Michael is Low on Hit Points
BlazBlue is the best 2d fighter ever, rendering almost all of the competition obsolete
- Posted September 7th, 2009 at 1:14 AM ET
- Subjects BlazBlue
- Tags impressions
- Image sources
1- Blazblue [unknown] - Video searches
none
I really don't feel that this is hyperbole on my part. With BlazBlue now in existence, I can't really see myself picking up but one other 2d fighter currently on the market ever again. BlazBlue holds that much of a commanding lead over the competition. Everything else feels so dull and antiquated in comparison. What I've always truly wanted from a fighting game has finally arrived, and it's as glorious as I hoped it would be.
Being the spiritual successor to Guilty Gear, Arc System Works' BlazBlue inherits a lot of its look and feel from its predecessor. Even still, this isn't a case of you'll like BlazBlue only if you liked Guilty Gear. There are newly added developments here that radically alter the landscape of 2d fighters...
...namely, the "drive" button.
Added to the usual fare of light, medium, and heavy attacks, the drive attack is something unique to each and every character. And that is the sole key to progression in the genre. Each character has a radically different drive. I don't mean different as an aesthetic sense, which is what predominantly distinguishes many characters and their moves in typical fighters.
What I mean is different in the strategic and play-style sense. For instance, Jin's drive freezes the opponent. His whole "game," therefor, is based upon strategies that arise from that unique skill. Iron Tager's drive hits "magnetize" an opponent, allowing him to "suck" them in for a devastating attack. Carl can use his drive to control his additional comrade on the field. Etc, etc.
What this amounts to is that each character has a wholly unique play style. Each character is like their own game unto themselves. This is so far beyond your typical "big heavy throw character" versus "light hitting fast moving character." This is a whole new level of cast differentiation.
There are only 12 characters to pick from; this is a good thing. Too many fighters go for quantity over quality. BlazBlue's characters have quality, uniqueness, and depth beyond any other fighter. Everybody has a "purpose" gameplay-wise to be in the game, and no characters are jokes, clones, or boring.
Which is precisely what I've always wanted to see in a fighting game. So then, what do I really care about other fighters? Street Fighter II -- I mean IV -- is too old and too basic with stale move lists and match-ups. That goes the same for other fighters based off of the typical formula. Even the superb Guilty Gear has been completely eclipsed as a result of BlazBlue's drive attacks.
The only other 2d fighter that still has a purpose in my eyes is Marvel vs Capcom 2. The mayhem of 3-on-3 with tag outs, team ups, crazy special attacks, and utter ridiculousness still deserves all the attention it gets. I'll still play that game from time to time. But any other more "normal" 2d fighter has just been dusted by Guilty Gear's successor, so to say.
Here comes another wholesale video game recommendation: BlazBlue is the best thing to happen to the fighter genre in... well, ever actually!
1 kadian1364
In terms of traditional 2D fighters, I have next to no experience to speak from, and I can only take your word about BlazBlue, adding to similar praise I've read concerning the innovations Guilty Gear brought to the table.
As for me, I enjoy my alternative 2D fighter, a.k.a. Super Smash Bros. For depth of gameplay and pure mechanics, Melee is the best of the three. There's something eternally rewarding about KOing an opponent in 3-4 moves. The creative flow and precise efficiency at the highest levels of play make SSBM, in my eyes, a beautiful game.
2 Seantaku
I've read so many good things about this game. I definitely have to pick it up at some point. It's great to see you got a PS3!! Most of my friends have X-box's and each of them has had to get theirs repaired at LEAST 3 times. Just not worth it in my opinion.
Marvel vs Capcom 2 is really amazing as well. If you already haven't downloaded it you can get it on the PS3 Store. So worth it!
I also saw ur comment last post that you got Valkyrie Chronicles. Such an amazing game! I'm kind stuck at the moment in my game and I had to take a break from it, which sucks, but I'm gonna get back into it soon. Did you by any chance choose the Japanese voice track? That's what I did.
I'll let you know if I get BlazBlue and we could possibly play online. The beauty of the internet. Heh
Re Michael is LoHP
@ kadian1364
I completely forgot about the Smash Brothers series! It might be because I usually don't associate them with your typical 2d fighter, but it's more likely because the third installment was... well, lets just say we don't talk about that game around here. Melee was one of the best fighters of all time, and the first was excellent too. Unfortunately, Nintendo released that atrocity for the Wii, whose name I won't even freaking mention!
