BlazBlue: Central Fiction

BlazBlue: Central Fiction is a fighting game developed by Arc System Works and the concluding chapter of the BlazBlue series’ original “Azure Saga.” It debuted in Japanese arcades in 2015, followed by PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 releases in 2016. A Windows version arrived on Steam in 2017, and a Nintendo Switch release followed in 2019.

Its story continues the events of BlazBlue: Chronophantasma. Ragna the Bloodedge again stands at the centre of a conflict involving the Azure, the Master Unit Amaterasu, and the fate of the world. Familiar figures, including Noel Vermillion, Jin Kisaragi and Rachel Alucard, return alongside opponents such as Izanami and Yuuki Terumi. Central Fiction brings the long-running struggle between Ragna and Terumi to its conclusion rather than starting an unrelated new storyline.

The roster also draws on other parts of BlazBlue’s fiction. Es originated in the XBlaze games, while Mai Natsume first appeared in the BlazBlue: Remix Heart manga. Naoto Kurogane comes from the Bloodedge Experience novels. Their inclusion gives players characters whose histories began outside the main fighting-game releases, as well as series regulars such as Taokaka, Tsubaki Yayoi and Hakumen.

Central Fiction retains the series’ four-button fighting system: weak, medium and strong attacks are joined by Drive, a character-specific action. Drive is central to how fighters differ from one another. Ragna’s Soul Eater attacks can restore his health, for example, while Carl Clover fights with the puppet Nirvana. Returning systems include Barrier blocking, Distortion Drives and Overdrive, which temporarily enhances a character’s abilities.

One of Central Fiction’s additions is Active Flow, a state that rewards offensive play. It increases damage and helps the Burst gauge recover more quickly. The game also introduces Exceed Accel, an attack performed during Overdrive. These mechanics give players reasons to press an advantage while preserving the defensive decisions associated with the series.

The console versions include a substantial story mode alongside arcade, training and versus play. Unlike earlier mainline BlazBlue console releases, Central Fiction did not receive an English voice dub; its voiced dialogue is in Japanese. Its later Switch release, titled BlazBlue: Centralfiction Special Edition, bundled additional characters that had been offered as downloadable content elsewhere, including Es, Mai Natsume, Susanoo and Jubei. Together, those releases made the finale available well beyond its original arcade run.