BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger

While there's certainly substance to Arc's 2D fighter, you have to dig through so many layers of loud music and flashy visuals that the whole experience becomes a bit exhausting.

82%Game Brain Score

story, music

stability, optimization

83% User Score Based on 1,434 reviews

Critic Score 77%Based on 3 reviews

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About

BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger is a single player and multiplayer arcade fighting game with fantasy, anime and science fiction themes. It was developed by Arc System Works and was released on February 13, 2014. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger is a fantasy fighting game featuring fast-paced 2D duels between unique characters. Players can engage in single-player or multiplayer modes, utilizing a combination of weak, medium, strong, and character-specific Drive attacks to execute diverse combos. The game emphasizes strategy and skillful input to master each fighter’s distinct abilities.

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83%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,434 reviews

story254 positive mentions

stability14 negative mentions

The game features a unique story mode that combines visual novel elements with fighting gameplay, providing an engaging narrative experience.
The character designs are vibrant and diverse, with each character having a distinct playstyle and personality.
The soundtrack is exceptional, featuring a mix of heavy metal and orchestral music that enhances the overall experience.

The PC port suffers from technical issues, including a frustrating 30 FPS lock and occasional frame drops, making gameplay less smooth.
There is no online multiplayer mode, limiting the game's replayability and competitive potential.
The story can be convoluted and difficult to follow, requiring multiple playthroughs to fully understand the character arcs and endings.

