Bleach: Dark Souls (2007). Play online

Summary

Bleach: Dark Souls on the Nintendo DS upgrades the series’ combat with a fast multi‑plane fighting system and support for up to four players via Wi‑Fi. I love how the lower touch screen lets you build a Spirit Card Deck and slot power crystals to boost your attacks, turning each clash into a mini‑strategy session.

The roster swells to 44 fighters, now including Hollows of various sizes, and every character gets fresh moves. The game also expands the Reifu card pool, showing four cards on screen instead of the previous two, which adds depth to combos and special abilities.

Wi‑Fi battling was refined for smoother online matches, and the Japanese‑only theme song “Resistance” by High and Mighty Color rounds out the experience. Critics were kind; Metacritic tallies “favorable” reviews, Famitsu scored it 30/40, and IGN crowned it the Best Fighting Game for the DS in their 2008 awards.

Storyline

Bleach: Dark Souls (often just called Dark Souls) picks up immediately after Aizen’s defection from the Soul Society. A festive celebration is underway, and Ichigo, Rukia, and the gang enjoy the party before heading home. Meanwhile, a researcher from the Department of Research and Development accidentally uncovers a cache of special Mod Souls. One of those entities, Kai, assumes the researcher’s appearance and kidnaps the other Mod Souls, whisking them away. The stolen Mod Souls begin to fester with hatred, mutating into Hollow‑like copies such as Shrieker and Grand Fisher, and they unleash chaos throughout the Seireitei.