3/16/26
PLAYTIME: 54 Hours REVIEWED ON: PS5
The most fun game I’ve played this year (so far) is Blazblue Entropy Effect X. The latest entry in the Blazblue series is an action-roguelite with dynamic combat, gorgeous design, and amazing meta-progression that had me hooked from the start. When paired with a slew of unique characters and excellent co-op play, it results in one of the greatest examples of the genre to date. For fans of action-roguelites, fighting games, or anime games I can’t recommend it enough.
*Tip: Hibiki is the tutorial character and is a good first character to unlock. He is simple and will allow you to understand the systems of the game before a more difficult character (Rachel, Hazama, or Ragna.)
Entropy Effect X’s story is a bit esoteric and fun to discover throughout the course of the game, so I won’t spoil too much. Essentially, you are a scientist on a team trying to solve a variety of mysterious anomalies affecting the universe. The player’s role is to go on dives into the “Sea of Possibility” in order to collection information on said anomalies (by fighting lots of stuff.) At the same time, your scientist colleagues are responsible for providing meta-progression in order to strengthen your character so that you can dive deeper and learn more on each run. The team is led by the enigmatic Dr. Mercurius, whose ambiguous motivations and deeper knowledge about the experiment, give more depth to the story. This story is nothing incredible but interacting with the various members of the lab and discovering their motivations is a consistently enjoyable aside from the breakneck combat.
*Tip: Interact with all of the members of the lab between rounds. They will often give gameplay tips, currency for upgrades, or exposition for the story.
Said breakneck combat, however, is really where Entropy Effect X really shines. It is a rapid, bombastic dance that constantly fills the screen with effects as your character of choice blitzes through hordes of enemies (or gigantic bosses.) The Blazblue IP has existed since 2008 (spanning 16 games including spinoffs) and has amassed a large roster of characters with diverse fighting game mechanics. This pedigree lends itself well to a roguelite structure as each character comes equipped with a variety of quirks and combos which can be built upon throughout the course of a dive. The game features 14 characters from the series along with 2 guest characters (from Dead Cells and ICEY.) All of them are extremely unique with fundamentally different approaches to combat in the form of different weapons, moves, and special abilities. The combat is easy to pick up but still offers great skill expression as players get deeper into the game.
*Tip: In boss battles it can be hard to keep track of your character with all of the action on screen. Since the boss arenas don’t move, you can often run to a wall to re-orient yourself if confused.
Building on the dynamic combat system is a strikingly original meta progression system that makes each dive feel like a step forward. Like in most roguelites, players can progress after every dive by purchasing permanent upgrades to things like max health, damage dealt, or other passive effects. Entropy Effect X does a great job of these things but also differentiates itself from others in the genre with its “Optimized Avatar” system. After each dive the player can save their avatar into the system by selecting different tactics they would like to use in the future. When starting a dive, they can select two of these Avatars to buff their current avatar for the course of the run. Initially this system is a bit complicated because of the wealth of options to choose from. However, once players get used to the loop of using these avatars it opens up amazing customizability for each run. Oftentimes roguelite games can get a bit repetitive after you have already fought all of the enemies; the “Optimized Avatar” system mitigates this problem by making each run feel truly unique depending on what you select.
*Tip: There are 90 available avatar slots to save so keep all avatars until you get to a point where you can replace them with better ones. It’s also fine to delete avatars if you feel like you won’t use them in the future.
The last thing Entropy Effect X deserves recognition for is the excellent design and production value it brings to the table. All of the characters, enemies, and stages are unique with vibrant designs and intricate details. The soundtrack is also a highlight with a lot of different electronica that changes to match each area throughout a dive. The technical performance on PS5 was excellent and through my 50+ hours of play I never encountered a glitch or any issue that wasn’t instantly fixable. Online multiplayer in particular works extremely well and it’s a lot of fun to challenge higher difficulties with a friend. The artistic execution and technical design of this game are both deserving of praise (especially for 25 dollars.)
*Tip: The training modes you unlock from Fox are a great way to get some extra currency for upgrades. They also give unique skills and new skins to each avatar you clear them with.
Blazblue Entropy Effect X offers a unique spin on the action-roguelite genre. It’s wonderful characters and combat provide an addictive loop which is supplemented by some of the best progression and customizability available in something that isn’t an RPG. Simultaneously, it’s sleek anime design, attention to detail, and solid story, make it remain compelling in the quieter moments. For players who enjoy action-roguelites, anime, or anything remotely close, this is a real can’t-miss game that will keep you satisfied for a long time.
Score: 89/100
JoeGames 