Kenka Bancho: Badass Rumble Review for PlayStation Portable (PSP)

System: PSP	Review Rating Legend
Dev: Spike	1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid	4.0 - 4.4 = Great
Pub: Atlus	2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
Release: Nov. 10, 2009	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	5.0 = The Best
Players: 1-2	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
ESRB Rating: Teen	3.5 - 3.9 = Good

With this time limit and the natural progression of days, this game also has a solid structure. Banchos must be sought out and each Bancho has their own specific schedules, the same as you. To find out where these Banchos will be in order to challenge them, you'll need to beat up cronies from the same school and hope they drop their itineraries. With these you're able to know where these Banchos will be located at certain times, basically making yourself a schedule which you'll need to follow if you hope to achieve your goal.

Kenka Bancho: Badass Rumble screenshot

The RPG aspects found in Kenka Bancho are also a welcome addition. Instead of just having the same stats and attacks throughout the entire game, you're able to improve upon both. Raising your Bancho level will grant you souls, which can be used to increase your basic stats in things like strength, defense, and stamina. Souls can also be earned more quickly when playing in the Night Out mode, allowing you to improve your character without worrying about the story mode's timer ticking down. Throughout the course of the game you'll also learn a ton of new combat moves that help to make your combos and attacks more powerful and varied. You'll get everything from new standard punches to special attacks that the other Banchos have used against you.

It really is a shame that the combat in Kenka Bancho: Badass Rumble functions as poorly as it does. The game itself looks decent - despite having some fairly bland character models and environments - thanks to loads of character close-ups and lighting effects. There are also some great concepts here such as actual time progression and having to essentially investigate in order to find out where your next Bancho target will be and when they'll be there.

Unfortunately, though, the majority of Kenka Bancho's experience hinges on a combat system that feels incredibly sluggish, clunky, and outdated. Still, if you can put up with its sloppy fighting, you might just enjoy the other things that this title gets right.

By Adam Brown
CCC Staff Contributor

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

3.2

Graphics
The environments and characters look fairly bland, but some nice lighting effects and character close-ups help out in this department.

2.4

Control
Combat is made needlessly difficult thanks to sluggish moves, a lazy and awkward to maneuver camera, and troubles from aiming with the analog nub.

2.7

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
This game sounds just fine, but the soundtrack can get rather repetitious.

3.0

Play Value
There is a good amount of replayability here for those trying to become the top Bancho, as long as you can get past the clunky combat.

2.8

Overall Rating - Average
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

Game Features:

You'll have to fight dozens of other factions on your quest to be king of the hill.

Trigger special events based on time of day, acquire tons of costume, weapons, and items, and take on unique challenges.

Choose to argue the point with your fists, your feet, or whatever you find lying around next to you.

Explore the various areas at your disposal and plan out how you'll manage to take everything over.