http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4s_Nltytjg
Hello! This thread is for the new 2-D fighting game by Arc System Works called Blazblue, which has recently come to PS3 and 360 after having been in the arcades for about half a year. It features mechanics that will be familiar to any player of Guilty Gear, but that definitely doesn't mean you'll only be able to play it if you've played GG. It has a cast of 12 very unique characters each with their own 'Drive', supers, and Astral Heats that I will explain briefly in a moment, and it also has an actual plot that can be unveiled in the console game's Story Mode.
The Gameplay Mechanics
I'm going to skimp here and post a picture instead of writing. Worth a thousand words, etc. But really, this picture explains it better than I ever could. Open it in a new window for actual readable text.
+ Show Spoiler [Blazblue System] +
Plot Synopsis
+ Show Spoiler [lots of words] +
Prior to the events of BlazBlue, humanity was on the verge of extinction from the "Black Beast", a creature of Darkness. The world was saved by six heroes who wielded magic. They helped humanity create "Armagus", a fusion of magic and technology, to defeat the Beast.
After the war, the Novus Orbis Librarium Armagus (the Library for short) was created to govern the world with the use of Armagus. A great deal of dissent was caused by the Library, partly due to Armagus' use in nearly every facet of society, and the widening socioeconomic gap between those who could and couldn't use Armagus. This dissent would eventually form years later into The Ikaruga Civil War, when the Ikaruga Union openly rebelled against the Library. After the war, the Library imposed a harsher rule on the world, punishing any rebellion against the Library with the death penalty.
On December A.D. 2199, several years after the Ikaruga Civil War, a branch of the Library was utterly destroyed by an SS-class traitor named "Ragna the Bloodedge" also known as "The God of Death", in an attempt to destroy the entire Library. The Novus Orbis Librarium Armagus, hoping to stop him, immediately put the largest bounty ever for anyone who could capture him. Interestingly, Ragna possessed a powerful form of Armagus known as the "Azure Grimoire" (Grimoire of the Blue in Japan), also known as the BlazBlue. This led to the Librarium, as well as the Ikaruga Union and other fighters, to be after not just his bounty, but also his grimoire.
After the war, the Novus Orbis Librarium Armagus (the Library for short) was created to govern the world with the use of Armagus. A great deal of dissent was caused by the Library, partly due to Armagus' use in nearly every facet of society, and the widening socioeconomic gap between those who could and couldn't use Armagus. This dissent would eventually form years later into The Ikaruga Civil War, when the Ikaruga Union openly rebelled against the Library. After the war, the Library imposed a harsher rule on the world, punishing any rebellion against the Library with the death penalty.
On December A.D. 2199, several years after the Ikaruga Civil War, a branch of the Library was utterly destroyed by an SS-class traitor named "Ragna the Bloodedge" also known as "The God of Death", in an attempt to destroy the entire Library. The Novus Orbis Librarium Armagus, hoping to stop him, immediately put the largest bounty ever for anyone who could capture him. Interestingly, Ragna possessed a powerful form of Armagus known as the "Azure Grimoire" (Grimoire of the Blue in Japan), also known as the BlazBlue. This led to the Librarium, as well as the Ikaruga Union and other fighters, to be after not just his bounty, but also his grimoire.
The Characters
Ragna=The=Bloodedge
+ Show Spoiler [Picture] +
The protagonist of Blazblue. Wears a hakama and belts across his chest, carries a sword about as big as he is, wields the power of DARKNESS. Also has heterochromia. He has very simple combos, an uppercut, and a Drive that steals life from his opponent (even when they're blocking). He's very easy to pick up and play, I'd recommend him to any new player of the game.
Movelist
+ Show Spoiler [Picture] +
Some match videos:
+ Show Spoiler +
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrzXh2G_HDA
(Ragna vs Hakumen)
(Ragna vs Bang)
(Ragna vs Hakumen)
(Ragna vs Bang)
Jin Kisaragi
+ Show Spoiler [Picture] +
Jin is a commander in the organization that is pursuing Ragna. He calls Ragna his brother in an overtly homosexual manner and is somewhat batshit insane. Fairly simple to pick up and play. He also has an uppercut, and his Drive is the ability to manipulate ice and freeze his opponents.
