Lethal League Blaze

Genre: Sports (Dodgeball) / Fighting Game / Party Game

Players: 1-4 Competitive (Local / Online)

.

Review:

Lethal League Blaze, the second game in the Lethal League series, is a game that combines multiple genres. It’s sort of a re-imagining of Dodgeball, but with Fighting Game and Party Game elements as well. Originally released on PC in 2018, Lethal League Blaze was ported to consoles, including the Nintendo Switch, in 2019.

The presentation here is wildly original, resembling nothing so much as cult classic Jet Set Radio, with its highly-stylized cel-shaded characters and its excellent soundtrack of fantastic hip-hop and funk-inspired beats. The Jet Set Radio vibe here is likely intentional, as one of the contributors to that soundtrack is Jet Set’s own Hideki Naganuma. Suffice it to say, this game absolutely oozes style in a way that very few games do, and it’s definitely a treat for the eyes and ears.

As unique as the presentation is, the gameplay is just as original. Players hop around and attack on a 2D playing field with characters touting unique abilities much like a fighting game, but the catch is that players don’t directly attack each other. Rather, their attacks are focused on a ball perpetually bouncing around the arena, with the goal being to hit the ball in such a way that it manages to slip by the opponent’s strikes to bounce into them after you were the last one to strike it.

This is a really original take on both dodge ball and Fighting Games, made even more interesting by infusing the game with Party Game-style power-ups and four-player free-for-all or team play. The result is a fast-paced and zany experience that’s refreshingly unique, easy for new players to pick up, and a blast to play.

It’s not without a few drawbacks, though. The game is a bit short on content, and given how much this game departs from traditional Fighting Games, I wish it departed just a bit further and offered Super Smash Bros.-style platformer arenas to battle in. In addition, while this game does support online play, the online servers are sadly empty, meaning that players looking to throw down will likely have to stick with local multiplayer.

However, while there are areas that could do with improvement, Lethal League Blaze is still a phenomenal genre-bending game that’s like nothing else out there, with a great presentation, and fun, accessible gameplay. I wish they did even more with it, and I wish the game’s online servers weren’t deserted, but even with these issues the game is still a blast to play and well worth a look for anyone looking to add a great Party game to their collection.

tl;dr – Lethal League Blaze is a mishmash of genres that combines dodge ball with Fighting Game and Party Game elements to craft something truly unique, with a stylish cel-shaded presentation. It could do with more content, and I really wish the online servers weren’t deserted, but if you have a group of players on your couch to share this with, you’ll be in for a great time.

Grade: B+

^{You can support eShopperReviews on Patreon! Please click HERE to become a Sponsor!}