Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax Explained

Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax
Developer:Ecole Software
French Bread
Publisher:Sega
Genre:Fighting game
Platforms:Arcade, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita
Producer:Ryutaro Nonaka
Director:Takaharu Terada
Modes:Single-player, multiplayer
Composer:Yui Isshiki
Released:ArcadePlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita
Ignition:
ArcadePlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita
Arcade System:Sega RingEdge 2

is a 2D arcade fighting game developed by Ecole Software and French Bread and published by Sega. The game celebrates the 20th anniversary of ASCII Media Works' Dengeki Bunko imprint, featuring various characters from light novels published under the imprint.[1] The game was first released in Japanese arcades in March 2014,[2] and later released on PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita on November 13, 2014.[3] The console version was released in North America and Europe in October 2015.[4] [5] The game's theme song is "Belief" by Mami Kawada.

An updated version of the game, titled, was released in July 2015.[6] The update contains additional characters and more balanced gameplay.[7] [8] [9] The updated version was released on PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita in December 2015 only in Japan.[10] The updated version's theme song is "ID" by LiSA.

Gameplay

Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax is a two-dimensional fighting game, in which two players fight against each using both a playable fighter character and an assist character. Fighting uses three main attack buttons: weak, medium, and strong, along with a support button used for summoning a player's assist character. After an assist character is summoned, players need to rebuild their support gauge before they can summon them again. By building the Climax Gauge with attacks, players can perform powerful Impact Skill attacks, and can also use Blast Icons to perform Blast Attacks, allowing them to escape from combos.[11] The home version features an original story campaign, Dream Duel Story, and online multiplayer, and supports cross-save functionality between the PS3 and Vita versions. Samples from the represented light novel series are also included as unlockable content.[12]

In the Ignition update, it adds another assist character slot, but for Blast only instead of Assist. A new system called Ignition is introduced, giving one character in each team a power-up after each round. From the second round on, if the same Ignition on the team's character from the previous round is reused, it gives an "Extra Ignition".

Character roster

The initial roster features 12 playable characters and 18 assist characters from 22 light novels and the current roster is 19 playable characters and 30 assist characters. The roster features characters under the Dengeki Bunko imprint, among playable characters and assist characters that can be called while in the middle of a round to help the playable character in various ways. All characters are voiced by their respective actors from the anime adaptations, with a few exceptions. A non-playable character known as (voiced by Mao), based on the Dreamcast character from Sega Hard Girls, summons the playable characters for their aid to combat a malevolent entity (voiced by Ken Narita) from the organization Zetsumu who takes the form of the captured playable characters, followed by a form of Akira Yuki from Sega's Virtua Fighter series, with Pai Chan as his assist, as boss characters; both Akira and Pai later became playable characters in the console ports and post-Version 1.20 arcade versions.[13] [14]

Eight additional characters (four playable and four assists) were added to the roster by mid-2014.[15] [16] [17] The second Sega guests, Selvaria Bles and Alicia Melchiott of Valkyria Chronicles, first appeared in the console ports and later added to the arcade version 1.30, along with other assist characters from other Dengeki Bunko's published series.[18] [19] [20] The games' various stages and their accompanying music tracks are based on other Sega titles, such as Sonic the Hedgehog, Nights into Dreams..., Shinobi, Border Break, Valkyria Chronicles, 7th Dragon and Phantasy Star Online 2.[21] The DLC characters from Sword Art Online, Yuuki and the assist Llenn, were released on December 25, 2015. DLC characters from And you thought there is never a girl online?, Ako and the assist Rusian, was included in a future update.[22]

Playable characters

Character Series Voice actor !Arcade revision Original Ignition
Akira YukiVirtua FighterShin-ichiro Miki1.2
AkoAnd You Thought There Is Never a Girl Online?Rina Hidaka2.3
AsunaSword Art OnlineHaruka Tomatsu1.0
Emi YusaThe Devil Is a Part-Timer!Yōko Hikasa2.0
Kirino KosakaOreimoAyana Taketatsu1.0
Kirito[23] Sword Art OnlineYoshitsugu Matsuoka1.0
Kuroko ShiraiA Certain Magical Index/A Certain Scientific RailgunSatomi Arai2.15
KuroyukihimeAccel WorldSachika Misawa1.0
Mikoto MisakaA Certain Magical Index/A Certain Scientific RailgunRina Satō1.0
Miyuki ShibaThe Irregular at Magic High SchoolSaori Hayami1.1
Qwenthur BarbotageHeavy ObjectNatsuki Hanae2.0
Rentarō SatomiBlack BulletYuki Kaji1.15
Selvaria BlesValkyria ChroniclesSayaka Ohara1.2
ShanaShakugan no ShanaRie Kugimiya1.0
Shizuo HeiwajimaDurarara!!Daisuke Ono1.0
Taiga AisakaToradora!Rie Kugimiya1.1
Tatsuya ShibaThe Irregular at Magic High SchoolYuichi Nakamura2.1
Tomoka Minato[24] Ro-Kyu-Bu!Kana Hanazawa1.0
Yukina HimeragiStrike the BloodRisa Taneda1.15
Yuuki[25] Sword Art OnlineAoi Yūki2.2