Movelist
+ Show Spoiler [Picture] +
Some match videos:
+ Show Spoiler +
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAKwGYzUd0I (Jin vs Ragna)
(Jin vs Noel)
(Jin vs Noel)
Rachel Alucard
+ Show Spoiler [Picture] +
Rachel is a vampire. Not only is she a vampire, she is also a gothic lolita with a talking bat and a talking cat that doubles as an umbrella (and many other such implements of destruction). She has a crush on Ragna, and has apparently bitten him before - which is why his attacks drain life and he has one red eye. Her Drive controls the wind, allowing her to fly from one end of the screen to the other, or prevent her opponent from approaching - or even blowing them into her reach.
Movelist
+ Show Spoiler [Picture] +
Some match videos:
+ Show Spoiler +
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEm8BnjMTY8&feature=PlayList&p=D394C3D365314C46&index=8 (Rachel vs Noel)
(Rachel vs Carl)
(Rachel vs Carl)
Iron Tager
+ Show Spoiler [Picture] +
Tager was mortally wounded in the Ikaruga war and was revived as a Cyborg. He is now a member of Sector 7, a confederation of scientists, where he works with Litchi Faye-Ling. If you didn't guess just by looking at him, this is the grappler character of the game. He is large and does retardedly large damage with his throws/supers. Make one mistake against him and you could be snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. His Drive is the ability to utilise magnets to pull his opponent towards him.
Movelist
+ Show Spoiler [Picture] +
Some match videos:
+ Show Spoiler +
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IiMxnHxSbA (Tager vs Noel)
(Tager vs Litchi)
(Tager vs Litchi)
Litchi Faye-Ling
+ Show Spoiler [Picture] +
Litchi is a fellow scientist in Sector 7, along with Tager. She wears a Chinese dress, has huge breasts and has a very large pole. She uses the pole to poke people or to act as a projectile. She has different movesets while the pole is in her hands and while it is out of it. Her Drive ability makes her staff take on a life of its own to attack her opponents.
Movelist
+ Show Spoiler [Picture] +
Some match videos:
+ Show Spoiler +
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOrpaQ8Vt-o (Litchi vs Rachel)
(Litchi vs Ragna)
(Litchi vs Ragna)
Hakumen
+ Show Spoiler [Picture] +
Hakumen's past is shrouded, but he was one of the original Six Heroes that confronted the Black Beast. He is clad entirely in armour, and appears to be of mechanical origin. He has a really big sword. He is quite slow, but if he starts landing hits on you, you're in for a world of pain. His Drive ability is to 'Counter' attacks. It's sort of like parrying but a lot more dangerous (for him and the opponent).
Movelist
Note: Hakumen functions quite differently to all other characters. Instead of a heat bar, he has a bar that charges up slowly over time, gaining stars. The more stars he has, the more powerful the move he can perform.
+ Show Spoiler [Lots of text] +
Specials: The number in parenthesis is the number of levels (or stars) required from his unique meter. There are 8 levels total.
Note: The numbers here correspond to where the joystick position would be if it were a numpad. If you're confused, just look at your keyboard's numpad. For instance, 214 is a quarter-circle backward motion.
Guren: 236A(1): Lunges forward and thrusts with the hilt of his sword.
Renka: 214B(2): Does a double kick combo which launches the opponent on either hit.
Zantetsu: 41236C(3): Massive overhead slash for the first hit (must be blocked high), followed by a sweeping slash (must be blocked low).
Kishuu: 623A(1): A command dash of sorts. Covers more distance than his normal dash, and can be cancelled into as a combo extender.
Enma: After Kishuu, press A(1): Cancels the command dash into an uppercut.
Hotaru: j214C(2): A shoryuken of sorts (read: invincible special), with the restriction that it can only be performed in the air.
Tsubaki: j214B(3): Downward sword slash which knocks down opponents on hit.
Supers:
Shippuu: 632146C(4): Huge downward sword slash which releases a projectile wave. You can charge this move and it becomes unblockable.
Yukikaze: 236236D(4): Counter super, doesn't work against low attacks.
Mugen: 214214B(8) -- Puts you into a state of Mugen, wherein your heat bar starts draining rapidly but you can do unlimited supers/specials until it ends.
Note: The numbers here correspond to where the joystick position would be if it were a numpad. If you're confused, just look at your keyboard's numpad. For instance, 214 is a quarter-circle backward motion.
Guren: 236A(1): Lunges forward and thrusts with the hilt of his sword.
Renka: 214B(2): Does a double kick combo which launches the opponent on either hit.
