Ok: some short impressions.
First note: JSS is its own game. It does borrow a lot from SSB but do not expect it to be Smash Bros with anime. That this game is not.
The presentation of the game is impecable. Very well done and fitting. I will commento on the 1 player adventure mode since that is basically what I played, and note that I dont understand a word of japanese.
Visually, this game is really good. Not for technical reasons (as you can tell from screens) but for the ammount and quality of the animations. The number of characters that appear in the game is really inmense (there are lists in some other JSS threads) so it is just incredible that they managed to squeeze as many different and fluid animations as they have in here. The screen can get REALLY busy with all that may be going on also: imagine- 4 characters, summoning supporting characters and doing special attacks. Nice to look at.
The game starts really simple: you can only use naruto and the guy from one piece at first, and start in a continent of the 'jump world'.
You'll encounter stages marked with either M or B on the map.
B, or Battle stages require you simply to defeat the opponents.
M, or Mission, stages require you to fulfil conditions in order to win.
When you see a crown on the marker, it mean you have cleared all
objectives for that location.
The fighting system:
B = Weak Attack
Y = Strong Attack
X = Special Attack A
up + X = Special Attack B
A = Jump
A A = Double Jump
down + A = Get off Platform
down/L/R = Guard
<- <- or -> -> = Dash
<- <- or -> -> + B/Y = Dash Attack
<- + B/Y or -> + B/Y = Side Attack
down + B/Y = Guard Break
down + X = Counter-Attack
up + B/Y = Down Attack
Touch screen:
Use your touch screen for calling in Battle, Support characters, and using
your Help characters.
Koma is the term for the little squares that make up the character
portraits in the bottom screen (Here after refered to as "The Koma Screen").
The Koma Screen is a 4 x 5 grid that can hold up to 20 koma in all.
Depending how many komas a character takes up the special attacks
will change.
1 koma = Help character.
2-3 koma = Support character.
4-6 koma = Battle character.
A Help character gives health, energy, or enhancements to the Battle
Character (ex. Gyorai Girl gives a speed boost to Battle characters)
however the Help character does not appear on the Battle screen.
A Support character comes in for a special attack then leaves, but can be
called in again. Depending on the number of panels the character takes up,
the attack will change (ex. If Rock Lee uses 2 komas he'll use Konoha Senppu,
but if Rock Lee takes up 3 komas he'll use Omote Renge). Also all Support
characters can double as Help characters.
Battle characters are your basic playable character. You have direct control
over this character. Depending on how much koma the character takes up the
special attack will be differant. (ex. Yusuke can use Shotto Gan and
Rei Kou Dan at 4 komas, but he can use Rei Gan and Rei Kou Dan at 5 komas).
Also all Battle characters can double as Support and/or Help characters.
Whenever you clear a stage, you'll be awarded with either a Help Koma, or
a Serif Koma.
Serif Komas are essentially 2 to 6-spaced Komas containing just a silhouette
and a speech bubble. You're supposed to guess which character the Serif Koma
is featuring, and drag the respective Help Koma over onto it.
If you're correct, a new Support or Battle Koma will be unlocked, depending
on the size of the Serif Koma.
There is more to this, like adding a special "Friendship, Effort, Victory" Koma.
This Koma links together two characters and allows them to perform a
tag-team super move. Each end of the Koma must be connected to a Battle character inorder
forit to work. In this way, for example, Naruto and Goku can perform a special attack called Super Rasen-Spirit Bomb!!! and so on
Not only that, but characters have different natures: Laughter, Power and Knowledge. Laughter beats Power. Power beats Knowledge. And Knowledge beats Laughter.
Use an attack that is strong against the enemy's inherent nature, and
you deal 1.5 times the damage. Bo-bobo is of Laughter. Luffy is of Power.
And Asakura Yoh is of Knowledge. Special attacks also are of one of this natures.
As you can see, there certainly is enough complexity to the whole battle system.
So, that being explained note: as the game progresses you start uncovering new moves, new characters, new stages, etc. and it just becomes apparent that the ammount of stuff the programmers put in here is mindboggling. It becomes really addictive both, collecting and uncovering things and getting to master the fighting system.
It is clear though that where this game really shines is the multiplayer action. There is sooo much going on, so many variations of attacks u can do and so much content it just HAS to be a blast for 4 players simultaneous. That, plus the fact that you can customize the touch screen to no end to personalize your fighting style just adds to the meat of this title.
I still have WAYS to go as far as unlocking stuff goes, but Ill post impressions as I do.