Guilty Gear -Strive- (PlayStation 5) Review

Guilty Gear Strive is the latest and greatest in a history that stretches back as far as the original PlayStation. Many an hour was spent skipping college for a day of grasping its intricacies and implementing them against more than adequate competition. Even all these years on, those basic skills are still lingering and the core gameplay mechanic still ensures that button mashing will only get you so far before an utterly devastating attack sends whatever rapscallion chosen crawling back to the training dojo.

Fans of the franchise are going to feel very at home with the core cast of characters and it's a reassuring introduction if the series hasn't been visited in a long time. For new players the fantastical character designs are going to be an instant draw and will hold the attention of even the greatest of the uninitiated in the 2D fighter world. Are they as recognisable as Ryu or Sagat? No? Are they more fun to play in every aspect? 'Hell' YES (Plenty more Series references to come). Players can choose from an initial roster of 15 characters with a large percentage having featured since the original offering. From your typical sword wielding heroes to a girl who thinks the best form of attack s a dolphin an anchor, there's plenty of variation not only in the design, but the control too. Strive makes those choices easy by stating play styles for each noting classes such as balanced, technical, rush and shooting to make that selection a little but simpler. It's a nice welcome to newcomers and a good reminder for the rest of us.

Graphics wise Guilty Gear has always prided itself with looking great, Strive's graphics however may not be describable by a lowly journalist. Simply put this game is absolutely stunning to behold, even from a stationary standpoint. Its easy to completely miss the start of a fight just gazing longingly, baffled by how developer Arc System Works can make something look this good. Every backdrop has been designed with such beauty and detail, with vibrant colours and strong sharp edges accenting every graphical choice and making them shine. Characters are equally well-loved contrasting starkly with the backdrops to really pop on the screen. Once in action the PS5 is taken full advantage of with fantastical explosions, wild swoops of weapons and dashing all pushing that hard-working processor to the limit. Slow motion cuts and closeups also really push the engine to perfection. Honestly another 1000 words could be written about just how great this game looks but presumably there are other parts of the game that are worth mentioning to all of you out there.

Mode wise everything that should be expected is present with a very intuitive training mode that really leads by the hand to not only teach the basics but gives the opportunity to quickly master some of the more advanced combinations. Challenges are also present in Mission mode throughout, which give that little kick of satisfaction and the burst of confidence ready to tackled the other modes available. Arcade mode runs players through pre-set bouts before the inevitable boss battle and spices things up occasionally with some team up bouts. What sets the arcade mode apart is also the opportunity to experience different story beats and conversations, based on ability and performance throughout. An easy design to implement, but one that adds a great deal of replay value. The better the match result, the more to see. Survival mode and a baffling story mode round off the offerings but those lovely people at Arc System Works have made the lore and stories available on their website and YouTube channel to get everyone up to date. A great idea that's well worth the watch or read if digital comics are your thing (you cool man you).

Online however is where Guilty Gear really thrives. As previously discussed in the preview the online element of Guilty Gear Strive really cemented what a great package this all is with a solid, fast connection and quick matching. With such a frantic paced game any dip in connection or long loading would likely kill the whole experience. No such qualms here. It is important to say that when reviewed the online element was still being worked on but everything seems to run smoothly, a few possible slowdowns are probably likely on release as everyone will be picking this up.

When not in a match itself, a beautiful online lobby allows players to create an 8-bit avatar and wander the halls of competition tower. The better the results, the quicker the progression up the floors. Boredom is never an issue with so much to do while waiting, other avatars can be interacted with and all of their stats meticulously critiqued. Great fun for all those statisticians and tacticians out there looking to ensure they next battle is going to be a measured one.