Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds
Japanese limited edition box art
Developer(s)5pb. Games[a]
Publisher(s)
  • Mages
  • Degica (Windows)
  • Rocket Panda Games (Ultimate)
Designer(s)Masatoshi Imaizumi
Writer(s)Masaki Sakari
Composer(s)Takeshi Abo
SeriesPhantom Breaker
EngineUnreal Engine 5 (Ultimate)
Platform(s)Xbox 360, PlayStation Vita, Windows, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
ReleaseXbox 360
  • WW: February 27, 2013
PlayStation Vita
  • JP: March 13, 2014
  • NA: August 12, 2014
  • EU: July 30, 2014
Windows
  • WW: January 23, 2015
Overdrive
PlayStation 4
  • WW: July 21, 2015[1]
Nintendo Switch
  • WW: December 7, 2017
Ultimate
  • WW: 2024
Genre(s)Beat 'em up
Mode(s)Single-Player, multiplayer

Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds (ファントムブレイカー：バトルグラウンド, Fantomu Bureikā: Batoru Guraundo)[2] is a beat 'em up developed and published by Mages under the 5pb. brand, and originally released on February 27, 2013 for the Xbox 360. it is a spin-off of the fighting game Phantom Breaker.

On March 12, 2013, a downloadable content add-on, the "Kurisu Pack," was released which adds Makise Kurisu from the Steins;Gate franchise as a playable character and raises the maximum character level.[3][4] On November 18, 2016 two additional DLC packs were released, the "Frau Pack" adds Frau Kōjiro from the Robotics;Notes franchise as a playable character, while the "BGM Pack" adds programmable sound generator and frequency modulation versions of the background music.[5] The game was featured in the official music video of "Move" by I Fight Dragons.[6]

In September 2023, Rocket Panda Games announced a complete remaster of the game using Unreal Engine 5, titled Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Ultimate.[7] It is scheduled for a 2024 release on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.[8]

Plot

In Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds players play as chibi versions of Mikoto, Waka, Itsuki and Yuzuha as they fight against large groups of enemies.[9] Their friend, Nagi, has been captured by Phantom and the girls must go through hordes of Phantom's minions to try and rescue her, with each one having unique encounters and dialogue with the enemies.

Ports

A PlayStation Vita version was released on March 13, 2014 in Japan.[10] The game was released in Europe on July 30, 2014 and North America on August 12, 2014. It is the first Vita game released worldwide by 5pb., and, according to producer Masaki Sakari, involved a number of hurdles relating to regional certification.[11] A Windows port was later announced, which would be published by Degica[12] and was released on January 23, 2015. An enhanced port[13] for the PlayStation 4, entitled Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Overdrive had also been announced[14] and was released on July 21, 2015.[15] A Nintendo Switch port of Overdrive was released on December 7, 2017,[16] adding in additional content not found in previous versions, but lacking the online functionality of the original.[citation needed]

Reception

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (March 2015)

Notes

  1. ^ Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Ultimate developed by Rocket Panda Games

References

  1. ^ Holmes, Jonathan (July 11, 2015). "A Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Overdrive live action kunoichi extravaganza". Destructoid. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  2. ^ "Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Developer On How To Make Retro Beat 'Em Ups". Siliconera. March 11, 2013. Retrieved September 1, 2013.
  3. ^ "Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Kurisu Pack". Marketplace.xbox.com. February 27, 2013. Archived from the original on March 16, 2013. Retrieved September 1, 2013.
  4. ^ "Steins;Gate's Kurisu Makise Reaches Phantom Breaker As DLC This Week". Siliconera. March 3, 2013. Archived from the original on November 1, 2014. Retrieved September 1, 2013.
  5. ^ "Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds 'Frau Koujiro' DLC launches November 18 in Japan [Update]". 15 November 2016. Archived from the original on 5 February 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  6. ^ "5pb And Chiptune Band Team Up For Phantom Breaker Music Video". Siliconera. June 22, 2013. Archived from the original on September 1, 2013. Retrieved September 1, 2013.
  7. ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (September 23, 2023). "Rocket Panda Games Announces Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Ultimate Game". Anime News Network. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  8. ^ "Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Ultimate announced for PS5, Xbox Series, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC". Gematsu. September 23, 2023. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  9. ^ "5pb. Posts English Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Trailer, Site". Anime News Network. August 28, 2013. Archived from the original on February 24, 2014. Retrieved September 1, 2013.
  10. ^ "Mages Shows Us The Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Vita Limited Edition". Siliconera. February 6, 2014. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved January 23, 2015.
  11. ^ "Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds PS Vita Western Release Date Announced". Gematsu. July 14, 2014. Archived from the original on February 8, 2015. Retrieved January 23, 2015.
  12. ^ "Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Coming To PC". Siliconera. October 30, 2014. Archived from the original on February 1, 2015. Retrieved January 23, 2015.
  13. ^ "Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Overdrive coming west this summer". 27 May 2015. Archived from the original on 15 June 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  14. ^ "Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Overdrive Coming To PS4". Gematsu. September 9, 2013. Archived from the original on February 10, 2015. Retrieved January 23, 2015.
  15. ^ "Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Overdrive launches worldwide on July 21". 9 July 2015. Archived from the original on 15 June 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  16. ^ "Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Overdrive for Switch debut trailer". 4 December 2017. Archived from the original on 15 June 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  17. ^ "Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds for Xbox 360 Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on June 10, 2015. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
  18. ^ "Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds for PlayStation Vita Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 24, 2015. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
  19. ^ "Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds for PC Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on April 28, 2019. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  20. ^ "Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Overdrive for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on August 18, 2015. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  21. ^ "Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Overdrive for Switch Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on December 12, 2017. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
  22. ^ Bonds, Ian (Mar 9, 2013). "Review: Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds". Destructoid. Archived from the original on March 25, 2015. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
  23. ^ Patterson, Eric L. (March 11, 2013). "EGM Review: Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds". Electronic Gaming Monthly. EGM Media. Archived from the original on May 24, 2019. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
  24. ^ Vore, Bryan (March 25, 2013). "A Cloudy Diamond In The Rough - Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds - Xbox 360". Game Informer. GameStop Corporation. Archived from the original on January 18, 2015. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
  25. ^ Moriarty, Colin (August 21, 2014). "Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Review". IGN. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on March 19, 2015. Retrieved March 18, 2015.

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