story
785 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
62%
6%
The story of *BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger* is a complex and ambitious narrative that intertwines the lives of its characters through a visual novel-style presentation, featuring multiple branching paths and endings based on player choices. While the storytelling is praised for its depth and character development, many players find it confusing and convoluted, often requiring multiple playthroughs to fully grasp the plot. Despite its flaws, including technical issues like missing music in story mode, the game is recommended for those interested in rich narratives within the fighting game genre.
- “Blazblue: Calamity Trigger features an expansive story mode that weaves together the lives of its cast across multiple branching routes and perspectives.”
- “The storytelling approach feels more akin to a visual novel than a typical arcade fighter, offering hours of dialogue, lore, and character development that deepen the universe beyond the battlefield.”
- “The story is so integral that often the conversation about Blazblue is about its plot rather than the game proper.”
- “Storywise, there is no concrete character introduction or lore explanation, so the story is vague, confusing, and bizarre. I never really learned how the characters fit into it and the BlazBlue world in general.”
- “To make matters worse, the story deals with time loops, memory loss, brainwashing, and alternative timelines but never explains it. The characters are mortal enemies at one encounter for having killed their family in the past, and in their next encounter, they would fight foes to save their nemesis or cry for being forced to kill their nemesis, or turn on their allies without explanation while suffering a mental breakdown.”
- “The story is absolutely whack. It is so convoluted that at first, the weird story is a downer, but as you go for more story unlocks, it gets much deeper.”
music
248 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
49%
2%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its energetic and diverse soundtrack, composed by Daisuke Ishiwatari. The tracks effectively complement the game's fast-paced action and emotional moments, enhancing the overall experience. However, a significant drawback noted by players is the absence of music during story mode scenes, which detracts from the narrative immersion. Despite this issue, the included soundtrack is considered a major highlight, making the game worth purchasing for music enthusiasts.
- “Complementing the visuals is a powerful soundtrack that perfectly matches the action, featuring energetic guitar riffs, orchestral arrangements, and electronic beats that heighten every battle.”
- “The music perfectly complements the game’s fast-paced action and emotional moments, enhancing the overall experience.”
- “The soundtrack, composed by the legendary Daisuke Ishiwatari, is nothing short of phenomenal.”
- “There's no music during visual novel scenes.”
- “Note that there's a bug preventing music from playing in story mode which can really ruin the experience.”
- “The main reason I do not recommend this is because of the music or soundtrack bug.”
gameplay
218 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
59%
2%
The gameplay of "BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger" is characterized by its intricate mechanics and unique character abilities, offering a blend of accessibility for newcomers and depth for seasoned players. While the game features a solid four-button combat system and a variety of special moves, many players noted a lack of comprehensive tutorials and balance issues among characters, which can lead to confusion and frustration. Despite these drawbacks, the engaging combat, vibrant visuals, and compelling story make it a worthwhile experience for fans of the fighting genre.
- “Each character possesses a distinctive 'drive' ability, a special mechanic that defines their playstyle and sets them apart from the rest of the roster.”
- “The gameplay is built around four basic attack buttons, yet the complexity arises from how these attacks interact through cancels, chains, and special moves.”
- “Advanced mechanics like barrier blocking, rapid cancels, and counter assaults reward players who invest time in understanding timing and spacing, while newcomers can still enjoy the fluidity of combat without needing to memorize overwhelming inputs.”
- “Also, none of the special gauges and mechanics are explained. I'm not sure why sometimes I have a ton of energy and other times almost nothing, why my blocks either endure or are shattered, or why I can't activate ultimate attacks with most characters in training mode when all I get for a command list is 'right controller pad downwards' or what character-specific special resources do.”
- “The gameplay itself is made obsolete, leaving only the story as a selling point.”
- “The gameplay has so many glaring flaws, but the story mode is absolutely worth the torment.”
graphics
161 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
41%
4%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their vibrant anime art style, detailed character sprites, and smooth animations, creating a visually appealing experience that resonates well with fans of the genre. Many reviewers highlight the combination of 2D and 3D elements, which enhances the overall aesthetic, although some mention that the graphics may not have aged perfectly and can suffer from performance issues on certain hardware. Overall, the game's visuals are considered a strong point, contributing significantly to its engaging atmosphere and gameplay experience.
- “Blazblue: Calamity Trigger isn’t just a game; it’s an experience that combines breathtaking visuals, intricate gameplay, and a story that captivates from start to finish.”
- “The graphics are crisp and fresh, especially if you're a fan of Japanese anime.”
- “The graphics look great; it's extremely colorful and detailed, with the 3D backdrops working brilliantly with the 2D characters.”
- “Now the actual combat holds up pretty well, but the graphics did not age very well with it.”
- “Only thumbs down but a big one because of graphics - the frame rate is horrible and skips constantly, even on more-than-capable hardware.”
- “The framerate is locked at 31fps unless you update graphics drivers, restart your computer and pray a lot; it doesn't support modern controllers, netplay has been removed, story mode lacks cutscene music and graphical options are very limited.”
humor
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players noting its goofy character designs, entertaining voice acting, and a mix of funny, sinister, and absurd storylines. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to inject humor into various interactions and story paths, making the experience enjoyable even for newcomers. Overall, the blend of rich lore and comedic elements contributes to a unique and engaging narrative.
- “I mean totally awesome story, great graphics, and I really like the humor.”
- “The game is fun to play and the story is interesting and funny as hell if you do the alternate endings.”
- “The story mode of this series is actually quite rich and detailed with a very thought-out lore and world (rare for this genre) with very lovable and charming characters and funny situations, and in a gorgeous visual novel style.”
stability
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and performance issues, including a frustrating 30 fps lock and audio problems. Many players have experienced crashes and unplayable conditions, leading to a consensus that the port is a "buggy mess" and not worth the investment compared to the console version. Overall, the game's stability detracts significantly from the experience, making it difficult for players to enjoy.
- “The game is fun textbook kusoge, but the port itself is a buggy mess; seriously, I didn't realize how bad the locked 30 fps was until seeing most of my motion inputs coming out in delayed intervals.”
- “It's riddled with bugs and glitches that won't ever be patched, and there aren't many workarounds for some.”
- “Basically, it's a buggy, unbalanced, stripped version of the original that isn't worth most people's time.”
optimization
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
