Gameosaurus Contributing nothing to the debate since 2009!

Hype-Inducing Review: "BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger"

On June 30th, Aksys Games published two console versions (PS3, 360) of the arcade 2D fighter BLAZBLUE: CALAMITY TRIGGER. Living more than 50 miles away from a major city, I never had the opportunity to play this particular fighter on an arcade cabinet. But, being a game from GUILTY GEAR series creators Arc System Works, I had a feeling it would be good. And now, three weeks after the game's release, the critical acclaim is overflowing. At least in the North American audience, it would seem that BlazBlue has triumphed as the pinnacle 2D fighter. I haven't seen this sort of well-justified frenzy about a 2D fighter since MARVEL VS CAPCOM 2 (which, oddly enough, will be making a reappearance on the market very soon).

BlazBlue succeeds for many of the same reasons that the Guilty Gear series has had its own cult following for the last decade. The cast of playable characters are all unique and engaging, not only in terms of their playability, but also their characterization and subplot. Combine that with stunning 2D anime visuals (in 720p or 1080i on your home consoles), and a killer soundtrack by Guilty Gear veteran Daisuke Ishiwatari, and it's clear that BlazBlue is a logical progression and extension of Arc System Works' fighting games.

The console version adds a "story mode" that the arcade cabinets did not have; and though it does not allow for outright scene-skipping (you can fast forward, but not skip), each of the ten playable characters have multiple story branches to explore. Being thrust into a strange, semi-sci-fi fantasy world is an overwhelming experience, and you have to "play detective" to figure out for yourself what's going on. If you want to cheat, I recommend BlazBlue's wikipedia page for plot and characters summaries.

But if that doesn't hold your attention, I promise you that learning to master a play style for your favorite character will. Every one of the playable characters has such a strange fighting style, there is not a single "clone" among the playable characters. The learning curve / "barrier of entry" for each character is different, and some characters are very difficult to master. Many players are already sick of people playing as Jin and spamming the "ice bike" move. But, part of what makes the fighting so compelling in this game is that guarding and evasion are valued quite highly, and a quick-thinking strategist can get past virtually any opponent who exploits a particular move.

Who's my "main" character, you ask? Being a rather effeminate creature at heart, I tend to choose female players in fighting games. In BlazBlue, my choices were limited to four (five if you include v-13, the final boss of the arcade mode). I quickly latched on to Rachel Alucard, "The Spectator," and a vampire who plays a unique role in the game's story. As a combatant, Rachel relies on tricks and traps to achieve victory, and she is constantly accompanied by her two familiars, the shape-shifting cat Nago and pesky bat Gii. Rachel also provides a compelling reason to leave the game's voice mode on English, as Mela Lee (AR TONELICO, PERSONA 3, and many anime productions) provides a high-British accent that is both stunning and charming.

The online mode is deep and comprehensive, with character rankings helping you determine who is the amateur, and who is the veteran. It's also a great place to get away from the cold, calculating AI of single-player mode and see what other people will do with their character of choice. In two weeks' time, I already have plenty of stories to share about experiences I've had against players who specialize in such hard-to-master characters as Arakune, Taokaka, and yes, even Carl.

If you need further proof that this game is awesome, how about this? Aksys Games intentionally produced a low-print run of the game's Limited Edition (for both consoles). Holding the same retail price as the regular edition, the LE comes with three additional discs: a full, two-disc soundtrack, and a special DVD with tutorial videos and other neat trinkets. This LE sold out in record time. If you can find a copy of the LE in a retail store today, you are a lucky person indeed. Copies of the LE are already going for double their retail value on eBay, because desperate fans that came a little late to the party want it that much.

The game's regular edition will be released on July 28th, so if you haven't picked up this fantastic 2D fighter yet, that's your next chance. Do not miss out on this.

I've written much about BlazBlue at this point, and though I have plenty more to say, I think I'll cut myself off here and just go back to playing. That's usually a good sign that the game is worthy of high accolades. Gameosaurus declares a solid five out of five for BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger.