Bleach: Brave Souls is a free-to-play beat 'em up gacha video game developed and published by KLabGames. Set in the Bleach universe, it was released for Android and iOS in Japan in July 2015 and worldwide in January 2016.[1] It was released for Windows in August 2020 and for PlayStation 4 in March 2022.[2] The game reported 80 million downloads by August 2023.[3]
| Bleach: Brave Souls | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | KLabGames |
| Publisher(s) | KLabGames |
| Composer(s) | KLab Sound Team |
| Series | Bleach |
| Engine | Unity |
| Platform(s) | Android, iOS, Windows, PlayStation 4 |
| Release | Android, iOS
|
| Genre(s) | Beat 'em up |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Development edit
A Japanese version was published on July 23, 2015, and an English-language version the following year on January 13.[1][4]
Gameplay edit
The game is a real-time, beat 'em up action game with role-playing elements, featuring modes such as story and coop (PvE) and PVP.[5][6] The game is free-to-play with options to purchase in-game items to speed up one's progress.[6][7][8][9]
It features hundreds of collectible characters which can be leveled up and used in combat.[9][8][7] Bleach series creator Tite Kubo has designed images for several unique character versions for the game, including ones related to the official spinoff sequel Can't Fear Your Own World, a story which is also serialized in the game.[10][11][12][13][14][15] Since 2018, the game also includes characters and storylines from the final arc of the Bleach manga, Thousand-Year Blood War, which received an anime adaptation in 2022.[16][17][18] The game features music from the J-pop band Hello Sleepwalkers.[7][19]
Reception edit
The game received relatively positive reviews. Wellplayed wrote: "For a free-to-download mobile game, Bleach: Brave Souls offers an impressive array of content that will keep you entertained for longer than it has any right to do".[5] Droid Gamers said: "Even if one is unfamiliar with the Bleach property, Brave Souls stands well enough on its own as a top-notch hack-n-slash with light RPG elements, that the game comes recommended to gamers of all types and not just fans of the anime".[6] Digitally Downloaded concluded that "Brave Souls isn't the finest anime game out there, but I believe it can be. Even in its bumpy, jagged state, KLab has managed to boil the franchise down to its most appealing elements and turn an intimidating multi-hundred chapter mess into something newcomers can actually parse".[9] One of those early reviews which offered a scale ranked the game as 4 out 5.[7] The Gamer's Library reviewer, while noting that they enjoy the game and plan on playing it, cautioned that it is rather repetitive.[8]
References edit
- ^ a b "'Bleach: Brave Souls' Mobile Game Now Available On iOS, Android". Headlines & Global News. January 15, 2016. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
- ^ "Bleach: Brave Souls for PS4 now available". Gematsu. March 15, 2022. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
- ^ "KLab's "Bleach: Brave Souls" Reaches Over 80 Million Downloads Worldwide!". PR Newswire. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
- ^ "Bleach: Brave Souls Smartphone Game Launches Worldwide". Anime News Network. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
- ^ a b "Bleach: Brave Souls Review". WellPlayed. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
- ^ a b c "Bankai and Chill - Bleach: Brave Souls Review". Droid Gamers. March 22, 2016. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
- ^ a b c d thegg.net, The Gaming Ground (January 20, 2016). "Bleach: Brave Souls Android review". (TGG). Retrieved January 17, 2020.
- ^ a b c Thonos (February 19, 2016). "Bleach Brave Souls Review". THE GAMER'S LIBRARY. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
- ^ a b c CA (January 21, 2016). "Review: Bleach: Brave Souls (Apple iPad)". digitallydownloaded.net. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
- ^ "Tite Kubo Confirms New Partnership With 'Bleach: Brave Souls'". Anime. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
- ^ "'Bleach' Spin-Off Sequel Reveals 'Brave Souls' Artwork". Anime. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
- ^ "Bleach Sequel Getting Official English Release". Anime. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
- ^ "Bleach Reveals New Forms for Coyote Starkk, More". Anime. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
- ^ "'Bleach' Creator Reveals New Ulquiorra Form". Anime. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
- ^ "Bleach: Can't Fear Your Own World Novel Characters to Appear in Bleach: Brave Souls Smartphone Game". Anime News Network. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
- ^ "Yhwach Coming to 'Bleach: Brave Souls'". Anime. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
- ^ "'Bleach: Brave Souls' Releases Its 'Thousand-Year Blood War' Trailer". Anime. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
- ^ "Bleach Officially Confirms New Anime for Thousand-Year Blood War Arc Form". Anime. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
- ^ "Lie and a Chameleon Join JPU. New Song". JPU Records. December 3, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2020.