Please Don’t Turn Death Note Into An Arena Fighter, Bandai Namco

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Shahmeer Sarfaraz

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Over the years, Anime has grown into a massive, world-encompassing medium. Thanks to some titles like Dragon Ball, Naruto, and One Piece, the medium has received the recognition it deserves.

Try it, and you’ll see it’s way more than the child-like nature normally associated with animated products. Featuring diverse themes from everywhere, between grim truths and cheerful daily life, there’s something here for every taste. And among these versatile anime, Death Note holds a pretty significant position.

Why it matters: Bandai Namco is quite notorious for turning every anime into an arena fighter regardless of compatibility, and I hope the same doesn’t happen to Death Note.

Watch Bandai Namco Turn Death Note Into An Arena Fighter

Death Note is among the anime you recommend to someone who says, “Anime is for kids.” Thanks to its thrilling storyline, the back-and-forth between intellectual rivals, and mature themes portraying our society, it’s the perfect piece of work to showcase anime’s prowess.

And now, you’ll be glad to know that this legendary series is also receiving a game adaptation. A new Death Note game has recently been rated for the PS4 and PS5. We don’t know the details yet; it’s up to Bandai Namco.

Technically, it’s not the first Death Note game, but it’ll probably be the first full-fledged title outside Japan. There’s just one problem, though. I’m deathly scared Bandai Namco will make it another arena fighter.

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Bandai Namco’s Arena Fighter Problem

The fans are pondering this. They’re scared that Bandai Namco will see Death Note and say, “Turn it into an arena fighter.” Well, it’s mostly a joke, as even Bandai Namco can’t be that illogical, but you know what, considering the company’s history, I have a genuine concern mixed in as well. 

And can you blame me? Dragon Ball, Naruto, One Piece, My Hero Academia, One Punch Man, Kill-la-Kill, and Jujutsu Kaisen all have one or more arena fighter games, and in most cases, they’re just a straight-up mess with nothing entertaining.

A meme showing frustration with anime fighting games these days
byu/ComprehensiveDate591 inFighters

Just because the towering Dragon Ball and Naruto succeeded in a field doesn’t mean the entire medium should just follow it. Anime is not so shallow that only arena fighters can be made out of it. Despite having some distinct titles, Bandai Namco somehow returns to the overused concept of arena fighters.

An Ace Attorney/Danganronpa Style Game Suits Death Note Best

So, if not an arena fighter, what should Death Note be? Rest assured, there’s a perfect fit already available. An Ace Attorney or Dangonronpa-style visual novel focuses on the mystery and detection aspect of the series coupled with interactive gameplay.

Considering how Death Note is all about finding out who “Kira” is, this sort of game design can work pretty well. You know how impressive the Ace Attorney games are. I’ve grown to love the visual novel-style story delivery and interactivity.

Imagine being in the shoes of Light or L, trying to outsmart each other, looking for clues all the while Light maintains his facade, and L digs for the truth (I don’t like Near, so I won’t include him). Similar to Danganronpa, where you have to name the culprit, a game design trying to bring out the best of Death Note is the most suitable one.

Though I believe the game will stick to adapting the Death Note story, there’s also the possibility of creating an original plot while keeping the theme of “Who’s Kira?” intact. An original story in the Death Note verse is unlikely but a viable option.

This series had the perfect premise for a Visual Novel/choice-based game
byu/Animeking1108 indeathnote

Bandai Namco Needs To Move On From Arena Fighters

I wouldn’t be here discussing this without Bandai Namco’s foolish obsession with arena fighters. When a Death Note game gets leaked, who in their right mind would think it’s an arena fighter? But when the Bandai Namco name is written next to it, you can’t help but point it out.

RPGs, character-action games, visual novels, open worlds, strategy titles, all these are pretty entertaining options, why doesn’t Bandai Namco try these?

Thus, this is a good opportunity for Bandai Namco to clear its name. Make a solid Death Note game true to the series’ core themes, and let the world know that you’re committed to making anime games great again.

Shahmeer Sarfaraz

Shameer Sarfaraz has previously worked for eXputer as a Senior News Writer for several years. Now with Tech4Gamers, he loves to devoutly keep up with the latest gaming and entertainment industries. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and years of experience reporting on games. Besides his passion for breaking news stories, Shahmeer loves spending his leisure time farming away in Stardew Valley. VGC, IGN, GameSpot, Game Rant, TheGamer, GamingBolt, The Verge, NME, Metro, Dot Esports, GameByte, Kotaku Australia, PC Gamer, and more have cited his articles.