Zantetsu: 41236C(3): Massive overhead slash for the first hit (must be blocked high), followed by a sweeping slash (must be blocked low).
Kishuu: 623A(1): A command dash of sorts. Covers more distance than his normal dash, and can be cancelled into as a combo extender.
Enma: After Kishuu, press A(1): Cancels the command dash into an uppercut.
Hotaru: j214C(2): A shoryuken of sorts (read: invincible special), with the restriction that it can only be performed in the air.
Tsubaki: j214B(3): Downward sword slash which knocks down opponents on hit.
Supers:
Shippuu: 632146C(4): Huge downward sword slash which releases a projectile wave. You can charge this move and it becomes unblockable.
Yukikaze: 236236D(4): Counter super, doesn't work against low attacks.
Mugen: 214214B(8) -- Puts you into a state of Mugen, wherein your heat bar starts draining rapidly but you can do unlimited supers/specials until it ends.
Some match videos:
+ Show Spoiler +
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLTtDmZ16_8
(Hakumen vs Hakumen)
(Hakumen vs Bang)
(Hakumen vs Hakumen)
(Hakumen vs Bang)
Noel Vermillion
+ Show Spoiler [Picture] +
Noel is a subordinate of Jin Kisaragi's, who more or less treats her as a toy. She wields two very large pistols and uses them primarily as melee weapons. Her Drive is called Chain Revolver, and basically makes her enter a mode where she can chain different attacks together for damaging combos.
Movelist
+ Show Spoiler [Picture] +
Some match videos:
+ Show Spoiler +
(Noel vs Jin)
(Noel vs Litchi)
Taokaka
+ Show Spoiler [Picture] +
Taokaka is a catgirl (or a girl in a catsuit), and very simple-minded. Her favourite hobbies include eating meat buns and talking to Litchi, who is a friend. She is extremely mobile, with many air movement options allowing her to traverse the stage. Her Drive "Reckless Kitty" ties into this, allowing her to perform dashing/flying attacks very quickly.
Movelist
+ Show Spoiler [Picture] +
Some match videos:
+ Show Spoiler +
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcZIhs5xyLw
(Taokaka vs Jin)
(Taokaka vs Hakumen)
(Taokaka vs Jin)
(Taokaka vs Hakumen)
Carl Clover
+ Show Spoiler [Picture] +
Carl is absolutely batshit insane. He thinks he is a magician and that the robot (Nirvana) accompanying him is his sister, and often refers to her as such, holding one-sided conversations. He controls Nirvana as a minion with his Drive ability.
Movelist
+ Show Spoiler [Picture] +
Some match videos:
+ Show Spoiler +
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmnshCtG4tU&feature=channel_page (Carl vs Tager)
(Carl vs Taokaka)
(Carl vs Taokaka)
Arakune
+ Show Spoiler [Picture] +
Arakune is the result of a mortal learning things that he shouldn't. A flying pool of goo with teeth and claws, he is a very mobile character and can force you to play at his pace with his zoning abilities. His Drive is the ability to attack you with bugs if he hits you with a curse cloud.
Movelist
+ Show Spoiler [Picture] +
+ Show Spoiler [Picture] +
Some match videos:
+ Show Spoiler +
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndNFSXU7SRo
(Arakune vs Taokaka)
(Arakune vs Rachel)
(Arakune vs Taokaka)
(Arakune vs Rachel)
Bang Shishigami
+ Show Spoiler [Picture] +
Bang is a NINJA-POET, a HERO TO HIS PEOPLE, and above all, a Man. He is extremely exaggerated in his actions and words, but he doesn't let that stop him from being a Ninja. His Drive ability allows him to 'power up' by hitting you with moves that activate his 4 abilities. He can also throw a limited amount of shuriken/kunai.
Movelist
+ Show Spoiler [Picture] +
Some match videos:
+ Show Spoiler +
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adjpv9Fajb4
(Bang vs Rachel/Carl/Noel)
(Bang vs Ragna)
(lol)
(Bang vs Rachel/Carl/Noel)
(Bang vs Ragna)
(lol)
v-13- (pronounced "Nu 13")
+ Show Spoiler [Picture] +
V-13- is a female cyborg that wants nothing more than to be together with Ragna and destroy the world. Her Drive ability is the summoning of swords, allowing her to easily zone and keep out her opponents.
