Written by Anthony L. Cuaycong
Title: Black Clover: Quartet Knights
Developer: Ilinx
Publisher: Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc.
Price: $59.99
Genre: Action, Fighting
Also Available On: Steam
In early 2015, Hungry Joker creator Yuki Tabata launched Black Clover in Japan via Weekly Shonen Jump, a manga periodical that has male teens as its principal demographic. Focusing on orphans Asta and Yuno as they strive to survive and subsequently thrive in the magic-filled Clover Kingdom, the title has been met with extremely positive reception. Its success has led to the production of a one-off video and a television series, with the latter currently on its second season and likewise localized for English audiences.
Considering the richness of the narrative, the expansion of Black Clover’s reach comes as no surprise. It tells of Asta’s intent to become the Wizard King, the second most powerful figure in Clover Kingdom, despite his utter lack of magical powers. Needless to say, the dream is shared by Yuno, whose natural abilities include control of wind magic. Even as they join The Order of the Magic Knights in pursuit of their objective, they find themselves confronting The Eye of the Midnight Sun, a rival organization out to destroy the kingdom.
Creditably, Black Clover: Quartet Knights stays true to its source material. Developed by Ilinx of Gundam Breaker fame, it has Asta and Black Bull Squad captain Yami Sukehiro trying to stop the designs for revenge of noblewoman Karna Freese. The tale is filled with potential, hence the decision to release a manga based on it early this month. It’s at heart a magic fighting game, however, and so the Story, Training, and Challenge Modes serve mostly as a tutorial for players to learn and master the mechanics of where its real value lies.
Indeed, Black Clover: Quartet Knights is set up to be best appreciated as a medium for four-on-four online matches. And, in this regard, it’s designed to give plenty of bang for the buck. Familiar characters from the series possess unique strengths that can be used in support of team victories. Among the multiplayer offerings: Zone Control, which requires taking and keeping control of a specified area in the battle arena; Treasure Hunt, which has protagonists fighting for a key to be used to open a treasure chest; and Crystal Carry, which compels the transport of a spawned crystal to a final location.
In Black Clover: Quartet Knights, choice is critical to success. The right characters support the right strategy for the right team to meet the right objectives. Players can go for ranged magic, up-close combat, healing, or support, and the ideal mix varies depending on the mode at play. Meanwhile, coordination promises to be critical to victory. And, in this regard, the assumption is that of a thriving online community where matchmaking is a breeze.
Unfortunately, this is where Black Clover: Quartet Knights falters. Not enough players seem to be available online at any given time, thus forcing the game to populate the majority of teams with characters controlled by artificial intelligence. Invariably, the required adjustments, in theory conveyed through proper and timely communication, aren’t made, leading to less-than-desirable results. And, with the game already a month old, the problem is more likely to be exacerbated than solved.
The good news is that Black Clover: Quartet Knights proudly exhibits its visual roots. It boasts of a sharp, colorful art style consistent with that of its Weekly Shonen Jump sibling. Ditto with its sound and dialogue tracks, which feature the same vibrant rhythms and voice acting as those of the television series. Animated cutscenes are smoothly rendered, but backgrounds are often static and frame rates can drop depending on the severity of the action on screen.
Taken as a whole, Black Clover: Quartet Knights should please fans of the franchise. It’s a veritable godsend for followers of the manga and anime series, offering a plethora of cosmetic and attribute customization options for familiar characters. Parenthetically, it provides a solid foundation for its multiplayer offerings. On the flipside, it suffers from the lack of online practitioners. And because servers are sparsely populated, forming teams becomes an uneven exercise at best.
Which, in essence, places Black Clover: Quartet Knights in a Catch-22 situation. It has the potential to go beyond its niche, but needs critical mass first to do so — and vice versa. Hopefully, the next console release, which is a matter of when and not if, fares better.
THE GOOD
- Faithful to the Black Clover narrative
- Features characters from the manga and anime series
- Offers myriad customization options
- Familiar vibrant graphics and audio tracks
THE BAD
- Online population leaves a lot to be desired
- Reliance on Artificial Intelligence to complete teams makes for uneven gameplay
- Story Mode woefully short and little more than a tutorial
RATING: 6.5/10
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