Fighting Games Friday: It’s Almost Time for Guilty Gear Xrd Rev 2
It’s been nearly two months since Guilty Gear Xrd Rev 2 was announced, a semi-new installment in Arc System Works’ most well-known franchise. That’s “semi-new” because instead of leaping to the next installment as the developer previously and quickly did between Xrd -SIGN- and Revelator, they’re updating the existing version. That makes sense considering each game is keeping the same presentation and character models, but it proves how Arc heard the complaints from fans who were previously upset they had to buy another full-priced version in a quick fashion to keep up with the franchise. And here skeptics thought they were only listening to players who stick around Japanese arcades.
The effects of the complaints can especially be seen in how it will be released. This will be similar to updated editions of Blazblue installments, in how it will add two characters to the roster: returning character Baiken, and one making their playable debut in Answer. In addition to releasing in arcades via an update to Revelator, this will also be available to those who purchased the home version on PS4, PS3, and PC via a downloadable update. Those that don’t own the original version, or simply want to buy this version separately, can purchase the PS4 version on disc or digitally, but it will be digital-only for PS3 and PC. It’s a step in the right direction to satisfy their entire audience, though the dwindling popularity of Japanese arcades is probably a big reason why this is happening.
Rev 2 will add more content than the two aforementioned characters, particularly to the home version. Both of them will receive character episodes with full-voice overs like the others, detailing their story. (Like Revelator, expect Japanese voices to be the only option for the western version, unless more fans requested a dub from Aksys Games than expected.) Jam Kuradoberi, Raven, Kum Haehyun, and Dizzy will also receive episodes, the last three of which were DLC characters for the console version; but who knows why Jam didn’t have one before. Perhaps they didn’t think anyone wanted to listen to her annoyingly high-pitched voice outside her matches.
M.O.M. (acronym for “Medal of Millionaire”) Mode will also return, where players can collect medals and lightly customize characters to their liking to face formidable AI opponents. Some of the biggest challenges in Guilty Gear history have been found in this mode, but you’ll be rewarded with new items if you can topple them. The Combo Mode will let players practice combos for certain characters before they dive into versus play, some of which have been adjusted to accommodate for balance changes with returning characters. Arc’s previous fighting games have contained useful and helpful combo modes, unlike, say, Capcom’s fighters, and this one should continue the trend.
Mission Mode sits alongside Combo Mode in helping players learn how to play certain characters, where the game teaches techniques that can be used as counter measures against other opponents. As expected, some have been added for Baiken and Answer. Previous GGXrd titles contained fun online lobbies where players can use super-deformed avatars of the characters they’re playing, and this time, different headsets have been added for further customization. There will also be new items to obtain through activities they can participate in to pass the time, one of which includes fishing.
It’s easy to see how Arc is responding to all the criticisms they received regarding how they release installments and updates by seeing this title’s schedule. Rev 2 is planned for a release sometime in the spring for arcades, but the home version will arrive in Japan on May 25th, meaning there won’t be much of a gap. That also means there won’t be much time to watch match videos of tournament players using the newest characters, or returning characters who’ve received balance changes. Arc is placing less priority on the arcade version because they see where the market is going.
Rev 2 was also confirmed for a release in America and Europe by Aksys Games and PQube, respectively, where the release options will mimic the Japanese version’s. Both companies have yet to provide a more definitive date for its arrival than “2017,” but since it will be featured at Evo 2017, there’s a high chance itwill be a simultaneous worldwide release. Just think: It was only a couple of years ago when Arc announced Revelator for arcades not too long before -SIGN- was played at Evo, which led to fans concluding that the company would never take western fans into serious consideration. Sometimes situations can change quicker than you think, even though, again, they were forced to by market trends.
Arc should release more trailers and videos of Rev 2 in the near future, leading up to an arcade release that should be dated soon, as spring will arrive in a little more than a week.
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Geoff
News Editor | Geoff is some nerd who writes for a blog and thinks he's knowledgeable. He write a lot about video games, but is capable of writing about other subjects, too. Twitter
