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Following series tradition, the latestBlazBlue on console features a ton of modes, many returning, some new. CentralFiction's modes are as follows: Story,Library, Tutorial, Training, Challenge, Arcade, Versus, Grim of Abyss Mode,Score Attack, Speed Star Mode, Alliance Mode, Network Mode, Replay Theater,Gallery and Item Shop. New aesthetics include cool 'relaxing' tunes for the main menu and other menu screens.The character selection screen also debuts a new soundtrack, new artwork, and otherrefreshing visuals... (although, the fact that the select screen is asymmetricalirks me a bit).
The new Item Shop features a slew of unlockable character colors (mostly nonDLC, which is always good). It's alwaysfun checking out the bizarre new alternate character palettes. Some are prettyslick, but other color combinations are such eye sores - featuring palettesthat just don't match at all (keeping intradition with the later of the GGXX series). Certain other palettes areactually homages to other fighting game characters - cool throwbacks that fighting gameveterans can pick up on. Noel's original costume is also unlockable in-game - a nice touch for fans of BlazBlue since the beginning.Other crazy extras like unlockable 'Location Test Voices' add evenmore variety for fans that appreciate such ridiculous extras.

Technical and Stylish gameplay modes return, making the game immediately accessiblefor players of any level. Furthermore, Central Fiction's Tutorial mode assists playersin learning a newcharacter, with Beginner, Intermediate & Advanced Lessons, plus character-specific lessons. Tutorial is narrated by a variety of characters throughout the mode,fully voiced in Japanese, who seem to want to help you learn BlazBlue. In short, it's wallsupon walls of (perhaps unnecessary) text with attempts at humor and '1000times more'than you need to read in order to understand the mechanics the game is trying toteach you. (It's an Arc System Works fighting game Tutorial, what did youexpect?) I also thought - do we really need another BlazBlue Tutorial starring Ragna as themain character? Why not mix it up and use one of the newcomers? We've all beenthrough Ragna's moves... what? 5 or 6 times by now? The BGM selection option during Tutorial isa convenient way to break up the monotony, at least. And thankfully, the loadtimes between Tutorial lessons are quick.

CentralFiction has an intimidatingly lengthy story mode, containing'three times' the story volume of Chrono Phantasma (approximately 30 hours of story content)! This sounds good on paper, if you'rea huge fan of BlazBlue lore... but there's one major problem. NO ENGLISH DUBS.The entire game is Japanese vocals only, which is a major disappointment foroverseas fans. The character personalities 'created' by the Englishvoice actors really did something special for BlazBlue's characters and spawnedsomething of a cult following. To not have the 'finale' of the storyplayed out by the English voice actors is pretty much a sin. Not having Englishvoices also makes 'watching'30+ hours of text-based story mode more than a chore, for some. I personallydon't have time to sit and read BlazBlue character dialogue for30-something hours, so I won't be able to tell you my impressions about the game'sstory mode. It's long... It has some cool artwork... And it's long. I can tellyou that much.
As with most recent past installments, one of the main draws of the new versionis the new playable characters. All 7 of Central Fiction's newcomers areimpressively different from other characters in the series both visually andgameplay-wise. Discovering how to properly utilize each character's'Drive' attack/ability, along with their unique playstyles is fun, yet achallenging task if you want to master any character. Speaking ofchallenging... even after 7 installments, getting a grip on all of Blazblue'smechanics is a challenge all on its own.
Central Fiction's gameplay mostly borrows mechanics from ChronoPhantasma and Chrono Phantasma Extend. New gameplay mechanicsinclude: Exceed Accel, Active Flow, and Crush Trigger. The first is a newtype of Distortion Drive(performed by hitting 'A+B+C+D' in Overdrive or holding 'A+B+C+D'after Overdrive). Exceed Accel warps the background with new visual effects andif the attack connects, it's big damage. The next mechanic, Active Flow, is the opposite of Negative Penalty status. Active Flow will activatewhen a character fights aggressively, boosting damage and Burst Gauge recovery.This also increases damage of Exceed Accel (and may add extra effects andanimations for certain characters). Finally, 'Crush Trigger' is afaster Guard Crush that can lead to a combo when charged up.

BlazBlue: Central Fiction was previously Arc System Works' best looking 2Dfighter, reigning for several years even... but that all changed when Guilty Gear Xrd-SIGN- arrived. While BlazBlue's 2Dsprites are still impressive to 2D purists, BlazBlue definitely doesn't have that'wow' factor that it did in 2009. Also, I was disappointed to find outthat the 'Scaling Type' option for how 2D sprites are displayed onyour television screen are missing! Really? This feature has been in every past PS3installment of BlazBlue, but now it's suddenly missing in the PS4 version? How does that even make sense? Disappointing.
Online mode retains most of its features from past installments, but nowfeatures 2D character avatars that can move around 2D environments. Thelobbies definitely aren't as cool as GGXrd's, but they're appealing forpeople into cute anime-type stuffs. Players can also design their own 'rooms' fortheir avatars with various items? Points for uniqueness... I guess? This random feature seems catered to the Animal Crossing crowdmore-so than players of fightinggames (Animal Crossing does it better, I might add). In my experience onPS4, I found the matchmaking to be mostly a ghost town only a few months after therelease. I'm not sure if it had anything to do with the time of day or mybeginner-level rank, but I wouldn't say the online community is thriving.

