Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Review
Release date: December 11, 2023
Developers: Arc System Works, Cygames
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows
Mode: Multiplayer video game
Composers: Tsutomu Narita, Yasunori Nishiki, Azusa Chiba, Nao Tokisawa
Genre: Fighting game
“Review Copy Provided By Cygames and Arc System Works”
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Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising stands out as a beacon for newcomers to the fighting game genre, offering unparalleled accessibility. This title goes above and beyond to welcome those unfamiliar with fighting games, providing an extensive array of tutorials and a unique free-to-play model. This model includes a rotating cast of characters, changing weekly, allowing players to explore different playstyles without any upfront investment.
Despite its newcomer-friendly facade, Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising does not compromise on depth or complexity. The game boasts a high skill ceiling, with certain characters presenting a steeper learning curve and a plethora of advanced mechanics and combo sequences to master. This ensures that as players progress, they find ample opportunity to refine their skills and strategies.
For players who prefer solo play or a more relaxed gaming experience, Rising caters exceptionally well with a variety of modes. The game includes an offline arcade mode and a story mode that adopts a beat-em-up approach, providing a rich, narrative-driven experience. Additionally, the Grand Bruise Legends mode offers a competitive platforming experience with a charming art style, offering a lighter alternative to the high-stakes online matches. Thus, Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising is a versatile game that appeals to both seasoned fighting game enthusiasts and newcomers alike.
Character diversity is a cornerstone of Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising, with a launch roster of 28 characters, including 24 from the original game and four new challengers, plus six more scheduled for release as DLC within the year. The roster includes characters designed to suit various skill levels and playstyles, from the beginner-friendly Gran and Djeeta to more specialized characters like Metera, known for her long-range capabilities, and Seox, who excels in close combat. The game encourages players to choose characters that appeal to them visually, ensuring that all characters have access to basic mechanics like spot dodges, forward evasion, and auto combos. Special moves in Rising can be executed with simplified inputs, making them more accessible to newcomers while still rewarding skilled players with additional damage for more complex inputs.
Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising also shines in its variety of game modes, catering to both competitive and casual players. The online experience is enhanced by the implementation of rollback netcode, ensuring smooth and responsive gameplay, even over long distances. The story mode offers an engaging narrative, while the Grand Bruise Legends mode provides a fun, casual multiplayer experience with a range of mini-games.
Visually, the game is a masterpiece, with Arc System Works once again showcasing their ability to blend anime aesthetics with 2.5D graphics. The character models and animations are exceptionally detailed, bringing each fighter to life with unique match introductions and dynamic backgrounds that add to the game's immersive atmosphere.
While the game is mostly praiseworthy, it does have minor issues, such as occasional long server connection times and less-than-optimal performance in online lobbies. However, these do not detract from the overall excellence of Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising, which offers a rewarding experience for both online and offline players.
Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising is a comprehensive package that sets a new standard for accessibility and depth in the fighting game genre. Its combination of detailed tutorials, diverse character roster, and smooth online play makes it an excellent choice for anyone looking to delve into fighting games. I’m giving Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising, a 4 out of 5!
