[PSP][REVIEW] BLEACH: HEAT THE SOUL 4

Ahh…another import fighting game for the PSP and it’s a “BLEACH” game based on the popular anime and manga series, my only hope that with all the new characters introduced in the series, that this one will not disappoint.

Before I go on, I have not watched all of the series, to tell you the truth, where the American series on Cartoon Network is on right now is where I last watched from the fan subbed copies I watched. I love the series and I’m a big fan of both the PSP and DS games. “BLEACH: HEAT THE SOUL 4″ is focused on the manga storyline.

“BLEACH HEAT THE SOUL” is literally a fighting game which features the characters cel shaded and in a 3D environment. The first game sucked because there were only six characters. The second game was an improvement with a total of eleven characters and a cool mini game and I missed out on the third and figured that I didn’t want to purchase the same game over and over again but did like that it had 27 playable characters.

Fortunately, the 4th version features way more characters and better gameplay.

GAMEPLAY:

This time around you can play 51 characters (some are different versions of a character ala Ichigo, Rukia, Sado, etc.) and 19 support characters.

The modes are:

Character Master: This one is where you just pick a character, select two supporting characters and fight five battles. You earn points as you fight and these points will accumulate and open more characters in the game. The fighting is not free battle as there are conditions such as not using a certain button during battle or by performing a certain move.

Mission Mode: This is where you can play a character in an RPG style of way but relating to the series storyline. Another way of obtaining points to open things up for the game. If you are familiar with the manga or anime series, then this will make sense. Otherwise, if you have not watched or read the series, you’ll find yourself skipping the dialogue.

vs. CPU:

Your typical Time Attack, Survival Mode and Survive against 100 opponents.

Soul Vs.: Well, if you have a group of friends to play with wireless, then it’s all good but because you probably imported this game, chances are finding someone remotely close and owning the game is and playing against them will be rare.

CONTROLS:

For “BLEACH: HEAT THE SOUL 4″, the controls are easy. Direction buttons and then triangle to jump, square to charge your Reiatsu meter, X to attack without weapon and circle to attack with weapon. With square and triangle, you can execute a soul blaze move which unleashes a fury of multiple attacks and you also have a special move (Reiatsu Ougi).

CHARACTER SELECTION:

As mentioned before, there are several versions of the character that you can play. For example, for Ichigo you can play his shinigami, shikai, bankai, hollow form. For other characters, you can play their normal character or EX form. EX is from the “Soul Society: Rescue Arc” (the third storyline arc) which many people are currently watching on Cartoon Network at this time (the storyline to save Rukia). Currently in Japan, the series is now on its sixth story arc known as Arrancar.

When selecting a character, you then have a choice ala Shinigami Soul, Vizard Soul and Arrancar Soul. Shinigami gives you a middle size reiatsu bar and the ability to use two support characters. Vizard gives you a short reiatsu bar, one support character and several attack and defensive options. Arrancar gives you no support character but a longer reiatsu bar and ability to steal reiatsu.

My personal feelings on fighting games with a lot of characters are positive if the characters have different moves and are different rather than just a different look and similar moves. “BLEACH: HEAT THE SOUL 4″ features so many characters with each their different moves, that before I would say PSP or DS version, I would recommend the DS version. Now, because the enormous amount of characters from the series and the varied moves and fighting styles, the fourth PSP game has a good solid gameplay and replay value, I’m actually enjoying this 4th PSP game than the 2nd DS game (and I enjoy the DS game a lot!).

HOW DOES THIS GAME DIFFER FROM TEKKEN?

Well, Tekken is a game that I fell is great for competitive fighting and both the PS2 and PSP games are great to own. “BLEACH: HEAT THE SOUL 4″ is a cool fighting game on the PSP. Let’s face it, not many anime games get respect from reviewers in the US because too many of them suck. “Dragon Ball Z” which was an awesome game to import way back then has now become the title that keeps churning each year with game after game for 15 years. From “Yu Yu Hashuko”, “Ranma 1/2″ to “Sailor Moon”, “BLEACH: HEAT THE SOUL 4″ just is a better game and the sheer amount of characters and the new modes make this a game worth owning for the PSP.

“Tekken” was a cool game on the PSP but this latest iteration of “BLEACH” is definitely a cool game to own.

Now, there is a difference with the DS version. It’s like apples and oranges.

GREAT FOR BUSY GAMERS?

Totally. Matches are short and you don’t have to go through long cycles of battles on character mode. Now mission mode, there are quite a number of battles but then you can always put your PSP on sleep mode.

JUDGEMENT:

“BLEACH: HEAT THE SOUL 4″ is a very cool fighting game for the PSP, it sucks that the American market will not get this for some quite time since the American series is still quite behind from the Japanese series. But there is so much packed with this game that you can’t help but be happy about the sheer number of characters, the different modes and replay value.

The different soul options also gives the player a chance to learn how to play their character in a variety of ways. For those who enjoyed “Street Fighter Alpha 3″ and other fighting games for various fighting modes will dig this.

Now is it worth getting over the 2nd DS game? I actually recommend both. Both are two different types of games and both are awesome in their own right. But if you want a fighting game that is easy to understand, easy to get into, then I highly recommend “BLEACH: HEAT THE SOUL 4″. You can’t go wrong!