BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger

BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger is the first game of the BlazBlue series.

Story
"A.D, 2199 Dec.

''By the end of the year, most citizens were expecting the beginning of an era of unprecedented development. Unfortunately, 2199 was also the year that the Librarium's great foe, the man with the highest single bounty on record, Ragna the Bloodedge, was rumored to have appeared in the 13th Hierarchical City of Kagutsuchi. People gave him the nickname Grim Reaper, and it was said that his goal was the obliteration of the Librarium in its entirety. Following the rumors, people began to make their way to Kagutsuchi - some after the incredible bounty on his head, others after the "ultimate power" said to be in his possession... and a few whose only interest was his assassination for the Librarium.''"

Modes

 * Arcade - Play against the computer. If two controllers are connected, then a second player can challenge you.
 * Versus - Enjoy matches against the CPU or other players. The rules, stage, and BGM can all be customized.
 * Score Attack - Compete for the highest score by fighting against the toughest AI opponents. Your score can be uploaded to the leaderboards.
 * Story - Immerse yourself in the world of BlazBlue by selecting the character you wish to play and progressing through their side of the story.
 * Training - Set up a variety of scenarios and situations to prepare yourself for the real battles.
 * Replay Theater - Manage and watch replays of recorded matches.
 * Network - Connect to Xbox Live/PSN and compete online. Here you can meet skilled players from all over the world.
 * Gallery - Enjoy the moves, BGM, sound, and artwork found in the game.
 * Option - Change the game's settings.

Playable Characters

 * Ragna the Bloodedge
 * Jin Kisaragi
 * Noel Vermillion
 * Rachel Alucard
 * Taokaka
 * Iron Tager
 * Litchi Faye-Ling
 * Arakune
 * Bang Shishigami
 * Carl Clover
 * Hakumen
 * Nu-13

Reception
Upon its release, the console version of Calamity Trigger was met with generally favourable reviews. IGN cited it as a "dream game", complimenting its responsive mechanics, memorable characters, and well-presented story. They awarded Calamity Trigger a 94/100.

Destructoid awarded the game an 8.0/10, noting its charm, but also stating that the character designs in its small roster are cliche, and that the game felt generally unpolished. The review further criticises the story mode, calling it "low budget", and notes the lack of single-player options outside of the main story. Despite this, Destructoid's review does compliment the online play, accessibility and animations. Gamespot, however, commented that there are many offline options, and called the game "weird, bright, and loud", also praising its online mode.

The game currently sits at a Metacritic score of 87. In 2009, the game was in the running for the Spike Gaming Award's Fighting Game category, only narrowly losing to Street Fighter IV. In its first week of release in Japan, Calamity Trigger sold 34,000 copies on the PlayStation 3, and 25,000 on the Xbox 360.