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BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger

EMAIL PRINT xbox360

8.6 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 27 critic reviews
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Based on 39 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Aksys Games

Developer: Arc System Works

Genre(s): Fighting

Players: 2

ESRB Rating: T (Teen)

Release Date: June 30, 2009

Summary

In the 13th hierarchical city, Kagutsuchi, the Librarium regulates the amazing power of Armagus, a fusion of magic and technology. Currently they are after a wanted criminal named Ragna The Bloodedge, also known as Death, who wants to destroy the Librarium. Due to Ragna possessing a powerful form of Armagus known as the Azure Grimoire, people far and wide are after not only his bounty, but his grimoire as well. This is where our story begins. BlazBlue Key Features: The first hi-res 2D fighter from the creators of the Guilty Gear series! Experience the beauty of high-resoluti on, hand-drawn sprites on 3D backgrounds, all in glorious high-definition. Online Battle Action. Get ready to take the action online and battle the best players from all over the world! Console Exclusive Modes. BlazBlue features the following console-only modes: Arcade, Vs, Practice, and a completely fleshed-out Story Mode that tells the tales of each character. Over 10 unique combatants to choose from! Choose a character that represents your own fighting style, like the lightning-fast Taokaka or the wickedly powerful Tager. Drive your way to victory! Use the unique "Drive Attacks" specific to each character to decimate your opponent. Depending on the character, control the elements like wind and ice, or even absorb the life force from your opponents. A plethora of offensive and defensive options at your disposal! Take advantage of Barriers, Counter Assaults, Rapid Cancels, and Distortion Drives to turn the tide of battle! [Akys Games]

Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

Hardcore Gamer Magazine

It will take at least another year for the game's full depth to be discovered. [Issue#35, p.44]

100

1UP

Their work deserves attention -- and praise -- because it exceeds expectations and delivers a thoroughly well-thought out, pragmatic, and enjoyable online experience. I can say without hesitation that BlazBlue raises the barometer on which all fighters should be judged.

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100

Gaming Age

BlazBlue's online system puts titles like Street Fighter IV to shame, and the overall beauty of high-def 2D sprites put it at the top of the graphics department as well.

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Talk Xbox

If you’re a fan of fighting games then BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger will make a welcome addition to your collection. If you’re remotely curious about fighting games and have been turned off by the steep learning curve of other games in the genre, give BlazBlue a chance.

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GamerNode

A terrific fighter in every sense of the word, BlazBlue is a game that you should be playing, whether fighting games are your thing or not. Do not miss it.

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Cheat Code Central

The fighting system in BlazBlue is the deepest I have seen this generation, and the level of exploration that is possible within the combat is something that is rare indeed.

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My Gamer

At this point, Blazblue should be on a lot of Game of the Year shortlists and, for me, is the best game of 2009 to this point.

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IGN

This has become one of my favorite fighters of all time and the level of polish and detail this 2D wonder has is amazing. The character designs are excellent, the fighting mechanics are top-notch and there are even extra animated scenes that feature chibi (super adorable) versions of the characters talking about the BlazBlue universe.

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ZTGameDomain

BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger is the type of game fans usually get only once a generation. The sheer amount of passion and care that was taken to ensure balance, accessibility, and enjoyment is nearly unmatched.

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GameShark

BlazBlue is a new franchise that calls back to the cabinet. It’s what you’d expect out of, and it’s what you want in, a new 2D fighting game.

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GameSpy

It's at once entirely expected and a crying shame that this game won't catch on in the same way that, say, Street Fighter IV did, as BlazBlue packs what may be the best online play ever seen in a 2D fighting game (it is -- at worst -- neck-and-neck with the amazing Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix in this category, though the option to replay ranked matches certainly gives it a tantalizing edge).

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Play Magazine

Fire is the new dust, and BlazBlue is the new hotness of the fighting game world. Still a bit hard to fully grasp at first for newbies, but don't let that scare you off.

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GamePro

But if you're looking for a unique fighting experience with tons of charm and wit then look no further than BlazBlue. [Aug 2009, p.80]

Kombo

If you are serious about getting serious with fighting games, BlazBlue is the first game you need to check out.

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SpazioGames

Quotation forthcoming.

