Review for BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle. Game for PC, PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch, the video game was released on 31/05/2018 The version for PC came out on 05/06/2018
When a crossover is announced, the player often gets excited, for a trivial but at the same time important reason: to see many characters from different series contained in a single title in which, inevitably, they will interact. BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle, the 2D fighting game from Arc System Works: includes the cast of BlazBlue, Persona 4 Arena, Under Night In Birth and, in particular, RWBY. The title will be available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and Steam starting from 22 June 2018 for us Europeans, thanks also to PQube. So let's find out this bizarre crossover!
A bland story, but made pleasant by the roster
We are talking about a crossover, among other things a fighting game: surely history is not what the player awaits with more trepidation, how much more a sense of curiosity about this unexpected and bizarre crossroads of worlds. Ragna The Bloodedge, Yu Narukami, Hide Kido and Ruby Rose will find themselves in a new but small world called Phantom Field, where they will be greeted by a "voice" that will give them four a stone. According to the rules dictated by this voice, each of them will have to make their way by winning a tournament and groped to get the remaining three stones from the other team leaders in order to be released and be able to return to their world of origin. Thus begins the tournament, in which the various characters from each respective cast will also appear.
To make the dialogues - thankfully not too long like in the BlazBlue series, Under Night In-Birth and Persona 4 Arena - the characters and the funny interactions between them are pleasant. They will always be able to get a laugh from the player thanks to different references to the original titles or simply to the curious exchanges between the characters, which sometimes border on the ridiculous although the situation in which they find themselves. Although the storyline does not promise anything compelling, those few hours spent in the story mode will still be bearable and enjoyable for the fan of these titles.
A gameplay with few recycles
When it comes to crossover, one cannot but expect a certain amount of recycling. BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle sports a lot of characters seen and reviewed, if we consider that the only real novelty is called RWBY, which includes only four heroines from the homonymous title (very few compared to the other cast). On the other hand, a sigh of relief comes from the gameplay point of view: fans of Arc System Works 2D fighting games will find that the moveset of the characters is slightly different - or to be more specific, the inputs give rise to different combos - than their original title. The credit also goes to the different approach of the fighting game, which, focusing on 2 VS 2, it allows you to create a chain of attacks with two characters. Among the "Active Partner" functions, the "Duo Clash" and the ability to perform two Distortions with both characters at the same time, BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle emphasizes teamwork more than ever.
Speaking of characters and recycles, it is necessary to talk about a more than questionable management of the cast by Arc System Works. If you follow us often, you will have already read how only about half of the overall cast will be available at launch. The remainder will be available for purchase via DLC and this will affect the pockets of those who want to enjoy the game to the full or simply want their favorite characters. However, these will only be available for a fee. Given the discontent of fans, Arc System Works has decided to release at least one of six packs for free once the game is released, along with Blake and Yang, the two RWBY heroines previously established as paid DLC (somewhat wise move, if consider that Blake and Yang are two of the only four brand new characters).
Lots of online fun!
Arc System Works 2D fighting games are very online oriented, although they have a certain amount of storyline compared to the "colleagues". BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle's glitzy and colorful lobbies immediately show up to welcome players. The possibilities of communication with other players are many, including stickers, default messages and the ability to chat freely at any time (except when fighting). In addition, it is worth spending a couple of words on the extensive personalization of the profile, through avatars from each chapter of the saga, nameplate and label of your profile and finally the possibility of adding a background and a personalized message that will be visible to friends and other players. Although there are other modes in addition to the story, such as the classic VS, Survival and Tactics - which allows you to hone your skills with each character through instructions and challenges - it is clear that most of the hours spent by the player within the title will be set in Network Mode.
BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle is a must-see little gem for Arc System Works fighting game fanatics. With a technical approach not to be underestimated, but not unthinkable for newbies as happens in the first BlazBlue, the crossover will show itself more than capable of entertaining both offline and online and perhaps to attract newcomers to the four series present in the title. However, the amount of characters truncated from the playable roster if not paying, due to the choices of the Software House, remains questionable. However, BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle remains one of the most valid of its kind, and will guarantee hilariousness and fun to all lovers of 2D fighting games.
► BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle is a fighting game developed by Arc System Works and published by PQube for PC, PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch, the video game was released on 31/05/2018 The version for PC came out on 05/06/2018
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