BlazBlue: Central Fiction Reviews
BlazBlue goes out in a blaze of glory, and although it lacks new ideas it certainly isn’t short of characters, game modes, or thrilling action.
If BlazBlue: Central Fiction is the end (and I don't think it will be), it's a fitting one. It packs in pretty much everything past games have offered, and then brings in several great new characters and one of the biggest stories in fighting game history.
Central Fiction set out to be the be all and end all BlazBlue package, and it pulls it off marvelously. With the largest cast of characters to date, and a number of extra modes, the amount of gameplay variety is staggering.
Central Fiction adds enough characters, mechanics and fine tunes its already nearly flawless gameplay into something that feels as amazing to play as it looks. It’s currently my favorite fighting game on the market, and I have no doubt that I will be throwing dozens of more hours into it in the months to come.
Think of the most generally “anime” thing you can. Odds are BlazBlue: Central Fiction will come close to or even beat it.
BlazBlue: Central Fiction is a strong note for the series to go out on, if it really does end here. It’s the ultimate package due to the fighting systems being more interesting than ever, and there being over 30 characters to play as. There are a few disappointments such as the lack of English voice acting, but that’s not enough to mar what is otherwise a great game. All fighting game fans should give Arc System Works’ latest a go.
With an exciting and epic visual novel campaign that will take the fastest readers more than a dozen hours, a huge playable roster of wonderfully unique, personality filled and intricately designed characters, scores of unlockable artwork, movies, additional scenes, full online suite and customization options, BlazBlue Central Fiction is certainly the total package and surely a worthy pickup for fans of visual novels, fighting games and everything in between.
BlazBlue: Central Fiction is a fun, polished fighter that harkens back to the day when Gamest Mooks ruled Japan and 2D fighting games ruled the world. The anime-style story and characters won’t be for everyone and the lack of English voice acting might turn off some folks. Its hand-drawn style, however, is a gorgeous rendition of 2D fighting games while its gameplay is both technical and accessible, which will satisfy experts and beginners alike. Add the most fleshed-out story you’ll ever see in a fighter and you’ve got a worthy addition to your library.
Blazblue: Central Fiction represents the best and most refined version of a game that has been evolving since 2009. If you've ever wanted to pick up a 2D anime fighting game, this is the one to get.
Blazblue Central Fiction sits within a strange pocket for me of being so fantastic I can’t help but recommend it. But the trajectory of this series is pretty apparent at this point, and I can’t help but feel like you’ll get an even better experience with being introduced by the previous game and jumping on the re-release this game will inevitably receive. Still, the fighting engine is a work of art and that’s the core of the game. If you won’t be bothered by piecing together the story and no English voicover, you can’t go wrong.
A solid installment within the BlazBlue series that will appeal to fans and casual players alike, so long as you already enjoy playing fighting games.
I couldn’t think of a better game to end a long running franchise than BlazBlue: Central Fiction. Just as it’s starting to show its grays, the game warps up most of the story threads. It has near flawless execution of almost every aspect imaginable and can be equally enjoyable for newcomers and long time players alike. And while this does end the Azure chapter of the story, we are sure that this is not the end of the BlazBlue universe, but instead a beginning for a new generation of titles.
BlazBlue: Central Fiction is a strong entry in the BlazBlue series. I strongly doubt this is actually the end, but it may remain dormant for an extended period of time until they have a new story to tell. The combat feels great with the added effect of the newest systems. As you can tell from my BlazBlue: Central Fiction review, my biggest sticking point was the story mode, but other people may prefer this and get a lot out of it. If you are still looking for a great PS3 game to play you cannot go wrong with Blazblue: Central Fiction as you will have hundreds of hours of fun!
BlazBlue: Central Fiction does everything a continuation should: change nearly nothing and simply expand on what has worked in the past. There are more characters and a very complex story, but this game is not any different than any of the past BlazBlue entries. This works in that a fan can come in and everything will feel completely familiar, but it is not so good in that there is nothing revolutionary short of the most convoluted story in a fighting game ever. Purely as a 2D fighter, it works on all accounts, and the diversity of characters should deliver a long time of entertainment.
Even with an overblown story mode that sees the action take a back seat, Blazblue: Central Fiction is a solid entry in the eccentric franchise and a remarkably decent fighting game.
BlazBlue: Central Fiction is the final chapter in the Ragna the Bloodedge saga and it provides a fitting end to the story. The gameplay excels in its fast paced combat and the visuals never cease to amaze with their gorgeously drawn sprites. The game is well tailored for newcomers and fans alike.
And BlazBlue really is gorgeous. Every character is animated in such a way that every movement they make reinforces their personalities. Every environment is a living, breathing thing that sets a meaningful scene and helps build the world around the characters. Because everything is 2D and quite flat, it’s easy to wish that all that storytelling and character building was funnelled into a more natural fit, but then again, with BlazBlue being such a successful franchise for so long now, it’s hard to argue that the developers and producers are making a mistake.
BlazBlue: Central Fiction is being billed as the last entry in the BlazBlue series… ever. We’ll see if that ends up being true. I have a feeling it might just be that this is the end of this massive story arc, and that a new entry in the series will come in a couple of years with a lot of new characters and some fan favorites making a return. Think of it as the Street Fighter III approach, and it sorta makes sense. Either way, if this does end up being the last BlazBlue game, then the series is going out on a high note with the best looking game in the series – and one with a ton of content and story to enjoy. This is a must-have for fighting game fans and a no-brainer for big fans of the BlazBlue franchise.
Where the story falls short, the gameplay rises up. The fighting is fun to pick up and play, but hard to master.
BlazBlue Central Fiction is a worthy fighting game that any genre enthusiast should have on their radar.