BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle

71%
Game Brain Score Based on 4,153 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • graphics
BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle Game Cover
BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle's mixture of fighting games leads to a surprisingly approachable entry point into the genre.
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"BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle" is a special edition of the ultimate cross-dimensional tag fighting game, including the base game, Version 2.0 update, and all DLC. It features 40 characters from various universes, such as BlazBlue, Persona 4 Arena, Under Night In-Birth, RWBY, and Arcana Heart. This edition also comes with three additional color sets for character customization.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Cloud
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
  • Xbox Game Pass
  • x_box_cloud_gaming
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

71%
Audience ScoreBased on 4,153 reviews
gameplay249 positive mentions
optimization16 negative mentions
  • The game is fun and easy to pick up, making it a great entry point for newcomers to fighting games.
  • The character roster is diverse, featuring characters from multiple franchises, which allows for interesting team combinations.
  • The gameplay mechanics, including the tag system and cross combos, add depth and excitement to matches.
  • The PC port has numerous technical issues, including crashes, poor optimization, and laggy online play.
  • Many characters are locked behind DLC, which can be frustrating for players wanting to access the full roster.
  • The story mode is considered lackluster and repetitive, lacking the depth found in other games from the franchises represented.
  • gameplay669 mentions

    The gameplay of "Cross Tag Battle" is characterized by its simplified mechanics, making it accessible for newcomers while still offering depth for experienced players through innovative tag mechanics and combo systems. While some players appreciate the ease of entry and fun character interactions, others criticize the game for its lack of complexity compared to traditional fighting games, leading to a mixed reception regarding its depth and competitive viability. Overall, it is seen as a solid entry point for those new to fighting games, though veterans may find it lacking in the intricate mechanics they expect from the genre.

    • “The gameplay is fun and engaging, even though I'm still new to tag fighters.”
    • “Gameplay is easy to slide into but deep enough to be intriguing once you commit time to it.”
    • “The gameplay is smooth and even when you lose, you're not salty.”
    • “The gameplay itself, which is always the most important part for any fighting game, is simplified to the point where it kills the game.”
    • “If you played any of the characters from their original games, they are all worse in this game due to simplifying the mechanics.”
    • “This is the absolute worst fighting game I've ever played in my entire life, the whole game is based on gimmicks and pushing one mechanic of the game to its limit, there is no depth for any character and it ruins most of, if not all the characters from their respective games.”
  • story500 mentions

    The story mode of "BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle" is generally viewed as a mixed bag, with many players finding it entertaining yet lacking depth. While the character interactions and fan service are appreciated, the narrative is often described as simplistic and repetitive, with some players feeling it was rushed and underdeveloped. Overall, the story serves more as a backdrop for the gameplay rather than a compelling narrative experience, appealing primarily to fans of the franchises involved.

    • “The game is great and the story feels well thought out and put together.”
    • “The story mode is very rich and fun especially if you know of the characters and their universes they come from.”
    • “The story doesn't take itself seriously at all, it's just a bunch of fan service from multiple franchises; the more you know about them, the cooler the experience will be.”
    • “Not very fun and story mode is horrible.”
    • “The story mode is simple and shallow and you can breeze through it in an afternoon.”
    • “The story is pretty much what you would expect from a crossover fighter as you are all fighting a common enemy but have to figure out what you are doing in this situation and who do you have to defeat to go back to normal.”
  • graphics162 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the vibrant art style and character animations, while others criticize performance issues and lack of graphical options. Some players find the visuals appealing and well-executed, particularly for a fighting game, but there are notable complaints about optimization, especially on lower-end PCs, leading to frame rate drops and crashes. Overall, while the aesthetic is appreciated, technical shortcomings hinder the experience for some users.

