BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle Reviews

BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle is ranked in the 60th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
Jun 5, 2018

BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle is solid fighter that blends unique characters and opens the doors to a lot of possibilities.

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oprainfall
Chris Melchin
Jun 5, 2018

In the end, what you get out of BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle depends on what you want from it. Gameplay is energetic and fast-paced, and while the controls and inputs are simplified that doesn’t mean that the game lacks depth. Each character feels different, and it’s not difficult to work with any team you want to use. That being said, it’s still got its drawbacks; it feels light on content, both in terms of single-player modes and playable characters. I can’t see why all 30 characters who appear in story mode aren’t part of the base roster, especially considering that both Blake and the first pack of DLC characters seem to be day 1 DLC. Fortunately the price is somewhat reasonable at $50 USD for the base game and $20 for the full set of characters, while Blake and Yang are each free. It’s a practice that shouldn’t be encouraged, but at the same time I enjoyed BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle too much to justify not recommending it. If you’re on the fence, I suggest you check out the demo, but I’m aware that if you’re already against the game due to its DLC then nothing I say will change your impression of it. That being said, if you’re a fan of any of the series involved and are fine with the light singleplayer content, I strongly recommend BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle.

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6 / 10
Jun 5, 2018

BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle has got the fanservice down, but it feels more like a tribute to Arc System Works' other games than its own unique beast. Its simplified fighting game mechanics, along with its reused assets, makes it only worth it for the most diehard of fans.

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8 / 10.0
Jun 5, 2018

Yet, BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle pretty much speaks to everyone, even if a few of its core mechanics aren't as refined as several of Arc's other works. It has a wide array of cast members from several universes, a pointed 2v2 focus, and a sufficient amount of stuff to do if you aren't the online competitive type. I sincerely hope this sets the stage for more experimental "all-star" types of fighters from Arc, as they have a seemingly limitless well of ideas to draw from.

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Dave Aubrey
Top Critic
7.8 / 10.0
Jun 5, 2018

BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle is a fantastic fighting game, marred by what feels like suspicious DLC practice and very familiar assets. If you can see past that though, you're going to massively enjoy this intense and intuitive anime fighter.

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Heavy
Top Critic
6.8 / 10.0
Jun 5, 2018

BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle is a solid fighter. It's just a sad state of affairs when you notice just how unfinished it feels in some areas.

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4 / 5.0
Jun 5, 2018

BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle doesn't do anything to revolutionize the crossover tag team fighting system, it simply sticks to a formula that has worked before and does a great job with it.

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8.5 / 10.0
Jun 5, 2018

The hectic gameplay, cool visuals and robust offline and online experiences make it one of the better fighters out on the Switch right now. It's easy to get lost if you're diving headfirst into the series, and to be really good probably takes a lot of practice. But it captures everything that makes tag battle games fun and delivers in one visually striking package.

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8.5 / 10.0
Jun 5, 2018

Chances are, you already know if you're in Cross Tag's intended audience. If you're an avid anime fan, understand fighting games, and know one or more of the included series, you'll love everything here. Even if you fall into only one or two of these subsets, this may be up your alley. The mechanics are solid, and mostly provide the perfect environment for beginners to transition to the more complex styles introduced in other Arc System Works games. I'd say it's also just complicated enough to intrigue fighting veterans. Setting aside the DLC-based blemish, the roster is packed with unique, fun-to-play fan-favorite characters. The Episode Mode delights, and successfully hones the panache of all four franchises. BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle offers a little of everything for everyone, and does so in splendid fashion.

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4.3 / 5.0
Jun 5, 2018

BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle might be rough around the edges and have some questionable DLC choices, though it doesn't stop it from looking great or being fun. The number of tutorials are great, with there being an okay amount for players to do. Sure, it isn't the most jam packed game Arc System Works has ever released but if you're looking for a new fighting or just enjoy the series included, odds are you'll get your moneys worth out of BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle.

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8.5 / 10.0
Jun 5, 2018

If you're a fan of either of the universes here, this is well worth your time and money.

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8.3 / 10.0
Jun 5, 2018

BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle is like a jigsaw puzzle made of pieces from four entirely different sets, that by some miracle still manage to fit together to make a unique and mesmerizing tag fighting game. Aside from its unsatisfying single-player mode and aggravating paywalled characters, it's just the right blend of accessibility and depth, and one of the best entry points into fighting games you'll find.

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9 / 10
Jun 5, 2018

BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle is an utterly accomplished 2D fighting game. Bursting with content and featuring the visual spectacle of combat that uses up every single trick in the book while doing so with the possibility of calling up a second character into the fray on demand sets Arc System Works title as the de facto current generation game fighting game to own on the Nintendo Switch. While we certainly appreciate the likes of Capcom and SNK (via HAMSTER) safely releasing previously proven hits of the genre, we were beginning to wonder when companies would notice that Switch is more than able to accommodate current generation titles as well. A few strange decisions aside it is very hard for us not to recommend you make this title a priority among your future acquisitions if you're a fighting game fan. Even if you never heard or are a fan of any of the franchises represented in this game because by the time you are done with this game (something we wonder is it is even possible with a strong online community) you will most certainly be.

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Jun 5, 2018

BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle has some great ideas, simplifying the mechanics of BlazBlue for newer players and bringing in characters from Persona 4 Arena, Under Night In-Birth, and RWBY. The core of the fighter works well, but the character roster is a bit small until you get into a mess of downloadable content. The additional modes also feel a bit dry and threadbare compared to Arc System Works' past efforts. This crossover is solid, but could use some tightening up as a full package.

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7 / 10
Jun 5, 2018

BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle is an incredibly entertaining fighter that hinges on some brilliantly crafted team mechanics, so it's a real shame that the overall product is cloaked in controversy. Accessible yet open-ended and deep, Arc System Works' latest is slick and expressive, but it's the questionable DLC practices that ultimately muddy the waters.

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8 / 10.0
Jun 5, 2018

BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle has some issues, but the gameplay is exciting and deep enough that fans of any of the franchises on display here will have a good time.

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Jun 5, 2018

While BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle may have surprised many with its announcement, the release will surprise even more by just how good it is. If you're a fan of any of these franchises, you should check out this game.

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8 / 10
Jun 5, 2018

All in all, BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle is an excellent fighting game. Thanks to gorgeous presentation, robust mechanics, and an entertaining story mode, it stands out as one of the better, if not the best fighting game this generation.

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95 / 100
Jun 5, 2018

Because BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle is an anime fighting experience that allows for constant aggressive offensive and defensive reads, wrapped in accessible execution that makes slightly complex mechanics easy to grasp. If this can add more fresh competition to your world, embrace it.

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9 / 10.0
Jun 5, 2018

BlazBlue Cross-Tag Battle is a fantastic fighting game for newbies and veterans alike. Despite some questionable DLC practices and a market saturated with other great fighting game titles, it deserves to be played, practiced and played again.

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