Table of Contents
amazon BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle reviews
Game Mechanics
Fundamentally, fighting is the essence of “BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle”, where traditional aspects of fighting games are integrated with tag-team mechanics. Its very accessibility to newcomers never deters the depth presented to an expert in the genre. Compared to other fighting games created by Arc System Works, these are easier-to-learn schemes, as it combines a few buttons, one for light, one for medium, and one for heavy attacks, along with buttons for tagging and assisting. Such a simple control scheme allows newcomers to execute combos and special moves quite easily without the need for deeper knowledge about the traditional fighting games.
Accessibility does not mean that players will not find its mechanics on the other side difficult for mastering “Cross Tag Battle”; in fact, players could exchange between two characters as frequently as desirable during a match due to the introduction of the tag system in the gameplay. Thus, interesting strategies arise: extending combos, setting up mix-ups, or escaping from a dangerous situation by tagging in the partner. Then we have the assist mechanic, in which the teammate off-screen can be called to perform a quick attack that creates even more tactical situations to think about during a fight.
Perhaps the most important system featured within “BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle” is the Cross Combo. It allows for two characters on a team to punch simultaneously and create opportunities for massive damage combos. A Cross Combo consumes whatever meter has been accumulated during the match. Meter management is thus critical, as the more meter being used becomes a tactical choice between the Cross Combo and other high-impact moves like Distortion Skills (super moves) and Reversal Actions (invincible attacks). Knowing how to conserve meter or when to use a Cross Combo on the fly becomes a resource management lesson at higher levels of play.
Resonance Blaze is another interesting mechanic in the game: once activated, the player has only one character left in play, granting buffs to the remaining character’s powers while also allowing it to regain some lost health, then do additional damage along the way. The Resonance Blaze offers comeback possibilities in this game, so that the excitement and tension are maintained throughout the match until the very end.
Very well, in sum, the gameplay mechanics of “BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle” attempt to walk a fine line somewhere between accessibility and depth, making it very appealing to any newcomer in the genre and providing enough complexities to satisfy the hardcore player. The tag system, the Cross Combo mechanic, and the Resonance Blaze each create a distinct yet dynamic fighting atmosphere, where strategic thinking is constantly rewarded alongside lightning-fast reflexes.
Mode of Story
“BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle” offers a story mode that brings about the different universes represented in the game through time. A chapter-wise betterment where each chapter round up to any one of the four main franchises: BlazBlue, Persona 4 Arena, Under Night In-Birth, and RWBY. The plot is framed around a mysterious dimension called “Phantom Field” that an enigmatic entity so-called has brought together: System.
The whole storyline drifts around the principle of “Keystones,” strong artefacts which every group of characters has to get to find their own way back into their worlds. And, true to the nature of a crossover story, the characters start off at each other’s throats before they eventually join forces to fight against a common foe. This story mode is designed to be light and filled with fan service with a number of humorous interactions as well as allusions to the source material. Fans of the various franchises will probably enjoy seeing familiar characters interact in new unexpected ways.
Although it’s fun, it leaves a lot to be desired from a serious standpoint as the story isn’t very rich and doesn’t have the depth or intricacies most franchises are known for. The entire idea is more like a visual novel, with cut scenes throwing in static portraits and text boxes rather than animated sequences. As it adds to the emotions of the characters, voice acting is good, and it catches personality-wise very well. However, because of this static presentation, the stated mode sounds a bit less cheesy and more like a throwaway.
Regardless of this, the story mode is underlined, along with entertaining through the crowds of all characters, and connects them with the cross. It gives away the merge between different characters to people, opening up to the audiences all those interactions, which cannot happen otherwise. Not that it makes the center of the game, but to some extent, it has added value to the overall package, making an extra addition to it.
Character Roster
The longest and most extensive aspect of “BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle” is its varied cast of characters. Initially, the game launched with 20 characters, five from each of the four main franchises. From there on, characters have been added more and more with DLC to the current roster, which is now more than 50 characters. Importantly, each character maintains all of his moves, abilities, and play styles from his original games. Such are the variations and replayability of the game further augmented.
