Aksys Games revealed earlier today through a press release that about a year after the release of Calamity Trigger, the sequel subtitled Continuum Shift will be coming out in North America. That’s right; expect another summer of intense fighting as Aksys announced today the release of Arc System’s latest arcade hit in Japan. But don’t think for a second Continuum Shift is just a few characters tacked on and a new packaging.

Read on to find out what’s new in this pseudo-sequel.

A lot of work has seemingly been put on the title to justify the price-tag. New playable characters counts among Hazama, Tsubaki and μ-12 (pronounced Mu). No words on Λ-11 (Lambda) though, a character available in the arcade version.

Additionally to the new characters, the old ones have been rebalanced and are getting some new moves.

New modes such as beginner mode, which will let newer players to the genre play the game with simpler and easier controls, and tutorial mode are welcomed additions breaking the entry barrier for many.

Meanwhile for the more experienced and adventurous, challenge mode will let you take on specific missions and Legion mode will have you make an army to take over Kagutsuchi (the world Blazblue takes place in) in a mix between strategy and fighting games.

Finally, Continuum Shift will boast four new arenas and seven new songs composed by Daisuke Ishiwatari, well-known among Guilty Gears and Blazblue fans for his work on those series.

The game is being released in Japan on console on July 1st, so we can expect it in North America sometime through July or August.

David A. Games