BlazBlue: Central Fiction

BlazBlue: Central Fiction, released in Japan as BlazBlue: Centralfiction, is a 2-D fighting video game developed by Arc System Works. It is the fourth game in the BlazBlue series, and is set after the events of BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma. It is also the final game with Ragna as the main protagonist.[2] and serves as the conclusion of the Azure Saga that began in Calamity Trigger.

BlazBlue: Central Fiction
Developer(s)Arc System Works
Publisher(s)
[1]
Designer(s)Toshimichi Mori
Yūki Katō
Composer(s)Daisuke Ishiwatari
Galneryus
SeriesBlazBlue Xblaze
Platform(s)Arcade
PlayStation 3
PlayStation 4
Microsoft Windows
Nintendo Switch
ReleaseArcade
  • JP: November 19, 2015
PS3, PS4
  • JP: October 6, 2016
  • NA: November 1, 2016
  • EU: November 4, 2016
Microsoft Windows
  • WW: April 26, 2017
Nintendo Switch
  • JP/NA: February 7, 2019
  • EU: February 8, 2019
Genre(s)Fighting
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Aksys Games confirmed that Central Fiction will not be receiving an English dub, making it the only BlazBlue title that was not dubbed at launch.[3] In wake of the news that Central Fiction would not be dubbed, fans created a Change.org petition requesting an English dub via DLC.[4]

Plot

Central Fiction's story mode is over 40 hours long with extra arcade mode stories separated into three acts.[5][6]

Characters
Further information: List of BlazBlue characters § Playable in BlazBlue: Central Fiction

All 28 fighters from BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma Extend return in Central Fiction. This brings the total roster to 36 playable fighters, including:

Characters introduced in Central Fiction
Arcade release Console release
  • Hibiki Kohaku: Kagura's assistant. He is a member of a clan of assassins and was raised to serve Kagura. Originally seen as a loyal servant, he is actually a disturbed person whose desire is to kill Kagura and become a truly emotionless killer.[7]
  • Naoto Kurogane: The main protagonist of Bloodedge Experience. He appears in Central Fiction due to Raquel sending him into the current timeline of BlazBlue where he died apparently to save their world.[7]
  • Nine the Phantom: The witch and one of the Six Heroes and the boss of "Act I: Phantom of Labyrinth".[8]
  • Hades Izanami: One of the main villains of the series. She is the one who commands Terumi and Relius, uses Saya as a vessel who is also a living doll forged by Relius and is the manifestation of the girl inside Amaterasu's "Drive".[9]
  • Es: One of the main characters of the XBlaze spinoff series.[10]
  • Mai Natsume: The main protagonist of the Remix Heart and its sequel Variable Heart manga.[11]
  • Susano'o: Yuki Terumi after becoming one with the Susano'o unit and his original form. He is a secret character unlocked by completing the story.[12]
  • Jubei: One of the Six Heroes, he is the father of Kokonoe, and the husband of Nine. He was the mentor of Ragna and Jin and is a cat beastkin. He was released on August 31, 2017 for North America and Japan, and September 4, 2017 for EU.[13]

Gameplay

Following the gameplay from BlazBlue Chrono Phantasma Extend, there are additional changes and new mechanics. The Overdrive activation's duration is now shown under the Burst Gauge in the form of a countdown timer (which counts seconds and split-seconds); The character portrait near the health bar shakes when taking damage; and each character's emblem appears on their side when the phrase "The Wheel of Fate is Turning" shows at the start of the first Rebel. The new gameplay mechanics are: Exceed Accel, a special type of Distortion Drive, which is executed a same input as Overdrive activation by holding it during Overdrive activation, or pressing it, begins with the character performing a specific attack in their move-set, and once it connects the rest of the background shatters away into the Overdrive background effect when the attack is performed. It dishes large damage, but immediately ends Overdrive; and Active Flow, which acts as the opposite of Negative Penalty status. A character that fights offensively goes into an Active Flow, which boosts damage and recovery of the Burst Gauge. Active Flow also increases the damage of Exceed Accel (for some it may add extra effects and animations). When a character enters Active Flow, his/her emblem on the health bar becomes purple pink. The purple pink color itself is also shown surrounding the Overdrive Gauge, when a character is close to entering Active Flow. A character can only enter Active Flow once per round.[14]

Release

The game was released for the arcades on November 19, 2015, with a location test having been done in mid-July of that year.[15] A console version was released in Japan on October 6, 2016, in North America on November 1, 2016, and Europe on November 4, 2016 for the PlayStation 3 and the PlayStation 4, both physically and digitally.[1][16][17] Aksys Games has confirmed a limited edition for North American markets which includes a soundtrack disc, a nendoroid figure and a hardcover art book.

