BlazBlue: Continuum Shift

BlazBlue: Continuum Shift​ (ブレイブルー コンティニュアム シフト Bureiburū: Kontinyuamu Shifuto?) is a fighting game developed by Arc System Works. The game is an official Sequel to BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger. As with the previous game, BlazBlue: Continuum Shift will first come to arcades before both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions as the game is currently released for the Taito Type X2 arcade system board, with a 16:9 ratio and 768p resolution. It was released in November 20, 2009 in Japan, though the United States version is not released in arcades. A console version will be released in July 1, 2010 in Japan and July 27 in America. A European version has been confirmed by ZenUnited, however a release date has not been given.

Changes from the original version
The game has undergone some changes from its predecessor and features three new characters, Tsubaki Yayoi, Hazama, and μ-12 (a console exclusive character) as well as a replacement for ν-13- (Nu-Thirteen) named Λ-11- (Lambda-Eleven). The game will also include balancing of previous characters, as well as adding, or removing, moves while balancing the whole gameplay.

Gameplay
BlazBlue: Continuum Shift still retains it's traditional 2D fighter feel where two characters participate in a duel on a two dimensional plane. A round is called a "rebel" and one match can consist of one to five "rebels". To win a round, one player must either incapacitate the other by inflicting damage through various attacks to reduce health or by having more remaining health after the clock runs out if the rules of the match has one. However, some mechanics from the previous installment have been changed or completely replaced in the transition. Barrier Burst has been replaced with Break Burst, a similar ability but with different penalties. Break Burst can only be performed twice in a single match, and its second use can only become available if you lose a round. It no longer permanently drains your Barrier Gauge or gives you the "DANGER" penalty. A free unused burst is required for Astral Heats. Bursts have different properties depending on when they are used, as the offensive "Gold Burst" has high bounce and combo-ability and the combos initiated by it can kill while the defensive "Green Burst" will provide invincibility for the entire burst motion at the cost of permanently halving your maximum primer points. All lost primer points will never recover. Guard Libra has been replaced with Guard Primer. Instead of a gauge, Guard Primer relies on a point system where each character has a certain amount of points (e.g. Tager has a maximum of 10 primer points while characters like Carl or Rachel have 4) which are depleted whenever block is broken by specific "guard break" moves that every character has. Primer points regenerate over time. Upon depletion of all points, the character is "Guard Crushed." Barrier can be used to avoid being guard crushed. Astral Heat conditions have been changed. Instead of requiring it to be the final round and the opponent being within 20% health, it now only requires it to be your match point round and your opponent being below 35% health. It still requires 100% heat and now has the additional requirement of a freely available unused Burst.

Plot
The game is set after the events of Blazblue: Calamity Trigger. A few days have passed since the reported raid by Ragna the Bloodedge, The 13th Hierarchical City "Kagutsuchi" forgets to celebrate New Years, as his alleged involvement in the "Mysterious Bombing" and "Huge Pentacle Sightings" becomes the talk of the town. With the Novus Orbis Librarium offering no official explanation, the citizens voice their own theories, exaggerating and spreading rumors like wildfire. The name "Ragna the Bloodedge" is engraved in the minds of the people. Completely indifferent to the state of the city, the silver-haired Grim Reaper grips his massive sword and quietly bides his time—waiting for the chance to achieve his true objective; and then, the enormous "power" that has ensnared the "Grim Reaper" begins to activate...

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Console port
On February 8, 2010, it was revealed through Famitsu that Continuum Shift will be getting a port to Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. This port includes a brand-new, console-exclusive character: μ-12 (Mu-Twelve), the true form of Noel Vermillion, possibly as a new secret boss character similar to Unlimited Ragna in the first game. The port is arcade perfect and will also include new stages, the Legion Mode from the PSP version of Calamity Trigger, and revamped versions of the original stages. There is also a new Tutorial mode similar to Street Fighter IV that shows the players the basics of the game's system. Also, as with the previous game, Kotoko returns to provide the console version's theme song, 'Hekira no Sora e Izanaedo'. The song's chorus also plays when the player performs an Astral Heat. A final price has not been confirmed, but it has been confirmed through Dengeki that the release date in Japan will be July 1, 2010, and there will be a limited edition of the game as done previously with Calamity Trigger, which will include an art book and a Nendoroid figure of Noel. Aksys Games announced that the US version of the game will come on July 27, 2010.

New characters
The game introduces ten new characters in the game, 5 of which are playable, prior to the Console Version. The original characters from the previous game makes it's return to the sequel with the exception of ν -No. 13- (Nu), who is replaced by Λ -No. 11- (Lambda). Makoto Nanaya and Nu (v-13) are stated to appear as downloadable content in the console versions of Continuum Shift.

Playable Characters

 * Tsubaki Yayoi
 * Hazama
 * Lambda (Λ-11)
 * Mu (μ-12)
 * Makoto Nanaya (DLC)
 * Nu (v-13) (DLC)
 * Platinum (DLC)

Non-playable Characters

 * Torakaka
 * Relius Clover
 * Phantom