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BlazBlue character blowout

Tons of character art, design sketches, and exclusive behind-the-scenes details from the creator of BlazBlue

Words: GamesRadar US

Tager (TR-0009)

GR: Why did you want to create this character?

MT: I was inspired by giant robots, and wanted to incorporate the Japanese "oni" - or demon/devil/ogre - lore into the picture.

GR: Why did this character HAVE to look the way he/she does?

MT: Despite the fact that he is a mercenary, Tager has many soft and humane spots within him. Even though he has a mechanical body, he can't fully become a machine. I wanted this character to have those two opposites clashing within him.

GR: Why is this character’s fighting style the way it is?

MT: Tager's fighting style is meant to impact and power to match his stunning presence. Naturally, his mobility must pay the price for the sheer damage he can deal. But then again, that's where the magnets come in, so play around with it and see what you can do.

Above: BlazBlue’s story mode shouldn’t be overlooked. There are three pathways for each character to follow


Taokaka

GR: Why did you want to create this character?

MT: I simply wanted to crate an iconic character with lots of impact.

Above: Think of Taokaka as the Dan Hibiki of BlazBlue. She’s here to deliver comic relief along with some ass kicking

GR: Why did this character HAVE to look the way he/she does?

MT: Well, every story needs a "mood-maker" mascot-like character, doesn't it? Taokaka brings both comic relief and some interesting intervention in the storyline of BlazBlue.

GR: Why is this character’s fighting style the way it is?

MT: I imagined a cat when I was creating this character, so I wanted her to be cute, agile, and at times really unpredictable. I believe her drive attack reflects that appropriately.

Above: Taokaka’s many poses were designed with unpredictability in mind


Bang

GR: Why did you want to create this character?

MT: Bang is my salute to a certain actor, who just had a burning passion in almost every aspect of his life. Or, at least I think he did. Either way, Bang was heavily influenced by this certain individual.

GR: Why did this character HAVE to look the way he/she does?

MT: Bang believes in one thing: justice. He fights in the name of his own justice in an attempt to somehow change this world that is beyond salvation.

GR: Why is this character’s fighting style the way it is?

MT: He is both a ninja and a man of passion. If you just try to stick "burning" and "passion" and "over-the-top" in every sentence you say, I think you'll get an idea of what exactly Bang is.

Above: Early sketches reveal the abs and pits of a man of passion


Litchi Faye-Ling

GR: Why did you want to create this character?
MT: I wanted at least one mature-looking female character, so this is what I came up with. Litchi is inspired by the Japanese actress who went under the alias, Li Xianglan.

Above: Mature women never wear pants 

GR: Why did this character HAVE to look the way he/she does?

MT: Litchi is consistently tormented by her own sins, and fights to seek answers. I'm afraid you'll have to play the game to find out exactly what her sins are.

GR: Why is this character’s fighting style the way it is?

MT: Well, I think this one's pretty obvious: she is the obligatory "Chinese-esque" character. However, in terms of her fighting style, I personally enjoy kung fu that involves staves.


Carl Clover

GR: Why did you want to create this character?

MT: He may be young, but his thoughts and ideas are much more mature than he is. I wanted to create a character like that.


Above: Carl (left) and Nirvana (right)

GR: Why did this character HAVE to look the way he/she does?

MT:
There is no doubt that this is not the idealized world that humanity has wished for. In such harsh surroundings, this child must think about what he needs to do to survive, without relying on the help of others. That's what I had in mind when I designed Carl.

GR: Why is this character’s fighting style the way it is?

MT: The motif for Carl was a child strong enough to survive without the help of others, but the unique relationship between him and his sister brings the idea of control into question. It is not entirely clear who is controlling who in this case, and I feel Carl's dependence on Nirvana, even in combat, is a good reflection of that relationship.


Hakumen

GR: Why did you want to create this character?

MT: Hakumen is a character I created back in high school. I think he's aged nicely over time, and I'm really glad I was able to incorporate this finely aged character into BlazBlue.

GR: Why did this character HAVE to look the way he/she does?

MT:
A long time ago, I remember watching some show, and in it was a character who wore a mask that was a mirror. I thought that was really interesting and symbolic, to have to fight a person, in which you see the reflection of yourself. Whoa, that was deep.