Page Updated: October 31st, 2018 Developer(s): ArcSystem Works Publisher(s): Arc System Works Artwork by:: Toshimichi Mori, Yuuki Katou Platform(s): Arcade, PS4, PS3, PC, Switch Release Date(s): Nov. 19th, 2015 ( Arcade) Oct. 6th, 2016 ( PS4/PS3) Nov. 1st, 2016 ( PS4/PS3) Nov. 4th, 2016 ( PS4/PS3) Apr. 26th, 2017 (Steam) Aug. 3rd, 2017( Arcade - Version 2.0 update) Aug. 31st, 2017 ( PS4/PS3 - Version 2.0 update) Feb. 7th, 2019 (Switch - as BBCF: Special Edition) Feb. 8th, 2019 (Switch - as BBCF: Special Edition) Characters: Ragna The Bloodedge, Jin Kisaragi, Noel Vermillion, Bang Shishigami, Iron Tager, Arakune,Rachel Alucard, Litchi Faye Ling, Carl Clover,Taokaka, Hakumen, Hazama, Tsubaki-Yayoi, Makoto, Valkenhayn R. Hellsing, Platinum the Trinity, Relius Clover, Nu-13, Mu-12, Amane, Bullet, Azrael, Izayoi, Yuki Terumi, Kagura Mutsuki, Kokonoe, Celica, Lamda-11, Naoto Kurogane, Hibiki Kohaku, Hades Izanami, Nine, Es, Mai Natsume, Susanoo, Jubei(Ver. 2.0) Featured Video: Related Games: BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma, Guilty Gear Xrd REV 2, Guilty Gear Xrd -REVELATOR-, Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN-, Skullgirls: 2nd Encore, Dengeki Bunko Fighting Climax, Yatagarasu: Attack on Cataclysm, Under Night In-Birth EXE:Late[st], Killer Instinct Season 3, Street Fighter 5, Tekken 7, King of Fighters XIV, Dragon Ball FighterZ, BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle, Granblue Fantasy Versus GameplayEngine 7.5 / 10 Story/ Theme 7.5 / 10 OverallGraphics 7.0 / 10 Animation 8.0 / 10 Music/ Sound Effects 7.0 / 10 Innovation 6.0 / 10 Art Direction 7.5 / 10 Customization 8.5 / 10 Options / Extras 8.0 / 10 Intro / Presentation 7.5 / 10 Replayability / Fun 6.0 / 10 'Ouch' Factor 6.0 / 10 Characters 8.0 / 10 BOTTOM LINE 7.7/10 Review based on PS4 version Final Words: Living in a post GuiltyGear Xrd world, BlazBlue certainly doesn't have the 'wowfactor' or the spark that it had 7+ years ago... but, it's still BlazBlue(whatever that is, exactly). For the hardcore players, there's plenty of new mechanics andmoveset updates to dive into. For everyone else, there might not be enough thistime to warrant yet another return to the 'wheel of fate'... especially when there are so many otherfighting games doing big things in 2016-2017. Central Fiction is, mostly, very familiar... but certain aspects arerefreshingly new, at least. There are plenty of updated aesthetics, sounds, and artworks forthe casual fans. As a very casual BlazBlue fan, I was surprised (yet not surprised)when this new version was announced only 12 days after the North American release ofthe prequel, Chrono Phantasma. If I was aserious BlazBlue player, I would be significantly peeved that the 'new game' I justpurchased hit 'prequel' status after 12 days. At this point, diehard BlazBlue players areeither beyond disgruntled by now... or have become 'used to it' andsimply accept this practice. In any case, at least Arc System Worksis supporting the series with new content in a 'timely' manner. We canpoke fun... but they are doing work. Thankfully, Central Fiction feature a enough to content to be deemed aproper, full sequel. Personally, the 'bullet hell' projectile-wars, floaty-ness, and 45-hit cornertrap combos still don't cater to my personal 2D fighting game tastes. I assume BlazBlue: Central Fictionoffers diehard fans one final reason to bust out their Distortion Drives and return to the7-year-strong series, but if you're not ahardcore BlazBlue'r... you're not missing out on too much this time. It'sworth noting that the PS4 port doesn't offer anything extraordinary over itsprevious PS3incarnations (in fact, it has fewer graphical options). If the new characterdesigns look interesting to you, definitely check out Central Fiction...because they're even cooler to watch in motion. Otherwise, there are other big2D fighting games in 2016-2017 that are definitely worth putting your time into. In closing, it's clear that the golden ageof BlazBlue is behind us... but at least BlazBlue is still doing its'thing' (whatever that is, exactly). Once again, the 'final' BlazBlue installmentis a very authentic Japanese anime fighting gameexperience, with no English subtitles or voiceovers. That flaw, in itself, ispretty much a deal-breaker for many overseas fans who immerse themselves in 20+hour story modes. English-speaking fans andvoice actors alike actually held a petition to attempt to get English dubbingfor Central Fiction, but to no avail. English dubbing isn't usually a bigdeal for a Japanese anime fighting game, but when '30+ hours' ofvoiced Story Mode is one of the main advertised features of the game... it is abig deal. Sayonara Blazlue.~TFGWebmaster