The BlazBlue series is one that is very special to me. The original BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger is the game I purchased the day before I started college, and from that point on it became my go-to FIGHTER. I spent countless hours playing online matches against randoms, I convinced most of my friends to jump into it because of its insane story, and the game would then go on to become one of our main topics of conversation for many, MANY, years. From the novels, to the manga, to the XBlaze visual novels, to the main games themselves; BlazBlue was a huge part of all of our lives, and we still want more.
Well thanks to the developers over at 91Act I was given a chance to play through the latest "entry" within the series BlazBlue Entropy Effect, and also check out most of the DLC. Despite carrying the BlazBlue name however, this is not actually a BlazBlue game. Instead, it is actually an indie game that was rebranded as BlazBlue when 91Act received the rights to the IP. That means it is an entirely original title, set within its own universe with its own story, and only features characters from the BlazBlue series (among others)... And that is perfectly fine with me!
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BlazBlue Entropy Effect is a 2D action rougelike that takes place within a data world, and said data world is navigated using avatars from other video game worlds. The BlazBlue cast is the main focus here, and each character within the game has been recreated to take advantage of their gameplay mechanics from the main series. This means long time fans will be able to jump into the game and play as their favorites in a new, yet familiar, way, while those who have no experience with the series can also jump in without knowing a thing. These are not the BlazBlue characters themselves, they are your avatars to make use of in this completely original world, and that works to the game's advantage. It allows it to be an original title, while also containing enough fan service to get longtime BlazBlue players interested in it.
So the question is: how is the game really? Are the BlazBlue characters the only thing Entropy Effect has going for it? Or is it a solid game on its own? Well after spending quite a few hours with it, and doing runs with every single character, I can safely say that this game is one of my favorite roguelikes... But it didn't completely click at first because character choices and understanding skills really does go a long way here. Both are things that are not as clear the first time you start it up.
The Story:
Entropy Effect's story isn't very clear from the get go. You play as a little robot avatar, and are simply told that you will be undergoing mind training. These training sessions have you diving into a virtual world where you take control of avatars (mainly BlazBlue characters), and then fight your way to the end. Your progress is recorded, and you are then asked to go back in and do it again.
It is a simple setup for the roguelike gameplay, but soon it becomes clear not everything is as it seems.
Upon returning to the "real world," other robot like characters begin speaking to you, and warn you about undergoing such tests. Apparently the organization putting you through this has something to hide, and that you should be wary of what they tell you. Additionally a strange voice also reaches out to you, one that only you can hear, and speaks to you in a very cryptic way. By traveling to a specific location in the hub you can connect with this voice, and view the memories stored in fragments that you collect during your training. These scenes tell the story of the world, and piece by piece you as a player can begin to figure out what is really going on.
But even that answer isn't quite so straight forward.
As mentioned before, this story has no connections to BlazBlue, and is a completely original plot. It is cryptic and slowly fed to you after each run, and it encourages you to keep coming back for more. While it isn't the main focus here, it is interesting enough to make you want to learn the truth. (There are also multiple endings to encourage replays!)
The Core Gameplay:
BlazBlue Entropy Effect's gameplay is broken up across multiple modes, but they all share the same core. As a roguelike, creating different builds each time you play is key, and there are plenty of randomized elements thrown in as well; however, the game also allows you to record your best runs, and take advantage of abilities unlocked later on. It is a unique setup, but there are limitations.
As for how the gameplay actually works, you begin a run by selecting your difficulty mode, adjusting settings to either make the game easier or harder, and then you select the character you would like to play as. The harder the difficulty means the more rewards you will obtain during your run, and each character you can pick from plays differently and is completely unique. This means your initial setup of each run will be extremely important, and that will completely change how the following stages will play out. You can also select two characters from your previous runs (if you have any) to inherent their special attack abilities, but you can also choose to go in without the extra help as well.
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Once into the actual stages, the game plays like your standard 2D side scrolling action game; you have basic attacks, you have special attacks, you can dodge, and you can jump. Special attacks require the use of MP and have a cool down between uses, but both recharge quickly over time not fully "limiting" you like it initially seems. These mixture of normal and special attacks are pulled right from the character's movesets as seen in the main BlazBlue series, but they do not require the same button inputs to use them. The game features a simplified control scheme in general, but some attacks do only activate when specific conditions are met; such as if you are in the air, or if the attack is used as a follow up to another.