50%
29%
The optimization of this game has been widely criticized, with many users reporting severe performance issues, including frame rate drops and unresponsiveness, particularly on lower-end systems. While the game offers a compelling story and engaging gameplay, its poor optimization detracts significantly from the experience, making it difficult to enjoy on modern hardware. Some users have suggested workarounds, but overall, the consensus is that the port is poorly executed and frustrating to play.
- “Exe -> properties -> compatibility -> check the list 'disable fullscreen optimization' -> restart PC.”
- “The sequel has online, is optimized better, and has a recap of this one.”
- “The quality of the game is outstanding and the gameplay performances went pretty smoothly.”
- “This is a really poorly-optimized game.”
- “While that's bad enough, it gets to the point that the game is unresponsive with some moves, and can be completely miserable from being a stuttering mess.”
- “Personally, I've generally liked the BlazBlue games, even this one, but trying to get into this PC version is hard with the non-fluid play. The game seems to be poorly optimized, and I get frame drops quite low. I can't seem to do anything about it; even cutscenes tend to lag behind the audio, and my computer is well above the recommended settings.”
replayability
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
39%
23%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the multiple endings and character arcs that enhance replay value, others find it lacking due to a low character count and absence of online play. Those who enjoy mastering techniques and exploring different character paths may find enough content to keep them engaged, but many feel that the overall replayability is diminished without multiplayer options. Overall, the game offers a decent replay experience for single-player enthusiasts, but may not satisfy those seeking competitive multiplayer gameplay.
- “With multiple endings and character arcs, the replay value is exceptionally high.”
- “The developers put a lot of ideas into this game, which is the oldest of the titles, packed with fun and action. It offers a lot for its money, including high replayability, and it won't get boring after just one playthrough, with many techniques and specialties to learn.”
- “I’ll give it this though: the choose-your-own-path approach through each character's mode does have more replayability.”
- “Just found 0 replay value, 0 interest in mastering it because it was as forgettable as all the other 2D fighters in recent years.”
- “Replayability: with a low character count and no online play!”
- “Awesome game, rich story and catchy OST... but no replayability due to lack of multiplayer.”
character development
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
8%
25%
Character development in the game is praised for its depth and engagement, with many players appreciating the extensive storytelling that resembles a visual novel, enriching the lore and character backgrounds. The character designs are noted for their distinctiveness and aesthetic appeal, although opinions vary, with some finding them lacking. Overall, the combination of engaging narratives and unique character aesthetics contributes to a rich gaming experience, despite some criticisms regarding specific design choices.
- “I thought I'd check out Guilty Gear's brother/sister franchise, and was pleasantly rewarded with yet another fighting game with fun gameplay, great music, cool character designs, and a surprisingly dignified story to uncover.”
- “Cs Extend may include the 'redux' abridged version of this game's main plot, but that cuts out a ton of the additional character development and insights you get from the character stories and arcade endings that are only present in this version.”
- “Cs extend may include the 'redux' abridged version of this game's main plot, but that cuts out a ton of the additional character development and insights you get from the character stories and arcade endings that are only present in this version.”
- “The storytelling approach feels more akin to a visual novel than a typical arcade fighter, offering hours of dialogue, lore, and character development that deepen the universe beyond the battlefield.”
- “The character designs in this game are atrocious.”
grinding
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect in Blaze Blue is seen as tedious, particularly in its story mode, which some players find frustrating due to its lengthy and repetitive nature. While the game boasts strong mechanics, the necessity to grind through the story can deter those lacking patience, and many players feel that modern games often emphasize farming and grinding, prolonging the experience before reaching the more enjoyable content.
- “This game has really strong mechanics, but the story mode structure is really tedious.”
- “Technically this game lacks nothing, however grinding the story out is tedious and if you have no patience to do that, you'll face quite some trouble.”
- “Playing it since its out, new games are all about farming and grinding, takes ages to get to the good part.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The atmosphere of Blazblue is highly praised for its stylish presentation and nostalgic elements, effectively transporting players back to familiar gaming experiences. The integration of character-specific voice clips during battles enhances the immersive quality, contributing significantly to the overall ambiance of the game.
- “Characters will offer voice clips when they fight each other relating to the situation and how they view the other person; this is amazing for building atmosphere.”
- “Blazblue's soundtrack, combo system, characters, and its general atmosphere are very similar to the ones that I'm already familiar with; thus, it succeeded in taking me back to those beautiful days.”
- “I say this a lot, but this game is dripping in style and atmosphere.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game effectively combines beautiful 2D anime visuals, captivating music, and strong voice acting to create an emotionally compelling narrative that enhances the fast-paced action. Players appreciate how these elements work together to elevate the overall experience.
- “The music perfectly complements the game’s fast-paced action and emotional moments, enhancing the overall experience.”
- “If you like beautiful 2D anime sprites, fantastic music, awesome voice acting, solid fighting mechanics, and an emotionally compelling story.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game is characterized by a lack of advertising and minimal communication from the developers, leading some users to speculate that it may be a quick cash grab or a test for future releases. Overall, there is a sense of uncertainty regarding the game's financial strategy.
- “To me, it doesn't matter if this is just a quick cash grab by some third-party publisher because of the imminent fall of Windows Live, or if it is water testing for future Arc System releases.”
- “No advertising... no real announcements or anything.”

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77%Critics’ scoreBased on 3 critic reviews

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BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger is a arcade fighting game with fantasy, anime and science fiction themes.

BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger is available on PC, Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and others.

On average players spend around 1 hours playing BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger.

BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger was released on February 13, 2014.

BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger was developed by Arc System Works.

BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its stability.

BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include BlazBlue: Continuum Shift Extend, BlazBlue Centralfiction, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja STORM 3 Full Burst HD, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja STORM 3 Full Burst, Guilty Gear Xrd: Sign and others.

BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger

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