Introduction
BlazBlue Entropy Effect released on February 14, 2024 as a fast-paced action roguelike spin-off of the popular BlazBlue series. It keeps the franchise’s flashy combos and anime-style look, but it also adds procedural levels, several playable characters, and roguelike progression. In this comparison, PlayerProX lines up Entropy Effect against genre staples like Dead Cells and Hades, as well as its own fighting-game cousins, to see where it excels—and where it falls short.
Story and Setting
Rather than the deep lore of BlazBlue: Central Fiction, Entropy Effect throws players into a near-future cyberspace called ACE. Humanity is close to collapse, and only the secrets inside ACE can save it. The branching narrative offers multiple endings based on your choices, giving a replay feel similar to Hades but with less character banter. While its story isn’t as emotionally powerful as Supergiant’s work, each of the ten characters has a clear goal and unlockable legacy skills that add extra depth for longtime fans.
Gameplay Mechanics
-
Combat Depth: Compared to Guilty Gear and other 2D fighters, Entropy Effect uses roguelike progression unlocked by gaining new moves and elemental combos. The combos are as tight as those in BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle, but the randomly made levels and permadeath loop give it a Dead Cells–style rush.
-
Character Variety: Ten unique fighters each have their own playstyle—from long-range zoning to up-close rush-down. This variety is like the classes in Rogue Legacy 2, but with more detailed combo trees and smooth transition animations that fighting-game veterans will enjoy.
-
Roguelike Progression: With hundreds of moves, elemental effects, and legacy skills, the upgrade system offers endless build options. It blends permanent upgrades with temporary run boosts in a way that reminds you of Hades and Dead Cells, though the sheer number of choices can feel overwhelming at first.
-
Controls & Responsiveness: Players praise the “ultra-responsive combat feedback” and “smooth controls.” Frame-perfect inputs, dashes, and air-dashes feel sharper than many indie fighters. However, some note a steep learning curve to master each character’s full move set.
Visuals and Audio
-
Art Style: The game combines pixel graphics with anime-inspired character art. Dramatic animations capture the series’ flair, while pixel-art backgrounds and a neon cyberpunk color scheme set it apart from the hand-drawn look of games like Hades.
-
Effects & Feedback: Screen shakes, elemental bursts, and combo sparkles deliver instant thrills. Trigger warning: the flashy effects may bother photosensitive players.
-
Soundtrack & Voice: A driving techno soundtrack pushes the action forward, backed by character voice clips and impact sound effects on par with big-budget fighters. Some players mention that the music loops can feel repetitive during long runs. An area where Dead Cells sometimes does better with its more varied score.
Comparison to Peers
At a glance:
-
Vs. Dead Cells: Entropy Effect offers deeper character stories and more combo options, but Dead Cells wins on level variety and a more dynamic soundtrack.
-
Vs. Hades: Hades still leads in how story and character interactions blend into gameplay. Entropy Effect has more complex mechanics for each fighter. But it lacks the seamless dialogue hooks that make Hades so addictive.
-
Vs. BlazBlue Central Fiction: Central Fiction focuses on balanced 2D fighting matches, while Entropy Effect leans into roguelike loops—trading match balance for evolving builds and replay value.
Community Reception
On Steam, Entropy Effect holds a “Very Positive” rating of 94% based on 351 recent reviews and 25,333 total reviews. Players highlight:
-
Strengths: Fluid combat, deep combos, responsive controls, and huge replay value.
-
Common Criticisms: Repetitive environments, occasional performance issues on older PCs, and a tough learning curve for new players.
-
Overall Sentiment: Hardcore action fans praise its depth and challenge, while more casual players point to its difficulty spikes and complex combos as barriers.
Pros and Cons
-
Pros:
-
Fast, engaging combo system
-
Wide build variety across ten fighters
-
High replay value with random levels
-
Stylish cyberpunk-anime look
Cons:
-
Repetitive stage designs over time
-
Steep learning curve for newcomers
-
Flashy effects may trigger some players
-
Music loops can grow stale
-
Conclusion
BlazBlue Entropy Effect stands out as one of 2024’s most mechanically bold action roguelikes. For fighting-game vets and roguelike lovers, its depth and responsiveness deliver endless satisfaction. While it doesn’t surpass Hades in narrative or Dead Cells in level design, it carves out its own space by blending BlazBlue’s combo mastery with roguelike progression. If you want a hardcore, replay-focused fighter with limitless build possibilities, Entropy Effect belongs in your collection.
