Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Ultimate Review

Perhaps you've heard of Phantom Breaker if you've played any niche anime fighting games. It was first released for the Xbox 360 in 2011, back when MAGES was more famous for its visual novels than its action games. However, it wasn't long before they tried something completely different with Phantom Breaker: Battlegrounds, a spinoff that didn't follow the 2D fighter formula but instead used an old-school side-scrolling beat 'em-up style. 

The studio was usually known for stories about crazy scientists and time travel, so this was a strange change. But the game found a niche audience. In 2022, Phantom Breaker: Battlegrounds Ultimate, a remastered version made in Unreal Engine 5, came out, which no one saw coming. It's one of those games that surprised even the most doubtful people. This isn't just a re-release; it's a new version of the arcade-style brawler from 2013 that has new features, better graphics, and a new soundtrack.

The first Phantom Breaker: Battlegrounds was a cute, chibi-based game with easy-to-get-into combat that was fun to play. However, it didn't have much depth or an interesting story, so some people forgot about it as soon as they switched games. 

Rocket Panda Games, known for bringing unique Japanese games to the West, saw something in this pointless brawler. With Battlegrounds Ultimate, they've made an update that tries to bring together the fun of the original and the polish that people expect from modern games.

The story of Phantom Breaker: Battlegrounds Ultimate isn't anything new and is as simple as it gets: a group of high school girls with superpowers try to save a friend who has been captured by the evil Phantom. The story is the kind that you might forget five minutes after you finish the game, since the fighting is more important than the story. 

The game gives its characters some light backstory, but there isn't much emotional depth or story drive. The plot is mostly there to move the action along; it moves the story along just enough to make sense of the fight scenes that are to come.

Battlegrounds Ultimate isn't the game for people who want a story with a lot of depth and meaning. But you're in the right place if you want fast-paced action and a bunch of interesting characters. Do not expect any surprises or deep character arcs; this is a simple rescue mission with funny dialogue and lots of character quirks to keep things light.

Phantom Breaker: Battlegrounds Ultimate is a beat 'em-up game in the style of arcade games. The gameplay is simple but fun. You'll be able to control one of several chibi characters, most of whom are girls, and each has their own special abilities. You'll have to beat a lot of enemies across different stages. 

There is a basic attack chain for each character that includes light, medium, and heavy attacks. These attacks change direction depending on how you move. There is a guard, a dash, and a special attack that makes lightning orbs cover the whole screen. You can also throw things, which makes the fighting a little more interesting.

The RPG-like progression system is one of the best things about this game. You'll get experience points as you play the game, which you can then use to level up your character and get new skills and upgrades. The smart mechanic adds more depth, especially when you think about the different characters you can unlock and play as.

With this system, replaying stages is more fun because you're always getting better, even if the levels don't change much. The feeling of getting new skills and improving stats like defense and strength is satisfying. It keeps you coming back, even if the game gets boring after a while.

The fighting in Phantom Breaker: Battlegrounds Ultimate is what the game is all about. Even though it's not a very complicated fighting game, it's quick, smooth, and has enough depth to keep things interesting. For special moves, the game doesn't need complicated input, which is great for people who are just starting out. 

Specific moves can be made by pressing the guard button in the right direction and attack type. This lets you do cool moves without having to remember long combos. Because of this, the game is great for casual gamers who just want to jump in and have fun without having to worry about learning complicated strategies.

However, for players with more experience, the game has more features to check out. Cancelling guards, shifting your footing, and backstepping aren't necessary to enjoy the game, but they can help you get better and plan your moves better. 

Learning how to switch between attacks, special moves, and defenses to deal with enemies that get harder is what the combat is all about. The game doesn't require a lot of accuracy, but it's still fun to get good at controlling the flow of battle.

One of the more interesting things about the game is the dual-lane system. In some fights, enemies will show up in both the foreground and the background, so you'll have to press a button to switch between the two. 

This makes the game more strategic since you have to keep an eye on the enemies on both levels and move around to avoid them. This feature has been seen in other brawlers, but it's great to see it added to Battlegrounds Ultimate because it keeps the fighting from being too one-dimensional.

The combat is good because it's not too hard for new players, but also not too easy for more experienced ones. Phantom Breaker: Battlegrounds Ultimate is best when it has controls that are easy to understand and small amounts of depth. 

On the other hand, some players might get bored after long sessions because the stages are too simple and don't change much. The game doesn't come up with anything new, but it doesn't need to; what it has to offer works for what it wants to do.

Phantom Breaker: Battlegrounds Ultimate is fun to play in large part because of its XP and leveling system. You get experience points at the end of each stage, which you can use to buy different upgrades. These upgrades can do anything from making your stats (like defense, strength, etc.) higher to letting you use special moves and combos automatically. The progression system in the game is meant to keep you coming back to play through stages again and again, since each character has their own upgrades to get.

On the other hand, this system can be a bit tedious, especially if you play by yourself. You can move through the game faster in multiplayer and co-op modes, but it might take a little longer for solo players to unlock everything. If you're trying to get through the game's content without a group of friends, the leveling-up process can feel like a wall. This might take away from the overall enjoyment for people who like things to be easier.

Phantom Breaker: Battlegrounds Ultimate looks great, thanks to its chibi art style and smooth animations. The bright colors are cute, and the game stays true to the cartoonish style that made the first one stand out. The characters are well-made and have their own animations and attacks. The environments look great in high resolution, even though they are repetitive at times.

The remaster in Unreal Engine 5 improves the graphics by increasing the frame rate and resolution, which makes them look great on modern hardware. However, some of the backgrounds can get boring and repetitive, especially in later levels. 

Even so, the overall experience is fun and nice to look at, especially for people who like the chibi art style. The large enemies and smooth animations stand out because they give the game a satisfying visual punch.

One of the best things about Phantom Breaker: Battlegrounds Ultimate is the music. The remixed songs have a rock-inspired vibe, with lead guitars that burn and catchy melodies that go well with the fast-paced action. 

You'll stay pumped up as you fight your way through the game to this fun, loud music. You can also get the original soundtrack if you like the older songs, but the remixes feel much better and give the whole thing a more modern feel.

As expected, the sound effects are very loud, and each hit feels satisfying and powerful. Even though it's not very good, the voice acting gives it some personality. In the big picture, though, the voices can seem unimportant since the story isn't the main draw of the game. On the other hand, the sound design does its job without being too much.

Phantom Breaker: Battlegrounds Ultimate is a fun beat 'em-up game with a lot of nostalgic charm. It's not a groundbreaking game, but it does what it sets out to do: give you a fast, fun, and slightly RPG-like combat experience. 

The leveling system makes it a bit more fun to play again and again, and the better graphics and remastered music make it a pleasure to see and hear. However, the repetitive stages and grind-heavy progression can become tedious for those who play alone, and the story isn't particularly engaging.

Phantom Breaker: Battlegrounds Ultimate is a great choice if you want to play a simple, fun brawler with your friends. This game is great for a short session with a group, but after a while of playing by yourself, you might get tired.