Formats: 3DS (Tested) | PSP
Developer: Arc Systems Works
Publisher: Pqube
Release Date: 4th November 2011 (Out now)
The third BlazBlue title to gain an EU release in the past 18 months is the first to grace Nintendo’s newest hand-held console. However, with better known fighter franchises already plying their trade on the device, Arc Systems Works’ brawler has its work cut out in making a name for itself.
Released 8 months ago in Japan and 6 in the States, it seems us PAL gamers are late to the party once more, but if you’ve previously experienced either the original Continuum Shift or Calamity Trigger on the home consoles, then you should have a good idea of what to expect from this title. A roster of 14 fighters, with fighting skills as different as their unique looks, come to blows in 2D competition across a variety of different modes.
The range of modes on offer cater to multiple different types of gamer, starting with tutorials introducing players to both the basic and more advanced mechanics of the game. Then it’s on to the likes of Arcade and Versus mode, for those who just want quick brawls without any real worry about back-story. Arcade follows the standard fare of 10 consecutive fights culminating in a brawl with the big boss. There are slight allusions to the story here when two related characters meet, but none of the lengthy dialogue sections that we’ll come to later.
In a similar fashion, Score Attack offers consecutive brawls with a winner-stays-on mechanic, wherein the more fights you win the higher your final score will be. Meanwhile, Training and Challenge modes will put what you’ve learned to the test, allowing you to practice moves or perform special attacks on demand.
Amongst the deeper modes are the likes of Abyss and Legion 1.5. In the former, special moves you perform increase the “depth” by which you sink into the abyss. Upon reaching set depths, you’ll face beefed-up opponents. Defeat them, and you’ll be able to level-up your character and sometimes earn extra funds for your in-game currency. Lose any fight in this mode, and you’ll be sent back to the start, with the money you’ve earned left behind for you to try and grab next time that you play the mode.
Legion 1.5 employs the mantra of “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em”. After choosing an initial character, you take on fights against one or multiple enemies. Upon earning victory, you’re able to recruit one of your fallen foes to your squad and use them in future fights. Each stage has a goal fight that you aim to reach, and you can either take the quickest route straight to this or take the time to enter all of the branching fights in order to create a bigger, more varied squad of fighters for the task at hand.
With all this behind us, we come to the story mode, which follows the same pattern as seen way back in Calamity Trigger. Each of the characters has their own unique story, complete with lengthy dialogue sequences between fights that explain the motivations of and relationships between the characters in the game. In order to earn 100% completion for each story, you’ll sometimes have to lose fights rather than win them, which adds even more replay value to an already long experience.
A surprising omission for the 3DS version is online play, with the Network option on the main menu only allowing you to compete against local opponents. As a title that probably won’t have particularly large mainstream appeal, finding other humans to play with is unlikely to be an easy task, so not having the ability to take the brawl to the rest of the world seems like a missed opportunity.
Across all modes, the currency you earn can be used in CS2′s gallery. In here, you can buy the likes of concept artwork, view intro sequences from other BlazBlue titles, and buy alternate costumes for characters amongst other things. Certain items will only become available for purchase when you reach a certain in-game level, which itself increases the more you play. As is natural, the game rewards those who put in the most time playing it.
In comparison with the likes of Street Fighter and DoA, BlazBlue is probably the least visually impressive of the 3DS fighting games, though that’s not to say its 2D anime sprites are at all bad. These, mixed with the 3D back-drops still make for fairly impressive viewing, which a few years back we probably could only have dreamed of on a hand-held. Unfortunately a lot of the on-screen text is rather small, though for the most part you won’t be paying much attention to this.
There are no major touch screen controls, with the lower screen used to show you the combos required for your character’s special moves. Unlike DoA, you can’t simply tap a move to see it performed on-screen, though Story mode does include the option of simplified controls in order to make your game-play that little bit easier.
Voice acting leaves a little to be desired here, with the pre-fight introductions seeming particularly phoned in. Meanwhile, the repetitive grunts and groans can begin to grate after you hear them for the umpteenth time in the same fight. Fans of cheesy Japanese rock/pop will likely get a kick of the various songs throughout the games however, be it the in-fight tunes or the cut-scene / intro ditties.
Certainly a full package with plenty to explore, BlazBlue will appeal to hardcore fighting fans looking to take their battles on the road. However, the lack of online play coupled with weaker visuals in comparison to the competition mean that it’s unlikely to get the mainstream exposure and acceptance that other 3DS fighters have been afforded.
