Granblue Fantasy Versus Review

The developers at Arc System Works have proven throughout the last few years that nobody makes anime fighting games quite like they do with their flashy and over the top style and in-depth, rewarding combat. Similar to their attempt to turn Dragon Ball into a 3v3 fighter in Dragon Ball FighterZ, their newest title "Granblue Fantasy Versus" sets out to give the juggernaut of a Japanese mobile game a 1v1 fighting game adaptation. While many in the West may not be deeply familiar with the series in which it's based on, Granblue Fantasy Versus is yet another exciting addition to Arc System Work's lineup of 2D anime fighters.

Arguably the three most important aspects of fighting games are its characters, combat, and presentation and Granblue Fantasy Versus manages to go above and beyond with each one. Versus looks stunning with its highly stylized anime aesthetic with a similar 2D/3D animation style that has been honed since Guilty Gear Xrd and Dragon Ball FighterZ. The music is incredible as well with a mix of symphonic strings, adrenaline-pumping guitar riffs, and even some techno as well. What helps this presentation immensely is the vibrant and well-designed roster. While having only 11 characters may seem small compared to other fighting games, each one is uniquely designed and brimming with personality. From the hulking, scythe-wielding Vaseraga to the tiny but agile Charlotta, each character sets themself apart with some of them breaking the mold for the fantasy anime style like the eccentric grappler, Ladiva that fights using a variety of wrestling techniques. 

The uniqueness of the game's roster shines within the gameplay as well. Versus is much slower-paced than other anime fighters with long-form combos being relatively absent aside from those available in the corner. This is due to Versus implementing a unique cooldown system designed after the skill mechanics from the mobile game that it's based on. Each move that requires a special input is given a cooldown timer after being used. This creates a unique resource management element that encourages players to keep track of both their opponent's and their own abilities. Granblue Fantasy Versus also uses this mechanic to help players new to fighting games. Each special move has a traditional style of input and a simplified one that involves holding a direction and pressing a special button similar to Super Smash Brothers. Doing the simplified input results in a longer cooldown period but it allows newer players to play on even footing while also encouraging them to learn the traditional inputs. Even outside of the simplified inputs for special commands, Versus does a lot to ease new players into the game with one of the most robust and in-depth training modes in a fighting game that helps explain each individual move, combo patterns, and techniques, even going into more in-depth concepts like character matchups. 

Each character also has at least two unique super moves known as Skybound Arts that become availble once their special gauge fills completely and these specials cannot only drastically change the tide of a match but also feature incredibly flashy animations with each character having a unique victory screen if they win a match using their Super Skybound Art which only becomes available to them once their gauge fills and they are below a certain amount of health. Versus offers a very unique style of combat that sacrifices fast-paced, extended combos in exchange for a more methodical combat style that encourages players to strategically think about every interaction they make. 

Alongside a traditional arcade mode, Granblue Fantasy Versus also offers a robust, fully voiced RPG mode that can be played either single-player or with two players both locally and online. Similar to beat-em-ups, the game has players go through a variety of levels taking on enemies and occasionally fighting bosses as well. Throughout the about 8 hour campaign, players will level up their characters as well as collect different weapons with elemental abilities that have varying levels of effectiveness depending on the enemy's elemental type.

While it's appreciated the Granblue Fantasy Versus went out of its way to provide singleplayer content in a genre that it has largely been absent from, the singleplayer feels mostly like a slog. Many of the missions feel largely the same with enemies not having many unique actions that make combat engaging. Boss fights, however, don't follow this trend and are easily the most engaging and rewarding parts of the game. The story isn't particularly deep or complex but Granblue fans will enjoy the new character interactions and new players can get somewhat introduced to the world of Granblue as well. Versus also offers a unique level of customization as well with each character having a variety of different alternate colors as well as completely unique weapons as well which can be unlocked by going through the story mode. Playing through Granblue Fantasy Versus's RPG mode unlocks a new character as well and while it many players will only go through it to unlock them, its not entirely without its highlights. 

From the fantastic renditions of character themes to the over the top Skybound arts, Versus is easily one of the most stylistic fighting games Arc System Works has created. Granblue Fantasy is not only a great fighting game for veterans and those looking to get into the genre but also a love letter to the mobile game that it's based on. 

Granblue Fantasy Versus is available now on PS4 and PC.