I like big swords to chop you with.
For the uninitiated, Bleach is one of the latest manga / anime series in Japan, and it has gained quite a bit of popularity with importers as well. The story follows a teenage boy named Ichigo Kurosaki who is able to see ghosts. He meets a Shinigami (death god) who lends him her power so that he can protect his family from monsters called hollows. If you didn't follow that, don't worry because it hardly plays into the game at all. You see, Bleach GC is a weapons fighter, and that means the only story you need is the one about how you kept combo-ing a guy, knocked him down, and jabbed a sword into his crotch before he even got to hit you.
The controls in Bleach take a little getting used to (especially if you've been playing the Naruto games lately). B is block. A and X are used to attack, and pushing specific directions on the control stick while attacking performs a wide variety of basic moves. Side-stepping is a bit of a problem (especially since it's so effortless for the CPU). In order to side-step an opponent's attack, you have to lightly press up or down on the control stick. Press too hard and you'll find yourself jumping or ducking instead, and such unreliability will probably keep you from using this basic maneuver much at all.
Beyond the basics, you also have a number of moves that rely on your spirit meter (I just made that name up, but it's a sure bet), and different moves require differing amounts of energy. Your meter fills automatically as you fight, or you can charge it whenever you like by holding L and R. You can dash by holding R and using the control stick. Special moves can be done with R + A or R + X, and R + Y allows you to perform your character's gigantic stop-the-battle-and-watch-an-FMV super attack. Y sends out a field that can put your opponent in slow-mo, but if both of you press Y simultaneously, a "tug of war" meter will pop up, cueing both of you to tap A frantically. Depending on how far you get the meter over on your opponent's side, you'll either slow him down or instantly perform your super move.
Putting all of this together can take a bit of strategy, since charging your spirit meter leaves you defenseless and super attacks have obvious cues that make them easy to dodge. So to show off your flashy super attack movie, you might need to get some extra charge on your meter and slow him down first. Some attacks can also knock your opponent flat on his back, giving you time to charge your meter or just stab him through the groin while he's down. Unfortunately, combos are often in the vein of AAAAAA, which can make the game a little too friendly toward button mashers.
Bleach GC features a pretty healthy selection of characters, twenty-seven in all, including two alternates. Not all of them rely on swords: some have staffs, one uses a bow, others use their bare fists, and many of them have distinctive magical and elemental attacks in addition to their weapons. Their speeds, ranges, and physical sizes vary quite a bit, which can clearly unbalance certain match-ups (some characters' high attacks fly clear over others' heads). However, it's not so bad if you know your fighter well, and there aren't any characters that can just smoke everybody.
Unlocking all of the characters pretty much requires a visit to GameFAQs, since the last few can only be opened by repeatedly beating the single mode with a specific sequence of characters. It's a little painful, but it doesn't take nearly as long as getting all of the characters in Naruto 3. Plus, there is a password system that can be used to unlock the characters and other extras, and Sega is slowly revealing the passwords on the official
website.
Like most fighters, Bleach is better as a two-player game. In single player, the default AI setting is pretty easy. Opponents often fall for the same attack patterns. and if you knock them down, they usually stay on the ground long enough for you to get an extra stab in, which an experienced human player would never let you do. In addition to the arcade-style "single" mode, there is also a lengthy story mode and a survival mode called "13 Bansyoubu" that pits you against thirteen other fighters, requiring you to beat them all without getting knocked out even once.
Bleach GC is an easy title for importers. The story mode is told entirely in Japanese, but menus and character names are displayed in English. The only trouble most players will run into is trying to decipher all of the lessons in the tutorial. If you're interested in importing, you can order from our partners at
Lik-Sang.
Overall, Bleach GC is a pretty average fighter. It's enjoyable, but there are some control and balancing issues, making it a more attractive import for a fan of the show than someone just looking for a new fighting game.
Pros:
Variety of fighting styles
Good character models
Cons:
Initially awkward control scheme
Super attack FMVs can't be skipped
Graphics: 7.0
The cel-shaded character models emulate the look of the show very well. However, there isn't any facial animation when characters speak, and the backgrounds are bland and lifeless. The FMVs for super attacks also feature minimal animation, consisting mostly of still art and special effects.
Sound: 8.0
The voices sound like they came directly from the cast of the show, which is no surprise, and a random character yells "SEGA" when you power up the game. There are a couple of catchy theme songs for the opening and credits, but songs during gameplay are rather forgettable.
Control: 7.0
The controls can be a little sluggish and take a bit of adjustment, especially if you're used to holding back to block rather than pressing a button. Side-stepping requires a subtle touch that's tough to master in the heat of battle. On the flip-side, more powerful attacks are actually rather simple, and lengthy combos are a bit too easy to pull off.
Gameplay: 7.5
Despite its flaws, there's no questioning that Bleach GC is a fun fighter whether you're into the franchise or not. The characters cover a range of fighting styles, making experimentation with each of them pretty interesting.
Lastability: 7.0
As with most fighting games, you'll probably have your fill of single player by the time you've gotten all of the characters. There are a bunch of unlockable voice clips and other nonsense that you probably don't care about afterwards. Multiplayer is "where it's at," but easy combos and unskippable FMVs can make it a little annoying at times.
Final Score (Not an average): 7.0
Bleach GC: Tasogare ni Mamieru Shinigami is a fun game, but it lacks the polish and control to replace Naruto on everyone's must-have import anime fighter list.
Topic: REVIEWS: Bleach GC: Tasogare ni Mamieru Shinigami (Read 4483 times)
