It took a while for it to happen, but One Punch Man is finally about to get a true anime fighting game adaptation. One Punch Man: A Hero Nobody Knows arrives in February, but publisher Bandai Namco has been somewhat sparse with details. We've played it, so we know it's a 3v3 fighter similar to the Naruto and My Hero Academia games. However, there is a benefit to the Bandai Namco's secretive approach – it can still surprise us. Bandai Namco recently revealed some of its Saitama-themed surprises in a tweet.
The tweet announces some of One Punch Man: A Hero Nobody Knows' pre-order bonuses. These include a pair of outfits for Saitama that put him in both a simple tracksuit and snazzy formal wear. Pre-orderers will also get a Saitama mask they can put on their avatar to be the ultimate stalker. Finally, those who pre-order will get "early access" to a character called Saitama (Dream Version).
Fans of the series will remember this "Dream Version" Saitama from an early scene. In it, Saitama has an epic battle against monsters that actually push him to the limits of his insane strength. Unfortunately for him, the whole incident turns out to be a dream born from his desire for an equal opponent.
The thinking behind Dream Version Saitama is actually quite clever. One Punch Man's story is famous for its concept of a hero who's so strong he defeats all foes with one punch. While it leads to some great comedy moments, it makes for awful fighting game balance. One way the developers have gotten around this is by making Saitama a bonus character. Players can only use him if the last long enough in battle for Saitama to make a "late" arrival. They're then rewarded with being able to use his instant-KO punch. Still, that might not be enough for some fans.
Dream Version Saitama looks to be a character of average stats. This allows players to use him as a fair and balanced fighter under the pretense that it's all a dream. The only confusing thing about him is that he's an "early access" character. Does that mean he'll be DLC? And if so, will he be free or paid? The fact that he's a pre-order bonus leads to the assumption that he'll be free. But there's no guarantee.
One Punch Man: A Hero Nobody Knows is making its way West on February 28, 2020 for PS4, Xbox One, and PC.
Source: Bandai Namco