Editor’s Note: This is a review coupled with a video review. You can watch the video review above, or read a transcript of the video below.

This is Attack on Titan, developed by Omega Force, and published by Koei Tecmo for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PS Vita, Xbox One, and PC.

I’m going to be up front with all of you, I hate Attack on Titan, and when I say I hate it, I don’t mean, that I don’t really care for it, I actually hate it. I’m willing to say that it’s one of the most overrated pieces of Japanese media since the Evangelion. But even if I hate the series, I can say that it does do three things nearly perfectly:

The world building: While its story is boring, convoluted, and all around unpleasant, the world building in Shingeki no Kyojin is fantastic. From the geography and architecture to the titans themselves, if there is any reason for watching/reading Attack on Titan, this is it.

The art: The creator of Mobile Suit Gundam has gone on record as saying that Attack on Titan’s artwork is down right ugly, but it fits the tone. The characters are all distinct with no two really looking alike, and the titans themselves are simply terrifying. The artwork in this regard is second to none, it’s nitty, it’s gritty, and above all else, it’s ugly. The way it should be.

Third and finally: The music, even if you hate this franchise with every fiber of you’re being, you’d be lying if you said that opening theme song wasn’t the hypest thing you’ve ever heard.

So with all of that ranting out of the way, I suppose it’s time for me to start talking about the game right? How could I possibly give a game that’s based on something I hate a good score, you ask? How could I possibly be the best person for the job? Well you’d be surprised, because even if I find the the material that it’s based on to be boring garbage – Omega Force worked their magic and turned it into something I can’t stop playing.

If I had to sum up the game to you, I’d say it’s “Spider-man with swords”; in fact that’s what Koei Tecmo’s PR guy told me when we were discussing the game at E3. He was right, Attack on Titan the game is Spider-man with swords and giants, and it just works so good.

Attack on Titan is a fast paced monster slayer where you play as one of the main characters from the manga. You make your way around terrain using your grappling hooks and boosters in search for titans to slaughter. Titans come in all forms: from small titans who are no bigger than a two story house, to larger titans that stand about 40 meters tall, all the way to colossal titans who stand as tall as a skyscraper.

Each of these creatures will require a different approach to deal with. Smaller titans can be killed easily with little to no effort, while medium titans may require you to target certain limbs so that you can bring them down long enough that you can deliver the finishing blow.

This mode is easily my favorite part of the game. I love going on the hunt for titans across the map, maneuvering myself into just the right spot to be able to deal that killing blow. Along with titan hunting being your main objective, each level will have side missions and other objectives popping up, ranging from killing a few smaller titans to working together to bring down some large titans.

Doing these missions will give you experience and materials that can be used in crafting or upgrading. Each character has their own special abilities and moves that you can unlock as you level them up. Alongside this is the ability to buy and upgrade equipment-which thankfully carries over to all your characters, so you won’t have to level their gear individually.

Hunting titans isn’t the only game mode available to you however, you also have the ability to play as a titan and fight other titans. While this mode may seem like a cool idea at first, you will quickly realize it feels more like a joke than anything else, but at least it’s a good joke.

You have the ability to leap around the map, smashing buildings, punching, tackling, and kicking your way to glory. My favorite moment involved playing as a titan, running up to a small titan and punting it like a football into a building. I was laughing so hard when it first happened I had to pause the game.

However, I never felt like playing as a titan was anything more than a mini game to play for fun. It’s not a complex as playing as a hunter is, but it’s a nice break.

Attack on Titan also has multiplayer which allows you to team up with your friends to hunt titans as well. It’s not much different from the single player, but having the ability to hunt titans with your friends is always a plus!

I loved playing this game, and I look forward to playing through it again. Omega Force and Koei Tecmo continue to prove that they are dedicated to capturing the magic of the media they are working with. If nothing else, this has me even more excited for their upcoming Berserk musou (Editor’s Note: A tentative title).

Attack on Titan is a unique experience for me. It’s a great game based on a boring series and because Omega Force was able to make me care about Attack on Titan, I’m going to have to score it appropriately.

Attack on Titan was reviewed on PlayStation 4 using a digital copy provided by Koei Tecmo. You can find additional information about Niche Gamer’s review/ethics policy here.

The Verdict: 9

The Good:

• The game looks fantastic, the artwork has been perfectly translated from 2D to 3D.
• Hunting titans is a blast, swinging from building to building like a sadistic Spider-man is probably the most fun I’ve had in a game this year.
• Playing as a titan is really stupid fun, it’s easy, simple, and at times hilarious. Having the ability to punt the small titans like a football had me near tears when I played the game.
• The game does a great job at covering the story of Attack on Titan in a way that’s not obnoxious and easy to digest, perfect for people who are not really into the series to begin with.

The Bad:

• The controls feel like a mess when you first start the game, and at times made me feel like I was playing Guitar Hero on a controller. Yeah it’s serviceable, but it’s a major headache. However, like I said, it’s just something that you need to work your way through with practice.