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I feel like I've written this review before.

Nitroplus Blasterz is a crossover fighting game that brings together characters from various light novels published by Nitroplus, in addition to various anime and manga that have involved Nitroplus creators. It shares that concept with Dengeki Bunko Fighting Climax, another crossover fighting game that was more about bringing fans favorite character together than providing a deep, technical fighting experience.

Unlike Dengeki Bunko, Nitroplus Blasterz is aiming at an even smaller audience here in the West. DB was able to draw on characters from Sword Art Online, Oreimo, A Certain Magical Index, Durarara!!, and The Irregular at Magic High School. Those are all visual novels that haven't made it West in many cases, but all of them have fairly popular anime adaptations you can watch online through streaming services. A obscure support character from Iriya no Sora, UFO no Natsu or The Pet Girl of Sakurasou adds to the strong core cast.

On the bright side, Nitroplus Blasterz is still a solid fighting game. The game is rather easy to pick up, with three attack buttons, an evade, and the Heavy Action button, which acts as a launcher or pushback move. Most of the command inputs for special moves are quarter-circle motions, the super moves require quarter-circle motions and two buttons, and the game's super-combo-style Lethal Blazes are performed with double quarter-circle motions and two buttons.

The barrier to entry is pretty low and the game is heavily predicated on setups and big combos. Once you get the ins-and-out of the game's systems, like the easy combo Variable Rush system, it's simple to built decent combos. Adding in Lethal Blazes and the support system means that 30-40 hits aren't far out of reach.

Nitroplus Blasterz does have the most fun when it comes to its characters. there's basic, straightforward fighters like Saber (Fate/Zero), but there's also Echika (Tokyo Necro), a rather mobiler grappler; Sansei Muramasa, who uses spider webs to pull herself and her opponent around the battlefield; Super Sonico, who actually never attacks on her own; or Saya (Saya no Uta) who attacks with cancerous flesh and leaves bits of herself floating to set up combos.

This effort extends to the support characters. Some characters have small attacks that set you up for combos. Others, like Angela from Expelled from Paradise, call down a bunch of targeting reticles and lasers from above. Then there's odd ones like Aoi from Kimi to Kanojo to Kanojo no Koi, who gives you one stock on the power meter. The game recommends some to you in the beginning, but eventually, you'll choose your favorite supports, who are all balanced via recharge times.

In the end, Nitroplus Blasterz isn't a bad fighting game, it's just not a great one. In fact, I'd probably stick with Dengeki Bunko Fighting Climax over it, given my personal preferences. If you have a love for these characters, have been waiting for another Arcana Heart, or are just biding your time until Street Fighter V, Nitroplus Blasterz will keep you satisfied. I'm not sure the game has the legs to stand on its own long-term, but at least you'll get some immediate fun out of it.

Like Dengeki Bunko Fighting Climax, Nitroplus Blasterz brings together various characters from Nitroplus properties. Unfortunately, fans may not know these characters, many of whom have never been published in the West. That leaves a solid, but rather basic fighting game to draw players in.