Granblue Fantasy Versus Beta Impressions

Granblue Fantasy is one of Japan’s biggest mobiles games and its the next series in line to get the fighting game treatment from Arcsystem Works. Despite the mobile game not officially being available in the West with players having to jump through some hoops to play it in English. Arcsystem Works is still committed to bringing Granblue Fantasy Versus to the West with its closed online beta being playable throughout May 31st and June 1st. As a casual GBF player, I can confidently say that GBFV is not only an absolute treat for fans of the mobile game but also an extremely solid game on its own that fighting game fans should look out for.

Check out some matches from the closed beta. 

Presentation-wise, the game is visually stunning with characters popping with vibrant colors and a unique anime art style. Seeing characters who only had still images and sprites in the mobile game fully move around, talking to each other and fighting in GBFV will definitely be a highlight for fans. The music is also great too with several remixes and renditions of songs from the mobile game as well.

In terms of functionality, GBFV has a great lobby system which is extremely similar to the one found in Blazblue Cross Tag Battle. Players can join several servers separated by region with individual lobbies dedicated to different areas. Lobbies cap out at 64 and take the form of the Grancypher airship with arcade setups being spread out amongst the ship. Players walk around as chibi versions of the game’s characters which are able to be customized with different color schemes. Players can interact with each other through preset messages tied to stickers as well as having free chat as well. Matches can easily be started by simply walking up to an arcade setup and sitting down; once two players sit at a setup, the two can begin a match.

Granblue Fantasy Versus’s gameplay is a unique blend between the mobile game’s mechanics and a traditional anime fighting game. Fights are 1v1, best of 3 matches and unlike other anime fighting games, there’s less of a focus on long strings of combos and more of an emphasis on winning trades with moves which is fitting given the game’s roots as a JRPG. The game is fast-paced enough to keep the fight moving but also noticeably slower than other anime fighting games to highlight the more tactical gameplay. Characters have normals consisting of light, medium and heavy attacks as well as a unique action exclusive to each character. Auto-combos can be activated by repeatedly pressing a button however they aren’t drawn out and usually only last 2-3 hits. Characters also have access to a grab and an overhead attack to break the opponent’s guard and follow up with a combo.

Each character has a unique set of skills that function similarly to how skills work in the mobile game. Skills are displayed alongside the health bars of the characters and can be activated by pressing a specific button dedicated to skills and a different direction, similar to how specials work in Super Smash Brothers. The game’s system places a large emphasis on using skills with most combos being able to end with them. Each skill has a cooldown after being used and both players can see the cooldowns of each individual move. This creates a dynamic where players can try to bait their opponents into using a skill and then rush in to attack before they have the chance to use it again. All skills can be performed by either simply pressing a dedicated button and a direction or by inputting a specific command with the latter method shortening the cooldown of the skill used. Not all special moves can be activated simply by pressing the skill button either which in turn ensures that high-level play is rewarded with more experienced players being able to utilize more moves through more difficult command inputs.

All of the characters are unique and fun to play with their personality shining through their movesets. From spacing opponents out with Ferry’s whip and her ghosts to catch the opponent off guard with Charlotta’s small size and manuervability, each character felt distinct and fun to play. Learning characters and what they can do will not only help you play them but also fight against them. While this can be said for most fighting games, it’s especially true for GBFV with the game’s skill system.

Characters also have a charge meter which is another mechanic taken from the mobile game. The charge meter increases when taking and dealing damage with it drastically increased when taking more offensive actions like rushing towards the opponent. Stronger EX versions of each skill with different properties can be used by inputting a specific command which consumes percent from the meter. When the meter is fully charged, players can execute a flashy Skybound Art for large amounts of damage. When a player reaches less than 30% of their health, they enter Recovery State which always keeps their skill gauge maxed out, allowing them to freely use EX skills without consuming meter. A Super Skybound Art can be activated in this state which deals massive damage however it’s extremely risky as using it ends Recovery State, completely depletes the charger meter and starts a cooldown on all skills. Recovery state is a great way to help players who are falling behind without giving them too much of a boost.

Granblue Fantasy Versus will likely turn out to be a fighting game that anyone can get into when it officially releases. While online play was the only mode available in the beta, the final game will have its own original story mode with varying difficulty options to suit all players. The cast of characters is incredibly enjoyable with the game donning a beautiful visual flair. The gameplay is simple enough to easily get a grasp of and execute moves while also being deep enough to provide an experience that fighting game fans will have fun both playing and watching. Overall I had a great time with Granblue Fantasy Versus’s Beta and am looking forward to the game’s final release. Whether you’re a GBF player, a fighting game fan or even just a fan of anime, there’s something that GBFV can offer to you. Granblue Fantasy Versus releases on Playstation 4 this year.