BLEACH: The 3rd Phantom will be released in Europe early next year, exclusively for the Nintendo DS. Based on the critically acclaimed manga and animated series, BLEACH: The 3rd Phantom marks the first venture into the Strategy RPG genre for the series.A spin-off from the main narrative, BLEACH: The 3rd Phantom’s exclusive storyline has been created from the ground up under the supervision of Tite Kubo, the author and creator of BLEACH. Shedding light on events that transpired before the anime, the story centres around the Soul Reaper twins, Fujimaru Kudo and his sister Matsuri Kudo. As they progress through the story, fans will encounter the familiar faces of Ichigo Kurosaki and Rukia Kuchiki, alongside never before seen characters developed specifically for the title.
The two lead characters offer completely unique gameplay experiences, as well as the chance to work cooperatively towards achieving their ultimate moves. With a further cast of over fifty characters who can be selected to join the battle, users will discover a wide range of dynamic personalities as they journey through the game. Interactive in-game dialogue sequences will allow gamers to manage personal relationships with the characters and even unlock new ones. As players fight against the Arrancar and Hollows, they will gain experience to further customise their abilities. Utilising each character’s unique skills and strengths, players will be able to adapt to any situation as they create and command an army of up to eight Soul Reapers.
BLEACH: The 3rd Phantom employs a traditional Strategy RPG gameplay format with an added bonus of anime styled combat during in-game battles. Gamers will enjoy the best of both worlds as the graphics in the field map feature outrageous renditions of BLEACH characters in a 3-D isometric environment, while in-game battles are rendered with beautiful 2-D graphics taken from the animated series. Once gamers complete the story mode, a bounty of unlockable content awaits them. The multiplayer feature will allow up to two players to battle head-to-head via Wireless Mode.
BLEACH: The 3rd Phantom on Nintendo DS is slated for release in Europe early in 2010.