Bleach: Shattered Blade is a game based on the Bleach manga and anime series. It is the second game in the Bleach franchise to be released on a Nintendo home console, the first being a GameCube game released exclusively in Japan.

Background

Ichigo Kurosaki is a teenager with the ability to see ghosts and spirits. His life changes drastically when, during an encounter with Rukia, an injured Soul Reaper, Ichigo absorbs all her energy and transforms into a Soul Reaper himself. Armed with a Zanpaku-to sword, Ichigo now has to fulfil her role as a Soul Reaper while she heals. This part of the back story is important as the game's story starts with Ichigo and his friends in the Soul World after rescuing Rukia, where he must collect shards of the ancient Sokyoku blade to open a sealed gate back and return to his world.

The Game

The game features three distinct modes of play: Arcade, Versus, and Episode. A tutorial and an in-game shop where items can be bought are also available. Players earn kan or money as they complete sections in the Arcade and Episode modes.* Episode mode: The game has eight episodes, three of which are immediately available and five others which can be unlocked as the player progresses. Each episode tells the same story using a different character and begins by showing a sequence of still pictures to set the scene for each character and explain why they must have the shards, then the player enters a series of one-round fights.

• Arcade Mode: The player must battle through eight rounds against a random opponent in order to win.

• Versus mode: The player chooses a character and plays against the computer or another player.

Combat

Combat is all about sword play with the Wii remote acting as the sword while the Nunchuk Control Stick is used to move the character around the battle area and block opponents blows. In addition to the regular attacks, each character has a special attack, a critical attack and a Bankai mode.

Special attacks are triggered by holding the B button on the Wii remote and making specific movements, for example to have Orihime heal herself or Hitsugaya swing his sword upwards to release ice from the ground and trap his enemies.

Critical attacks are triggered by holding the A button on the Wii remote. They block incoming strikes and are as fast as regular attacks. The only defense against them is another critical attack or the Bankai mode. Either of these takes the players into rochambeau, a kind of rock-paper-scissors contest to decide which player hits who.

As players land successful strikes and combos, they gain spiritual energy, and when enough energy has been accumulated, Bankai mode, the ability to deliver much more powerful strikes, becomes available.