Bleach: Blade of Fate is an upcoming 2D fighter for the DS (also coming to the Wii) developed by Treasure and published by Sega, with a release date of October 9th in the U.S
The game is based off the extremely popular Shounen Jump Bleach manga and anime series. It features 28 selectable characters (With a unique story for each character. All adapted from the Soul Society arc from episodes 20-63) and a two line 2D fighting system, with the ability to move between the upper and lower-plane during battles.
The list of playable characters includes:
– Ichigo Kurosaki (shinigami, hollow)
– Renji Abarai
– Momo Hinamori
– Ganju Shiba
– Orihime Inoue
– UryÅ« Ishida
– Yasutora “Chad” Sado
– Byakuya Kuchiki
– Rukia Kuchiki
– Soifon
– Yoruichi Shihouin
– Shunsui KyÅraku
– JÅ«shirÅ Ukitake
– Sajin Komamura (masked, unmasked)
– Kaname TÅsen
– TÅshirÅ Hitsugaya
– Kenpachi Zaraki
– Mayuri Kurotsuchi
– Gin Ichimaru
– SÅsuke Aizen
– Shigekuni Yamamoto-GenryÅ«sai
– Yachiru Kusajishi
– Kon
– Nemu Kurotsuchi
– Tatsuki Arisawa
Each player has three bars, their Life bar, Spiritual Energy bar, and Stamina bar.
* Life Bar: Located at the top of the screen next to the player’s character’s portrait. If it hits zero, you lose and are KOed.
* Spiritual Energy Bar: Located right beneath your health bar. Shows how much spiritual energy you have. Spiritual energy is used for high-level special moves. Has up to 3 levels. All highest powered moves such as Bankai moves use up all three levels while normal high-powered specials use up only 1 level. The bar fills up by fighting.
* Stamina Bar: Located at the bottom of the screen under your character’s info. Shows how much stamina your character has. Stamina is used for doing Shunpo and possibly certain types of attacks. It builds up naturally on its own at a fairly fast rate provided you aren’t using any moves that require stamina.
Special moves are done through two methods: either button and arrow input or through the special attack menu in the touch panel.
In addition, gamers can build Spirit Card Decks, enabling them to “strategically access power-ups and power-downs to perform special attacks, cast healing spells on themselves, displace opponents, or prohibit them from using their own Special Cards”. You can even play the game four-player wirelessly, but sadly there is no online support.