YOKOHAMA, Japan — A new entry in the BlazBlue fighting game series, BlazBlue: Consequence Edict, will introduce four new characters and a record-breaking seven new meters to the game.
In an interview for Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu that was translated to English, lead designer Toshimichi Mori expressed excitement for the upcoming release.
“From the beginning, BlazBlue has been about pushing the limits of design in the fighting game space,” Mori said. “Plenty of other games have bars that measure health and special abilities, but we were the first team bold enough to ask ‘what about one that measures how sleepy the fighters are or what the current humidity level of the stage is?’ Don’t those deserve meters too?”
Mori and his team have also added new spins on classic meters. “The game will come with a set of 3D glasses,” Mori explained. “You can only see your life bar if you have the glasses on, but you can only see your Heat Gauge [super meter] if you have the glasses off. It adds a whole new layer of strategy to the game.”
To end the interview, Mori spoke of how some of Consequence Edict’s features were driven by better gaming hardware. “Obviously higher resolutions like 4K mean you can squeeze more meters on-screen, in a way we couldn’t previously. This has allowed us to totally redefine what a meter in a fighting game can do. I can’t reveal too much, but let’s just say who decreed meters could only be horizontal?”
The interviewer then describes Mori leaning back in his chair, putting his hands behind his head and softly saying “Checkmate, Street Fighter.”
We’ve launched a brand new podcast network. Check out the newest episode of the Hard Drive podcast where we watch and discuss every episode of 1989’s The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!