Ever since I started following Yoshihiro Togashi’s fantastic series Hunter x Hunter, I’ve wanted it to get the Dragon Ball FighterZ treatment. Now, in 2024, developer Eighting is showing off its take on a HxH tag fighter in Hunter x Hunter: Nen Impact. It’s a little different than what I expected, but still has my absolute attention.
Eighting, for those who don’t follow fighting games as closely as others, has been behind some notable cult-classic entries in the genre. The team worked on Fate/unlimited codes, Tatsunoko vs. Capcom, and notably, Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds. The tag DNA of MvC3 is apparent in Hunter x Hunter: Nen Impact, which isn’t just a three-on-three tag-team fighting game, but should look pretty familiar to anyone who’s spent time with the Vs. series or games they’ve inspired.
Japanese esports organization CAG Osaka posted a video today (thanks, Gematsu) showcasing the Hunter x Hunter fighter. Nen Impact will be playable for the first time at Evo Japan this weekend, but before that, players from CAG—including GO1, a face you’ll recognize from high-level DBFZ play—ran some matches for their YouTube. You can watch the footage below.
The power of Nen
Immediately, Hunter x Hunter: Nen Impact has some familiar framework. There are three fighters on each team, with one out front and the other two able to hop in for assists or tag them out. A Super bar in the corner can be cashed in for big attacks. “Overgear” seems to be this game’s version of X-Factor, a powerful mechanic that can enhance your on-screen fighter and grows in power as you lose teammates.
What I’m really digging are the kits and styles of each character we’re seeing so far. The roster is just six fairly safe picks right now: Gon, Killua, Kurapika, Leorio, Hisoka, and Netero. Gon’s got some big hits with his Rock-Paper-Scissors strikes, Killua’s fast as heck, and Hisoka can pull off some tricks with his sticky gum. Kurapika, my personal favorite character, has some sick moves with his chains that remind me of Axl from Guilty Gear.
That’s the good. On the flipside, animations are still looking a bit rough. Granted, it’s early; Hunter x Hunter: Nen Impact has not even locked in a release date yet, and we’re looking at a six-fighter demo version. I had a similar wariness about early 2XKO footage, only to see it improve with new showings. Still, I hope Eighting is fine-tuning some of the presentation. Arc System Works set a really high bar for 3v3 anime tag fighters in Dragon Ball FighterZ, and Nen Impact will invariably get measured against it.
Right now, Hunter x Hunter: Nen Impact gives me MvC3 vibes and, by extension, reminds me of Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid, an underrated gem of a tag fighter. Hopefully this take makes a real impact when it arrives. And if Eighting is taking any fighter requests for all those unfilled roster slots, I’m hoping for some Chimera Ants like Neferpitou or Meruem.
