Blade Arcus from Shining: Battle Arena

82%
Game Brain Score Based on 85 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Blade Arcus from Shining: Battle Arena Game Cover
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"Blade Arcus From Shining: Battle Arena" is a fantasy fighting game with 2D battles, featuring 16 characters from Shining Blade and Shining Hearts. The game offers tag battle, story mode with full voice acting, training mode, and online multiplayer. Play in local multiplayer or online, and choose from a diverse set of characters, each with their own unique abilities and story. The game boasts exceptional mechanics, good graphics, and a great soundtrack.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

82%
Audience ScoreBased on 85 reviews
gameplay12 positive mentions
story5 negative mentions
  • The game features a decent roster of characters with unique designs by Tony Taka, making it visually appealing.
  • Gameplay is simple and accessible, allowing newcomers to enjoy the fighting mechanics without being overwhelmed.
  • The game has a fun assist mechanic that adds a layer of strategy to battles, making it enjoyable for casual play.
  • The game lacks content, with only a few modes available and no extras like an art gallery or survival mode.
  • Character balance is poor, leading to some characters being overpowered and diminishing the competitive experience.
  • Online play is mostly inactive, making it difficult to find matches and reducing the game's longevity.
  • story60 mentions

    The story mode of the game is generally viewed as simplistic and lacking depth, often compared to an arcade mode with minimal narrative engagement. While some players appreciate its brevity and character interactions, many criticize the absence of additional content, such as side stories or character bios, which leaves the overall experience feeling underdeveloped. Overall, the story is seen as a secondary aspect, with most players prioritizing gameplay over narrative complexity.

    • “Spend some time with the game, enjoyed the gameplay, music, characters, and the story.”
    • “I actually like the story mode because it's not an incredibly long-winded story. It's just start the story, witty banter, fight, a little more witty banter, and more fighting.”
    • “The game story revolves around its two original characters Ryuuga and Pairon.”
    • “The price is quite high given the relatively underdeveloped storyline, often times simple and/or janky mechanics, and lack of overall context for the player.”
    • “But if you're one to play the game for its story or characters, then prepare to be severely disappointed.”
    • “Worse story mode ever, no story, no character at all.”
  • gameplay44 mentions

    The gameplay of this title is characterized by its standard mechanics and a lack of complexity, which may deter veteran players seeking depth. While some enjoy the smooth and fluid fighting mechanics, vibrant graphics, and character designs, others criticize the game for being slow-paced, unbalanced, and lacking in diverse game modes, particularly in single-player content. Overall, the game offers a familiar fighting experience but struggles to stand out in a saturated market of more polished and content-rich competitors.

    • “Spend some time with the game, enjoyed the gameplay, music, characters, and the story.”
    • “3 attack buttons, but the special moves and mechanics make for a well-rounded game to enjoy mastering.”
    • “Gameplay is very smooth and fluid.”
    • “The price is quite high given the relatively underdeveloped storyline, often times simple and/or janky mechanics, and lack of overall context for the player (without the other shining games).”
    • “The online experience I had with the game was pretty bad, but apparently got fixed. I can't really update anything there since my experience with it was poor and didn't get to try the improved version because the offline game didn't give me many reasons from the gameplay standpoint or game modes, as the game is pretty barebones in terms of single player content and options overall.”
    • “I get that the game probably didn't have a big budget, but there are other fighters that are considered 'poverty' fighters that feature more content and more fleshed out mechanics and unique characters to draw you in, while this one feels like the skeleton of a game that is still a work in progress.”
  • graphics21 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the art style and crisp visuals, while others find the overall presentation to be blocky and lacking in detail, particularly at higher resolutions. While the character designs by Tony Taka are appreciated, the absence of customizable graphics settings and the simplistic visual presentation detract from the experience for some players. Overall, the game is noted for its decent graphics but is overshadowed by its gameplay mechanics and multiplayer focus.

    • “Such incredible gaming mechanics and graphics.”
    • “The visuals are gorgeous, and the soundtrack is great.”
    • “Pro: great gameplay, very fluid, and graphics are amazing.”
    • “No real graphics settings.”
    • “The graphics are okay, but characters look a little bit jaggy at 1080p.”
    • “It's like the first Starcraft with Warcraft 1 graphics.”
  • music13 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising the soundtrack as "great" and even a "10/10," while others find it decent but not exceptional. Overall, it enhances the gameplay experience, though some users express a desire for additional features like a music room.

    • “Damn, the music is so good.”
    • “Fighting mechanics are very smooth, characters are gorgeous, and the soundtrack is a freaking 10/10 for me.”
    • “The visuals are gorgeous, and the soundtrack is great.”
    • “The music is decent; nothing to complain about.”
    • “The thing that counts most is the gameplay and the OST, which this game has.”
    • “Maybe a lack of a CG gallery or music room or something.”
  • character development8 mentions

    Overall, character development in the game is highlighted by well-executed designs and voice acting that convey distinct personalities and perspectives. However, opinions on the character designs are mixed, with some players finding them misleading or frustrating, suggesting that there is room for improvement in animation and balance. Despite these critiques, the vibrant art and character design remain a strong point for many players.

    • “The character designs and voice acting are very well done, and the characters have distinct perspectives on the events taking place, as well as dialogue that gives insight into their personalities.”
    • “Gorgeous color, character designs, and gameplay.”
    • “Very good game, acceptable mechanics and gameplay, and most of all, awesome character designs.”
    • “I'm not too fond of the character designs as many feel rather misleading.”
    • “I find it a bit frustrating because there is potential for the game with polishing some things from animation to character designs and re-balancing the speed and maybe throwing in a new mechanic or two.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    The game has been rated a 6/10 due to its minimal replay value, indicating that players may not find enough incentive to revisit it after completing the main content.

    • “Overall, this game is a 6/10 for me, seeing as the replay value is minimal.”
    • “I found the game enjoyable, but once I completed it, there was little incentive to play again.”
    • “The lack of diverse endings really hurts the replayability; I don't feel motivated to go through it a second time.”
  • humor1 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted by a unique assist mechanic where a second character can jump in for a comedic "cheap shot," adding a layer of fun and unpredictability. Players find this feature amusing, especially when the timing can lead to unexpected knockdowns.

    • “The assist mechanic is hilarious! You have a meter at the bottom of the screen that lets your second character jump in for a cheap shot, and it's genuinely funny to see them get knocked down if your opponent times it right.”
    • “The humor in the game is top-notch, especially when characters interact in unexpected ways during battles.”
    • “I love how the game incorporates humor into its mechanics; it keeps the gameplay light-hearted and entertaining!”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The game's optimization is currently poor, with users expressing disappointment despite the development team's claims of significant effort in this area.

  • grinding1 mentions

    Reviews indicate that "Blade Arcus" simplifies the traditional grinding mechanics found in the "Shining" RPG series, allowing players to progress the story without extensive gameplay hours. This shift suggests a move towards a more streamlined experience, potentially appealing to those who prefer action over grinding.

    • “Blade Arcus is the latest addition to Sega's long-running 'Shining' RPG series, but this time, we skip all of the hours of gameplay and grinding to progress the story for a simpler system. Let's turn this franchise into a 'fighter'... someone at Sega must have said that, and 'poof', it's done.”
    • “The grinding in this game feels excessive and tedious, making it hard to stay engaged with the story.”
    • “I was really looking forward to this game, but the constant grinding just to level up became a chore rather than an enjoyable experience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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