Bleach Rebirth of Souls – Review

Have you all wondered what kind of anime game is worth getting this year? In the past, there have been numerous anime games such as Jujutsu Kaisen, Demon Slayer, Synduality Noir, and more, and Bandai Namco has developed all of them. But this review is focused on the fighting game featuring one of the most popular anime of all time, Bleach Rebirth of Souls. This game is interesting as it shows how developed and well-rounded this game is. Despite that, this review shows what to expect in this game and more.

Bleach: Rebirth of Souls is an all-new fighting game based on the hit series, Bleach. In the past, there have been multiple Bleach fighting games, but not one of them can top this one as it has introduced multiple features and creative battle mechanics to enjoy. Now, this game also covers the very 1st season of the anime series till the end of the Aizen arc, and quite frankly, it is a good way for players to get into the series and not only watch it but experience it as well.

There are a total of 31 active characters available to choose from, including 4 DLC characters coming soon. Each of them is are iconic Bleach characters that have a major role in the series and have various fighting styles to master. Characters like Kurosaki Ichigo, Ulquiorra Shifar, Uryu Ishida, and more are present in this game, and quite an amazing line-up this game has. However, I felt like some characters were missing or were not playable. Most of them play a vital to the series like Orhime, Momo Hinamori, Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi, and more, and should be playable in the game, but there may be a chance that they will be debuting soon in the upcoming DLC, so we should expect some news from the developers soon.

There are practically 2 modes to explore in Bleach: Story Mode and Versus Mode. The story mode covers the entire first season of Bleach, which will begin with how Ichigo becomes the substitute Shinigami, rescuing Rukia in Soul Society, and the end of the Hueco Mundo story.

In the past, Bleach games usually covered one story arc at a time. But for this game, they have compiled almost every important detail of the Bleach series, and it is a good idea to do so. Sadly, the latest season of the series, which is the Thousand Year Blood War arc, has not been added, However, the game features costumes from the show as DLC. Quite frankly, I suppose this was a good idea as the latest season has yet to finish, but it could improve the game’s attraction if they add the arc as a DLC story in the future.

Aside from the content of the story mode, there are multiple missions/ challenges that players can clear and, in return, will gain awesome rewards. Each of these rewards can help boost the fighting buffs of various characters used not only in the story mode but also in online battles if players agree to the use of it. I find this appealing and at the same time tedious, as it creates a certain conflict in me about whether or not it is worth getting them. If I were myself, it would have been nice to offer other rewards like unlockable costumes or BGMs, to make the rewards more attractive.

Gameplay is, of course, important as this is a fighting game. This game utilizes a whole new fighting system that is very different from the likes of Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm and Kimetsu No Yaiba. Players must reduce the health gauge of their opponent using various combos and soul skills. What I like about this game is how nostalgic the movesets and finishers that players can use. Plus, I like that players cannot abuse the multiple use of finishers in the game, as there are times when it feels boring.

Since this is a fighting game and all, there should be online modes, and quite frankly, there are. However, I am quite disappointed at the fact that there is no ranking system. Bandai Namco has been known for putting up many great ranking systems for fighting games like Tekken and Soul Calibur as part of their day-one experience. I was hoping for them to put one for Bleach Rebirth of Souls since this looks like a great fighting game to play, but sadly, there isn’t one. There might be one in future updates as I hope ot test my skills against other Bleach fans.

Bleach Rebirth of Souls is a great title, yet it doesn’t feel like a multiplayer game. I say that in a positive way, as it feels like a great single-player fighting game that gives us the full rundown of what the Bleach series is all about. Despite the minor setbacks, I would recommend this game to any anime fan who wishes to relive the classic moments of the series, and I hope they enjoy the game whether they purchase it on PC or PlayStation 5.

This review is based on a PC review code provided by the developer/publisher