The actual enemies you fight in game are original enemies, not seen in BlazBlue, with the exception of two boss characters. Entropy Effect has a good mix of different enemy types to take down, but for the most part you will be fighting the same things over and over again from start to finish. Sometimes you'll have to take down their shields before hand however, and other times you'll be faced with time limits as you fight waves of them. It never becomes stale however simply due to the fact that there are so many characters to pick from, and because more attacks and abilities become unlocked as you progress.
After killing all of the enemies in an area, you get to move on to the next screen and select what type of outcome/reward you would like for completing it. Potentials are skills that alter your character's core stats and abilities that they can use (new attacks, enhanced attacks, upgraded dodge and jump abilities, etc), and can be unlocked by selecting a Potential room. Elemental rooms on the other hand will offer you new passive abilities dedicated to that selected element, and these can work in combination with other abilities you unlock along the way as well. For example, one ability creates tentacles that show up to help attack enemies, and further perks can add elemental effects and alter the number of tentacles that can appear at one time. Abilities such as these complement each other greatly, and are something to be considered when choosing your path through each stage.
On top of simply gaining abilities, there are also special event rooms where you can gain additional perks, there are shops to spend your currency on from killing enemies, and there are special challenge type rooms as well for even more rewards. There are only so many rooms within each stage, so the game wants you to really consider your choices before you make them. Speed through a stage by selecting healing rooms, event rooms, and other non-combat choices, then you are going to leave that stage possibly lacking the strength to beat the boss. On the other hand, if you are low on health and without healing items, then skipping a healing room may not be the smartest idea. Once you die you restart, so you always have to keep that in mind.
Like any other rougelike, how well you do in each run really does come down to a combination of skill and your ability choices, as being a "master" of something will always be better than being a jack of all trades. It focuses your core abilities into one area, and that gives you a major advantage. Until you realize this the game can be a bit challenging, but it gets easier the more you learn about the core mechanics.
On another note, although dying will send you back to the beginning, closing the game mid run will not! Thankfully each room is saved, so you do not have to fear needing to stop during your playthroughs. I personally discovered this when we had an unexpected power outage, which just so happened during one of my best runs on a higher difficulty. I was pretty upset at first, but to my surprise I was able to start the game back up and keep going where I left off! Such a nice feature to see, and it will do wonders for the mobile release.
The Characters:
As mentioned before, each character in Entropy Effect is completely unique, with different gameplay mechanics. At the time of this review, these were the characters available to play as. I was provided both the Bullet and Rachel DLC to try out as well, so keep in mind that these characters are not included as a part of the base game.
Hibiki Kohaku -
Hibiki first appeared in BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma, but became a playable fighter in Central Fiction. In Entropy Effect he is the "default" character of choice, and the most well balanced in the game. His sword attacks and combos are unique as they can flip enemies around, which allows players to make use of his bonus perks of attacking an enemy from behind. He is a great choice for newcomers to the game.
Ragna the Bloodedge -
The main character of the BlazBlue series. Ragna can use the power of the Azure to summon and make use of the Black Beast's power. His unique attacks are strong hitting, but they also cost him a chunk of his life to use. The trade off is his "Soul Eater" skill that will also absorb enemies to recover his own HP. This makes Ragna's playstyle a high risk high reward one, where you constantly balance his health and put him on the verge of death.
Noel Vermillion -
Another one of the core main characters from the BlazBlue series. Noel has a strange connection to Ragna and his brother Jin, and fights using her Nox Nyctores Bolverk; special guns that take control of Noel's mind. In Entropy Effect however, Bolverk and Noel's controls are not separated, with her fighting style fully being focused on ranged combat.
Lambda-11 -
Lambda-11 originally served as the replacement for Nu-13, but eventually became a stand alone character of her own. Her fighting style is unique in the fact that her attacks are a mix of close range and long range summoned blades, which work together to trap and hit enemies at once.
Es -
Es is a character who first appeared in XBlaze: Code Embryo, but later made her way into the main BlazBlue series as well. She uses a large sword to hit multiple enemies, as well as juggle them in the air. She has a wide range of air combat attacks as well, making her both deadly on and off the ground. What makes her extra unique however is her ability to dodge and counter enemies, making the dodge button her best friend.
Rachel Alucard (DLC) -
Rachel is a vampire who played a major role in BlazBlue's story. She fights using her summoned familiars, which allow her to place tracks and electrocute enemies that stand in her way. She can handle close range hand to hand combat as well, but her main playstyle is focused around the lightning rods and other traps she can use.