Movelist
+ Show Spoiler [Text] +
Specials
Note: The numbers here correspond to where the joystick position would be if it were a numpad. If you're confused, just look at your keyboard's numpad. For instance, 214 is a quarter-circle backward motion.
Spike Chaser: 214C (or D)
Sickle Storm: 236C (or D)
Crescent Saber: 214C (or D) [Done in air]
Gravity Seed: 214A/B/C
Act Pulser: 44 or 66 after certain moves
Supers
Legacy Edge: 236236D
Calamity Sword: 632146D
Note that you summon swords by pressing a direction and D. You can summon 2 swords per direction.
Note: The numbers here correspond to where the joystick position would be if it were a numpad. If you're confused, just look at your keyboard's numpad. For instance, 214 is a quarter-circle backward motion.
Spike Chaser: 214C (or D)
Sickle Storm: 236C (or D)
Crescent Saber: 214C (or D) [Done in air]
Gravity Seed: 214A/B/C
Act Pulser: 44 or 66 after certain moves
Supers
Legacy Edge: 236236D
Calamity Sword: 632146D
Note that you summon swords by pressing a direction and D. You can summon 2 swords per direction.
Some match videos:
+ Show Spoiler +
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmE32koZDGc (V-13 vs Ragna)
(V-13 vs Noel)
(V-13 vs Noel)
Extras and Miscellaneous Info
Astral Heat
An Astral Heat is a unique supermove that can be activated under special conditions:
1) It has to be the last round (Round 3 out of 3, so the score is 1-1, etc)
2) The opponent has to be at or under 20% life
3) You require 100% Heat
If you can fulfill these conditions, you can perform an Astral Heat. Some of them can be comboed into, some of them are unblockable, some of them require you to be in the air, etc. They're all very different and very cool. They also kill your opponent if they hit, guaranteed.
Here's a compilation video of everyone's Astral Heat complete with shit music over the top of it.
+ Show Spoiler [ASTRAL FINISH] +
Each character has a different input for their Astral Heat.
+ Show Spoiler [List] +
Here's the complete list of Astral Heats:
Ragna: Black Onslaught - 2141236 + C
- ブラックオンスロート, Burakku Onsurooto
Jin: Rengoku Hyouya - 720 + D
- 煉獄氷夜, lit. Purgatory Ice Night
Noel: Valkyrie Pale - 2, 8 + C (press repeatedly)
- ヴァルキリーペイル, Varukirii Peiru
Rachel: Clownish Calendula - 222 + B
- クラウニッシュ・カレンデュラ, Kuraunisshu Karendura
Taokaka: Attack Meowmber One - 4, 218 + D
- あたっくにゃんばーわん, Attaku Nyanbaa Wan
Tager: King of Tager - hold A+B+C, D (press repeatedly)
- キングオブテイガー, Kingu obu Teigaa
Litchi: Nine Gates - after Ready: Pursuit, 4, 6 + D
- 九蓮宝燈, Chuuren Pootoo
Arakune: n Infinity - 342646 + D
- n無限大, Enu Mugendai
Bang: Shishigami-Style Final Hot-Blooded Technique: "Ultimate Bang" - midair only 6321463214 + D
- 獅子神忍法・熱血最終奥義・「究極萬駆」, Shihigami Ninpou: Nekketsu Saishuu Ougi: "Kyuukyoku Bangu"
Carl: Deus Ex Machina - 64641236 + D while the marionette is active
- デウス・エクス・マキナ, Deusu Ekusu Makina
Hakumen: Kokuujin Ougi: Akumetsu - 720 + D consumes 8 magatama
- 虚空陣奥義 悪滅, lit. Void Space Formation Secret Technique: Vanquish Evil
v-13: Sword of Destruction - 222 + D
- 滅びの剣, Horobi no Tsurugi
Notes:
Taokaka: "Number One" with a meow; Rawmber One, Number Rawrn, Number Meown, whatever.
Litchi: Another Mahjong term, also known as Nine Lanterns or Nine Treasures.
Arakune: n Infinity refers to the infinite set of natural numbers (n = 0, 1, 2, 3, ...).
Bang: Lit. Shishigami Ninja Arts: Final Hot-Blooded Secret Technique: "Ultimate Bang".
Hakumen: Technique name refers to his "vanquish that which is evil" speech.
Credit to Suzaku on Dustloop for this section.
