games that are able to fully utilize the unique casts and abilities it features. The recentAll Star Battle R’s Upcoming DLCshows how it goes beyond just a remaster, and fans have been clamoring for the same to happen withHeritagefor years. Despite all the series' elements that align with the genre,Golden Wind’s PS2 adaptation proves that fighting games aren’t the only way aJoJogame can work.
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GioGio’s Bizarre Adventure
A game that few fans know about,GioGio’s Bizarre Adventurewas a unique take on the series released back in 2002 for PS2. Leaving behind the style of a traditional fighting game, it was more of an action-adventure experience. With a cinematic quality to its narrative that spanned across the events ofGolden Windas a whole,GioGio’sadapted its source material with an accuracy that hadn’t been seen before. Featuring a boss rush structure that saw the player participating in iconicJoJoStand battlesfrom throughout the part, the game truly succeeded in capturing the feeling of the original manga’s action in context.
Despite what impact it could have had, the influence ofGioGio’s Bizarre Adventurehas always been limited due to being a Japan-only exclusive. 2006 would see the release of a similarly faithful and unavailablePhantom Bloodadaptation in the beat em’ up genre, a release that was only held back by weak gameplay. Both of these titles eventually received unofficial English patches, but only the most diehard of Western fans have gone through the trouble of experiencing these games. JoJo has exploded in popularity in recent years, and a new release in this style could be just what the franchise needs.
The Potential of a New Action-Adventure JoJo Game
Simply bringing the story ofGolden Windinto a game was enough to make for an experience that still impresses fans today, and this same formula could benefit any other era ofJoJo. A remake ofGioGio’s, or even a retreading ofPhantom Bloodboth have potential to honor the past. There’s a case to be made for each part, butStardust Crusaderswould likely generate the most hype by allowing players to step into the shoes of Jotaro Kujo outside a fighting game for one of the first times ever. With a plethora of Stand fights that can take it beyond the typical boss rush and an iconic main villain in Dio, Part 3 of JoJo is just one example of what could be an entire series of games.
While the prospect of a new JoJo title may be exciting for fans, it could realistically be a while before it ever happens. Thecontroversy surrounding theStone Oceananimedue to Netflix’s involvement with it has caused concerns for the future Part 7 animation, but the world of gaming has become far more hopeful.All Star Battle Ris still receiving new characters, a level of post-release support that the franchise has never seen. As Part 9 continues publication and players continue to enjoyASBR, fans can only hope that aJoJo’s Bizarre Adventuregame likeGioGio’scomes along again eventually.
