Guilty Gear game with big changes
GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE- is a premium action title developed by Arc System Works. It is the seventh installment in the popular mainline Guilty Gear series of fighting games. Its story picks up where GUILTY GEAR Xrd left off and introduces new characters for players to try out.
Compared to its predecessors, GUILTY GEAR Xrd -SIGN- and GUILTY GEAR Xrd -REVELATOR-, the biggest change that GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE- brings is a new direction to the art style, animation, and overall presentation. This time around, it draws plenty of inspiration from anime and manga for its designs.
A different look
Guilty Gear is a long-running fighting game franchise first released back in 1998. It has developed a cult following through the years and has been heralded as one of the greatest 2D “fighting games of all time. With GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE-, the franchise embarks on what it calls a complete reconstruction” that will bring new changes, while still staying true to the core gameplay that fans love.
Guilty Gear games have always had robust gameplay systems, offering combat variety, but can be a bit too technical sometimes. The new installment is more streamlined for beginners with its in-depth tutorials that allow you to master every mechanic at your own pace. Aside from Arcade and Survival, the Story mode is more cinematic than ever, with fewer cuts for an immersive experience for you to enjoy.
The series’ signature Insta Kill mechanic makes a return here, as well as a new feature called Wall Break wherein stage transitions occur when you perform a combo on your opponent at the edge of the screen. One area where it falls short, though, is with multiplayer gameplay. Online matchmaking is unbalanced, and you will encounter frequent server and connection issues that ruin the overall experience.
Team of 3 open beta phase
Following the Version 1.38 patch that fixed various in-game issues and adjusted some gameplay aspects to maintain an overall balance, the game launched an open beta phase for the upcoming Team of 3 mode. During the testing period, players can engage in three-on-three battles against each other. However, those interested will need to install a separate application that houses the open beta — it’s free.
All 28 characters, including DLC exclusives, will be available to play during the open beta phase. However, any progress made during testing won’t be carried over to the main game.
A great entry point
Overall, if this is your first foray into the series, GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE- is a great entry point to the franchise, with beginner-friendly features like in-depth tutorials and an immersive Story Mode. If you’re a long-time fan, you’ll appreciate the changes it made to visuals and gameplay, while still retaining the essence that you love. This is a fighting game that is definitely worth checking out.
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