Bleach also includes an option to play three or four player matches. These play out much like the four-player Guilty Gear Isuka matches except without the ill conceived "turn button" that GG had. Instead Bleach handles multi-directional play by using a block button instead of holding back to block. Four player matches in the game tend to be intense, visually amazing (with all the attacks going), and a nice change of pace from the one on one fighting modes.

Speaking of modes, Bleach has its fair share of them to keep players busy. For unlocking characters (the roster is nicely sized at 25+ characters) there is a story mode that follows the plot of the original comic. This mode is divided into "episodes", each allowing players to play as different characters and see their side of the story. In addition there are the traditional Arcade and Practice modes, a Versus mode that includes not only 1 cart multi-play, but also online play as well (though fairly laggy when playing from the US). For those looking to improve their skill, a Challenge mode is included that asks players to perform ten complex combos for each character bettering their skill. Also included is a shop used to buy new colors for outfits and unlock new items in the Gallery and Sound test mode. Overall it's enough to keep the single player gamers busy for a few weeks but long time replay value will depend upon how much use multiplayer gets.
Visually the game looks fantastic. Though it may not stand up to the animation standards of Capcom's Street Fighter III, the animation is at least on par if not better than anything SNK has produced in the last 5 years and with 25+ characters, there is a lot of fancy sprite work going on in the title. The audio side holds up decently as well with voice samples accompanying every attack, though the music isn't anything worth noting.

At the end of the day Bleach should have been the best fighting game to ever grace a portable, but there's just one major sticking point keeping it away from that goal: the d-pad. Admittedly the problem isn't with the game itself so it's difficult to blame them for it. But when playing on the standard DS d-pad, Bleach is a bit of a pain to play. It's uncomfortable on the hands and moves can be hard to pull off (though the game does allow player to use the touchscreen for performing special and super moves). It's possible that with the upcoming DS Lite and its improved d-pad, that Bleach will become the best fighter to grace a portable system. But with the current controls it's just not quite as fun to play as the recently released Street Fighter Zero 3 on the PSP. Despite that, it's still an impeccable outing by developer Treasure, and one of the must have AAA quality DS games.


Bleach is 95% import friendly. The only two things that may give importers trouble are the initial story mode, which contains requirements (such as getting a 20 hit combo) to finish and open up the other 22 episodes. Importers are recommended to check a FAQ for info on passing that. The other issue is not knowing what the cards do, but after a bit of trial and error (or use of a FAQ) most players should be able to figure it out. Menus are also in Japanese, but they are all fairly straightforward.

• Large Roster with good balance
  
• Great Graphics
  
• Deep arcade-level-of-depth fighting game
  
• Lots of modes
  
• Online play
  
• 4 player multiplayer with only 1 cart

• Playing on the DS's d-pad will cramp one's thumbs
  
• Online is like playing in slow motion when played in the US