Characters like Ragna the Bloodedge, Jin Kisaragi, and Rachel Alucard bring their individual special attacks and combat approaches in the game, courtesy of the “BlazBlue” series. From “Persona 4 Arena”, Yu Narukami, Chie Satonaka, and Yukiko Amagi enter the fight with both physical attacks and Persona: the under within the roster from “Under Night In-Birth” will come includes Hyde, Linne, and Gordeau as well, giving their fast-paced, combo-intensive style to the mix. Introduces fan favorite characters such as Ruby Rose, Weiss Schnee, and Blake Belladonna to finally make their fighting video game debut into “RWBY”.
This type of character roster is probably one of the most appreciated strengths of the game for making it possible to have numerous gameplay styles available for different players. So, if you prefer to play with rushdown characters, or you are into zoners and grapplers, then there is a reasonable chance that a character (or grouping of characters) can be found that will cater to your playstyle. The tag-team format makes experimentation even more interesting, since you can combine characters from different franchises and see how well they work together.
The inclusion of DLC characters is both boon and bane in the community. On the one hand, DLC means more revenue for the developers which then adds additional fan-favorite characters that did not make it into the base game. On the other hand, some players criticize locking otherwise integral to the franchises’ lore characters behind the paywall. However, reception to the character roster overall not only has been positive but also has received lots of praise for the game’s bringing together this diverse and beloved cast in a single package.
Presentation: Visual and Audio
Known for its stupendous visual designs, “BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle” is all about the magic of Arc System Works. The game gives you stylistic 2D sprites, which are gorgeous and plenty animated. Each character is made with such detail that he/she looks exactly like her original look and style from the original games. Animations are very smooth and fluid, so fast-paced action can always be seen and followed with ease. The sudden visual impacts signifying special moves and Distortion Skills would spice up the feel of every attack, making the fight feel really awesome and satisfying.
Well-designed, the stages in the game are indeed well endowed with backgrounds that are influenced by the four primary trademarks of franchises. While not as intricate as the character sprites, the action sets up the suitable backdrop while contributing to the whole aesthetic of the game. The color palette is bright, and the artwork is all tied together meaningfully, making an aesthetically pleasing experience that is in accord with the high standards set by Arc System Works.
The audio design of BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle is, well, equally incredible. The game has an upbeat and lively soundtrack, containing original compositions as well as some remixed themes from the four franchises. The music is dynamic and always on the upswing, which makes one think the game is, again, fast-paced, making the battles seem even more of a thrill. Individual fans of the franchises would visibly cheer at these tunes familiar to them in spirit with their fanned-out games.
Voice acting is another plus in “Cross Tag Battle” that features some of the finest voice actors, all reprising their roles from the prior games. The voice acting is superb, very much in character with each character’s personality, marrying the whole experience to a strong level of immersion. English and Japanese voice options are there for the adding on the sort of voice a player would like to hear. The quality of the voice acting combined with the game visuals creates a far more cohesive experience more tolerant for the 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
Final Thoughts
An impressive feat for the fighting genre, “BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle” provides an experience that is both unique and accessible, uniting characters from four different franchises. Thanks to its streamlined gameplay mechanics, it makes a perfect entry point for beginners, while its depth and strategic options keep it stimulating for pros. The audiovisual presentation of this game is astounding, boasting colorful characters, fluid animation, and an adrenaline-pumping soundtrack that adds to the experience.
Though story mode is not truly the best part of the game, it does provide a funny, happy way of bringing these disparate characters together. Perhaps the greatest strength of the game is that, through DLCs, it has fostered a larger character roster, which opens up styles and compositions for players.
Meanwhile, the netcode is largely reliable; nonetheless, it makes for a rather dense level of ability due to the high chances of players experiencing poor latency. However, some redeeming features like cross-platform play and having an active community really contributed to keeping the title in there and the online scene thriving.
“BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle” significantly shifts the tides in the fighting community, especially with a competitive format to its name, courtesy of the dedicated community. In the face of criticism over the DLC model and the story mode, the game remains a cross-franchise coexistence that is successful and entertaining, one that will be long celebrated by genre enthusiasts and fans of the represented franchises.
For those craving an upbeat, good-looking, and strategical fighting game with many favorite characters thrown together in one, “BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle” is a must-have. Somewhere along the road in its campaign, it should be appealing to newcomers and veterans alike and earns its stripes big time in fighting game history.