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Games Master UK

Utterly mad, but with a streamlined control system steeped in reality. A brilliant fighter. [Mar 2010, p.69]

Worth Playing

The actual gameplay; in BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger; is relentlessly crazy, to the point where even two complete novices flailing away at one another will be entertained by the ridiculous crap they're able to pull off.

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TeamXbox

While its visuals are astounding and the fighting action nearly as impressive, Blazblue is special because it feels complete. Aside from its paltry online functionality, Calamity Trigger will constantly remind you that a smart investment was made in a title sporting a high degree of luster. In other words, you’ll get the sense that you got your money’s worth…even if you just got your butt kicked.

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GameZone

A great fighter, and definitely one that fans of Guilty Gear will want to check out.

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Gamer Limit

Blazblue is easy to learn, but difficult to master, and contains a good overall game balance: which is all you need at it’s core. Ranked lobbies, however, need to be reworked.

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AtomicGamer

If you're a fan of side-scrolling fighting games, you owe it to yourself to get this. And if you're not, this might just be the game that gives you a nice, fresh start to the genre.

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Game Revolution

While BlazBlue is unabashedly brutal online, there’s more than enough offline content to keep beginners busy until they feel skilled enough to brave online play. BlazBlue doesn’t apologize for its complexity, but it does make everyone feel welcome.

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GameSpot

BlazBlue is a worthy successor to Guilty Gear. It's also a fast-paced, colorful fighting game with a lot to offer.

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Official Xbox Magazine

Every anime-riffic charcter - from Ragna, the slightly effeminate swordsman, to Taokaka, the obligatory catgirl - is beautifully drawn and totally bizarre. [Aug 2009, p.71]

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GameDaily

The word hardcore works for and against the game. On the positive side, BlazBlue features complex stories for each of its 12 fighters, magnificent art, special moves mapped to the right analog stick and lag free online play with detailed stat tracking. If you love anime, this is an essential purchase. On the negative side, however, BlazBlue's narratives make little sense, characters talk over one another before fights, others have long-winded dialogue and a steep learning curve will frustrate a lot of casual fighting fans hoping to button mash their way to victory; you just can't walk into this game expecting to unleash insane combos ala Marvel Vs. Capcom 2.

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Game Informer

In the hands of an expert fighter this game is stunning, but joystick jockeys who are out of shape might want to start an intense training regimen. [July 2009, p.83]

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Giant Bomb

BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger is probably a game best suited for people who have been playing fighting games for a long time, but even then, its style seems to be deliberately divisive. It's certainly worth trying out if you're a fan of the genre, but it's entirely possible that you'll find the whole thing to be a big, loud mess.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 8.6 (out of 10) based on 39 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Johnny T gave it a7:
I played a lot of Street Fighter II and MK back in the day of the SuperNintendo and SFIV kinda got me into the genre again including some boards on the internet. BlazBlue had some underground hype going for it and I bought it on day one since I was super excited about the premise of an easy to pick up game that I could play against friends who didn't spend as much time with the game as I did and still have an equal challenge. Thing is: This is MUCH MORE COMPLEX than SF since its all about who cancels who and details as such. That doesn't make it a bad game but it something I would only recommend for the most hardcore audience.

Jacob A gave it a9:
To everyone who's ever played a Guilty Gear game, this is for you, no matter how much you love Street Fighter 4, or Soul Calibur 4. This is a completely different game, different control scheme, just a different game all around. Yes if your a fan of fighting games you'll most likely like this game, but the anime aspect of the game does get annoying after a whiile, especially if you don't watch anime much. The Sprites are drawn beautifully, and the gameplay is very smooth, only if there were more 2D fighting games that were nearly as good as this, then we'd all buy that 80$ arcade stick.

John F. gave it a9:
BlazBlue delivers on the hype. The game is just flat-out fun to play, no matter what character you choose. There's lots of depth for hardcore players and only hardcore players will get really good at this game, but there's still plenty of newbie-friendly modes as well. The characters have lots of personality and the game also has a surprising amount of hilarious dialogue. BlazBlue is not perfect; some may find the story mode structure odd (you have to lose matches in some cases to see the whole story), while there are at least a couple characters in the game that feel a little too strong and a couple others that feel a little too weak, and that comes out in ranked matches when it seems like you're seeing the same five or six characters all the time. Overall though this is a fast-paced action-packed fighter that should make fans of the genre happy.

