PlayStation Vita Review - BlazBlue: Continuum Shift EXTEND

Since I can't add any copyrighted photos from the game, here is some...titular cosplay of BlazBlue.

It's uncharted territory for myself when entering the BlazBlue series. Not having played the series before this installment, but playing games similarly made by the developer, there were expectations and a lot of them hit. In a fighting genre that has an abundance on a portable system, is the game that's now available for free for PlayStation Plus subscribers even worth players' time that's seen so many other options of games?

WHAT IS IT?

BlazBlue: Continuum Shift EXTEND is the latest installment of the BlazBlue fighting series. It's a mixture of a traditional 2D fighter complete with a Japanese anime style. At first glance, it looks like another Guilty Gear clone - more so when realized it's from the same developer, Arc System Works.

While it's got plenty of the same gameplay mechanics in it, along with the insane character designs, there's enough difference in the battle system that it doesn't feel like an exact carbon copy. Luckily, the player designs don't make the player feel like they're on crack as in Guilty Gear.

GAME MODES

There's plenty of variety in BB:CSE, way too much to cover in this review. The basics are all from the original CS, such as arcade and network play. All of them work flawlessly except viewing two others play over the network -- there was plenty of lag and not work sticking around to watch the rest of the battle. With the launch of the game being free for PS+ members, expect a variety of beginners and veterans on the circuit.

The story mode is the full package in this installment, giving players a remastered version of Calamity Trigger (the previous and debut game of the series) along with Continuum Shift. This is where the major difference lies between GG and BB -- story mode is shown in a visual novel style. Be prepared for plenty of dialogue between fights, and the game even gives an option to play with easy combos for those just interested in reading the story.

It's a bit of hit and miss for a newcomer. Not surprising, there's plenty of sexual innuendo in the dialogue, but not nearly as bad as some Japanese role-playing games out there. While the English translation is pretty good for a video game, it's hard to focus for long periods of time. I tended to doze off after around an hour of play multiple times.

A welcome addition is Abyss Mode from earlier portable editions. This mode gathered my attention more than the story mode itself with a ton of replay value of trying to gain more experience points lost when losing during the trek.

What's new to this edition exclusively is Unlimited Mars Mode, which has a steep learning curve. Unless the player memorizes special combos for a certain player, it's impossible to play. But it's fun and different to play with "unlimited characters."

MECHANICS

Since it's a port of a console release, and knowing how powerful the Vita is for fighters, there wasn't much needed to downgrade. The game is beautiful on the Vita's high-definition screen. Easily the best-looking fighting game I've played on the handheld to date.

Control layout is light, medium, and heavy attacks with the top three buttons (square, triangle, circle), and X is the character's drive attack. The series takes the approach of using their own button letters instead of just using the console format - a bit confusing when first starting out and learning the moves. Something to avoid using with the Vita version is setting up any button combos on the rear touchpad -- it's an absolute mess.

When playing a fighting game on the Vita, fingers can get somewhat cramped with the small buttons. I found myself going down to the left stick during extended periods of play, but as usual in fighting games, the directional pad is almost necessary to get exact moves off.

The music is top notch in the game, but it's muddled over repetitive banter from the fighters and the announcer constantly yelling "COUNTER! COUNTER! COUNTER!" which can drive anyone insane.

PLAY THIS GAME IF....

The sound of another fighting game available on with PS+ doesn't make the stomach churn. It's worth playing for those that haven't tired from the genre or haven't played a fighting game from Arc System Works. Also, anyone that wants a beautiful-looking visual novel on the go.

DON'T PLAY THIS GAME IF...

Guilty Gear didn't float the boat -- if that game wasn't appealing, this will do absolutely nothing. Also, those that can't stand anything with an anime style or don't want to be judged as an Otaku on the bus.

OBLIGATORY SCORE

77/100

[Photo credit: Flickr/Michael]