Taokaka -
Toa, similar to Rachel, is a character that uses items to attack, but she also can summon clones to help out as well. She is a very fast character, and can turn the tides of battle by selecting potentials that work well with her clone ability. Since there isn't a BlazBlue story associated with this game we unfortunately miss out on Tao's usually great dialogue, but she's still fun to play as.
Jin Kisaragi -
Jin is Ragna's brother and Noel's former commanding officer. He wields the Nox Nyctores Yukianesa, which gives him control over the power of ice. His attacks are mostly close range, with far reaching specials that allow him to freeze enemies. Unfortunately there is no "Ice Car" to be seen, but the game does a good job representing Jin's main moveset.
Kokonoe -
Kokonoe has a long and complicated history with multiple characters in the BlazBlue series, but as a scientist her gameplay mainly focuses on using her machines to help her. These devices can be used as bombs, but can also be upgraded to shoot lasers as well. Even her normal attacks can shoot missiles, and her defense increases during some of her attacks.
Hakumen -
Hakumen is an alternative version of Jin from another timeline. Unlike Jin however, he does not command the power of ice, but rather uses his Susano'o Unit (his armor) to overwhelm enemies with brute strength. He's a slower character, but he can also use a block move which will counter enemies when hit.
Mai Natsume -
Mai was the protagonist of the manga series BlazBlue: Remix Heart, where she was originally a he. However after magically being gender swapped, Mai embraced her new life after enrolling at the same academy as Jin and Noel. In Entropy Effect she can swap between fast moving fast with low damage, or go stationary for high damage. Her attack style is all about figuring out which attack mode to use, and then swapping between them as needed.
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Hazama (DLC) -
Hazama is another DLC character and one all BlazBlue fans are familiar with. While he originally appeared in the story of Calamity Trigger, he wasn't playable until the sequel Continuum Shift. In reality, Hazama is actually the body created for another being named Terumi, and that allows him to make use of Terumi's snake like powers to fight. These snakes not only drain enemies of their MP and give it to Hazama instead, but they can be used to pull Hazama across the battlefield as well. Terumi himself is not a playable character in the game, but his true Susano'o form can be fought as a boss.
Bullet (DLC) -
Bullet is a "grab" based fighter, who also has high movement speed, strong close range blast attacks, and multiple trick moves to catch her enemies off guard... And none of that has really changed here. She is a very in your face character, and she can pick up and launch enemies into other enemies. This makes her very different compared to the other playable characters, and lets her stun lock bosses as well.
ICEY -
ICEY is one of the collaboration characters in the game, and is unlocked by doing a special quest. Like in her main game her story is narrated by an unseen voice, and it is up to you to listen to it or not. While it doesn't get as crazy as in ICEY (not going to spoil it), it is a nice callback to her roots. Gameplay wise she is a fast attacking katana user character who can dash in any direction, which also lets her fly through the sky. She also doesn't recover MP over time, and instead recovers it by dealing damage with her normal attacks.
Co-Op Mode:
Although Entropy Effect can be played solo, the game also offers a full co-op mode. This mode can be played online, and lets you and one other person take on nearly all of the game's content. Both players get to pick their own set of rewards as they work their way through each run, and that allows players to create different builds that complement each other. In some ways it can make the game easier, but at the same time you can also keep increasing the difficulty for even better rewards, so there is a trade off here, and it works very well.
You can also customize your little robot avatar, so each player can be unique outside of battle.
Should you play it?
BlazBlue Entropy Effect is a very fun game. Although fans may be disappointed to learn that it isn't truly a part of the BlazBlue series, the game's original story and roguelike gameplay more than makes up for it. Being able to use fan favorite characters like Ragna, Noel, Jin, and Lambda is great, but even without the BlazBlue representation this would've been a solid game. Every single character is unique, there are customization options to make the game easier or harder, and the combat simply feels great. There is some repetitiveness, sure, but simply changing your character or going with a different build will greatly change the experience. It is a game that is easy to come back to from time to time, with each run only taking up 10 to 20 minutes of your time. A perfect pick up and go title, that also thankfully saves mid run! For sure worth checking out even if you do not know a thing about the BlazBlue characters featured here.
VERDICT: Recommended
Reviewed on PC
Review Copy Was Provided
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