The long-awaited Bleach Rebirth of Souls has finally hit the shelves, reigniting the passions of fans of the acclaimed manga and anime series. This title marks the franchise’s first significant fighting game adaptation since Bleach Resurrecion (or Bleach Soul Ignition) released for PS3 back in 2011. Over a decade later, the question remains: does this new installment truly captivate, or is it just another lackluster anime fighter?
Fortunately for enthusiasts, Bleach Rebirth of Souls exceeds expectations. Dive into this review to unravel what makes it a noteworthy experience on PC.
A Tribute to Anime Combat
For those new to this universe, Bleach Rebirth of Souls introduces players to a 3D arena fighter featuring beloved characters from the iconic Shonen Jump manga. Players follow Ichigo Kurosaki, a Soul Reaper engaged in battles against malevolent spirits known as Hollows.
The game showcases a narrative journey spanning from the start of the Substitute Soul Reaper arc through the climactic battles of the Arrancar Arc against Sosuke Aizen. However, the impending Thousand Year Blood War arc will be available as downloadable content (DLC), which may leave some fans wanting a more complete experience right out of the box.
Players can select from a base roster of 32 characters, including two variations of Ichigo. Noteworthy fighters include Uryu Ishida, Rukia Kuchiki, and Kisuke Urahara, alongside lesser-known characters like Ikkaku Madarame and Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck, ensuring a diverse selection for every fan to enjoy.
Although the roster is impressive, some beloved characters like Orihime Inoue are absent, and others appear only in the story mode. Their absence is disappointing; however, there’s hope that these characters may be included in future DLCs since they already have models and partial movesets designed.
Engaging Gameplay Modes
In Bleach Rebirth of Souls, players will find a plethora of modes that enrich their gaming experience. The Story Mode allows users to traverse through legendary battles inspired by the manga, pitting them against various combatants in scenarios that closely mirror the source material.
Each character plays distinctively; for instance, Ichigo wields his Zangetsu sword with fierce melee attacks, while Uryu uses his Quincy skill set to engage enemies from afar. In this mode, players also confront formidable Hollows, although these encounters often feel less intense than battling humanoid foes.
Expect to invest at least a dozen hours navigating the main story, with additional content in the Secret Story section potentially doubling that time. Meanwhile, the Offline mode encompasses Training, Versus, and Missions. Training serves as an invaluable tool for players to sharpen their skills across the character roster, and it is highly recommended to spend ample time perfecting techniques.
Versus mode allows players to test their prowess against CPU opponents or team up in local co-op gameplay. Missions function similarly to an Arcade mode, providing opportunities for in-game progress. However, the Online mode, which could enhance the game’s longevity, is currently hampered by low player counts, making it difficult to find matches. With fewer than 700 active players, the absence of ranked leaderboards compounds the issue, leaving players to seek adversaries in private lobbies or through random challenges.
Dynamic Combat System
In an attempt to differentiate itself from traditional 3D anime fighters, Bleach Rebirth of Souls introduces a unique combat system that includes varying attack types, signature moves, and defensive dashes. Players can execute light and heavy strikes, cinematic finishers, evasive techniques, and recovery actions, providing depth to the fighting mechanics.
The game operates on a consistent locking mechanism, allowing players to focus on mastering the engaging rock-paper-scissors dynamics of combat. Players can Guard against Attacks, utilize Breakers on Guards, and unleash Attacks that counter Breakers, keeping the gameplay engaging.
A prominent feature is the concept of stocks, referred to as Konpaku. Instead of merely depleting health points (HP), players must strategically destroy their opponent’s stocks to claim victory, introducing a layer of strategy to every match. Depleting an enemy’s stocks to zero is essential, emphasizing that only attacking the opponent’s HP isn’t sufficient for winning.
Using a combination of attacks and cinematic finishers will greatly impact Konpaku levels, especially when supported by raising character power through an Evolution gauge. The signature aggressive gameplay encourages players to adopt offensive strategies and leverage unique abilities, such as Reverse Gauge moves, Hoho teleportations, and Spiritual Pressure skills.
While the combat experience can be enjoyable, it sometimes feels repetitive, particularly due to the fixed cinematic finishers for each character. Additionally, the use of Japanese terminology can be overwhelming: terms like Konpaku, which means “soul”within the series, might confuse newcomers unfamiliar with its significance.
Moreover, players can equip items like Talismans and Soul Crystals to obtain battle advantages, though these features feel ancillary and may not dramatically influence gameplay during encounters.
Visuals and Audio: A Mixed Experience
Developed by Tamsoft, known for niche projects like Onechanbara Z2 Chaos and Senran Kagura: Estival Versus, Bleach Rebirth of Souls is the studio’s most ambitious venture to date—but it doesn’t entirely succeed.
Initially plagued by technical issues, the game’s PC release faced severe performance problems, including a bothersome red glare and frame rates that hindered gameplay. Fortunately, the developers have worked diligently to address these issues, although the game still doesn’t perform as optimally as anticipated. Powered by Unreal Engine 5, character models and visual effects shine, while many environments and cutscenes fall short of the high standards set by the title.
The game’s interface and soundtrack, however, are commendable. Incorporating both familiar tunes from the series and new compositions, the soundtrack enhances the gaming experience. Additionally, the dynamic shifts in music during character Evolutions amplify the excitement during battles.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, while Bleach Rebirth of Souls launched with significant technical hurdles, its current state offers a thrilling experience, especially for fans of the franchise. With its visually stunning graphics, exhilarating combat dynamics, and abundant fan service, many will find joy in this game.
However, the inconsistencies throughout the game can be jarring. The rushed Story Mode presents only a fragment of the expansive 300+ episode narrative in a disjointed fashion, making it less accessible for newcomers eager to dive into the Bleach lore.
Players venturing into the Story Mode may encounter unimpressive battles and uninspired cutscenes—results of inadequate quality control. Additionally, while the combat remains engaging, repetitiveness tends to creep in due to limited movement options compared to other titles in the genre.
Nevertheless, Bleach Rebirth of Souls does deliver positive qualities, such as a captivating soundtrack, a well-crafted roster of unique fighters with distinct play styles, and a variety of game modes that collectively forge an enjoyable experience that fans will appreciate.
Game Information
Reviewed on: PC (Review code provided by Bandai Namco Entertainment)
Platform(s): PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S
Developer(s): Tamsoft, Inc.
Publisher(s): Bandai Namco Entertainment
Release Date(s): March 21, 2025