    • “If you like anime and like to see them fight from different anime, then I recommend this fighting game. It is very fun with eye-pleasing visuals and a variety of stunning attack effects.”
    • “The game has improved visuals on all fronts, making it look wonderful.”
    • “The graphics are colorful and striking.”
    • “There's no graphics quality settings, and it makes the FPS drop for me, even though my PC has higher RAM.”
    • “This port does have some issues regarding framerates for certain graphics cards, but there is an easy fix for any of the Nvidia ones that can be found in the discussions section.”
    • “Graphics options are rubbish and the game runs like trash.”
  • music151 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its quality, featuring a mix of original tracks and selections from various franchises, particularly BlazBlue, RWBY, and Persona. While many players appreciate the nostalgic and upbeat soundtrack, some note that a significant portion consists of reused tracks from previous games, and there are complaints about the inability to customize music settings in certain areas. Overall, the soundtrack enhances the gameplay experience, contributing to the game's vibrant atmosphere.

    • “The game uses music tracks from each series it features but also original ones for the game overall.”
    • “The music selection is rock solid.”
    • “The soundtrack, as usual with anime games, is outstanding.”
    • “The music tracks are shortened for no reason apart from the shorter matches.”
    • “I don't have very many things to say about the game other than I didn't like it, but the music is alright (this is pretty much thanks to like 92% of the music just being reused from the actual BlazBlue games, Under Night In-Birth, and Persona 4 Arena Ultimax. This game literally just falls under the BlazBlue umbrella because it catches people's attention).”
    • “In-game music levels are extremely low, even with the volume set to 100.”
  • optimization114 mentions

    The optimization of the PC port has received significant criticism, with many users reporting poor performance, crashes, and graphical issues, particularly for AMD users. While some players have managed to achieve smooth gameplay through mods and tweaks, the overall consensus is that the game requires substantial optimization improvements to be fully enjoyable for a wider audience. Developers are reportedly working on fixes, but many players still find the current state of optimization disappointing.

    • “I believe that with some optimization touch-ups and some time this game can truly flourish.”
    • “Game runs smoothly for me in fullscreen with vsync on.”
    • “I haven't experienced any issues with performance or crashing on my system.”
    • “Poor optimization on the PC port; come on Arcsys, I know you can do better with your ports.”
    • “Game's good, port sucks; get the optimization mod, then it's good.”
    • “After a whole year of waiting, this game has been quite disappointing, poorly optimized (it runs perfect, but at the cost of a good graphics card, and for the engine and graphic style, it is over-demanding).”
  • humor58 mentions

    The humor in "Blazblue Cross Tag Battle" is a standout feature, with players enjoying the witty character dialogue, amusing interactions, and funny mechanics that arise from the crossover of various franchises. While some find the humor engaging and entertaining, others feel it can become repetitive or annoying over time. Overall, the game offers a mix of comedic moments that resonate well with fans familiar with the source material, enhancing the overall experience.

    • “The character dialogue is great and it's really funny sometimes.”
    • “Susan aggressively bullying a mute woman with an umbrella is too funny.”
    • “The interactions between combo pairings kept it funny and made the story interesting for each route that was taken.”
  • stability32 mentions

    The game's stability has been widely criticized, with players reporting frequent crashes, freezes, and various bugs that disrupt gameplay, particularly in online lobbies. While some issues have been addressed through patches and mods, many users still experience significant problems, making it less suitable for competitive play. Overall, the game is described as a "buggy mess," though some players have managed to find a stable experience on their systems.

    • “With that out of the way, the game runs great for me and the online has been smooth so far, with about 3 out of 10 games being laggy.”
    • “Game runs great on my machine, but it is clear that some people are having various issues.”
    • “After adjusting the NVIDIA controls to fix some issues, this game runs great!”
    • “The game has some unique issues that have been solved more or less, such as a buggy release on PC with frequent crashes that have been resolved with patches and a multitude of optimizations for lower-end PCs and other useful features with a great improvement mod.”
    • “For what they are asking for this game, considering it's half recycled (DLC) content and buggy as hell, I'd wait for a blowout sale price.”
    • “For example, the slowdown and input delay that comes from the HUD itself, which a mod helps to get rid of this problem, as well as random freezes in the lobbies that require rebooting the game constantly when they happen.”
  • emotional14 mentions

