BlazBlue Entropy Effect X was not on my radar, but it has since changed my view of roguelike games. If you’ve been playing video games for as long as I have, at this point, you know what you like as well as what you don’t like. I like to stick to my favourite genres, such as first-person shooters, fighting games, racing games, and role-playing games.
That said, I do like to dabble in other genres and play the field to see what else is out there. We are truly in some type of renaissance when it comes to the diversity of games, and we are very spoiled. Roguelikes haven’t once been something I would run home to boot up, but BlazBlue Entropy Effect X might have changed my mind about this genre for the better.
So what exactly is BlazBlue Entropy Effect X, and is it a true roguelike? At its core, yes. A roguelike is a role-playing video game typically characterized by procedurally generated levels, sometimes turn-based gameplay, grid-based movement, and the option of permanent death, or “permadeath,” for the player character. In the past, I’ve stayed away from these games because I am not a big fan of grinding levels over and over again, and I would lose interest very fast due to the simple combat.
“BlazBlue Entropy Effect X was not on my radar, but it has since changed my view of roguelike games.”
My introduction to the BlazBlue franchise was through the fighting game BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle. This game was a true love letter to 2D anime fighting games, as it was not only a great technical game, but it also featured a very deep roster of crossover characters from other anime fighting games. These include Persona 4 Arena, Under Night In-Birth, RWBY, Arcana Heart, Senran Kagura and Akatsuki Blitzkampf.
I’ve played a few roguelikes in my time, such as Hades and Dead Cells. Though I enjoyed these games, I did not once find myself fully immersed or wanting to come back to them, and I soon lost interest. Something about the subgenre has never appealed to me, no matter what game I tried. I can confidently say that after a week of playing BlazBlue Entropy Effect X, my eyes have truly been opened to the world of roguelikes.
BlazBlue Entropy Effect X has been one of the few games I have had a very hard time putting down, strictly because of how much fun I was having playing it. The game’s introduction has the player navigating a strange, glitchy world while being attacked from all sides. You are given a very brief tutorial to get an understanding of the core game mechanics as you navigate through various sections of the level, fighting with what you’ve learned to make it to the end.
Once completed, the story continues with the player waking up with some form of amnesia, as always, wondering where they are and what is going on. Soon after, you are introduced to the core cast of characters. Making up this group are four doctors who go by nicknames in order to conceal their identities, and their boss, Doctor Mercurius*, who is the main person in charge and the mastermind of the entire operation the player will soon embark on.
The main goal of the game is to navigate the “Sea of Possibility” and collect all of the possibility shards in order to save the world. Throughout the game’s narrative sections, the player can choose dialogue options to advance the story and learn more about the four doctors. The choices you make do not affect the outcome of the endgame, but it is still a nice option to change your tone and get various reactions from the core group.
The core gameplay loop is rock solid and, surprisingly, doesn’t get old. For combat, you can choose from a total of 14 playable avatars, all of which have their own unique battle styles. Of these, two are special guest characters: “The Headless One” from Dead Cells and “ICEY” from ICEY. To unlock these characters, you must complete multiple missions, or “dives,” and finish the objectives the doctors give you. Not all avatars are available immediately, so be prepared to go a few rounds to fully unlock everyone.
“BlazBlue Entropy Effect X has been one of the few games I have had a very hard time putting down, strictly because of how much fun I was having playing it.”
As you progress through each section of every level, you are presented with an opportunity to upgrade your avatar, as well as select the enemy type you want to face in the upcoming section. The player can increase health or MP (mana points), learn new moves, or upgrade existing ones. Depending on your playstyle, you have a healthy number of options to choose from. Inventory management is very crucial when it comes to defeating the bosses at the end of each level.
Every boss has its own unique battle pattern, and you’ll need to make sure you’re equipping a diverse skill set, as you’ll often be expecting the unexpected. As an avid fighting game and JRPG fan, this made me extremely happy. The button inputs are quite simple, and once you get comfortable pulling off combos that can link into each other to further maximize your damage, the real magic of the game starts to shine through.
I split my time playing BlazBlue Entropy Effect X on my PlayStation 5, as well as my PlayStation Portal. The experience on both devices was virtually flawless, but I really enjoyed playing the game handheld. If you own a PlayStation Portal, I highly recommend playing the game on it. This comes with the caveat that you need a strong, stable internet connection to play without interruptions, such as lag or other latency issues.
I really enjoyed my time with BlazBlue Entropy Effect X, and I’m happy I took a chance on it. As someone who actively avoids this genre, this was the redirection I needed to go out and try other similar games. The story was enjoyable, and the combat was a lot of fun. If you were like me and didn’t really give the roguelike genre the time of day, I would highly recommend giving BlazBlue Entropy Effect X a shot. There’s a good chance it’ll change your mind about the subgenre.