Hakumen seeks what he calls "absolute justice." What exactly that means, we will have to find out by observing how he lives and how he dies by his sword.

GR: Why is this character’s fighting style the way it is?

MT:
Since Hakumen is essentially a samurai-like character, I wanted the players and opponents to feel the "weight" of each blow. Hakumen's strikes should not be underestimated.

Above: Hakumen gets ready to crush Litchi 


v-13

GR: Why did you want to create this character?

MT:
A mechanical little girl...

GR: ‘Nuff said…


GR: Why did this character HAVE to look the way he/she does?

MT: A prevailing theme in BlazBlue is, of course, justice. That’s why I created this character to be void of any sense of good or evil, to provide a unique perspective. A newborn child has no sense of what is right or wrong, which is why Nu is born, and she lives only to carry out what she is programmed to do.

GR: Why is this character’s fighting style the way it is?

MT: I really can't comment on why I chose to make her fighting style the way that it is, because I myself am not that sure either. It just felt right. Mechanical girl, lots of swords... makes perfect sense, right?

Jun 29, 2009



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27 Comments
Order Comments: Newest First | Oldest First
Cyberninja  - 5 months 8 hours ago 
i wish this game was on wii so i could play it i dont have ps3 or xbox
shadowless92  - 5 months 8 hours ago 
wow looks gd iv never even heard of blazblue i must check it out
Robusken  - 5 months 8 hours ago 
Thats it, I need to get a 360.
winterwolf  - 5 months 8 hours ago 
Looks pretty interesting... specially since the limited edition of the game is only $60 and comes with the game, two-disc soundtrack, and a blue-ray disc. Sweet.
Vagrant  - 5 months 7 hours ago 
It's an interesting article. But really, it's called "BlazBlue" and features obligatory little girls and an apparent hero described as "cold and heartless".

Well, I liked Arakune anyway.
jamminontha1n2  - 5 months 6 hours ago 
dude im gonna be controlling that kid with the puppet when this comes out
Skyly  - 5 months 5 hours ago 
Fancy this game quite a bit. wonder when it hits the U.K...
Amnesiac  - 5 months 5 hours ago 
Cool. Can't wait for this game.
Silvermech  - 5 months 4 hours ago 
I want to play this game, but Blockbuster is sure to have many copies, but no cases on display so I can play it
chucknorris69  - 5 months 4 hours ago 
- Comment removed by Moderator
Reported
5DollarFootlong  - 5 months 1 hour ago 
damn, i want this game so bad.
Suicide  - 5 months 1 hour ago 
These characters look insane! I gotta play this!
AnonymouZ  - 4 months 30 days ago 
yeah this games LOOKS good... but i'm not too fond of fighters... much less if there's not many jiggly boobs or upskirt shots.

and you know there's thousands just like me in that regard. ;)
VikVik  - 4 months 30 days ago 
getting this one, specially after knowing that the single player story is long and interesting.
revrock  - 4 months 30 days ago 
Looks like a cool mix between "Guilty Gear" and "Darkstalkers" how can you go wrong?
sssantosh  - 4 months 30 days ago 
I AM EXICTED TO PLAY THE GAME
crumbdunky  - 4 months 30 days ago 
Some mighty good lookung art on the go here. I always find the way that Japanese games of certain genres HAVE to include certain character types quite quaint-even in a pretty new media they manage to have conventions to follow rigidly. Like the idea of a "D fighting game NOT having a Gothic-Loli character is somehow unthinkable.

It's fantastic ow the Japanese national psyche even pervades the newest parts of life. I'm sure this probably applies to western games and media too though possibly in ways we're often too close to to realise. Maybe like how 90% of modern FPS leads have a skinhead, IDK.

Still, another great looking fighter in a year full of them-so it's prolly the wrong time to still hope Rare might come up with a new KI, no?
Skykid  - 4 months 30 days ago 
I see this as a great possibility for a great game. Great character variations. They make for a great game.
norid  - 4 months 30 days ago 
i really hope this game doesn't get pushed aside by the mainstream games alas though i have a feeling it will :(
Japanjack  - 4 months 30 days ago 
I'm going to pick it up right now. Epic pre-order :D
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