Platform(s): PlayStation 5 (version played), PS4, PC
Genre: 2D Fighting Game With Mobile RPG Gacha Characters From A Big Name

Back in 2020, Arc System Works and Cygames teamed up to make a 2D fighting game spin-off of the hit gacha mobile role-playing game title Granblue Fantasy. Dubbed Granblue Fantasy Versus, it combined the best aspects of fighting game styles: the traditional footsie-based and honest approach of the Street Fighter series and the high-flying anime fighter like your Guilty Gears and Under Nights. But a lot less overboard on the latter style, plus the introduction of modern-day simple inputs way before Street Fighter 6 made it a huge deal.

Unfortunately, Granblue Fantasy Versus did not have substantial netcode for its online play. And two months after release, the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc upon the entire world. Fighting games had it rough, with GBVS getting the short end of the stick.

Fast forward to now, while the world is still recovering, Arc System Works and Cygames took it upon themselves to attempt Round 2 with the spin-off fighter. It paid off, because Granblue Fantasy Versus Rising is definitely a significant improvement while retaining the same feels from its predecessor.

Sky High

Let’s start off with the four brand-new characters for this game: in addition to the base roster that is already packed with all-rounders (Gran or Djeeta), fast heavy hitters (rushdown like Soriz and Seox), long-ranged fighters (zoners like Metera), and unique tricksters (Lowain), the new fighters do add more playstyles to the mix. Siegfried and Anila are great for beginners who want heavy-hitting moves and attacks with some range, as well as projectiles to round things up. Grimnir and Nier are great characters in the right hands: the former can summon wind sigils for mobility and hit-and-run tactics. The latter is a puppetmaster who can summon her avatar Death to do lead-up attacks and catch opponents in a pincer maneuver, making them guess where to block. All in all, a stacked and varied roster for both newcomers and veterans alike.

The new Brave Counter, Rage Strike, and Rage Chain mechanics do make the difference and speed things up. Brave Counter is your pushback reversal when you’re blocking attacks, giving you breathing room when you’re getting overwhelmed. Rage Strike is the opposite; you use it during a combo to break an opponent’s guard, followed up with a Rage Chain that lets you do a powerful hit that stuns opponents and breaks their guard. Using Rage Chain allows you to follow up with your anime fighting game-like combo for maximum damage; that’s when you speed things up when you have enough resources (the three diamonds atop your life bar) to pull it off.

You have access to Ultimate Special Moves, where you spend your Super meter to unleash a powerful special move (EX moves in this universe). These usually have different properties or are just faster/powerful versions of existing special moves. For instance, Djeeta’s Ultimate version of Reginleiv is a short-ranged but very powerful fireball that’s meant to cancel out anything coming at her. Siegfried’s Ultimate version of his Verdrängen is an unblockable move that can catch a lot of players who block too much.

All these changes do make Granblue Fantasy Versus Rising a much faster game, though it can get overwhelming for beginners. My advice? Just play the game and enjoy the easy controls and fun input-friendly gameplay, then worry about the other mechanics when you’re knee-deep hours later. The best part? You don’t have to pay money to play the game as there’s a free-to-play version.

That’s right: the free version of GBVS Rising has four selectable characters, with that roster rotating every week. With Arc System Works games facing region pricing issues for the PC version, this would be a boon for many, MANY players who want to get a hands-on before committing to a half-straightlaced half-anime fighting game with anime gacha waifus and husbandos.

And that’s not even counting the new minigame called Grand Bruise, which is a Fall Guys clone inside a fighting game. You find folks to play online, and you play through a bunch of random minigames until you’re the last person standing. It’s a great diversion, though so far I’m getting more people playing the main fighting game rather than the minigame, so your experience may vary. At the very least, both modes run on great netcode from developer Arc System Works and publisher Cygames who were gracious enough to put a sizeable budget for this reinvigoration.

Cloud Nine

If I had to make a complaint, it’s probably because players of the 2020 game may feel some deja vu when playing GBVS Rising. Though to be fair, not many people did jump on board the first Granblue fighting game due to other similar fighting game titles at the time being more popular and eventually offering better netcode and online play. Plus, the original game’s RPG mode was grindy, so kudos to the devs for eliminating that repetitive factor for GBVS Rising’s story mode which lets you play out the epic boss fights that scale to your character.

Truth be told, GBVS Rising’s fighting mechanics can get overwhelming, and it still comes off a bit short when compared to this year’s 2D fighting crown jewel Street Fighter 6. Still, you have to give credit where credit’s due: instead of leaving this 2D game to die, Arc System Works and co. breathed new life to an already-solid 2D fighting game and reworked it for a new audience.

Welcome back, Granblue Fantasy Versus, we’ve missed you and your half-anime-half-Street-Fighter-fighting-game-like ways.

Final Score: 80/100