Before I start, I'd like to thank the Rocket Panda Games and the PB community for keeping the PB series alive, and I can't wait to introduce new players to this game!

This review will remain spoiler free.

Phantom Breaker Battle Grounds Ultimate is the second rerelease of PB:BG, the other being Battle Grounds Overdrive.
PB:BGU now uses Unreal Engine 5, and this game was completely redone from the ground up.

In terms of gameplay, there are a ton of big changes and tweaks to make the game much more enjoyable than the previous titles. I really like the new changes since it makes for a brand new and fun experience each time. This game is what I'd like to call a beat-em-up with fighting game elements since it shares a lot from the original title Phantom Breaker. Also, if you've ever played Mad Stalker, Asuka 120%, or Panzer Bandit, you can see where most of the games mechanics come from, since both Masatoshi Imaizumi, and Masaki Ukyo worked on PB:BG.

This game includes a new remix soundtrack and you can also switch to the PSG or FM verison. In my opinon, I prefer the FM soundtrack since it really showcases Takashi ♥♥♥'s best work in music. I have to say, this soundtrack is just amazing.

Story mode is untouched but it now has an English dub for those who prefer it, of course you can change to Japanese in the options menu. Stages have plenty of secrets to uncover, so the replay value is high as far as that goes.

The biggest thing has to be that you can play online co-op with up to 6 players, or BG mode with 8 players. Team battle is also a new feature which will make for a very fun and chaotic time. And this game also contains crossplay for those who would prefer to play on the Nintendo Switch version, or PS5. One small problem is that BG mode matches don't last very long if you're fully leveled, hopefully we can get an update that can maybe give characters more health.

I've been a fan of Phantom Breaker since 2011, and I would defintely recommend this game for brand new players. Hopefully we will recieve plenty of updates along the way, or possibly some DLC's.

The Skyrim of beat 'em ups is back with yet another port/remaster, but the title having Ultimate in it feels accurate.

First off, the marketing for this game is a bit poor and doing the upgrade a disservice. The combat is a lot looser than previous versions, with lots more jump cancel points and easier ways to get into air combos. The sixth level, which was a terrible frustrating maze in previous versions, is now completely linear. I have bought this game several times and getting to this level was always when I wanted to stop playing. With this one change the replay value is so much better. There's a lot of talk in the marketing about remaking the game in Unreal Engine 5, but honestly it's unnoticeable and they should highlight the positive gameplay changes they made. Emphasizing that the gameplay is drastically changed and the bad maze level is gone is totally something they should do so people don't think this is yet another Skyrim-level remaster with nothing different. In their defense some of the gameplay changes were mentioned on their official site, but this still brings the question of why it wasn't mentioned anywhere else with more reach.

PC options are lacking, with no option for 1440p or unlocked framerate, which is pretty disappointing for a low fidelity game like this. It's also impossible to turn of the bloom without using external methods. Steam Deck performance is great even in a six player match, and battery life is decent too.

There are more characters to play, including all the enemies similar to its Guardian Heroes inspiration and a few upgraded versions of the original characters. Co-op seemed a bit laggy/stuttery on my end but I'm unsure if it was on my end, the game's end or the people I was playing with. In the event a disconnect happens, all your EXP is saved. I'd say the worst thing about the co-op that objectively needs to be fixed is a way to upgrade characters mid-game. As it is now you can only do it when you leave or the game is cleared, meaning you can level up dozens of times in a co-op game but still essentially be playing a level 1 character due to the inability to access the upgrade menu. If you're playing with IRL friends this won't be an issue but it will totally ruin the online experience.

Overall, after doing 1 1/2 runs, I feel the delisting of the previous version was justified. This version is objectively better and PC players never got the changes from Overdrive anyway. I'm hoping the devs will listen and make a comprehensive list of what was changed gameplay-wise and fix the inability to use the level up screen in online, but it's honestly worth the $25 as it is.

This isn't your OG Battlegrounds. No sir!

*Said reviewer received game before release to test and review the game!*

A mix of both Omnia and Battlegrounds, Ultimate is back and ready for Shenanigans.
6 player co-op? Yes sir. Don't mind if I bully every enemy and boss.
8 player BG mode? Heck yes. It has team battling! From 4v4 to 2 on 2s, there is something for someone, regardless of skill.

Some of the playable NPCS are broken, and may need some tweaking to remain balanced.

The replayability lies in leveling every character online. Passive items have been introduced in Ultimate that can make solo runs not such a "nightmare". From raising stats to providing a temp HP regen, it just works.

Crossplay is a blessing which allows more players to join up in public/private instances. I was impressed with how tolerable the online sessions were aside the low FPS dips here and there. This is a step up, and will hopefully be a staple in the next Phantom Breaker Game.

As always, thanks Rocket Panda Games!