Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game Is Being Heralded as Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 Spiritual Successor

Yesterday, professional Japanese fighting game team CAG Osaka released gameplay footage of Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact, a new fighting game based on the popular shonen anime of the same name, on their YouTube channel. Since the video’s release, the fighting game community has taken to social media, already heralding the upcoming anime fighter as a spiritual successor to Marvel vs Capcom 3.

Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact, developed by Eighting, is a 3V3 2D fighting game. As of the time of publication, six of Nen x Impact’s 16 confirmed playable characters include Gon, Killua, Kurapika, Leorio, Hisoka, and Netero. According to Siliconera, a demo build of the game will be playable at EVO Japan 2024.

『HUNTER×HUNTER NEN×IMPACT』第1弾PVを公開！

好きなキャラクターを編成して3対3のチームバトル！

ジャンル：2D対戦格闘
機種：Nintendo Switch™/PlayStation®5/Steam®
プレイ人数：1～2人https://t.co/gfMqYCkLin#HxHNI #EVOJ24 #ハンター #ハンターハンター pic.twitter.com/kWtYTyGZAR

— HUNTER×HUNTER NEN×IMPACT 公式 (@hunterNI_games) April 26, 2024

Folks in the States might not be able to make a round trip to Japan to get their hands on Nen x Impact, but its expensive gameplay preview was enough to get the fighter a stamp of approval, thanks in part to developer Eighting, who also developed Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3. Aside from similar character animations, one of the main reasons the fighting game community is lauding Nen x Impact as the anime-skinned second coming of Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 is because of a gameplay mechanic called Over Gear.

According to a Google translation of CAG Osaka’s interview with Japanese games publication Goziline, Over Gear works similarly to Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3’s X-factor mechanic. Like X-Factor, Over Gear increases the character’s attack power and speed based on the number of teammates you have left in a battle. Basically, the fewer teammates you have, the stronger a boost your active character will receive. Aside from Over Gear, Nen x Impact will also feature other staples in 3V3 fighting game mechanics like character switching, assists, and easy command rush combos.

【世界最速】『HUNTER×HUNTER NEN×IMPACT』EVO Japan2024試遊版を最速プレイレポート！初心者も格闘ゲームファンも楽しめる傑作の予感https://t.co/RFt8OpXDRC

この難しそうなコンボもボタンだけでできちゃう！？#HxHNI #EVOJ24 #ハンター #ハンターハンター pic.twitter.com/Rg6kChHyxP

— Goziline公式 (@goziline_staff) April 25, 2024

As noted, the FGC community has been flooding social media with clips comparing Nen x Impact with Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, Eighting’s Bloody Roar series, as well Arc System Works’ Dragon Ball FighterZ.

WE ARE SO BACK https://t.co/bFWBDl2iGe pic.twitter.com/cFmisG1Rtg

— UltimaShadow (2005) (@UltimaShadowX) April 26, 2024

Hunter x Hunter: Nen Impact vs TvC/MvC3 animation comparison pic.twitter.com/6KKwnyqTvP

— John Crofts (jmcrofts) (@crofts) April 26, 2024

Me, a Marvel 3 player looking at the 3v3 HUNTERxHUNTER game like: https://t.co/rISCdEg34h pic.twitter.com/y7f5RbEWuQ

— Gilbert Matos | Reactjs/Nextjs/C# (@Punisherx6) April 25, 2024

The prophecy has been fulfilled. https://t.co/4t0CfUoo2y pic.twitter.com/6lK99KIPGl

— Exltd (@Exal7ed) April 25, 2024

According to its official website, Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact will be released on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam. Nen x Impact does not yet have an official release date.

Isaiah Colbert is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow them on Twitter @ShinEyeZehUhh.