This Bleach fighter fails miserably to be more than just fan service, and as it is, it is barely fan service.
- It's Bleach
- Plenty of playable characters
- Decent character models
Negative
- All the waggling is tiresome
- No mode that represent's the anime's story
- The loadings are awfully long
Today, the anime known as Bleach is one of the most popular one. I've played several anime based games, even Japan only, and by far this ranks at the bottom of them all. The first translated Bleach game takes a wrong step on the Wii that's for sure. There are plenty of characters to play with, but there isn't the anime's story, a ton of waggling will tire you out, and almost never ending loadings, Not only that, Shattered Blade is just, just barely a serviceable game for the most dedicated Bleach fans.
Disappointingly enough, there isn't Bleach's anime story here. The Episode mode tells a different story. Since it is the first official translated Bleach game, fans will be struck by the horrible storylines available. Shattered Blade is a barely serviceable game. Out of all 3 most popular anime (Naruto Shippuden and Dragon Ball), this series has been almost forgotten. Even though the anime's episode today aren't as brilliant as the beginning. The game goes as far to the arrancar arc of the anime.
It is quite a shame that the anime's story isn't represented in this game. Instead you follow certain characters (start with 3; Ichigo, Renji and Toushiro). The Episode Mode acts as the game's story mode, even if it poorly executed which consists of a set of battles, fight the final boss and that is it, basically one is out in less than an hour. The characters you use will search for the Sōkyoku shards, from when Ichigo destroyed the Sōkyoku in Rukia's execution. The player you choose (you will eventually get more players) will fight for their own reason against other characters from the Bleach universe, upon being told by a person that collecting all shards will fulfill their current desire. And so upon quite some battles, you will find a new face you have never and will never see. A new arrancar, Arturo Plateado was especially designed for the game. He happens have similarity with other arrancar, having the appearance similar to Grimmjow and Ulquiorra. To cut it short, he is the other person sharing the official box art with Ichigo. Arturo is acts nothing more than the game's final boss, but he is a playable character. He also happens to have an atrocious and unfitting voice. Thanks to the shards you dumbly collected, and upon finding out you were tricked (in most episodes), you fight him, defeat him, have an ending and you completed an episode. Some unlockable things can be achieved by completing this mode. All battles are one round. You'll just feel that the whole Bleach universe is coming after you to get your shards.
There is a big roster of Bleach characters which are instantly recognizable, even though the models are merely decent. Unlocking them may be a little annoying, since you may need to use specific characters in specific modes to unlock them. Other than the Episode Mode, the Arcade mode stays faithful to the genre with a series of fights, and there is the versus mode. The training mode lets you get used to the game's controls and things and surprisingly enough unlocks you a character. All characters have special attacks, which sometimes may seem to appear too often or too early in battles. They aren't as flashy or cool as the source material at all. For example Ichigo's bankai is explosive while here seems more like a wimp trying to do a magic trick. Also the English voice acting lacks impact and is most noticed when Byakuya uses his bankai. Small details, but serious fans who watch Bleach weekly will get annoyed by this.
The combat is mostly broken, incredibly repetitive and tiresome. You can't just sit down and press A and B and hit. NO, you need to shake the Wii Remote aggressively for your character to attack. When just shaking it, your player will enter a phase of repetitive, none ending series of fast-hitting sword attacks, so fast that you won't be able to see much. Winning a battle with just mindlessly shaking the Wii Remote wouldn't be much, so you have a limit to how much you can waggle. Pressing A or B occasionally changes the pace with a different attack. With C you can use the flash step to run away or avoid attacks and with the Z button you guard which is almost useless since most of the enemies attacks are not block able almost everytime. Shake the Nunchuk to build up spiritual energy. When you have enough, shake it more to unleash your power. These special attacks seem to appear too often, but most of all lack power. This special attack scene can't be skipped, and most of them look awful, not graphically but compared to the anime. Swinging the remote takes advantage of the Wii, but over time the waggling and swinging around becomes tedious.
There are multiple difficulties; easy, normal and hard. Some enemies can be unreasonable difficult to deal with even on easy mode. But on the other hand so battle can be won without the enemy striking you. Just waggle and press A or B sometimes to deal more damage, and when the waggling meter is drained, go far and then go back to finish the job. It is an obvious tactic, but it works. The waggling and shaking is very tiresome, and feels nothing more than mindless button-mashing. In gameplay, Shattered Blade fails miserably. All fights are one-on-one fights. Why didn't they release an English version of Blade Battlers?
The fact that Shattered Blade is an anime based game certainly limits the options and available originality put in. But there are so much better anime based games even on the Wii. Why does this game fails to bad? Simple, because an anime based game must use its license to please the series fans. Shattered Blade's waggling and the lack of real story impact the game, but the overall presentation of the game doesn't make the series, or the game justice.
Considering that the Wii's visuals aren't next-gen, despite that there are some great looking games on the platform, but this one can never be one of them. The models are decent, but the special attack scenes are underpowered and don't capture the show. Most of the backgrounds are taken from the show but the quality is mediocre. There are some scenes in the Episode Mode especially where two characters talk. It is quickly obvious that the voices and mouths don't match. Certain characters appear worse than other, but you may notice some more than others.
In the beginning on the Episode Mode, you will see a dialogue scene with voices, the classic thing. The loadings in the game are purely awful, mostly when about to start a battle. You can buy extras with the money you earn at the Urahara Shop; there are decent items but nothing that will make to go through all the game to get them. There are no camera problems, thank god.
Presentation isn't special but the sound is poor. The music is ok, but you will ignore it, but you won't ignore the menu's music, since it's good. The voice acting is put you off, certainly. I never knew that Bleach's English voice actors did such a bad job. I watched up till 140 or something and then progress with the Japanese voices. There are no Japanese voiceovers to choose from, and the English voices suck, most of them but most especially Arturo's voice sucks big time.
Basically Bleach: Shattered Blade is nothing more than fan service for the most dedicated fans of one of today's most popular anime series. Nothing at all for outsiders. The story doesn't tell the proper story that fans may be willing to follow, but instead put in a poor and stupid story, the loadings will put you to sleep, and the gameplay feels like mindless button-mashing. Stay away if you from this game if possible because there are better fighters, and better anime games everywhere.
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Graphics = 5.9
Dated visuals overall with special attack scenes that really suck. Decent character models, but everything else is mediocre.
Sound = 5.0
Music won't stand out much and the English voice acting is mediocre. The English voices lack impact, and there are no Japanese voiceovers, why?
Presentation = 4.5
Awful loadings, and tiresome waggling but the controls are always responsive. Decent amount of fan content.
Gameplay = 4.1
All the waggling gets tiresome and irritating after a while. The 32 fighters available aren't enough for those not in the series. Special attacks are awfully executed.
Mode = 4.9
Passable list of modes, but the fact that there is no mode exclusively for the anime's story is a total letdown. Episode Mode won't appeal to everyone.
OVERALL = 49 / 100
This Bleach fighter fails miserably to be more than just fan service, and as it is, it is barely fan service.