You’ve probably heard of “the era of One Piece, Naruto, and Bleach.”

It was the era when those three action manga dominated pop culture. One Piece is still running, but Naruto and Bleach have ended — though their influence remains enormous.

Even classmates who claimed to dislike anime mimicked “Finger Pistols” at their friends or joked, “Water Release—without any water?” when someone broke a sweat. And, whenever they used their ultimate skills in the game, they would shout "Bankai." No, really!

Of course, at the heart of it all was the common denominator of all three manga: "a massive cast of characters that are both charming and overwhelming," which has led to their active use in media to this day. The same goes for "BLEACH: Soul Resonance," which we got a taste of this time.

Don’t Know the Original? Doesn’t Matter. You’ll Still Have a Blast.

Bleach: Soul Resonance is a 3D action RPG that closely follows the story of the original manga. From Ichigo Kurosaki’s first encounter with Rukia Kuchiki to the Soul Society arc, the game recreates the key moments with care. The game includes not only the major storylines but also smaller episodes, so even newcomers can follow the plot easily.

▲ From the Encounter with Rukia

▲ You can check all the major episodes up to Orihime's brother's salvation.

The narrative progression is centered around cutscenes, but the overall quality is quite high. Even in sections outside of combat, where player involvement is minimal, the immersion is not disrupted. The animation pacing, especially in character dialogue and emotional moments, is particularly impressive. While it may not be perfect, 'BLEACH: Soul Resonance' undoubtedly has a clear advantage in that it can follow most of the original narrative through the game alone.

▲ A friendly game that gives you a summary if you try to skip

Just enough combat to keep you engaged

The battle follows the basic grammar of a mobile action game that utilizes the virtual stick on the left and the skill keys on the right. The important things here are 'Counter' and 'Evasion'. Unlike some games that cram in numerous attacks and bombard enemies non-stop, this game allows you to observe the enemy's movements and either evade or counterattack.

▲ Quick slot for skills has only five buttons

▲ When a monster turns purple like this, it means it's time to Counter.

The counter system is at the heart of combat. Time it right, and you’ll stun your opponent and launch a powerful counterattack. The animation and impact of a successful Counter is quite thrilling. This timing-based action creates a sense of immersion beyond simple combat.

Here, the three-character real-time switching system is seamlessly integrated. Each character has different roles and skill compositions, making the timing of switching strategically important. After applying a buff with 'Orihime's 'Twin Sacred Return Shield,' switching to another character maintains the effect, and if you switch characters immediately after a successful Counter, the new character immediately takes over the counterattack. The timing of these switches adds to the rhythm of combat. While the skill compositions are simple, each technique is accompanied by a cinematic homage to the original cutscenes, making every attack feel like a 'scene.' The 'Zanpakuto Liberation' and 'Bankai' cinematics hit the fan's heartstrings precisely.

▲ Short cutscenes during combat

▲ Includes QTE

A Growth System Close to the Core

The growth system is not particularly special, but it is not lacking either. Collect characters and weapons through gacha and grow them to form a squad. The growth process is divided into character level-up, awakening, limit break, and weapon enhancement, and each character has its own unique Spiritual Pressure stats and attributes, providing the fun of combining them. While the structure is simple, it still rewards strategy through attribute matching and team composition.

▲ It is you who picked Chad, raise him carefully...

▲ This is all the Characters they've implemented so far. I see a blind spy in the middle...

The advantage of the 'Bleach' IP is its vast character pool. In the CBT version, you could see the main characters of Karakura Town and the prominent characters of Soul Society. In the full version, it is highly likely that it will expand to include mid-game characters like Arrancar, Visored, and Quincy. Since the charming characters and Zanpakuto settings are already the content itself, the motivation for collection is strong enough even if the gacha structure is simple.

▲ You have to feed the Zanpakuto first. Though there's a separate Awakening Event

If you're curious, just give it a try

'BLEACH: Soul Resonance' captures the essence of the original series while delivering satisfying action. The density of the cutscene, the timing battle based on the Counter system, and the smooth character transitions complement each other, creating a seamless and intense experience even in the mobile environment. In particular, the cinematic visual inserted in the middle of the action provides a catharsis beyond simple consecutive techniques.

▲ Even so, he is a freshman in high school

▲ You can also explore the world time to time

'BLEACH: Soul Resonance' is currently in development with the goal of a formal release at the end of November 2025. From October 16th to 23rd, a week-long CBT (Closed Beta Test) is being conducted, and anyone can participate through the Google Play Store or the official website. This test is designed to allow players to preview key elements such as the combat system, character switching, and Zanpakuto liberation, and balance adjustments and enhancements will be made based on player feedback.

During the testing period, various reward events will also be held. Simply logging in grants up to 300 free gacha opportunities, and additional summoning tickets are awarded each time you clear the main story. Additionally, you can obtain exclusive exchange codes through the friend invitation event, and by participating in the official site pre-registration, you will receive an 'SSR soul Inscription' and a mystery gift box. The pre-registration page is currently open globally, and additional rewards will be unlocked as milestones are achieved.

This article was translated from the original that appeared on INVEN.