Blazblue Crosstag Battle Version 2.0 Review

Blazblue Crosstag Battle Version 2.0 is the 2019 refresh of the original game that came out last year. As previously mentioned in our earlier review of the original game, fans of Anime-styled fighting games had been frothing at the mouth for a Blazblue crossover game for quite a while. Arc System Works, the developers behind Blazblue Crosstag Battle have a multitude of other games that they’ve developed and Crosstag Battle is a fan’s dream come true.

For those that are unfamiliar with Blazblue Crosstag Battle, Arc System Works have created a game where the world’s of Persona 4 Arena, Under Night In-Birth EXE and surprisingly, RWBY, have collided. Ragna the Bloodedge from the Blazblue universe is mysteriously teleported into an alternate world along with numerous others from their respective games. In this alternate world, a computer voice calls all the shots and enforces a tag tournament battle rule. It pits 2 characters from each franchise against 2 from another for each battle encounter. This does get mixed up along the way through and often there are battles involving Blazblue characters along with Persona characters or Under Night In-Birth characters teaming up and vice versa.

The game’s storyline may be about as generic as they come with a crossover world “Tournament” taking place in the alternate world with a mysterious Keystone being the plot device to drive things forward. However, since this is an Arc System Works title, things are never as they seem at first. The visual novel-esque episodic storyline is incredibly enjoyable and there are genuinely funny crossover conversations and interactions between characters. This isn’t limited to the story mode. Even in battles themselves, characters can have conversations with each other at the start of battles or while pulling off tag-team combos with each other. Small things like this shows that a lot of effort has been put into making this title as enjoyable as it can be for fans of these franchises.

Version 2.0 of the game introduces a brand new scenario to play through as well as a multitude of new characters. Two new franchises join the fray with Akatsuki Blitzkampf Ausf Achse and Senran Kagura being added to the Crosstag battle world. Main character Akatsuki and yup, the freaking battle tank, Blitztank, from Akatsuki Blitzkampf join the battle along with Yumi from Senran Kagura Estival Versus. The new characters are welcome additions to the now, extremely well-rounded line up of characters.

The actual gameplay is just about what you’d expect from an Arc System Work’s title. If you’ve played a previous Blazblue game, you’d understand the mechanics behind the combo system used. Combos are fast and frantic and the game still makes use of a Distortion “Drive”-esque special attack system. Characters each have a unique Astral Finish much like in previous Blazblue games and while being near impossible to pull off without having enough skill to do so, they are immensely satisfying to see in action. The game’s combat system feels familiar enough to keep fans satisfied yet also introduces its own unique mechanics to keep things fresh. Blazblue Crosstag Battle will keep even the most hardcore of fighting game fans happy with it’s gameplay. Newcomers however will have to spend some time in the tutorials and practise mode to get to grips with how to pull off specific combos and attacks. Version 2.0 of the game refines the gameplay of the original game even further by introducing a lot of balance tweaks and small changes which will keep the gameplay fresh even for seasoned veterans.

Outside of the battles, the character roster is now finally something worthwhile. Blazblue characters featured en-masse at first but now the other franchises finally have adequate representation. Originally, the game had a severely limited character roster and we’re glad to see that Arc System Works have finally added a multitude of new characters to the game. Now is the best time to pick up the game because of all the additional characters added.

Graphically, Blazblue Crosstag Battle is about as beautiful as it gets. The visual novel background segments are not as gorgeous as a full Blazblue or Persona title but the character portraits and the in-game graphics are a visual feast for the eyes. Combo attacks and tag team specials are fantastically flashy and the special attacks are just as good. Additionally, Arc System Works have opted for a chibi lobby system that seems very similar to DragonBall Xenoverse’s lobby world. While this isn’t annoying or a hindrance, it’s a break away from the usual easy to access Blazblue menus and some people may find this slightly gimmicky. Thankfully though, you can just as easily open up the menus and access everything necessary from one screen should you not want to run around aimlessly in a lobby world.

The soundtrack for the game makes use of music from all 4 main titles it features along with remixes which are specific for the crossover battles. The OST is outstanding to be quite honest and fighting game fans are in for an auditory treat. Blazblue Crosstag Battle has done an exceptional job in the voice acting department too with both English and Japanese voice acting is top-notch.

Overall, Blazblue Crosstag Battle is a game that serves as pure fanservice to fans of the franchises it features as well as pure unadulterated fighting game fun. Even if you’re only familiar with one franchise in the title, the game will still be an absolute treat to play if you’re into fighting games. Arc System Works righted the wrongs of the past and have now included a lot of characters to the game. It’s still as enjoyable as ever and there isn’t much to complain about. If you want a fun, fast-paced, visually appealing fighting game, Blazblue Crosstag Battle will keep you busy for hours on end.

Blazblue Crosstag Battle Version 2.0 is available on PS4

Blazblue Crosstag Battle Version 2.0 was reviewed on PS4

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