Victor U gave it a10:
As someone who plays nothing but fighting games I can honestly say that you'll only appreciate BlazBlue if you are competent in the capacity of competitive fighting games. BlazBlue gives you everything. Beautiful, crisp high definition 2D characters on top of gorgeous blended 2D/3D environments. 12 TRULY UNIQUE characters with independent fighting styles. No clones here. An excellent soundtrack inspired by the famed Daisuke Ishiwatari. Online features that should make Capcom reconsider their lack luster offering in Street Fighter IV. The only reasons to give this game anything less than the perfect rating it deserves would be personal preference or a lack of ability to see the facts. BlazBlue is the number one fighting game of 2009.

Adam V. gave it an8:
Fighting games are my favorite genre, and I've played nearly all of them. This game is a blast to play, the combat is fast and each character is super unique. However, I do have a couple major gripes with this game that I haven't seen in too many other fighting games: You can combo into a throw. There's a reason that the Street Fighter series has a window where you CAN'T THROW the other player after you hit them, it's to prevent stuff like this. Yes, I know throws are pretty easy to break when you expect them, but being able to combo into one whenever you like is a bit much. Which leads to point number 2... Throws do too much damage. I'm not talking about the throw itself, I'm talking more about the guaranteed combo after the throw. Nearly every character has this, and it's a bit ridiculous. I end up burning my barrier burst right after I get thrown because I know I'm going to lose 50% of my health if I dont. Even the lighter hitting characters (Taokaka, for example) can make you HURT after a back throw. And if I get thrown by Iron Tager, I just put my controller down, because the match is basically over. 80% health gone if my barrier burst is gone. Other than that, fantastic game. Combos are fun, and not exceedingly difficult to do. Moves are flashy, backgrounds are gorgeous.

Jason L gave it a9:
Well according to the last two reviews, they have no idea what they're playing. Assuming that this is Soul Calibur, is only in the style of speed. Street Fighter IV is a poor fighting game in my mind, while the 3D is all nice, there's tons of model clipping with their meshes once you take a closer look. I hate Street Fighter IV's movement since you act more like wearing lead weights on your arms and legs. Also to "Jam", doing a 2D game is more painstaking work due to artist have to DRAW each frame (and this plays at 60 Frames per a Second) for every character and background effects. Also to call Street Fighter 4, "Tactical" is a joke. I love playing Guilty Gear and as well Guilty Gear XX #Reloaded, which was my main reason to purchasing BlazBlue. While it lives up to most of my expectations, I find it feels different in how the dash (and air dash) of the characters which makes it seem slightly unfamiliar to me from moving up from Guilty Gear. The cast of BlazBlue is also more more alive than of Street Fighter more different of backgrounds and styles. Characters fight complete different depending who you choose while SFIV has at least 3 characters sharing the same moves and Ken plus Ryu are basically clones of each other. BlazBlue may have a pair that duel each other like Ken and Ryu, they are completely different pair in design style and attack style. This is more of a rant now. I strongly dislike SFIV's gameplay as it seems damage is either little or heavy and nothing in the middle with the rounds being very short. BlazBlue, the damage is all over but amounts to how much force is used and rounds last enough to actually enjoy the game without feeling ripped off. But if you're really on the borderline, fast movement + smooth movement = BlazBlue and Slow + Clunky = SFIV. But seriously play at a friends house or rent them first, unless you were fans of their older games (then you should already know). I was probably bias since I already had a strong dislike of Street Fighter from III and I was a fan of GGXX#R, just as a footnote, but I will state that I played the games (SFII, SFIII, GG series, BB, SFIV).

Corey G. gave it a9:
BlazBlue is awesome. I've been playing fighting games for a long time. 2D fighters are definitely my favorite, except Soul Edge and Battle Arena Toshinden hold special places for me. I am a big fan of the Guilty Gear series with the exception of Isuka, and this does those games justice. The combat system is truly deep, each character having their own unique button combos instead of everyone being "slide" or "charge". I am always a fan of air combos and juggling skills that actually take talent. True this game can be played by button mashers. I played it for the first time today and I mashed for a while then, when I figured out my character (Vemillion) I started purposely doing combos and the action is nonstop and amazing. The dialogue between characters during the fights adds a great touch and makes it seem more like you are watching it than playing it. Buying it A.S.A.P!

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BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger

Game Info

Summary

What The Critics Said

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