Table of Contents
amazon BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle reviews
Gameplay Mechanics
At the core of “BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle” is its fighting system, which combines traditional fighting game elements with tag-team mechanics. The game is designed to be accessible to newcomers while offering depth for seasoned players. The controls are simplified compared to other Arc System Works titles, with a streamlined button layout that includes light, medium, and heavy attacks, as well as tag and assist buttons. This simplified control scheme allows players to execute combos and special moves with relative ease, making the game approachable even for those who are not familiar with the intricacies of traditional fighting games.
Despite its accessibility, “Cross Tag Battle” offers plenty of depth for players who want to master its mechanics. The tag system is central to the gameplay, allowing players to switch between two characters at any time during a match. This opens up a wealth of strategic possibilities, as players can extend combos, set up mix-ups, or escape from dangerous situations by tagging in their partner. The game also features an assist mechanic, where the off-screen character can be called in to perform a quick attack, further enhancing the tactical options available during a fight.
One of the standout features of “BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle” is the Cross Combo system. This mechanic allows both characters on a team to attack simultaneously, creating opportunities for devastatingly powerful combos. Activating a Cross Combo requires meter, which is built up during the course of the match. The strategic use of meter is crucial, as it can also be used for other powerful moves, such as Distortion Skills (super moves) and Reversal Actions (invincible attacks). Managing resources and knowing when to unleash a Cross Combo or save meter for other options is a key aspect of high-level play.
The game also features a unique Resonance Blaze mechanic, which can be activated when a player is down to their last character. This mechanic boosts the power of the remaining character, allowing them to regenerate health and deal increased damage. Resonance Blaze adds an element of comeback potential to the game, ensuring that matches remain exciting and tense until the very end.
Overall, the gameplay mechanics of “BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle” strike a balance between accessibility and depth, making it a great entry point for newcomers to the genre while still offering enough complexity to satisfy veteran players. The tag system, Cross Combo mechanic, and Resonance Blaze all contribute to a dynamic and fast-paced fighting experience that rewards both strategic thinking and quick reflexes.
Story Mode
“BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle” features a story mode that ties together the different universes represented in the game. The narrative is divided into several chapters, each focusing on one of the four main franchises (BlazBlue, Persona 4 Arena, Under Night In-Birth, and RWBY). The story is set in the “Phantom Field,” a mysterious dimension where characters from these different worlds are brought together by an enigmatic entity known as “System.”
The plot revolves around the concept of “Keystones,” powerful artifacts that each group of characters must obtain to return to their respective worlds. The narrative follows a standard crossover format, with characters initially at odds with one another before eventually teaming up to face a common enemy. The story mode is lighthearted and filled with fan service, offering plenty of humorous interactions and nods to the source material. Fans of the respective franchises will likely enjoy seeing their favorite characters interact in new and unexpected ways.
However, the story mode has its limitations. The plot is fairly straightforward and lacks the depth and complexity of the individual franchises’ narratives. Additionally, the story is presented through visual novel-style cutscenes with static character portraits and text boxes, which may not be as engaging as fully animated sequences. While the voice acting is excellent and captures the personalities of the characters well, the lack of dynamic presentation can make the story mode feel somewhat underwhelming.
Despite these shortcomings, the story mode serves its purpose as a fun and entertaining way to bring together the diverse cast of characters. It provides context for the crossover and offers fans an opportunity to experience interactions between characters that would otherwise never meet. While it may not be the highlight of the game, the story mode is a welcome addition that adds value to the overall package.
Character Roster
One of the biggest draws of “BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle” is its extensive and diverse character roster. The game launched with 20 characters, five from each of the four main franchises. Over time, additional characters have been added through DLC, bringing the total roster to over 50 characters. Each character retains their unique abilities, movesets, and playstyles from their original games, which adds to the variety and replayability of the game.
The “BlazBlue” series contributes characters like Ragna the Bloodedge, Jin Kisaragi, and Rachel Alucard, all of whom bring their signature moves and fighting styles to the game. “Persona 4 Arena” adds characters such as Yu Narukami, Chie Satonaka, and Yukiko Amagi, who fight using both physical attacks and their Personas. The “Under Night In-Birth” roster includes characters like Hyde, Linne, and Gordeau, who bring their fast-paced, combo-heavy gameplay to the mix. Finally, “RWBY” introduces fan-favorite characters like Ruby Rose, Weiss Schnee, and Blake Belladonna, who are making their first appearance in a fighting game.
The character roster is one of the game’s greatest strengths, offering a wide range of playstyles to suit different types of players. Whether you prefer rushdown characters, zoners, or grapplers, there is likely a character (or combination of characters) that will fit your preferred playstyle. The tag-team format also encourages experimentation, as players can mix and match characters from different franchises to find synergistic combinations that suit their strategies.
The inclusion of DLC characters has been both a positive and a point of contention within the community. On one hand, the DLC has allowed the developers to expand the roster with fan-favorite characters that were not included in the base game. On the other hand, some players have criticized the decision to lock certain characters behind a paywall, particularly when some of these characters are integral to the lore of their respective franchises. Despite this, the overall reception to the character roster has been positive, with many praising the game’s ability to bring together such a diverse and beloved cast of characters in a single package.
