New BlazBlue streaking to 3DS, PSP

The BlazBlue series is spreading like wildfire. Zen United and PQube today announced they will release Arc System Works' BlazBlue: Continuum Shift II for the 3DS and PSP in Europe later this year. Continuum Shift II is the first installment in the series brought to the 3DS; the PSP has previously played host to the original BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger.

Both versions will feature all the modes from previous console versions of BlazBlue, including the story and Legion modes. Similar to a traditional survival mode, Legion will let players form an army of up to 20 fighters and take on rival armies, one at a time. The game will also include local multiplayer support, with lobbies of up to four (consisting of two fighters and two spectators). The PSP edition will also have "unlimited" versions of all the game's fighters, which can be unlocked in the game's new shop mode.

After debuting in 2009, BlazBlue appears to be following the franchise model established by Arc System Works' previous hit fighting franchise, Guilty Gear. From 1998 through 2009, Guilty Gear evolved through no fewer than a half-dozen incremental upgrades, most rebalancing characters and adding one or two fighters to the roster. 2010's BlazBlue: Continuum Shift added three fighters and Legion mode.

Aksys Games, North American publisher of previous BlazBlue titles, had not confirmed US releases for the 3DS and PSP editions of Continuum Shift II as of press time. For more on the last installment of the series, check out GameSpot's review of BlazBlue: Continuum Shift.