Caladrius Blaze
Gameplay 9
Graphics 8
Sound 9

Take to the skies as one of eight different characters and blast your enemies to bits in this vertically scrolling shooter. It is heavy on fan service, and the visuals have not aged as well as we would have liked, but in terms of gameplay, Caladrius Blaze is still a very solid shooter. It has plenty of modes as well as an adjustable challenge that makes it accessible to players of all skill levels. The game does have a couple of issues, so make sure you know about these before purchasing.

Gameplay: The game can be as challenging as you want it to be and is quite addictive to boot.

Graphics: Nice character designs and plenty of fan service, but the 3D textures really show their age.

Sound: The audio features Japanese voiceovers and some nice background tunes

Summary 8.7 Outstanding
Gameplay 0
Graphics 0
Sound 0
Summary rating from user's marks. You can set own marks for this article - just click on stars above and press "Accept".
Accept
Summary 0.0 Terrible

Caladrius Blaze

Developer: Moss Co., Ltd. | Publisher: H2 Interactive Co., Ltd. | Release Date: 2017 | Genre: Action / Bullet Hell Shooter | Website: Official Website | Purchase: Steam

Graham, the 12th king of the Baladin kingdom, used to be a benevolent ruler until betrayal by vassals from his late father’s reign left him without his wife and child. This prompts the grief struck Graham to believe that it was his own weakness that resulted in his terrible loss. Things take an even darker turn when Graham turns to the use of a forbidden spell to gain more power, plunging the kingdom into darkness and despair. The task of taking down Graham and ending the madness now rests in the hands of eight different people who, for their own reasons, have their scores to settle with the king.

Caladrius Blaze is a vertically scrolling shooter from Moss Co., the developers who also worked on Raiden III and IV. Players get to choose from eight different characters, each with their own special ship and unique elemental attacks. These elemental attacks set Caladrius Blaze apart from the competition and make the game so much fun to play. Unlike your primary firing mode, the three elemental attacks have gauges that deplete as you fire them. These gauges slowly replenish, but you must cycle between them before they are fully depleted to keep your multiplier gauges up. This gauge influences your score and resets if you lose a life or destroy enemies with your primary weapon, so careful weapon management is required for the big scores. After completing a level, you can upgrade your shot types to make them more effective. Obviously, you can ignore all of this and blast everything that moves with whatever weapon you fancy, but the elemental attacks add some depth to the game.

The other thing that Caladrius Blaze does a little differently is its “shame break” mechanic. This basically means that the characters are prone to losing their clothes if they take damage. Since most of the characters, including the bosses, are anime girls, this means that the game is packed with plenty of fan service. While the images are not exactly safe for work, there isn’t any actual nudity, although thanks to some strategically placed shreds of fabric, it is probably as close as you can get. This feature is understandably not something everyone will appreciate, so there is, thankfully, the option to disable these images. On the other hand, for those who appreciate this kind of thing, there is also a gallery section where you can admire the artwork without the stress of dodging bullets.

Caladrius Blaze is pretty accommodating to newcomers as far as bullet hell shooters go. In addition to the “Original” mode, the game also includes “Arcade” and “Evolution,” which add a couple of special stages. Evolution also features an additional stage, complete with a brand-new boss. These modes also make some changes to how your special attacks work, so they are worth checking out. Caladruis Blaze also features a host of difficulty settings, making it accessible to players of all skill levels. The pros can jump straight into the hardest modes for a real challenge, while newcomers can try the easier ones. There is even a “practice” mode that eliminates all enemy bullets, and if this is still too hard, you can enable “no damage” to prevent all damage to your craft. These modes allow for learning the ropes and seeing the levels without frustration. You can adjust the number of lives and bombs your character has from one to five, although you will have to play with default settings if you want a shot at the leaderboards. Finally, you basically have infinite continues, so completing the game shouldn’t be an issue. However, if you want to see the hidden final level and boss, you must reach it with one credit, which takes some practice.

Since Caladrius Blaze has a story mode, it is actually quite fun to play through it with the different characters to see their conversations with the bosses. Each character also has their own ending, and everything is tracked in the gallery mode, where you can view profiles, conversations, and more. The English translation could have been a little better, but nothing was too horrible. Players who tire of the story mode will also appreciate the boss rush mode and score attack mode, which can be unlocked.

In terms of visuals, Caladrius Blaze is a mixed bag. The 2D sprites look great, but the game uses 3D models for the actual game. The bosses still look impressive, but the backgrounds look bland and dated, thanks to some rather low-resolution textures. It also doesn’t help that the game only runs in 720p, and your only visual options are playing the game in windowed or fullscreen mode. The actual 3D isn’t too bad as it gives some nice depth to the backgrounds and also allows for neat tricks like the camera rotating around objects like towers while you fly. This doesn’t influence the gameplay in any way, though, as the movement of your craft is strictly on a 2D plane.

The game sounds exactly like you would expect a Japanese bullet hell shooter to sound, so you can expect plenty of explosions and high-pitched yelps from characters. All the voices in the game are in Japanese, but the music, sound effects, and voice volume can be adjusted independently so that you can customize everything to your taste. The actual music is good but can be drowned out by all the voices and sound effects. To play Caladrius Blaze, you will ideally want a suitable controller, as using a keyboard is a bit of a chore. The game also features a two-player co-op mode, so grab a controller for a friend while you are at it. Using a controller simply makes it easier to keep track of the four different attack and two special buttons.

