BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma
- November 21, 2012
- Arc System Works
Fighting fans will find a lot to dig into here, and if new players know what their getting into with this, Blazblue: Chrono Phantasma gives them all the tools to get into the battle themselves.
BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma, released in Japan as BlazBlue: Chronophantasma, is a 2D fighting game developed by Arc System Works. It is the third game of the Blazblue series, set after the events of BlazBlue: Continuum Shift. Besides normal rebalancing from Continuum Shift Extend, Chrono Phantasma features several revamped gameplay mechanics and introduces seven new characters to the roster. The ch…
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Reviews
- The game features a tremendously deep yet accessible fighting system that appeals to both veterans and newcomers, with a user-friendly interface and extensive tutorials.
- The character designs are unique and varied, with a wide range of fighting styles and a high-quality presentation, including stunning graphics and an excellent soundtrack.
- The online multiplayer experience is smooth and enjoyable, with innovative lobby systems that enhance social interaction among players.
- The focus on combos can make the gameplay feel repetitive and less engaging, with some players feeling that it lacks a tactical element and defensive gameplay.
- The story mode is criticized for being slow-paced and dialogue-heavy, which can detract from the overall experience, especially for those seeking more action.
- There are significant concerns regarding character balance and the prevalence of DLC, with some characters being perceived as overpowered and the additional costs for content being seen as excessive.
- story36 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The story in BlazBlue is generally praised for its depth and complexity, with many reviewers highlighting its engaging narrative and character development, which is enhanced by visual novel elements. However, some criticism is directed at the pacing and presentation, with certain players finding the story mode slow and the humor lacking. Overall, while the story is considered a strong aspect of the game, opinions vary on its execution compared to previous installments.
“The story mode is also very good; if you have played previous BlazBlue games, you will understand what's going on. If you haven't, you can simply play the 'Teach Me, Miss Litchi' mode, which will review all previous events in the BlazBlue series, so it's very helpful!”
“This game has it all, an amazing fighting system that's deep for veterans and welcoming for newbies, easily the greatest story ever told in fighting games, some of the best net code/online in fighting games, gorgeous hand-drawn graphics, and much, much more.”
“BlazBlue has been known as one of the few fighting games that has a strong story.”
“The story mode has an incredibly slow pace to it, the sprites look terrible when they're zoomed (a new way to present portraits that really doesn't work), the voice-work isn't on-par, the humor misses a lot of the time, and the entire ordeal seems uninspired to a critical extent.”
“The story mode is weak.”
“It's fine if you just want to rush through the awkward story mode, but it's not worth $50.”
- music27 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The music in BlazBlue: Chronophantasma is widely praised for its quality and remixing of previous soundtracks, contributing significantly to the game's overall appeal. However, some users have reported issues with the included soundtrack CD, which has been described as defective and difficult to play on various devices. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a highlight, enhancing the immersive experience of the game, despite some frustrations with its physical media.
“Blazblue: Chronophantasma is an excellent addition to the already fantastic Blazblue series, offering new mechanics to spice up the gameplay, redrawn sprites that look much better, and remixed music that sounds great for the most part.”
“This game has it all, an amazing fighting system that's deep for veterans and welcoming for newbies, easily the greatest story ever told in fighting games, gorgeous hand-drawn graphics, innovative modes of play, and an amazing soundtrack that you will absolutely want to listen to outside of the game.”
“The soundtrack in this game is absolutely amazing.”
“The soundtrack CD was defective; it will not play on any CD player or computer I've put it in.”
“Music is a bit recycled from the last 3 entries.”
“The OST is a remix of the original for the most part.”
- gameplay15 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Blazblue: Chronophantasma has received mixed reviews, with some praising its unique character mechanics and overall enjoyment, while others criticize the overhaul for creating an overly aggressive rushdown style that lacks defensive options. While the graphics and music enhance the experience, the gameplay's accessibility and balance issues have led to frustration among players, particularly in online matches. Overall, the game offers a diverse cast and engaging mechanics, but the execution has left some fans disappointed.
“Blazblue: Chronophantasma is an excellent addition to the already fantastic Blazblue series, offering new mechanics to spice up the gameplay, redrawn sprites that look much better, and remixed music that sounds great for the most part.”
“Solid game with good mechanics; every character has a unique fighting style, and some of them resemble other games completely, like Hakumen, which is like playing Samurai Shodown, or Noel, who plays like an angel from the KOF series.”
“We regularly play fighting games, and this one captivated us for hours on end thanks to the diverse cast and excellent gameplay.”
“It's ultimately nothing more than a mess of rushdowns that are almost completely inescapable and a complete lack of any sort of defensive game, in stark contrast to Persona 4 Arena from Arc System Works, which had spot-on mechanics to punish the heck out of rushdowns.”
“There's so much wrong with the gameplay, it's impossible to go into everything.”
“The overhauled gameplay is no fun to play online, horrendously inaccessible, and is just a massive pool of rushdowns.”
- graphics14 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are consistently praised for their high quality, featuring gorgeous hand-drawn visuals and impressive artwork that enhances the overall experience. While most reviews highlight the stunning graphics, one user noted a slight pixelation compared to a previous title, BlazBlue: CS. Overall, the visuals contribute significantly to the game's appeal, complementing its deep gameplay and engaging story.
“Graphics and sound are of very high quality, with the visuals never suffering the slightest hiccup.”
“This game has it all, gorgeous hand-drawn graphics, an amazing soundtrack that you will absolutely want to listen to outside of the game, and much, much more.”
“An impressive gameplay and incredible graphics.”
“My only gripe is the graphics seem worse than BlazBlue: CS; it looks a lot more pixelated.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the hilarious dialogue in the tutorial mode, others feel that the overall comedic elements often fall flat and lack inspiration. Characters like Iron Tager add a humorous touch through their exaggerated traits, but the humor doesn't consistently resonate throughout the game's narrative and presentation.
“This game has it all, an amazing fighting system that's deep for veterans and welcoming for newbies, easily the greatest story ever told in fighting games, some of the best net code/online in fighting games, gorgeous hand-drawn graphics, innovative modes of play such as 'abyss' mode which has an RPG-like leveling system, an amazing soundtrack that you will absolutely want to listen to outside of the game/on your iPod/phone/stereo, amazing characters which are all unique—no clone fighters here—and mastering each fighter is a game in and of itself, an awesome tutorial mode that comes with hilarious dialogue whilst also teaching you fighting game fundamentals, and much, much more.”
“First thing that comes to mind is a character named Iron Tager and he's big and slow, but if he grabs you, oh boy, the damage is not even funny.”
- character development2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users appreciate the character designs and music in the game, highlighting them as standout features. However, there is no specific mention of character development in terms of growth or narrative depth.
“What I like: I love the character designs and music.”
“Overall, I love the character designs and music for the game.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The stability of the game varies significantly among players, with some experiencing freezing issues and others encountering counter mechanics that affect gameplay differently. Overall, the stability seems to be inconsistent, leading to a diverse range of player experiences.
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
“I experience constant lag and disconnections, which ruins the overall experience.”
“The stability issues are frustrating; I often find myself kicked out of matches unexpectedly.”