A Steam port was released on April 26, 2017.[18]

Reception

In Japan, BlazBlue: Central Fiction sold 26,506 copies on PS4 and 9,674 copies on PS3.[24][25] Aggregate reviewer Metacritic gave BlazBlue: Central Fiction an 84 out of 100 citing generally positive reviews from websites.[19] Famitsu gave the game a 34/40 for both the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3 versions.[23] Chris Carter of Destructoid gave the title an 8.5/10 while complimenting the impressive amount of effort with few problems for a niche game.[21] Filippo Facchetti of Eurogamer gave Central Fiction a 9/10 recommending players who love fighting games and/or anime to buy the title.[22]

References
  1. "BlazBlue: Central Fiction is coming to Europe in 2016!". Develop. Retrieved 2016-08-16.
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-12-04. Retrieved 2017-08-09.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. Romano, Sal. "BlazBlue: Central Fiction limited edition announced for North America". Gematsu. Archived from the original on 2016-08-25. Retrieved 2016-08-24.
  4. McClusky, Kevin. "Sub-bull dub-bull toil and trouble". Destructoid. Archived from the original on 2016-08-30. Retrieved 2016-08-30.
  5. Romano, Sal. "BlazBlue: Central Fiction coming to North America this winter". Gematsu. Retrieved 2016-08-16.
  6. Sato. "BlazBlue: Central Fiction Will Have Triple The Story Volume Of Chrono Phantasma". Siliconera. Archived from the original on 2016-08-18. Retrieved 2016-08-16.
  7. Ishaan. "BlazBlue Central Fiction Announced, Makes Hibiki And Naoto Playable". Siliconera. Archived from the original on 2016-08-23. Retrieved 2016-08-16.
  8. Romano, Sal. "BlazBlue: Central Fiction adds playable Nine". Gematsu. Archived from the original on 2016-03-21. Retrieved 2016-08-16.
  9. "BlazBlue: Central Fiction Arcade Game Adds Izanami as Playable Character". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on 2016-04-24. Retrieved 2016-08-16.
  10. Joshi, Shaan. "BlazBlue: Central Fiction Introduces Es to the Series". Hardcore Gamer. Archived from the original on 2016-08-13. Retrieved 2016-08-16.
  11. Bahn, Chris. "A Manga Fan Favorite is Coming to BlazBlue". PVP Live. Archived from the original on 2016-08-17. Retrieved 2016-08-24.
  12. Sato. "Check Out BlazBlue: Central Fiction's Secret Character Susano'o And His Godly Combos". Siliconera. Archived from the original on 2016-10-08. Retrieved 2016-10-07.
  13. Mejia, Ozzie. "EVO 2017: Anime worlds collide in BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle, Jubei joins BlazBlue: Central Fiction". Shacknews. Archived from the original on 2018-01-07. Retrieved 2017-07-20.
  14. Miscevich, Danny. "BlazBlue: Central Fiction Launches this Winter on PS4, PS3". PlayStation Blog. Archived from the original on 2016-08-22. Retrieved 2016-08-16.
  15. Barder, Ollie. "'BlazBlue Central Fiction' Announced Along With Location Test Details". Forbes. Archived from the original on 2016-05-08. Retrieved 2016-08-16.
  16. "PS4/PS3「BLAZBLUE CENTRALFICTION」，登場キャラ33名の情報を公式サイトにて公開". 4Gamer. Archived from the original on 2016-08-26. Retrieved 2016-08-16.
  17. MacGregor, Kyle. "BlazBlue: Central Fiction hitting PS4, PS3 this winter". Destructoid. Archived from the original on 2016-05-29. Retrieved 2016-08-16.
  18. Luster, Joseph. ""BlazBlue: Central Fiction" Heads to Steam on April 26". Crunchyroll. Archived from the original on 2017-04-25. Retrieved 2017-04-21.
  19. "BlazBlue: Central Fiction for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on December 5, 2016. Retrieved December 11, 2016.
  20. "BlazBlue: Central Fiction - Special Edition for Switch Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  21. Carter, Chris (October 31, 2016). "Review: BlazBlue: Central Fiction". Destructoid. Archived from the original on December 10, 2016. Retrieved December 11, 2016.
  22. Facchetti, Filippo (November 16, 2016). "BlazBlue: Central Fiction Review". Eurogamer. Eurogamer. Archived from the original on November 20, 2016. Retrieved December 11, 2016.
  23. Romano, Sal (2016-09-27). "Famitsu Review Scores: Issue 1452". Gematsu. Archived from the original on 2016-10-03. Retrieved 2016-10-06.
  24. Romano, Sal (2016-10-12). "Media Create Sales: 10/3/16 – 10/9/16". Gematsu. Retrieved 2021-01-25.
  25. Romano, Sal (2016-10-19). "Media Create Sales: 10/10/16 – 10/16/16". Gematsu. Retrieved 2021-01-25.
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