@ Seantaku
I have a post coming down the pipeline on what I think about the 360 as a system; it's not pretty. The PS3 Slim, however, is magnificent! I haven't gone online yet (I just got it), but I'll post my online handle here once I get it.
I mentioned MvC2 in the post as being the one other 2d fighter I think is still worth playing. It was my previous champion, until BlazBlue topped it.
Of course I chose the Japanese track in Valkyria Chronicles! How could I not, after all these years of sub-par dubbed J-RPGs? Sure there have been some good ones (FF12 OMG), but I like my odds better with the Japanese voice actors.
3 Seantaku
Glad to see we are both on the same page! I guess about everything actually! lol.
I should have figured u chose the Japanese Track on Valkyrie. lol
Final Fantasy 12??? ZOMG!! We have to talk about that game at some point!
Re Michael is LoHP
@ Seantaku
Went online in BlazBlue finally. Nobody was on except people ranked in the 40's+. It took a few matches, but I beat a level 40-ish guy at level 1 and jumped up to level 9. That had to bruise his ego a bit!
PSN ID: Low_on_HitPoints
4 ETERNAL
Considering the amount of praise BlazBlue has received, I pretty much figured it was above average, but this post definitely convinced me. I'm sorta apathetic towards fighting games - I've always been bad at them, and the only one I played semi-seriously was Melee - but I'll check this out whenever I get back into the genre.
I think I'll have to wait a while and play it on the PS3 if/when I get one, though, because the Xbox controller was not meant for fighters. Period.
Re Michael is LoHP
@ ETERNAL
The 360 d-pad is what you would call a nightmare. I've seen mods that look doable and greatly improve the pad, but who really wants to put in that effort when I can just pick it up on the PS3.
BlazBlue is pretty freaking deep, much like Guilty Gear before it. There's a ton of good players online that won't give you a moments breath. BlazBlue is the type of game that favors heavy, near-non-stop offense and exceptionally timed, clever defense. While the simplicity behind the basic drive attacks means anyone can pick up and play it, the pros still decimate the noobs thanks to timing and depth.
5 LJ
Timing.
Oh boy, timing.
That's exactly why a Potemkin to Tager player like me finds the ill-considered throw mechanic so painful.
The entire idea of a pressure-heavy throw-centric character is to use your superior experience to figure out exactly what sort of attack your opponent is going for, and punish them for their impetuousness. But to do this, throws have to be, A: invincible during execution so it'll be a valid counter (they got that part right, at least), B: Instant in delivery, so the opponent won't be able to jump out of it (I'm not even kidding), C: difficult to tech out of, something should be difficult even for trained players, though not here, thanks to the enormous heads up and teching window, and D: Still damaging even if teched. It's supposed to be a punishment, not a run-of-the-mill attack.
Suffice to say I found it very jarring to pick up a game where some tiny frame data turned a character who was great with experience into a character who always loses the war of attrition with a damned fragile glass cannon rushdown character.
That's what BlazBlue is. Either you rushdown, you lockdown, or you get a beatdown; and I don't think ANY fighting game should have the optimal strategy being to abandon all thought except I WANT TO HIT HIM FIRST SO I CAN HIT HIM A WHOLE BUNCH.
Also, sorry for the TL;DR.
Re Michael is LoHP
@ LJ
Don't apologize for the TL;DR! Thank you for the long and well thought out response!
Well, if you make teching out of throws too difficult, it may overpower throws on at least the lower experienced playing fields. It's kind of hard to argue balance dynamics when we can't build that version and play-test it. So I can't say for sure that you're 100% right. But the Dust Loop community certainly seems to favor some of what you're saying, and Tager appears to be rated quite low now.
However, I don't think that really matters all that much. Take Bang -- who's also ranked low -- and put him in the hands of Dora. Suddenly, that tier list means nothing. Same thing with Carl -- again ranked low -- who managed to make it to the SBO finals. In other words, I don't think Tager is a lost cause at all. And that's just at the highest levels. I'm sure that in your normal everyday play, an experienced player could handle Tager just fine. Actually, I know so, since I've lost to some damn good Tagers!