Summary
With the anime adaptation of the Thousand-Year Blood War Arc ongoing, it’s a great time to be aBleachfan. Studio Pierrot’s take on the original final arc of the 2004Bleachmanga has turned a lot of heads so far, not least because of the new scenes it’s adding under the guidance of author Tite Kubo himself.Bleach’s rushed manga finale in 2016, following its anime being cut off in the Lost Substitute Shinigami arc in 2012, felt like a cruel end for one of Shonen Jump’s Big Three franchises, so it’s been great to seeBleachcapitalize on its second chance.
However, there’s one front thatBleachhasn’t revisited yet.Bleachvideo games haven’t seen an original console release since 2011’sBleach: Soul Resurrección, which only covered the back half of the Arrancar arc. There have been various mobile titles since then, withthe impressiveBleach: Brave Soulseven getting worldwide releases on PC and PS4, but a big-budget console game remains absent. However, that could change thanks to Shueisha Inc. Europe registering aBLEACH Rebirth of Soulspatent resembling other Shonen Jump console title patents. This mysterious game could round outBleach’s multimedia return tour, but it needs to impress fans first.
Covering Bleach’s Thousand-Year Blood War Arc
The obvious place for a newBleachgame to start isadapting the Thousand-Year Blood War arc, just like the modern anime. With guidance from Tite Kubo, this game could include the arc’s anime-original revisions, which might be the first time some fans see them, depending on how long the anime takes to finish. If this is a predominantly single-player game, its campaign could also use Ichigo’s fight against Kugo Ginjo at the end of the Lost Substitute Shinigami arc as a tutorial. With how deeply rooted mostBleachgames are in the Soul Society and Arrancar arcs, getting something new and topical should be well-received.
Represent The Updated Bleach Roster
What sort of gameBLEACH Rebirth of Soulswill be, assuming it exists, is as big of a question as when it will be set.Bleachhas run the gamut of genres over the years, ranging from turn-based RPGs to beat-’em-ups, as well as assorted fighting games. Their one common feature is their efforts to represent as much of theBleachsetting and cast as they can, whatever that is at the time. Even though that will be more difficult now that the Thousand-Year Blood War has introduced even more characters and special moves,adding everyBleachcharacter possibleas allies, enemies, or cameos alongside their latest abilities should be paramount.
Resurrecting Bleach’s Fighting Games Could Be The Best Option
A turn-based RPG likeOne Piece Odysseyor aDynasty Warriors-adjacent action game likeBleach: Soul Resurrecciónmight be the most cost-effective ways to depict that, but the most exciting option is a new fighting game.Bleachbuilt a respectable stable of fighting games from 2005 to 2011, producing surprises like Treasure-developed 2D fighters and Eighting’s seven entry-longPSP-exclusiveBleach: Heat the Soulseries. “Soul” is too common inBleachtitles to linkRebirth of SoulstoHeat the Soul, but sacrificingHeat the Soul’s 80+ characters would be worth getting Arc System Works to giveBleachtheDragon Ball FighterZtreatment instead.
Give Fans An Original Bleach Adventure
Producing aBleachaction game set during the Thousand-Year Blood War or a more general fighting game all sounds good, butBleachcould pivot towards a newer Shonen Jump game trend instead. Reminiscent ofDragon Ball Xenoverse, players could design their own Shinigami and set out on an original adventure spanningBleach’s different worlds.Bleach’s distant epilogue leaves plenty of timeto fill with new storylines, and many fans would love the chance to interact with their favoriteBleachcharacters along the way. A newBleachconsole game has enormous potential, and hopefully it uses that to make fans’ dreams come true.
