Blade Arcus from Shining: Battle Arena

83%
Game Brain Score Based on 93 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

83%
Audience ScoreBased on 93 reviews
story7 positive mentions
replayability3 negative mentions
  • The game features a decent roster of characters with unique designs and simple mechanics, making it accessible for newcomers.
  • The visuals and character art, particularly by Tony Taka, are praised for their quality and appeal.
  • The game offers a fun multiplayer experience, especially when played with friends, and has an easy achievement list.
  • The game lacks content, with only a few modes available (Story, Versus, Training, and Online), and the story is considered weak and disjointed.
  • Character balance is a significant issue, with some characters being overpowered, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.
  • The online community is mostly inactive, making it difficult to find matches, and the game suffers from a lack of depth compared to other fighting games.
  • story70 mentions

    The story mode of the game is generally viewed as simplistic and underdeveloped, often compared to an arcade mode with minimal narrative depth and lacking in character context for those unfamiliar with the franchise. While some players appreciate the brevity and straightforwardness of the storytelling, many criticize the absence of additional content, such as character bios or side stories, which leaves the narrative feeling disjointed and lacking substance. Overall, the story is seen as a secondary aspect to the gameplay, appealing primarily to casual players rather than those seeking a rich narrative experience.

    • “Spend some time with the game, enjoyed the gameplay, music, characters, and the story.”
    • “Once getting my bearings on the overarching story, I could enjoy the insight into each of the characters' desires and intentions in regards to collecting these wishes.”
    • “Great story for a fighter.”
    • “The story is just kind of there, but not a bad fighting game.”
    • “However, without a third person recounting of the events taking place in regards to Isaac's role and the conflict, the story mode can come off as disjointed.”
    • “Worse story mode ever, no story, no character at all.”
  • gameplay49 mentions

    The gameplay of this title is characterized by its straightforward mechanics and a 2v2 fighting system, which some players find enjoyable and fluid, while others criticize it for being simplistic and lacking depth. Although the visuals and character designs are praised, many reviewers note the absence of diverse game modes and balance issues among characters, leading to a perception of the game as underdeveloped compared to other fighting titles. Overall, while the game offers a fun experience for casual play, it may not satisfy those seeking a more complex or content-rich fighting game.

    • “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).”
    • “This game has so little going on in terms of gameplay; the combat is simplistic, mechanics are minimal, it's really fun to play with friends, but the highlights are if you even know any of the games the characters are from.”
    • “I get 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.”
  • graphics23 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the art style and character designs by Tony Taka as visually appealing, while others criticize the overall quality as blocky or jaggy, especially at higher resolutions. Although the visuals are described as crisp and clean, the lack of customizable graphics settings and the simplistic design detract from the experience for some players. Overall, while the graphics may not be groundbreaking, they are considered adequate for a fighting game, particularly for fans of the series.

    • “Such incredible gaming mechanics and graphics.”
    • “The visuals are gorgeous; the soundtrack is great.”
    • “Pro: great gameplay, very fluid, and graphics are amazing.”
    • “No real graphics settings.”
    • “Graphics are okay, but characters look a little bit jaggy at 1080p.”
    • “It's like the first Starcraft with Warcraft 1 graphics.”
  • music14 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 players 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.”
    • “Maybe a lack of a CG gallery or music room or something.”
  • character development9 mentions

    Character development in the game is highlighted by well-executed designs and voice acting that provide distinct perspectives and insights into the characters' personalities. However, opinions on the character designs are mixed, with some players finding them misleading or in need of improvement. Overall, while the character designs are praised for their aesthetic appeal, there is a consensus that further refinement could enhance the overall experience.

    • “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's replayability is considered minimal, leading to an overall rating of 6/10 from users.

    • “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 it leads to unexpected knockdowns based on timing.

    • “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 the 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

    In "Blade Arcus," players appreciate the departure from extensive grinding typical of the "Shining" RPG series, opting instead for a simpler system that accelerates story progression. This shift suggests a move towards a more action-oriented gameplay style, aligning with the game's focus on fighting mechanics.

    • “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 more simplified 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 made it feel like a chore rather than an enjoyable experience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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