Overall, we had a blast with Caladrius Blaze, but there is no denying that it is not the type of game that will appeal to everyone. If you are a bullet hell shooters fan, this one is highly recommended, especially if you want one accessible to newcomers or playable in co-op. The excessive fan service might deter some players, but you can disable this feature, so it shouldn’t be too much of an issue. The low resolution is a bit of a bummer, especially for players with large, high-definition screens. Finally, the Steam version of the game features some nice Achievements but comes at the cost of only being playable online, so if that is an issue, it is better to opt for the GOG version. All things considered, Caladrius Blaze is a fun game that offers plenty of value for money, but make sure that you know what you are getting yourself into.

System Requirements

  • OS: Windows 7 / 8 / 10
  • Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo 2.0 GHz
  • Memory: 2 GB RAM
  • Graphics: Graphic card with 512MB VRAM
  • DirectX: Version 11
  • Storage: 2 GB available space
  • Sound Card: Direct Sound
  • OS: Windows 7 / 8 / 10
  • Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad 2.66GHz or better
  • Memory: 4 GB RAM
  • Graphics: Graphic card with 1GB VRAM or better
  • DirectX: Version 11
  • Storage: 2 GB available space
  • Sound Card: Direct Sound

Related posts

Indiana Jones® and the Fate of Atlantis™

Indiana Jones® and the Fate of Atlantis™

This is obviously a must-have title for Indiana Jones and Point & Click Adventure fans alike. Although showing its age it's still a great game from a company that was at the pinnacle of the genre back in their heyday. No self respecting adventure gamer should pass up on this one. Gameplay: Pure point & click goodness. Graphics: Pretty good back in the day but obviously dated now. Sound: A nice soundtrack and good effects for the time.

Bus Simulator 18

Bus Simulator 18

Bus Simulator 18 walks a fine line between being a full-on simulator and offering an accessible experience for newcomers to the genre. It features a fairly sizable city, a number of licensed buses as well as the opportunity to not only drive your buses, but also manage your company and create new routes. A couple of areas of the game could still benefit from some improvements, but what is on offer is still very enjoyable, especially if you have a hankering for coasting around in a bus. A steering wheel is highly recommended for the most immersive experience and you need fairly beefy hardware to run the game properly, but overall we can definitely recommend it. Gameplay: Create bus routes, drive them and make money while trying not to mess up. Graphics: Plenty of good along with a couple of not so good. Sound: Authentic sounds and decent music, but those chattering passengers become repetitive a little too soon.

EPOCH

EPOCH

Mobile titles usually don't fare very well on PC due to their simplicity or lack of options, but Uppercut Games has done a good job sprucing up EPOCH for its Steam release. The improved visuals and responsive controls make it more than just a quick port, and the arcade-style gameplay is perfect for killing some time between more in-depth titles. While the campaign can be completed relatively quickly, there is plenty of replay value, and the endless Arena mode also provides some more longevity. Gameplay: Epoch is a third-person shooter stripped down to its most basic elements. Graphics: The Unreal 3 engine provides visuals that were quite good for their time. Sound: The audio is decent but not particularly memorable

NEKOPARA Vol. 3

NEKOPARA Vol. 3

The NEKOPARA series has consistently delivered entertaining kinetic novels with great visuals and audio, so it is no surprise that volume three does the same. This time the story shifts to Maple and Cinnamon, the only catgirls left at La Soleil who have not yet had their chance to shine. While the story spends a lot of time with these two the other catgirls also make regular appearances, so no matter which ones are your favorite, you’ll get to experience more of their cuteness. Like volume one and two, this game is available in censored and uncensored versions, with the former costing less and the latter including explicit h-scenes. Whichever version you choose, you’ll find a story that is packed with adorable catgirls, plenty of humorous situations and some of the best visuals in the genre. Gameplay: NEKOPARA Vol. 3 is still a kinetic novel with no choices to make, but the story is entertaining all the way through. Graphics: More stunning artwork by Sayori and more animations courtesy of the E-mote system. Sound: The soundtrack sounds a little too familiar at times, but still has plenty of great tracks and some stellar Japanese voice acting.

Planet Diver

Planet Diver

Planet Diver is fast-paced and very addictive when played in short bursts, but the lack of mission variety does mean it can become repetitive. Still, you get a lot of content for a very low price, which definitely makes it worth the investment in time and money. Just keep in mind that quick reflexes are required when braving the deep, obstacle-filled chasms through which your wingsuit diver loves to plunge. Gameplay: Planet Diver is fast-paced, challenging, and quite addictive, although it can become repetitive. Graphics: It takes a while to get used to the retro-style scanlines, but the overall effect is quite nice. Sound: The music is a little unusual but very fitting.

Crimsonland

Crimsonland

If you played Crimsonland before, the updated version is definitely a nostalgic blast from the past. It still has enough to offer new players as well with a multitude of modes, weapons, perks and achievements to keep things interesting. As long as you don't expect a deep plot or anything beyond killing every monster in sight you will have fun with Crimsonland. Gameplay: A simple, yet addictive top down shooter which is enhanced with some great perks. Graphics: Improved over the original version, but still pretty basic. Sound: Suits the game nicely, but doesn't really stand out.

Leave a comment

nineteen + 10 =