XBlaze Code: Embryo
- March 1, 2016
- Arc System Works
XBlaze Code: Embryo is a visual novel at heart, so expect very little in the way of traditional gameplay. You can alter the fate of the story by reading different in-game articles, but while the system that the title employs is unique, it's also far too ambiguous. All in all, you're left with a visually appealing visual novel that doesn't really have a strong enough protagonist to carry it.
Get on SteamIn XBlaze Code: Embryo, players assume the role of Touya Kagari, a high school student who gets caught up in a battle between supernatural beings. After an encounter with a mysterious girl named Es, Touya is drawn into the world of the Azure, a powerful force that has links to the BlazBlue series. This visual novel features engaging characters, intricate storylines, and deep lore that will appeal to BlazBlue fans and newcomers alike.
PC
Windows
PlayStation
Playstation 3
Playstation Vita
Reviews
- The game features good visuals, voice acting, and a unique gameplay system that relies on reading TOi articles to progress, making it engaging.
- It serves as a great introduction to the BlazBlue series, with interesting characters and multiple endings that encourage replayability.
- The soundtrack is enjoyable and complements the scenes well, enhancing the overall experience.
- The story is convoluted and often feels cliché, with many characters lacking depth and personality, making it hard to connect with them.
- The TOi system can be frustrating, as missing articles can lead to bad endings, which detracts from the enjoyment of the game.
- The writing is criticized for being poor, with awkward translations and unnecessary fanservice that feels out of place.
- story52 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story of this game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it convoluted and lacking depth, while others appreciate its unique take on the BlazBlue universe and its engaging character routes. Many noted that the initial chapters are slow and generic, but the narrative improves as it progresses, offering multiple endings and interesting lore for fans of the franchise. Overall, while the production quality is praised, the story itself is often described as average or cliché, appealing primarily to those familiar with the series.
“As a big fan of the BlazBlue series, this game has a story that is uniquely different from the game, and yet still very interesting.”
“Even if you haven't played BlazBlue before, I'm fairly certain that you will love the story of this game.”
“The story is pretty unique, setting up events prior to the war of the Black Beast that took place 100 years before the events of the games to the point I actually didn't know who was particularly good or evil.”
“This novel has no idea inside it, no proper story nor storytelling and no value.”
“The story and characters are really bad; it has some lore about the BlazBlue universe, but in my opinion, it is not worth it.”
“Convoluted storyline, and it's easy to end up stuck due to not having read the correct 'articles' in previous chapters, which takes away a lot of the enjoyment.”
- music12 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, featuring a diverse mix of styles including dubstep, opera, and nostalgic NES vibes, which enhances the overall experience. While some tracks may not reach the heights of previous titles in the series, they effectively complement the scenes and contribute to the game's atmosphere. Many players express a desire for a downloadable soundtrack, highlighting the enjoyable and memorable nature of the music.
“I also love the use of dubstep and opera, and even some old Mario tunnel NES vibes in some songs.”
“Best parts of this game are each scene is fully voice acted, with good music to accompany the scene. The sprites are decent, the CG is good, and the story routes, especially the ES route, are splendid.”
“Great visuals, alright music, bad writing, barely any relevant BlazBlue lore.”
“The music matches well with most scenes, with a handful of tracks that, while not really standing up to offerings from Calamity Trigger, Chronophantasma, or Centralfiction, do hold their own given the context presented.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their quality and presentation, with good visuals and artwork that enhance the experience. However, some players feel that the overall impact is diminished by poor writing and clichéd characters, which detracts from the enjoyment of the visuals. While the graphics are appealing, the gameplay primarily focuses on reading, making the visual quality less critical to the overall experience.
“Great visuals, alright music, bad writing, barely any relevant BlazBlue lore.”
“Many things in the game are pretty good: story, presentation, artwork, BGM, etc. These aspects make it hard for me to stop playing and go to bed or do something else.”
“Play this at 720p windowed mode to get better graphics. It does not affect the gameplay since the game is all about reading, no complaints.”
“Playing this at 720p in windowed mode improves the graphics, but it doesn't affect the gameplay since the game is primarily about reading.”
“The graphics feel outdated and lack the detail expected from modern games.”
“Character models are poorly designed and lack any real depth or personality.”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the visual novel is considered average, with a unique system that requires players to read articles to progress. While some appreciate the soundtrack and graphics at lower resolutions, the overall experience is described as short and somewhat frustrating.
“Decent visual novel, it has a nice soundtrack and a unique gameplay system that relies on the player to read articles to play the game.”
“Play this at 720p windowed mode to get better graphics; it does not affect the gameplay since the game is all about reading, no complaints.”
“Very average for €20... gameplay is weird for a visual novel, short.”
“Gameplay: Ah, we are entering the critical zone of my frustration, so I will first give credit where credit is due.”
“Play this at 720p windowed mode to get better graphics... does not affect the gameplay since the game is all about reading, no complaints.”
- character development3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is criticized for being predictable and lacking depth, with players feeling that it fails to enhance the overall experience. The mandatory nature of character-related content to avoid negative outcomes detracts from enjoyment, leading to frustration rather than engagement. While the character designs are appreciated, they are not enough to justify the game's shortcomings in this area.
“Not even character development that wasn't already obvious.”
“The character designs are cute, but not worth the hassle the game entails.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted as both funny and hilarious, particularly in the secret episode and the gag scenario, making the effort to explore all endings worthwhile.
“The secret episode is funny and hilarious, and it's worth the time spent to unlock all endings.”
“Well, at least Xblaze's gag scenario was pretty funny...”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
While the game's visuals and voice acting are praised, the writing and clichéd characters detract from the emotional experience, leading to feelings of frustration rather than genuine connection.
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find that grinding can lead to a tedious gameplay experience, often detracting from overall enjoyment.
“Grinding can make the game feel tedious and repetitive.”
“The constant need to grind for resources becomes exhausting over time.”
“I found the grinding aspect to be a major drag, taking away from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
