BlazBlue Calamity Trigger is the first episode of Arc System Works' cult vs fighter saga. Iconic characters, deep magic and combat system, rich sci-fi lore. The birth of a reference 2D saga.
Your verdict
Category
Fighting2 players12+
Description
First entry of the 2D fighting saga by Arc System Works following twelve warriors hunting the Black Beast in the thirteenth hierarchical city of Kagutsuchi. Published by Aksys Games in North America and PQube in Europe, released in 2009 across Japan, Korea, North America and Europe. Drive system unique to each character, high-definition 2D animations, visual-novel-style story mode, Arcade mode and ranked online matches.
BlazBlue - Calamity Trigger review
MAX
Art direction
★★★★★
"Iconic"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
4/5
Story
★★★★★
"Captivating"
Hand-drawn high-definition sprites of rare finesse, flamboyant effects and polished anime design: Arc System Works signs a peak of 2D fighting. The fluidity of the animation and the brilliance of the colours elevate every clash. This graphic virtuosity, lively and refined, perpetuates the studio's excellence.
Signed by Daisuke Ishiwatari, the music electrifies every duel with heavy metal riffs and flamboyant vocal themes, like "Rebellion". Each fighter has their own supercharged rock anthem, sticking to the fury of the clashes. This blazing sonic identity, in the lineage of Guilty Gear, galvanises brawling fans.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first minutes"
Addictiveness
"Captivating"
Difficulty
"Difficult"
Lifespan
"Massive"
The opening salvo of Arc System Works' fighting series, Calamity Trigger sets up a colorful cast, a Drive system unique to each fighter and a visual-novel story mode with multiple branches. Arcade, challenges and training feed mastery over the long haul. Its technical depth paired with its narrative makes it a lasting pillar of the genre.
Technical info
💾4,1 GB📅25/06/2009
Published by Aksys Games
BlazBlue - Calamity Trigger (PS3) price, value & rarity
The first BlazBlue, a 2D fighting game with polished hand-drawn art that founded a series with a cult genre following. Its niche audience limits print runs, making it a bit less common than the big fighters and prized by 2D versus specialists. Its desirability lies in this origin status of a respected line rather than a very high price.
Better with friends
A wildly rich 2D fighter, where each character plays by such different rules that learning a new opponent feels like discovering another game. The competition rewards fine mastery and reading intentions, in duels of joyful nerviness. Demanding for newcomers, the skill gap can sting, but local versus stays clear and deep, ideal for evenings among enthusiasts.
Is BlazBlue - Calamity Trigger still worth playing in 2026?
Calamity Trigger marks the birth of one of the great 2D fighting sagas crafted by Arc System Works. Its sublime hand-drawn animation has not aged, and its combat system, demanding yet legible, lays solid foundations with its character-specific Drive mechanic. The roster stays modest next to later entries, and the online scene has largely moved on to the sequels. It is above all an object of historical interest, worth discovering to understand the series' rise, but newcomers would do better to aim straight for a more complete entry.