Assist characters

Character Series Voice actor !Arcade revision Original Ignition
Accelerator and Last OrderA Certain Magical Index/A Certain Scientific AcceleratorNobuhiko Okamoto and Rina Hidaka1.2
Alicia MelchiottValkyria ChroniclesMarina Inoue1.2
BoogiepopBoogiepopKaori Shimizu1.0
Celty SturlusonDurarara!!Miyuki Sawashiro1.0
Dokuro MitsukaiBludgeoning Angel Dokuro-chanSaeko Chiba1.2
Enju AiharaBlack BulletRina Hidaka1.15
Erio TōwaGround Control to Psychoelectric GirlAsuka Ōgame1.0
Floretia CapistranoHeavy ObjectShizuka Itō2.0
Haruyuki AritaAccel WorldYuuki Kaji1.0
Hinata HakamadaRo-Kyu-Bu!Yui Ogura1.0
HoloSpice and WolfAmi Koshimizu1.0
Iriya KanaIriya no Sora, UFO no NatsuAi Nonaka2.15
Izaya OriharaDurarara!!Hiroshi Kamiya1.2
Kazari UiharuA Certain Magical Index/A Certain Scientific RailgunAki Toyosaki2.15
KinoKino's JourneyAya Hisakawa1.0
Kōko KagaGolden TimeYui Horie1.0
Kojou AkatsukiStrike the BloodYoshimasa Hosoya1.15
KuronekoOreimoKana Hanazawa1.0
LeafaSword Art OnlineAyana Taketatsu1.0
LlennSword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale OnlineMinami Tsuda2.2
Mashiro ShiinaThe Pet Girl of SakurasouAi Kayano1.0
Miyuki ShibaThe Irregular at Magic High SchoolSaori Hayami2.1
Pai ChanVirtua FighterMinami Takayama1.2
RusianAnd you thought there is never a girl online?Toshiyuki Toyonaga2.3
Ryūji TakasuToradora!Junji Majima1.1
Sadao MaōThe Devil Is a Part-Timer!Ryōta Ōsaka1.0
Tatsuya ShibaThe Irregular at Magic High SchoolYuichi Nakamura1.1
Toma KamijoA Certain Magical IndexAtsushi Abe1.0
Tomo AsamaHorizon in the Middle of NowhereAmi Koshimizu2.15
Wilhelmina CarmelShakugan no ShanaShizuka Itō1.0
ZeroGrimoire of ZeroKarin Takahashi2.15

Other characters

Series Voice actor !Arcade revision Original Ignition
Heivia WinchellHeavy ObjectKaito Ishikawa2.0
Milinda BrantiniHeavy ObjectEri Suzuki2.0
Airi KashiiRo-Kyu-Bu!Rina Hidaka1.0
Alas RamusThe Devil Is a Part-Timer!Unknown2.0
Maho MisawaRo-Kyu-Bu!Yuka Iguchi1.0
Saki NagatsukaRo-Kyu-Bu!Yoko Hikasa1.0
Notes

Available as extra, post-arcade and console release content.

Unlockable, but unplayable in Arcade and Dream Duel Modes in original game's console version.

Akira and Pai were originally non-playable in pre-console release arcade versions of original game.

Also appears for certain playable characters' Special and Super Moves.

Introduced in Ignition.

Both playable and assist characters. If certain playable characters are selected, certain playable characters will instead be assist characters and cannot be selected as the same character who has already been selected from the playable roster in Ignition.

Downloadable characters in "Ignition".

Reception

Awarding it 4 out of 5, Hardcore Gamer described it as "a love-letter to anime and Sega fans".[26] In contrast, PlayStation Lifestyle awarded it a score of 5.5 out of 10, writing that "although solid enough as a fighting game, the emphasis here is certainly not on gameplay and can often leave newcomers disconnected from the fun."[27] Destructoid said that it "may be too simplistic for most hardcore fighting game fans to enjoy as anything more than an ephemeral lark, but also perhaps still too complex for those that find the genre intimidating."

