Vertical Shoot Em Up Undressing: Caladrius Blaze
The peculiar thing about the shoot ’em up genre is that the PlayStation 4 likely boasts more titles in this category than the PlayStation 3 ever did. One reason for this is that the Xbox 360 had secured some form of exclusive agreements with several major Asian developers known for creating these games.
![Caladrius Blaze_20180501230336](https://usercontent.one/wp/blog.amigaguru.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Caladrius-Blaze_20180501230336-1024x576.jpg?media=1724081092)
This particular title began its life as an Xbox 360 exclusive under the name Caladrius. It was later adapted for arcades under the name Caladrius AC (running on SEGA Ring Edge 2/ALL.net). Eventually, it made its way to the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4, where it was rebranded as Caladrius Blaze, the version I’m discussing today.
The style of Caladrius Blaze embodies a classic Asian aesthetic, featuring beautifully designed characters with vibrant colors and an elegant artistic touch. There’s a wide selection of characters to choose from, many of whom seem intentionally designed to exude a certain sex appeal—but we’ll dive deeper into that aspect later.
The graphics and gameplay in Caladrius Blaze occasionally evoke a nostalgic 1989 vibe, which is far from a drawback. The game runs at a flawless 60fps and boasts a level of polish that makes titles like Raiden V feel like a chaotic mess by comparison. It adopts the classic gameplay style popularized by games like Radiant Silvergun, where the backdrops are essentially a series of elaborate animations designed to overwhelm your senses.
Don’t worry, though—the game isn’t punishingly difficult like those classics. Caladrius Blaze includes an easy mode that grants near-invincibility after a certain number of deaths or time spent playing. This feature, combined with adjustable difficulty settings, ensures that even seasoned gamers like us can jump in, enjoy, and have a blast without feeling out of our depth.
The gameplay and mechanics are fairly standard for the genre, though there’s one twist that feels somewhat unique (well, at least to me): during boss fights, the goal is to undress your opponent. Yes, you read that right—the energy bar doubles as a metaphor for their clothing (seriously, WTF?). Only in Japan…
Check out the boss image on the right, with more details in the next picture below.
I won by shooting off my opponent’s clothing. While the game does feature some sideboob moments, there’s no outright (or offensive) nudity to be found—or so it seems. 😜
If a game like this had been made in Europe, it would likely have sparked a massive media outcry, with endless overreactions and a flood of ridiculous comments online. But since it’s an Asian title and a classic-style shooter, it seems to fly completely under the radar, escaping widespread attention altogether.
Caladrius Blaze looks and performs brilliantly, delivering a true top-down shooter experience with an overwhelming amount of on-screen action and more weapons than you’ll likely ever fully master.
The game features three primary modes: the original arcade version, an EX version, and a hybrid mode. While these modes are largely similar, there are a few new missions scattered throughout, though they don’t significantly alter the overall gameplay experience.
Additionally, you can unlock a Boss Rush mode, which I managed to access after completing the game twice. The exact criteria for unlocking it remain a bit of a mystery, though!
As with most Eastern-developed shooters, the boss battles in Caladrius Blaze are nothing short of epic. What sets this game apart is that no two battles feel alike. The excellent use of colors and design shines through, with bullet patterns that are not only visually stunning but also thoughtfully arranged.
The weapon system is another highlight. Instead of just one superweapon, you have five at your disposal. Half of these are Elemental weapons, mapped to the circle, triangle, and square buttons. Additionally, there’s a Smart Bomb assigned to R2 and a unique special ability triggered with L2, adding even more variety to your arsenal.
Unlike many recent shooters, Caladrius Blaze never feels like a chore. Thanks to its smooth controls, stunning graphics, and immersive sound, the levels flow effortlessly, embodying the essence of a true arcade experience.
Everything about this game just clicks. It achieves something Raiden V couldn’t: being genuinely fun to play. Perhaps my expectations for Raiden V were too high, but it turned out to be such a dull experience. The tiny graphics and cluttered design only made it more of a slog to get through. In contrast, Caladrius Blaze delivers pure enjoyment.
Yes, I see it too, which is exactly why I included the picture—BOOBS!
This was the final battle of the game. I’ve left out a few screenshots to avoid spoiling too much of the fun for you. The final showdown was pretty solid, though I have to admit, thoughts like “I wonder what she looks like naked” never crossed my mind. Maybe it’s because I’m not 12 years old and not particularly into nude cartoon characters.
I enjoy the game for what it is, but I’m not entirely sure why the inclusion of nude characters was necessary at all.
The game is relatively short, clocking in at around an hour, but you can unlock additional stages by completing missions and utilizing a mechanic called “blocking” (which I haven’t quite figured out yet). The game also supports PlayShare for online co-op, and as with most classic shooters, playing in co-op mode makes things a bit easier.
Caladrius Blaze is a solid vertical shooter that came out of nowhere for me. I only discovered it thanks to a recent sale where it was priced dirt cheap. If you’re a fan of this genre, it’s definitely worth your time—go grab it now!
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Loved this!! 😀 😀
Sounds like fun. Thank you for sharing!