"Bleach GC Review"
The controls in Bleach take a little getting used to (especially if you've been playing the Naruto games lately). B is block. A and X are used to attack, and pushing specific directions on the control stick while attacking performs a wide variety of basic moves. Side-stepping is a bit of a problem (especially since it's so effortless for the CPU). In order to side-step an opponent's attack, you have to lightly press up or down on the control stick. Press too hard and you'll find yourself jumping or ducking instead, and such unreliability will probably keep you from using this basic maneuver much at all.
Beyond the basics, you also have a number of moves that rely on your spirit meter (I just made that name up, but it's a sure bet), and different moves require differing amounts of energy. Your meter fills automatically as you fight, or you can charge it whenever you like by holding L and R. You can dash by holding R and using the control stick. Special moves can be done with R + A or R + X, and R + Y allows you to perform your character's gigantic stop-the-battle-and-watch-an-FMV super attack. Y sends out a field that can put your opponent in slow-mo, but if both of you press Y simultaneously, a "tug of war" meter will pop up, cueing both of you to tap A frantically. Depending on how far you get the meter over on your opponent's side, you'll either slow him down or instantly perform your super move.
Putting all of this together can take a bit of strategy, since charging your spirit meter leaves you defenseless and super attacks have obvious cues that make them easy to dodge. So to show off your flashy super attack movie, you might need to get some extra charge on your meter and slow him down first. Some attacks can also knock your opponent flat on his back, giving you time to charge your meter or just stab him through the groin while he's down. Unfortunately, combos are often in the vein of AAAAAA, which can make the game a little too friendly toward button mashers.
Bleach GC features a pretty healthy selection of characters, twenty-seven in all, including two alternates. Not all of them rely on swords: some have staffs, one uses a bow, others use their bare fists, and many of them have distinctive magical and elemental attacks in addition to their weapons. Their speeds, ranges, and physical sizes vary quite a bit, which can clearly unbalance certain match-ups (some characters' high attacks fly clear over others' heads). However, it's not so bad if you know your fighter well, and there aren't any characters that can just smoke everybody.
Unlocking all of the characters pretty much requires a visit to GameFAQs, since the last few can only be opened by repeatedly beating the single mode with a specific sequence of characters. It's a little painful, but it doesn't take nearly as long as getting all of the characters in Naruto 3. Plus, there is a password system that can be used to unlock the characters and other extras, and Sega is slowly revealing the passwords on the official website.
Like most fighters, Bleach is better as a two-player game. In single player, the default AI setting is pretty easy. Opponents often fall for the same attack patterns. and if you knock them down, they usually stay on the ground long enough for you to get an extra stab in, which an experienced human player would never let you do. In addition to the arcade-style "single" mode, there is also a lengthy story mode and a survival mode called "13 Bansyoubu" that pits you against thirteen other fighters, requiring you to beat them all without getting knocked out even once.
Bleach GC is an easy title for importers. The story mode is told entirely in Japanese, but menus and character names are displayed in English. The only trouble most players will run into is trying to decipher all of the lessons in the tutorial. If you're interested in importing, you can order from our partners at Lik-Sang.
Overall, Bleach GC is a pretty average fighter. It's enjoyable, but there are some control and balancing issues, making it a more attractive import for a fan of the show than someone just looking for a new fighting game.