Bleach: Shattered Blade (Wii)

Yet another generic fighting game gets slapped with a popular anime license.
1/31/2008 12:00 AM | 0 Comments | Page 2 of 2

In addition to breaking any illusion of gameplay balance, the Bankai moves render the combat terribly dull. The most effective way to defeat most computer-controlled opponents is to quickly build up your gauge and overwhelm the challenger. Multiplayer matches are even worse, as you and your friend will most likely immediately back away from each other and frantically start shaking the Nunchuk so that your gauge fills faster than the other guy's. Even if you ignore the Bankai Gauge, the rest of the fighting is extremely bland, feeling like every other slapped-together anime fighter before it. The Wii controls also come across as gimmicky. It's a shame that there isn't an option to use the classic controller.

About the only thing that Shattered Blade gets right is the feel of the anime series. The characters look great, and there is adequate voice-over work from the cast of the English dub. Obsessive fans will appreciate the gallery, which is full of 2-D and 3-D art as well as a sound test. Too bad you'll have to play through the game multiple times to unlock all these bonuses, which also include new characters and costumes.

If you're really in the mood to do some anime-style fighting on your Wii, you'd be much better served by picking up one of the Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi titles. Those at least include some solid (if simplistic) gameplay to go along with the fan service. If it's Bleach in particular that you're after, check out the far superior DS game, The Blade of Fate. Now there's an anime fighter done right.

This review was based on a retail version of the game from the publisher.