XBlaze Code: Embryo

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.

71%Game Brain Score

story, music

gameplay, character development

75% User Score Based on 73 reviews

Critic Score 50%Based on 1 reviews

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About

XBlaze Code: Embryo is a single player simulation game with fantasy and anime themes. It was developed by Arc System Works and was released on March 1, 2016. It received neutral reviews from critics and mostly positive reviews from players.

Xblaze Code: Embryo is a Japanese visual novel and the prequel to the fighting game series BlazBlue. The game is set 150 years before the events in BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger. The player assumes the role of Toya Kagari, a resident of Shin Yokozaki City and a sophomore at the prestigious Hakuou North Academy.

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Play Modes

Single-Player

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75%

Audience ScoreBased on 73 reviews

story12 positive mentions

character development2 negative mentions

Engaging and interesting story with multiple endings that expand the BlazBlue universe lore, suitable for both fans and newcomers.
High production quality including good visuals, full voice acting, expressive character animations, and a memorable soundtrack.
Unique gameplay mechanic where reading different in-game articles (TOi system) influences the story outcomes, encouraging replayability.

The story can be convoluted, cliché, and unevenly paced with some poorly developed or irritating characters, including a weak protagonist.
The TOi choice system is often confusing and unintuitive, leading to frequent bad endings unless carefully guided by trial and error.
Presence of unnecessary fanservice and stereotypical anime tropes, with translation and localization issues detracting from the narrative experience.

story
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
72%
6%
The story is a mixed bag, praised for its unique setting and connection to the BlazBlue universe but criticized for being convoluted, clichéd, and less engaging for newcomers. While some find the narrative interesting and appreciate the branching routes and production value, others feel it lacks strong characterization and coherence, making it less compelling overall. The innovative choice system based on reading in-game articles adds novelty but can also feel confusing and detract from the experience.
- “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.”
- “The story of this installment takes place many years before the first BlazBlue fighting game Calamity Trigger, showing a world in which the Black Beast had not appeared, explains what Takamagahara even was back then culminating in endgame concepts that really shouldn't be spoiled here.”
- “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 itself is already bad enough but it's full of these very oddly named things ("union" is the name of some sort of affliction that makes you evil?) that are explained but they also feel out of place.”
- “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.”
music
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
23%
23%
The music in the game is widely praised for its quality and fitting blend of styles, including dubstep, opera, and nostalgic video game influences, effectively complementing scenes and enhancing the overall experience. While not always on par with previous BlazBlue soundtracks, it holds its own and contributes positively alongside the voice acting and visuals. Some users expressed a desire for an official soundtrack release.
- “I also love the use of dubstep and opera, and even some old Mario tunnel NES vibes in some songs.”
- “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.”
- “However, the music featured was nice, some of the tracks even paying homage to the BlazBlue tracks.”
- “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.”
- “May have an album music or OST sale in the Steam store.”
gameplay
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The gameplay is centered around visual novel elements with a unique mechanic involving reading news articles to progress, which adds world-building depth. However, it is relatively short and offers limited interactive engagement, making it feel average for its price. Overall, the gameplay is unconventional but may not appeal to those seeking traditional gameplay experiences.
- “I liked the "checking the news" mechanic, as it fleshed out the world.”
- “It has a unique gameplay system that relies on the player to read the articles to play the game.”
- “Playing at 720p in windowed mode improves the graphics but does not affect gameplay, since the game is all about reading.”
- “Very average for 20€; gameplay is weird for a visual novel and short.”
- “Gameplay: this is where my frustration starts, although I give credit where it's due.”
- “Xblaze code: embryo is a visual novel at heart, so expect very little in the way of traditional gameplay.”
graphics
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
20%
The graphics are widely praised for their appealing, anime-inspired visual style and good artwork, contributing positively to the game's presentation. While not graphically demanding, playing in 720p Windows mode can enhance the visual experience without impacting gameplay. Overall, the visuals stand out as a strong aspect despite criticisms directed at other elements like writing and lore.
- “The visuals are really nice; they somehow reminded me of an action anime series aimed at young men or 'shonen'.”
- “Great visuals, alright music, bad writing, barely any relevant BlazBlue lore.”
- “Many things in the game are pretty good, including story, presentation, artwork, BGM, etc. These aspects kept me playing instead of going to bed or doing something else.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in this visual novel is quirky and awkward but often funny, with particular praise for the secret episode and gag scenarios that provide genuinely hilarious moments.
- “The secret episode is funny and hilarious and worth the time spent to open all endings.”
- “Well, at least XBlaze's gag scenario was pretty funny.”
- “This VN is fun, a bit funny in an awkward kind of way.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
Character development in the game is minimal and largely predictable, offering little depth or new insight into the setting. While character designs are appealing, the mandatory and cumbersome story elements detract from the overall experience.
- “Not even character development that wasn't already obvious otherwise.”
- “The character designs are cute, but not worth the hassle the game entails.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect is marred by weak writing and clichéd characters, which detract from the experience despite good visuals and voice acting. This combination leads to frustration rather than genuine emotional engagement.
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Grinding in the game is noted to be tedious, potentially impacting the overall enjoyment by making progression feel repetitive.

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50%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews

XBLAZE Code: Embryo Review
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.
Pushsquare.com
50%

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Frequently Asked Questions

XBlaze Code: Embryo is a simulation game with fantasy and anime themes.

XBlaze Code: Embryo is available on PC, Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation and others.

XBlaze Code: Embryo was released on March 1, 2016.

XBlaze Code: Embryo was developed by Arc System Works.

XBlaze Code: Embryo has received neutral reviews from players and neutral reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its gameplay.

XBlaze Code: Embryo is a single player game.

Similar games include Our World is Ended, Crystalline, Digimon Survive, OZMAFIA!!, Fatal Twelve and others.

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