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Eschewing the floaty feel of Yu Yu, Treasure has wisely decided to rethink the fighting engine itself, much to the game’s benefit. The feel of the combat is now decidedly similar to SNK’s Samurai Showdown or Last Blade series, with a mature combo system based mostly on juggles that require skill and timing to execute. Also new is the ability to deflect shots with a timed press of the block button, or to counter them with a timed press of the block button and an attack button. There’s actually a good deal of depth to its systems, and Bleach DS is perfectly viable as a one-on-one arcade-style fighter. But when 4 players are going at it, things get fast and frantic in a hurry. There’s a big aerial game as well, with double jumps, air-blocking, and mid-air dashes that, in conjunction with the frenetic pace and screen-filling super-attacks, lend a pinch of Marvel vs. Capcom flavor to the stew.
"So the main course is delicious, but how are the trimmings," you might ask. Luckily, Treasure has not skimped, and Bleach DS is a very full package. The "main" game is a story mode, broken into 23 episodes, each featuring a different character. While I wasn’t able to appreciate the story for lack of an English script, I did enjoy playing through all the different scenarios, which include fights with single opponents, multiple opponents, team battles, and fights that require special conditions, like winning with a full super-meter, or not using the dash move. After this is complete, there’s a challenge mode that will help teach you how to perform combos with most of the main characters, the standard time Attack, survival, and training" modes, as well as a shop to unlock all manner of goodies, including art galleries, songs, and cards. The only real disappointment is the bare-bones Arcade mode, which only allows for a series of 6 1-on-1 fights, with no boss. This could have stood to allow much more in the way of options.
But, as with any fighting game, the long-term staying power of this title is its multiplayer, and this is where Bleach DS really shines. Up to 4 players can link up and play teams or 4-player free-for-alls, death match, point match, any way you like it. Even better, nearly all these options are supported in "Download Play" so your friends don’t even need their own copy of the game to play with any of the game’s characters. The icing on the cake is full Wi-Fi-enabled online play for up to 4 players. A healthy roster of 28 (which admittedly contains a couple joke characters and 2 alternates of other characters) provides ample variety and the fighting engine holds up quite well for some classic arcade-style one-on-one, as well.
Treasure might not be known for their fighting games, but they’ve really stepped up with Bleach. They have created a title that will please fighting fans and those just looking for a good party game alike. It’s accessible enough not to frustrate the young anime fans it targets, but deep enough to satiate the experienced fighter enthusiast, hungry for a real brawl on the DS. A meatier arcade mode would have helped the single player experience, but the competitive play alone makes Bleach DS a must-buy. |