The PlayStation 3 version of Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax sold 34,671 copies within its first week in Japan, placing it at number six on the video game sales chart, while the PlayStation Vita version sold 25,607 copies in the same week, placing it at number nine on the chart.[28]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: http://dengekibunko.dengeki.com/20th/collaboration/index.html. ja:電撃文庫創刊20周年大感謝プロジェクト. Dengeki Bunko 20th Anniversary Celebration Project. ASCII Media Works. October 11, 2013. ja.
  2. Web site: Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN- Launching in Arcades in February, Dengeki Bunko FIGHTING CLIMAX to Follow in March. Shoryuken. January 17, 2014. February 9, 2014. February 19, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140219234023/http://shoryuken.com/2014/01/17/guilty-gear-xrd-sign-launching-in-arcades-in-february-dengeki-bunko-fighting-climax-to-follow-in-march/. dead.
  3. Web site: Dengeki Bunko Fighting Climax dated in Japan. Gematsu. August 6, 2014. August 6, 2014.
  4. Web site: Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax Coming to PS3, Vita This Year. Stephen Akana. PlayStation.Blog. January 29, 2015. January 29, 2015.
  5. Web site: Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax coming soon to PS3 and PS Vita. Stephen Akana. PlayStation.Blog. January 29, 2015. January 29, 2015.
  6. Web site: Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax Ignition launches in Japanese arcades on July 28. Gematsu. July 23, 2015. July 24, 2015.
  7. Web site: 【速報】『電撃文庫 FIGHTING CLIMAX』のアップデートを検討中!? 第2回全国大会決勝で寺田貴治さんがポロリ. ASCII Media Works. April 24, 2015. April 28, 2015.
  8. Web site: New Dengeki Bunko Fighting Climax Game Coming This Summer. Anime News Network. May 25, 2015. May 25, 2015.
  9. Web site: New Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax adds Heavy Object reps. Gematsu. June 8, 2015. June 8, 2015.
  10. Web site: 『電撃文庫 FIGHTING CLIMAX IGNITION』がPS4/PS3/PS Vitaで12月17日に発売! 初回特典はカスタムテーマ. ASCII Media Works. September 8, 2015. September 9, 2015. ja.
  11. Web site: Dengeki Bunko Fighting Climax Arcade Game's Gameplay Video Streamed. Anime News Network. October 15, 2013. February 9, 2014.
  12. Web site: Dengeki Bunko Fighting Climax Fires Up A Glance At The Console Version. Siliconera. September 7, 2014. September 8, 2014.
  13. Web site: Final Dengeki Bunko FIGHTING CLIMAX Location Tests Underway, First Screenshots of Virtua Fighter's Akira and Pai Released. Shoryuken. February 28, 2014. February 28, 2014. March 5, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140305093053/http://shoryuken.com/2014/02/28/final-dengeki-bunko-fighting-climax-location-tests-underway-first-screenshots-of-virtua-fighters-akira-and-pai-released/. dead.
  14. Web site: 【速報】コンシューマ版『電撃文庫 FIGHTING CLIMAX』に『バーチャファイター』のアキラがプレイアブル参戦. ASCII Media Works. August 30, 2014. August 30, 2014.
  15. Web site: Toradora's Taiga, The irregular at magic high school's Miyuki Join Dengeki Bunko Fighting Climax. Anime News Network. May 9, 2014. May 9, 2014.
  16. Web site: 『電撃文庫 FIGHTING CLIMAX』に新キャラ追加! 『ストライク・ザ・ブラッド』雪菜と『ブラック・ブレット』蓮太郎が参戦. ASCII Media Works. June 26, 2014. June 26, 2014. ja.
  17. Web site: Dengeki Bunko Fighting Climax adding Black Bullet and Strike the Blood fighters next month. Gematsu. June 24, 2014. June 25, 2014.
  18. Web site: 速報】『電撃文庫 FIGHTING CLIMAX』PS3/PS Vita版に『戦場のヴァルキュリア』のセルベリア&アリシアが参戦!【TGS2014】. ASCII Media Works. September 19, 2014. September 19, 2014. ja.
  19. Web site: 『電撃文庫 FIGHTING CLIMAX』にドクロちゃん&一方通行&臨也がサポートキャラとして参戦決定!. ASCII Media Works. October 5, 2014. October 5, 2014. ja.
  20. Web site: Dokuro-chan, Accelerator, Izaya Join Dengeki Bunko Fighting Climax Game as Support. Anime News Network. October 5, 2014. October 5, 2014.
  21. Web site: Dengeki Bunko Fighting Climax - Playstation 3 / Vita. Anime News Network. December 4, 2014. January 13, 2015.
  22. Web site: 『電撃文庫FCイグニッション』に『ネトゲの嫁』よりアコが参戦! "ゲームの電撃感謝祭2016"で最速体験. ASCII Media Works. March 8, 2016. March 8, 2016. ja.
  23. Web site: Sword Art Online's Kirito Joins Dengeki Bunko Fighting Climax Game. Anime News Network. February 9, 2014. February 9, 2020.
  24. Web site: 5 Ro-kyu-bu! Players Appear in Dengeki Bunko Fighting Climax Game. Anime News Network. January 29, 2014. February 9, 2020.
  25. Web site: 『電撃文庫FCイグニッション』期間限定無料DLCで『SAO』のユウキが登場! 『GGO』からレンもサポート参戦. ASCII Media Works. December 8, 2015. December 8, 2015. ja.
  26. Web site: Review: Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax . Hardcore Gamer . October 6, 2015 . December 24, 2015 . Storm, Bradly.
  27. Web site: Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax Review – Fighting for Relevancy (Vita). PlayStation Lifestyle. October 8, 2015. October 18, 2015.
  28. Web site: Romano . Sal . November 19, 2014 . Media Create Sales: 11/10/14 – 11/16/14 . Gematsu . January 22, 2018.