After 14 years, the Bleach franchise returns with "Bleach: Rebirth of Souls ," a fighting game based on the classic anime. The new adaptation aims to retell the entire story of Ichigo Kurosaki, from his first confrontations with the Hollows to his most intense duels against the Arrancar. The release aims to fill a gap that has bothered fans for over a decade: the lack of a complete, cohesive game worthy of the grandeur of the universe created by Tite Kubo.
- Pokémon TGC officially announces Destined Rivals
- Leak reveals new features in the new Genshin Impact update
Expectations were high, fueled by the success of the new anime and the promise of a rich experience geared toward both beginners and veterans. For the most part, the game delivers on its promises. However, it stumbles in important aspects, such as combat pacing, technical limitations, and design decisions that directly affect the longevity of the game.
A dense and detailed story mode
Bleach: Rebirth of Souls' main strength is its story mode. The game aims to adapt the main arcs of the manga and anime into a well-organized timeline, beginning with the Substitute saga and continuing through to the climax of the Arrancar phase. This narrative choice is rare in anime games, which typically split the arcs into separate releases.
The cutscenes, though lengthy, are well-constructed and convey the drama of key moments. Some are reminiscent of entire episodes from the anime. Others use a visual style directly reminiscent of the manga, with sequential colored panels. This combination helps deepen the narrative, especially in missions involving supporting characters like Chad, Orihime, and Uryu.
Additionally, the game features a "secret story" mode, unlocked as the player completes additional objectives. These side stages reveal previously unseen or underexplored plot moments, deepening engagement with the Bleach universe.
Strategic combat, but with broken rhythm
Rebirth of Souls' combat system features interesting mechanics that deviate from the conventional. The life bar, called Konpaku, is only reduced through specific techniques called Kikon, which must be activated at the right time, when the interface displays the Soul Breaker or Now or Never . This dynamic requires constant attention to the flow of the battle.
Each character possesses unique abilities, with significant variations between Shikai, Bankai, or Resurrección. Using the Fighting Spirit gauge allows you to activate these special modes, which increase the impact of attacks and change the pace of the fight.
The problem lies in repetition. The requirement to perform Kikon as a finisher, always using the same triggers, compromises the diversity of the fights. Even with a good variety of characters, the fights tend to follow the same pattern.
Impactful visual presentation with its own identity
If there's one element where Bleach: Rebirth of Souls truly excels, it's its visuals. The artistic style of the menus, the aesthetics of the effects, and the overall art direction convey the essence of the series. Every Bankai, every "ultimate" special, every on-screen movement is packed with personality.
During combat, the animations are fluid and the particle effects are impressive. Narrators deliver iconic phrases on screen, accompanied by soundtracks that evoke the atmosphere of the most intense episodes. The visuals are undoubtedly one of the title's strengths.
However, the PC version suffers from technical issues that compromise its quality. Resolution drops, missing textures, and visual loading issues affect immersion. At times, the resolution drops below 720p, even on powerful machines or when running on a PlayStation 5.
Extensive offline content, but disappointing online content
For those seeking content beyond the main story, the game offers good alternatives. Missions mode, divided into three difficulty levels, functions like an arcade mode. For each challenge overcome, the player is rewarded with Soul Points, which can be used to unlock cosmetic items and character upgrades.
The roster of fighters is generous. There are 32 playable characters, with the possibility of unlocking a secret additional one. Specific combinations between them unlock exclusive pre-fight dialogue, adding value to confrontations between rivals like Byakuya and Rukia or Yoruichi and Soi Fon.
The online mode, however, is disappointing. With no crossplay, no ranked matches, and only two modes available (free and custom rooms), the multiplayer experience falls short of expectations. For players who value competitive play, this limitation represents a wasted opportunity.
The PC version is broken
Although the game's focus is on consoles, the PC version via Steam has hit the market in critical condition. Players report that the game frequently crashes, in addition to severe audio bugs, crashes, and missing textures. The situation is so dire that, of the more than 2,300 reviews on Steam, over 60% are negative.
So far, neither developer Tamsoft Corporation nor Bandai Namco have released any fixes. The community is trying to work around the bugs on their own, but without official support, frustration is widespread. Those who choose to play on PC will need to be patient or wait for future updates.
The narrative pinnacle of the franchise was missing.
One point that bothered some fans was the narrative's cut. Although the arcs presented are well-constructed, the game concludes its story at the end of the Arrancar saga. Many expected the content to progress to the beginning of the Thousand-Year Blood War, the anime's most recent and emotionally impactful arc.
This decision limits the game's scope. While new content can be added via updates or DLC, the lack of a final outcome compromises the game's sense of completeness.
Bleach is back, but not yet in its final form
Bleach: Rebirth of Souls represents a sincere attempt to restore the franchise's relevance in the gaming universe. The game succeeds in carefully retelling the story, offering dense content, striking visuals, and combat that strives to differentiate itself. For fans, there are moments of pure nostalgia and genuine emotion.
On the other hand, the flaws are glaring. Repetitive fights, a weak online mode, and a virtually unplayable PC version tarnish what could have been an epic return. It lacks polish, tweaks, and, above all, technical support.
Still, for those who've waited over a decade for a new Bleach game, there's reason to celebrate. The foundation has been laid. With fixes and improvements, this could be the first step toward a new phase of respect worthy of what the franchise represents.
