Furthermore, some characters can transform into certain alternative forms mid-battle, albeit until their spirit gauge is fully drained or the player cancels the transformation.
Most techniques are not executed in real time, and instead have an accompanying cinematic that takes place.
For some techniques, characters have available a 'spirit gauge,' which depletes upon execution. For instance, Ichigo Kurosaki's use of his Black Getsuga Tensho (though only while using Ichigo's bankai form) and Rukia Kuchiki's utilization of kidō. The objective of each match is to reduce the opponent's health to zero using basic attacks and special techniques unique to each character and derived from techniques they use in the source material. The player then pits their character against another, usually controlled by the game but this can also be another player depending on the mode being used. In each game of the series, the player controls one of many characters directly based upon their Bleach manga counterparts. An example of gameplay from Bleach: Heat the Soul 3.
