My favorite games, part 4

My next in this “favorite games” series is a fighter: BlazBlue. This is a relatively new title, and a newcomer in the crowded genre. Its first installment, Calamity Trigger, was released last year, with a perfect timing: Street Fighter IV (also a great game) had just officially relaunched the 2D-fighter games.

BlazBlue will feel familiar to fans of the Guilty Gear series. Both sport stylized anime looks, weird characters, a completely insane story and deep gameplay. The number of fighters in the first BlazBlue (BB for short), 12, was not exactly stellar. However, you have to keep in mind that this was a whole new franchise: none of the characters existed prior Calamity Trigger. You also need to know that unlike SFIV and other games in the same vein, BB's characters each has a totally different fighting style.

Whereas SFIV’s fighters share some characteristics (how many characters are based off Ryu?), BB’s combatants each has his or her own flair. This is achieved by one of the main “attack” button, the Drive (or D). Since each character has his or her Drive, they are inherently unlike each other. For instance, Ragna, the main character, has a drive that allow him to steal life from his opponent. For him, it is essentially a real, fourth attack button that drains life. On the other hand, Hakumen’s drive is an energy ring that allows the fighter to reverse attacks, while Rachel's D button summons a gust of wind that affect her moves.

Even the main character’s strategies, outside of their drive, distinguishes them from the others. Arakune’s moves allow him to teleport and disappear, Tager can magnetize enemies to draw them toward him (which allows the player to pull insane throws), and Nu/Lambda opens gates that slow enemies down. Add the fact that when playing Carl, you control his sister/doll, that Rachel and Mu place “traps” on the battlefield, that Jin can freeze his opponent, and you might understand what is meant by “diverse”.

Otherwise, the game is just as deep, if not deeper, than other 2D fighters. Combos need real skill, unlike button-mashing fests, and expect spending a lot of time in the air as you’ll jump, double jump, jump-dash and jump-throw around.

The game’s story is out of this world. It involves energy (seithr) from some place (the Boundary) accessed through the Cauldron, robotic clones, vampires, time loops, alternate dimensions, destiny and much more. Don’t try to make sense of it now, take what info is given to you as you play and, beyond the technical mumbo jumbo (Murakumo units, Nox Nyctores, Ars Magus), you’ll see just how deep the story is.
The new game, Continuum Shift, has just been released. Pick this one instead of the other, as you’ll get more modes, more characters for less money, that is, unless you plan on playing Nu-13 (she is replaced by Lambda and plays the same, but is not the same character. To be fair, she IS available, only as Unlimited Character, so usable only in a few modes) or Rachel (who has been nerfed to death).