OVERALL IMPRESSION (Reviewed on iOS):
BlazBlue Entropy Effect is a roguelite action RPG that is well designed, challenging and allows you to live out your ninja assassin fantasies in an futuristic and stylized atmosphere. It’s well polished and easy to pick up and play in short bursts on your phone. Although there’s nothing completely innovative here, what it brings to the table it does quite well. There aren’t a lot of titles in this space that are available on a mobile device that bring this level of quality and execution.
GAMEPLAY:
The core of this game is all about the lightning fast action combat. This was reviewed on mobile where it is offered as a F2P model. You have access to one character with the ability to unlock others at a price. Like many roguelikes, the gameplay loop revolves around gaining upgrades, completing regular areas and boss encounters, dying and then repeating the process over again as you learn more about the game and develop different strategies.
The combat and animations really stand out. It feels fluid and dynamic making it fun to dispatch enemies and keeping pushing to see how far you can make it. You have a variety of moves from basic attacks, dash and special skills. These can be upgraded during a run and you can acquire new moves and combos as well. Your choice in different skills/upgrades allows you to piece together a build. There are a variety of types of enhancements that are categorized in different element types like fire, ice, and poison, to name a few.
The game is challenging but also feels fair. Damaging attacks from enemies are usually clearly marked in red enabling you to be aware of and avoid hits. There’s still quite a bit of challenge here but the balance feels more fair than brutal or punishing, which can happen a lot with these types of games.
ART DESIGN & MUSIC:
One of the main draws is the distinct art style. It’s a combination of flashy anime RPG fantasy mixed with futuristic vibes. It has a unique and distinct stylized looked that stands out from others and it’s an IP I’d love to see more of in the future. The music is also equally captivating with an electronic synth soundscape that compliments well with the games overall aesthetic and design.
CHALLENGES:
These type of games are usually built on fans that enjoy refining their skills. However, for other players it can feel repetitive having to complete stages over and over again unitil you’ve refined those techniques. Many of the areas are quite small and after a few runs it can feel stagnant. This comes back to how important it is to understand what type of games you enjoy as a player. This game definitely has appeal for the right type of player and could be equally frustration for those who aren’t accustomed to the roguelike gameplay loop.
The F2P mobile version is a good way to test the game but the lack of access to other units can also add to the feeling of being repetitive and limited. In connection with this, the builds that are available, at least in the early stages of the game, gameplay wise don’t necessarily change how you approach the game or how it feels. This is of course just an initial impression and I’m sure with access to more characters and further progression it will feel quite different.
CLOSING THOUGHTS:
There’s a lot of promise here especially for fans of action roguelikes. The stylized art, lighting fast gameplay with flashy animations is well executed. It’s a title that is easy to pick up and play in short bursts. If you enjoy this genre, BlazBlue Entropy Effect may be a title you should put on your radar.
THANKS:
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GAME DETAILS
PLATFORMS: iOS, Android, PC
RELEASE: 2024
DEVELOPER/PUBLISHER: 91 Act
GENRE/TAGS: Action RPG Roguelike, Anime,
TARGET AUDIENCE: Action roguelike fans
IMAGE CREDITS: 91 Act
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