2D fighters are still alive and “kickingâ€. And with the advent of online, it’s a no-brainer to extend this feature onto games of such genres. We got the good old Street Fighter that has made its way to the fifth title complete with the ability to challenge strangers online. And there are others too like Tekken 7 and Mortal Kombat XL. So it should be of no surprise to have Guilty Gear following this footstep. With Guity Gear Xrd Rev 2 being its latest edition available for the PC steam, Playstation 3, and 4, let’s see how this ambitious title turns out.
Right off the bat, you’ve get one of the most memorable game in terms of its quality of anime-style characters. With a roster of 25 fighters, you get a diverse population of the original characters along with the new, including an aggressive ninja named Answer. Each has their own set of moves, attributes and background, which gives this game its replay value. And like every successor title within the fighting genre series, there has been a rebalancing of the fighters for Guilty Gear Xrd Rev 2 in order to make things more fair.
Looking at the controls, this game utilizes a five-button system consisting of punch, kick, slash, hard slash and this command called dust. While in the air, you can also perform another jump, block, and rush to or from your opponent. You can execute your ‘Tension’ gauge to either cancel out attacks or perform “super special†moves.
If you have just jumped in to the Guilty Gear series with this particular title, it may be tough and somewhat off-putting if you’re used to other move sets and battle dynamics from other fighting games. To illustrate, there are several ways to execute blocks, which is quite unique, but consequently can be overwhelming to learn and keep track of if coming in brand new. Nonetheless, there is a very good tutorial that really teaches you the essentials, not just the basics, in Guilty Gear Xrd Rev 2. Included are some interesting mini-games that add some fun while you learn the combat components. For instance, there is a trivia quiz in regards to the world of Guilty Gear where you will be punching to choose your answer. It’s quite an amusing touch.
Guilty Gear Xrd Rev 2 has a story mode, which includes some anime cut-scenes which can go on for hours and can be a turn-off for players who just want to get in on the action right away. Thankfully, there is also an arcade mode which has you going through the story of your characters that lead to the events in story mode. A nice added touch is the online lobbies that Guilty Gear Xrd Rev 2 employs. Here you get a virtual arcade where players can come and sit at a cabinet as they wait for a challenger to arrive. It’s a very charming attempt in creating a familiar yet unique interface.
You also get informed during the battle with your opponent about your frame rate at the top right side of the screen, which leads to my minor issue I have with this title. Since the frame rate on character animations seem to be limited, it appears that characters move in a slightly stuttering matter, attributed to the low-frame rate. However, the overall gameplay runs consistently at 60 FPS from my perspective. Additionally, the characters themselves are designed with such great detail and color that it becomes a feast to look at.
Ultimately, Guilty Gear Xrd Rev 2 is a brilliant fighter title that does step up its game against its competitors. However, existing fighting games may already get their hold on its fans so it may be tough for Guilty Gear to penetrate further with the market. Nevertheless, Guilty Gear Xrd Rev 2 is the most comprehensive title of the series to date. So if you’re willing to put in the time for a different combat system, then this game is a “worthy opponent.â€
