Bleach: Rebirth of Souls Review – Could Have Been So Much More

Initially, Bleach: Rebirth of Souls might seem like a typical game that many anime enthusiasts would roll their eyes at – it’s an arena fighter based on a popular anime series, which has become quite a cliché due to Namco Bandai’s ownership of several well-known shonen anime franchises. These arena fighter adaptations of anime are often criticized by fans for their limited budgets and lack of appeal outside the existing fanbase of the property. In many aspects, they remind one of tie-in games from the past – you know, those games that were released alongside big-budget movie premieres?

Occasionally, even in the age of simple tie-ins, you’d encounter a licensed game that strived to stand out and offer an engaging experience, appealing not just to fans of the source material, but potentially to gamers who had no prior connection to it.

Bleach: Rebirth of Souls” belongs to the same category as other titles, but it’s not just riding on the popularity of Bleach. Instead, it aims to be a comprehensive and high-quality game in its own merit, offering a solid gaming experience.

As a passionate gamer, I’ve got to hand it to Tamsoft for going above and beyond with their arena fighter. It wouldn’t have been hard to just release a straightforward fighter and consider it done. But they’ve taken the combat system to a whole new level, making it genuinely engaging and enjoyable. Even if you’re not a fan of Bleach or anime in general, you’d likely find yourself drawn into the gameplay purely as a fighting enthusiast, without any prior knowledge of the source material at all.

The combat system in this game has been significantly improved, making it genuinely engaging and enjoyable for anyone, regardless of whether they are fans of Bleach or anime. Even someone who has no interest in these subjects would likely find the game appealing just as a fighting game, without any need for knowledge about the source material.

The combat system is influenced by numerous other games, creating an intense, rapidly changing battle tempo. It features simple light and heavy attacks that can be combined for swift and powerful combos, plenty of agile movement and spatial awareness, distinctive finisher moves filled with nostalgic references to the original content, and a stock system that maintains the number of lives your attacks deplete from your opponent per knockout, ensuring each fight remains exciting and captivating.

Without a doubt, the game titled “Bleach: Rebirth of Souls” is an engaging fighting game. Each battle I’ve encountered felt like a struggle to secure victory, and the abundance of special moves, counters, and character abilities ensures that no substantial lead guarantees success. Even for a brief moment, lowering your guard can present opponents with the opportunity they need to mount a comeback. If you are an enthusiast of arena fighters, “Bleach: Rebirth of Souls” certainly stands as one of the finest options available, much like last year’s well-received game “Dragon Ball Sparking Zero“.

In the game titled Rebirth of Souls, there’s a substantial collection of characters, and although I haven’t had personal experience with every one of the numerous characters advertised by the game, those that I have played all exhibit unique gameplay styles, yet remain balanced enough to compete effectively against most opponents they encounter.

In some instances, I’ve encountered matches that proved more challenging than anticipated, but what has solidified my belief in this game’s mechanical integrity is its consistent pattern. Unlike numerous similar games, it often boils down to familiarizing oneself with the opponent’s moves and speed, learning their tactics, and then readjusting my own strategies to secure victory. This game offers a truly captivating fighting experience that both enthusiasts and newcomers can appreciate; the former for replicating iconic battles, while the latter is drawn in by its intricate and immersive mechanics.

It’s ironic, but those who are passionate about this new release might be the ones who have the most criticisms. Despite the fact that the gameplay and battles are exceptional, the storyline falls disappointingly flat, creating a stark contrast to the obvious effort put into other aspects. As previously stated, it attempts to narrate the tale of Bleach (up until the Arrancar arc) in a visual novel style (with occasional fights), and unfortunately, it’s far from impressive.

The overall experience comes across as quite economical, with underdeveloped character models that seem to chat endlessly, almost monotonously, against minimalistic settings and voice acting that may feel awkwardly unprofessional at times. However, Namco deserves commendation for providing an English dub for the game (a rarity in these releases). Unfortunately, the voice direction could use improvement, and the delivery can be grating. Jonny Bosch Yong as Ichigo is a standout, but other English voices may disappoint. Many fans might opt to listen to Japanese voices instead, which would alleviate some of the issues I’ve mentioned, but the criticisms regarding the narrative remain valid.

Although the action and battles in this game are fantastic, the storyline is disappointingly weak and it’s noticeable because everything else appears to have been so well thought out.

I’m tough on story modes in anime games because they have historically served as entry points into the anime world for me. For instance, I knew all about the characters, setting, narrative, and visual motifs of Dragon Ball long before I ever watched it, thanks to well-executed game adaptations like the Legacy of Goku series on the Game Boy Advance. In essence, I strongly feel that these story modes can effectively introduce potential new fans to the source material.

To create an immersive and engaging story mode, it requires significant effort in crafting both the narrative and its delivery. The tale should be compelling enough to keep players hooked on the unfolding events and their outcomes. Given that the source material is beloved by fans, the failure lies in the quality of the story mode not meeting expectations, making even a captivating series like Bleach appear less appealing.

Indeed, it seems there won’t be new fans of the Bleach series arising due to this game. Instead, players might become enthusiasts of the game itself. Although the story mode is a significant missed chance, the fighting and combat mechanics are exceptionally well-executed, making this an engaging game for those who enjoy fighting games, regardless of their prior connection to the source material.

Despite its noticeable flaws and rushed aspects, it’s effortless to criticize what this game isn’t – if only it weren’t another arena fighter! If only the story mode were better executed! However, focusing solely on these shortcomings might overlook the many areas where Bleach: Rebirth of Souls truly shines. Despite being a flawed game like many anime adaptations, its peaks are exceptionally high, which gives me optimism for a future installment that does justice to this franchise and provides the adaptation it deserves. Here’s hoping the talented team at Tamsoft will be the ones to deliver it.

This game was reviewed on PlayStation 5.

2025-03-27 15:43

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