Bleach Online is a browser-based, strategy MMORPG from GoGames set in the popular Bleach manga/anime universe. The game is considered non-canon as any of the events in the game occur independent of the original manga series. In the game, you play as one of six selectable characters from three available classes. The game opens with your character waking up after a 1,000 year slumber on a strange Human World with no memories of who/where you are. It’s up to you to interact with many of the Bleach Universe’s most popular characters to regain your memories and save your friends who get mistaken as rebels!
As is standard fare for many MMORPGs of the browser genre, Bleach Online requires very little in terms of actual player involvement. It follows in the same vein as games such as Knight’s Fable, Angel Alliance and League of Angels, where the narrative plays out as less of a game and more as an interactive story book. Players will auto-path to their quest destinations and will watch battles play out automatically. Fans of this style of gameplay will feel right at home in Bleach Online’s colorful, gorgeously-animated world — permitting that they can put up with poor localization. Grammatically poor sentences are by no means a deal-breaker, but they do nothing to help the game’s already shallow immersion.
Giving credit where it’s due, Bleach Online allows the player to choose the formation of their team for battle, thereby altering how some battles might play out. This feature, coupled with equipment upgrades and modifications, gives the player the opportunity to maximize their Battle Power (the accumulation of factors such as health, defense, health, etc and the sole determining factor for battles). This is important not only for the game’s main quest, but also for MMO features like PvP and guilds.
Being a free to play MMORPG, Bleach Online does incorporate microtransactions, which help players progress faster or unlocks features, like the ability to skip battle sequences entirely. While limiting certain features via paywall is obnoxious, it doesn’t necessarily hinder the overall experience. In fact, purchasable add-ons never feel forced or obligatory for progression.
While Bleach Online doesn’t bring anything new to the genre, fans of the manga/anime series may find enjoyment in interacting with the series’ characters. Even those new to the universe will find a decent story (if not somewhat incoherent) and beautiful graphics/animations to keep them entertained for a decent chunk of time. That said, hardcore gamers looking for anything more than a superficial, extreme-casual experience should probably look elsewhere.
