It’s a testament to the quality of this series of fighting games that they’re often an entry point to the whole Bleach phenomenon. With most anime shows, a fan will discover the comic first, then get into the cartoon; or vice versa. But with Bleach, it’s not unusual for someone to be a big fan of the fighting game spin-offs, only later discovering that they’re based on a hit animated series.

It’s easy to see why someone could mistake this for a stand-alone product. For one thing, the presentation is way above average; it doesn’t feel like a spin-off. Also, the subject matter lends itself perfectly to the fighting game format. Each character has a variety of magical and sword attacks for both ranged and close combat, and there are many distinct and colourful characters to choose from.

The stylised, 2D animated action unfolds on the top screen, with bonus moves and power-ups activated via large, clearly-marked buttons on the touch screen. The music, FX, and voices appear to be ripped straight from the TV series; a nifty technical feat.