    Players appreciate the game's wholesome and fun atmosphere, capturing the essence of RWBY, which evokes a sense of joy and nostalgia. However, the emotional impact is somewhat diminished by a lack of significant gameplay changes and a disappointing story, leading to feelings of heartbreak for those hoping for a deeper experience. Overall, while the game offers enjoyable family-friendly moments, it falls short in certain gameplay aspects that affect the overall emotional engagement.

    • “They did RWBY's wholesomeness justice, so I absolutely got what I paid for.”
    • “This, in turn, makes the complete lack of a major change in gameplay that many had been hoping for all the more heartbreaking.”
    • “A lot of family fun and wholesome gameplay to get out of this game!”
  • replayability14 mentions

    Blazblue: Cross Tag Battle offers moderate replayability, primarily through its story mode featuring character interactions and multiple endings, though it lacks the depth found in previous Blazblue titles. The absence of a pair play mode and incomplete DLC may also detract from long-term engagement. Recent patches have improved stability, making the game more enjoyable overall.

    • “Replayability: 8 / 10”
    • “The game has a story mode, pretty simple stuff but quite fun to see the characters interacting with each other like the FighterZ story. Different from the FighterZ story, though, this one doesn't have a bunch of repetitive fights. You'll complete 4 mini campaigns, each regarding one of the games, and you have the option of different endings, so there's something for replay value.”
    • “Also, the DLC isn't complete, but it's not much of a bother if the characters you like are playable right now.”
    • “I'd pick up the special edition if it goes on sale, but wear out all the other BlazBlue games before getting this one as the replay value here is nowhere near the prior BlazBlue titles.”
    • “The lack of pair play mode also doesn't help replay value.”
    • “The game has a story mode, pretty simple stuff but quite fun to see the characters interacting with each other like the FighterZ story. However, this one doesn't have a bunch of repetitive fights; you'll complete 4 mini campaigns, each regarding one of the games, and you have the option of different endings, so there's something for replay value, but not that much.”
  • monetization10 mentions

    The monetization strategy of Blazblue Cross Tag has been widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, with many reviewers feeling that it exploits fans of the franchise rather than offering a genuine celebration of the series. The game is perceived as prioritizing profit over quality, leading to disappointment among its audience.

    • “This is a cash grab.”
    • “Blazblue Cross Tag feels nothing like a celebration and more of a cash grab marketing tactic.”
    • “It's a brutal cash grab on everyone who is maybe a fan of one of the shows/anime and nothing more.”
  • grinding9 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, particularly when it comes to farming points for unlockable content, which often yields minimal rewards. While the game mechanics are praised for their accessibility and depth, the repetitive nature of grinding for points and the cumbersome controls detract from the overall experience. Many recommend the game for those interested in learning fighting games, but caution about the tediousness involved in unlocking features.

    • “Farming for points to unlock character colors, avatars, and other completely useless online features is tedious, much like DBFZ. I thought it couldn't get any worse than Central Fiction, where you had to play arcade mode several times to get a minuscule amount of points, double if you can beat the unlimited boss, which even then barely nets you anything for what it's worth.”
    • “The actual story in the game is utterly nonsensical; characters are often reduced to caricatured tropes; the online lobby system is needlessly tedious.”
    • “The controls are far too tedious to execute and remember, making the gameplay experience frustrating.”
  • character development4 mentions

    Character development in this fighting game is perceived as minimal, with a focus on aesthetics and character design rather than a deep narrative. While the story is considered silly, the fast-paced gameplay and unique character designs from various anime and games contribute to a nostalgic and enjoyable experience for players.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

69% average critic score

Buy BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle

Play time

25hMedian play time
218hAverage play time
10-400hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 12 analyzed playthroughs

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