2009 is quickly becoming the year of the fighting game and Arc System Works has geared up with an entirely new franchise. Published by Aksys Games, "BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger" is a break-neck paced, combo-driven fighter with stunning, hi-def 2D sprites and a dozen bizarre characters. The only question is, can this new kid on the block’s flashy graphics and outlandish duels make it a contender to dethrone even the most established king of the streets?

Before we jump to the heart of the review, it's important to note my stance on the fighting game genre. I am not currently, nor will I ever be a competition grade digital pugilist. In fact, I'm probably slightly below average when it comes to virtual fisticuffs, but I enjoy them regardless. So you're not going to find a detailed breakdown of frame counts, advanced combo techniques, or any sort of character tiers discussed here. This is very much intended to be a review for the average player… and for those looking to punch people in the face with as much pizzazz as possible. Now that's out of the way and we can get back to the game at hand. (I also will refrain from using the word pizzazz from here on out.)

Control wise, BlazBlue will be accessible to anyone who has ever managed to follow-up a quarter-circle with a punch. By breaking the game down to light, medium, and heavy attacks (not into punch and kick-specific buttons) players are quickly able to get into the fray. Fewer attack buttons also means standard controller players can rely almost exclusively on the four face buttons and ditch the trigger buttons entirely. In addition to the three standard attacks, the fourth face button performs character specific special moves called "Drive" attacks. Alternating between attacks can net you some nice juggling combos and each successful strike fills up your "Heat Meter". Unleashing the "Heat" then allows for even more powerful moves known as "Distortion Drives" and screen-filling super finishers called "Astral Heats". That's really just scratching the surface on the depth and variety of the fighting engine, but even novice players will be able to pull off some insane looking attacks with little difficulty. Heck, you can even pull off the monstrous "Distortion Drives" simply by moving the right analog stick if you so desire.

Coming from the development house that brought us Guilty Gear, it’s not surprising that BlazBlue features a cast of wildly memorable fighters. There's Rachel (a stuck-up aristocratic vampire child), Arakune (a bloody, shape-shifting mass of insects), Taokaka (a bubbly cat-girl), and Carl (a Harry Potter-esque marionette-wielder). Those are just four of the twelve absurdly fun characters in the game and each is distinct and gorgeously animated. The differences aren't merely cosmetic, as the strategic options from character to character vary greatly. For instance, Rachel casts traps that remain on screen until triggered, Arakune is a fighter that excels in the air and curses his opponents, Taokaka relies on her feline quickness to dart around the screen, and Carl can position his marionette defensively or try to sandwich his opponent between the doll and himself. It's really amazing the variety of tactics that can be employed and it is only a matter of time before you find the fighter who fits your style.

Fortunately, the game's "Story Mode" provides an excellent way of getting introduced (and endeared) to each of the characters. Every fighter has a detailed story arc that actually branches into alternate endings depending on the outcomes of each of the one round fights. We aren't talking classic literature here, but the storyboards do a great job of fleshing out the fighters' personalities. Also, this mode offers a lot to unlock for players looking for a lengthy single player experience and it's going to take a multitude of play-throughs to unravel all the story threads. In addition to "Story Mode", several other self-explanatory modes are included such as "Arcade Mode", "Score Attack", "Versus Mode", and "Training".

Of course, this being 2009, there is one more very important gameplay type: "Network Mode" which is split into "Ranked" and "Player" matches. In the three hours I've spent playing online, I've been more than impressed with the fluidity and the responsiveness of the game. I've yet to be in a room where I could come anywhere close to blaming the connection for the ass-whooping inevitably handed to me. Getting into these rooms will be familiar to a lot of fighting fans. You'll see a list of available matches, the number of spots still open in that room, and whether those spots are for actually playing or just for watching. Rooms fill up fast, though, so you may have to try three or four rooms before you find a match that is actually joinable. Not a major gripe to be sure, but what is frustrating is the number of "Rage Quitters" I've run into in ranked matches. After talking to an Aksys representative, I was assured the game does indeed track players who use this disconnection method and if they enact this lame tactic enough, their profile will be branded with a "Scarlet Letter" of sorts. In the meantime, I'll just avoid the annoyance and stick to the "Player" matches. I seem to find players more my speed there anyway, leading to enjoyable matches where I can feel free to experiment with various fighters and not just rely on my go-to guy "Jin".

In the end, BlazBlue has risen to the cream of the crop for this current generation of fighters. From the eccentric selection of characters and over-the-top fighting styles to the longevity of the single player mode and smooth online play, BlazBlue is a winning combination. It's the type of game I'll constantly go back to whether I just want to play a few rounds with friends or work on improving my fighting skills. And while I might not be the best of fighters, I know what I like and I like BlazBlue.

Outstanding
Outstanding | Very Good | Fair | Poor | Awful

Recommended Buy Price: $59.99
Current MSRP: $59.99

"BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger" was provided for review by Aksys Games. The game was played for a total of nine hours over the various modes. The majority of that time was spent playing with the standard controller, but around two hours were played with a Hori "Dead or Alive" arcade stick. I finished at least one story arc with each character and played both local multiplayer and online modes. "BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger" is also available for the PlayStation 3.

One more thing. The first run of "BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger" is actually a Limited Edition version of the game which includes two soundtrack CDs, a lengthy tutorial DVD, and a larger box to hold the extras. I have confirmed with Aksys that once these are gone, they will not be reprinted. GameStop.com is already out of stock, so if you are looking to get the Limited Edition, I recommend doing so quickly.