Ragna: Black Onslaught - 2141236 + C
- ブラックオンスロート, Burakku Onsurooto
Jin: Rengoku Hyouya - 720 + D
- 煉獄氷夜, lit. Purgatory Ice Night
Noel: Valkyrie Pale - 2, 8 + C (press repeatedly)
- ヴァルキリーペイル, Varukirii Peiru
Rachel: Clownish Calendula - 222 + B
- クラウニッシュ・カレンデュラ, Kuraunisshu Karendura
Taokaka: Attack Meowmber One - 4, 218 + D
- あたっくにゃんばーわん, Attaku Nyanbaa Wan
Tager: King of Tager - hold A+B+C, D (press repeatedly)
- キングオブテイガー, Kingu obu Teigaa
Litchi: Nine Gates - after Ready: Pursuit, 4, 6 + D
- 九蓮宝燈, Chuuren Pootoo
Arakune: n Infinity - 342646 + D
- n無限大, Enu Mugendai
Bang: Shishigami-Style Final Hot-Blooded Technique: "Ultimate Bang" - midair only 6321463214 + D
- 獅子神忍法・熱血最終奥義・「究極萬駆」, Shihigami Ninpou: Nekketsu Saishuu Ougi: "Kyuukyoku Bangu"
Carl: Deus Ex Machina - 64641236 + D while the marionette is active
- デウス・エクス・マキナ, Deusu Ekusu Makina
Hakumen: Kokuujin Ougi: Akumetsu - 720 + D consumes 8 magatama
- 虚空陣奥義 悪滅, lit. Void Space Formation Secret Technique: Vanquish Evil
v-13: Sword of Destruction - 222 + D
- 滅びの剣, Horobi no Tsurugi
Notes:
Taokaka: "Number One" with a meow; Rawmber One, Number Rawrn, Number Meown, whatever.
Litchi: Another Mahjong term, also known as Nine Lanterns or Nine Treasures.
Arakune: n Infinity refers to the infinite set of natural numbers (n = 0, 1, 2, 3, ...).
Bang: Lit. Shishigami Ninja Arts: Final Hot-Blooded Secret Technique: "Ultimate Bang".
Hakumen: Technique name refers to his "vanquish that which is evil" speech.
Credit to Suzaku on Dustloop for this section.
English/JP Voices
The console version of Blazblue has the option to switch from the original Japanese voices to an English dub. You can't change each character's voice individually, though, it switches all of them. A neat tidbit is that in an online match, if you're using English voices and your opponent is using Japanese voices, their character will be using the JP voice set.
If you want to learn more about this game or actually want to become good at it:
http://www.dustloop.com/forums/index.php
http://forums.shoryuken.com/forumdisplay.php?f=312
I'd recommend the first link over the second, just because SRK is going to be lifting their info from DL anyway. Credit to Dustloop for some of the information included in my post.
A list of good/watchable players of each character:
+ Show Spoiler [List] +
Ragna - Kaqn (see this thread for more)
Jin - Buppa, Ren, Nise Pachi (see this thread for more)
Rachel - N-Otoko, MSY, Yume, Rise, MASA8 (see this thread for more)
Tager - Yumura, Mike Z, Ayan (see this thread for more)
Litchi - Manakan, Shonen, BLEED (see this thread for more)
Hakumen - Buppa, Sanma (see this thread for more)
Noel - GUCCI, R-1, Heartnana (see this thread for more)
Taokaka - Fio (see this thread for more)
Arakune - Tokido/dark13, Hima (see this thread for more)
Bang - Dora, Himajin (see this thread for more)
Carl - Mecha-Sue, DIO (see this thread for more)
v-13 - Reria, Ribaia (see this thread for more)
Jin - Buppa, Ren, Nise Pachi (see this thread for more)
Rachel - N-Otoko, MSY, Yume, Rise, MASA8 (see this thread for more)
Tager - Yumura, Mike Z, Ayan (see this thread for more)
Litchi - Manakan, Shonen, BLEED (see this thread for more)
Hakumen - Buppa, Sanma (see this thread for more)
Noel - GUCCI, R-1, Heartnana (see this thread for more)
Taokaka - Fio (see this thread for more)
Arakune - Tokido/dark13, Hima (see this thread for more)
Bang - Dora, Himajin (see this thread for more)
Carl - Mecha-Sue, DIO (see this thread for more)
v-13 - Reria, Ribaia (see this thread for more)