What the game is
BlazBlue: Continuum Shift Extend is a 2D fighter from Arc System Works that builds on the previous entry with extra modes, new story scenarios, new moves, and a new playable character. The roster includes Relius Clover, a puppeteer who fights alongside his marionette Ignis, plus Makoto, Valkenhayn, and Platinum the Trinity. The combat system has been rebalanced across the whole cast, so old characters come with new strategies and combos to learn. Alongside the fighting, there is a substantial story side: you can replay the events of BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger or move through four new story scenarios set after the Second War, where branches of the Librarium and their hidden cauldrons are destroyed by a single mysterious man.
Playing together
The Steam version carries the Remote Play Together feature, so one person can host a session and others join in over the internet as if they were sitting on the same couch. Local Multiplayer is also listed, so two players can share a screen and fight directly. Between rounds you can swap who is picking characters and runs, which suits a group that wants to trade matches rather than sit through a long ladder. The game is tagged Competitive, so expect close matches that reward knowing your character's tools.
Modes worth knowing about
Unlimited Mars Mode puts you up against the strongest opponents the game throws at you, while Abyss Mode sends you down toward the bottom in a longer run. Both are singleplayer challenges that sit alongside the standard versus play. The story mode is visual-novel style reading between fights, so a group that wants to watch the plot can hand the controller around during the battles. The PC version also includes system voice for 7 characters, and bonus content with the original soundtrack and an art collection is placed in the game's Steam folder.