Visual and Audio Presentation
Arc System Works is known for its exceptional visual design, and “BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle” is no exception. The game features stunning 2D sprites that are beautifully animated and brimming with personality. Each character is meticulously detailed, faithfully capturing their appearance and style from their original games. The animations are smooth and fluid, ensuring that the fast-paced action is always clear and easy to follow. Special moves and Distortion Skills are accompanied by flashy visual effects that enhance the impact of each attack, making the combat feel both satisfying and visually impressive.
The game’s stages are also well-designed, offering a variety of backgrounds that are inspired by locations from the four main franchises. While the stages are not as detailed as the character sprites, they still provide an appropriate backdrop for the action and contribute to the overall aesthetic of the game. The color palette is vibrant, and the art style is cohesive, creating a visually appealing experience that is consistent with Arc System Works’ high standards.
The audio design in “BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle” is equally impressive. The game features an energetic soundtrack that includes both original compositions and remixes of iconic themes from the four franchises. The music is dynamic, with tracks that complement the fast-paced nature of the gameplay and heighten the intensity of battles. Fans of the individual franchises will appreciate hearing familiar tunes that evoke the spirit of their favorite games.
The voice acting in “Cross Tag Battle” is another highlight, with a talented cast of actors reprising their roles from the original games. The voice work is top-notch, capturing the distinct personalities of each character and adding an extra layer of immersion to the experience. The game offers both English and Japanese voice options, allowing players to choose their preferred language. The quality of the voice acting, combined with the game’s strong visual presentation, helps to create a cohesive and engaging experience that will appeal to fans of the genre.
Contrary to other games made by Arc System Works, BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle has a fast, colorful, and most especially a streamlined fighting system, in line with the trend that Daisuke Ishiwatari, one of the key members of the company has previously stated.
The gameplay of the game is a style combination of three fighting games from Arc System Works, Persona 4 Arena, BlazBlue, and Under Night In-Birth, with some neutral spices from RWBY, a famous web series that brings RoosterTeeth anime style. Exciting, beautiful, and crazy, BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle is streamlined to the maximum with 2 basic hitting buttons, 1 special button, 1 button to call your teammates. The player also does not need to care about using combos or performing great moves because the game has almost all support.
With the press of a button, you can launch beautiful combos. Just press a few buttons, you can unleash the character’s perfect moves. Of course, to perform complex combos, the player must also “move on his own” to execute them.
In addition to the simple gameplay, the game introduces a 2-on-2 mechanism and a tag-team system (changing characters back and forth) that is already too familiar to fighting game fans but is a new feature appearing in the recently released title of Arc System Works.
This feature is the same as in other fighting games, it adds “color”, adds “taste” to the game’s liberal fighting style. It serves as the catalyst, which binders the list of “massive” characters (Arc System Works claims to release new characters in downloadable form in the future) from four different product lines. How can a Ragna the Bloodedge (BlazBlue) work perfectly with Ruby Rose (RWBY) if not thanks to BlazBlue’s skillful character switching and tag team system?
The catalyst is there, the characters selected for the game also have interesting, crazy gameplay, and … no guy/girl is the same. A special feature of BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle is the first appearance in the game world of characters in RWBY. The gameplay of these characters brings new features, contributing to the success of the game, especially the character Ruby Rose makes a strong impression on the writer.
Attractive gameplay with interesting characters of BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle is a strong point but also a critical weakness of the game. Because it is a game that brings together many characters in different product lines, the aesthetic style of the game also becomes… scattered.
The characters from BlazBlue look different from the characters from Persona 4, or Under Night In-Birth, and especially RWBY. Some characters are designed more elaborate, some are sketchy, not superficial, especially RWBY’s characters.
Besides, the fact that players have to spend money to buy more characters in the game is also a factor that makes BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle unsuitable for players. The characters appearing in the game mainly come from previous Arc System Works products, with almost no modification except for a redesign of attacks to adapt to the system.
where can you get a BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle online
BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle – Nintendo Switch: Buy it now
Blazblue Cross Tag Battle Special Edition (PS4): Buy it now
Arc System Works Blazblue Cross Tag Battle For NINTENDO SWITCH REGION FREE JAPANESE VERSION: Buy it now
Conclusion
“BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle” is a remarkable achievement in the fighting game genre, offering a unique and accessible experience that brings together characters from four distinct franchises. Its streamlined gameplay mechanics make it an ideal entry point for newcomers, while its depth and strategic possibilities ensure that it remains engaging for experienced players. The game’s visual and audio presentation are top-notch, with vibrant character designs, fluid animations, and an energetic soundtrack that enhance the overall experience.
While the story mode may not be the game’s strongest aspect, it serves as a fun and lighthearted way to bring the diverse cast of characters together. The character roster, which has been expanded through DLC, is one of the game’s biggest strengths, offering a wide range of playstyles and team compositions for players to explore.
The online functionality, while generally solid, is somewhat hindered by the delay-based netcode, which can lead to inconsistent experiences for players with higher latency. However, the inclusion of cross-platform play and a robust community have helped maintain the game’s popularity and keep the online scene active.
“BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle” has made a significant impact on the fighting game community, particularly through its presence in the competitive scene and its dedicated fanbase. Despite some criticisms regarding the DLC model and the story mode, the game stands as a successful and enjoyable crossover that will continue to be celebrated by fans of the genre and the franchises it represents.
For anyone looking for a fast-paced, visually stunning, and strategically rich fighting game that brings together beloved characters from multiple franchises, “BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle” is a must-play. Whether you’re a newcomer to the genre or a seasoned veteran, the game offers something for everyone, making it a standout title in the world of fighting games.