Post by Pilgrim John on May 1, 2006 12:47:49 GMT -5
GUILTY GEAR DUST STRIKERS, for the Nintendo DS
Published by Majesco
1-4 Players
****review by Pilgrim John
While at one point Guilty Gear was just a budget game expected to fail, GG has grown into a much-loved fighting game series known for its over-the-top fighting styles, interesting characters, and heavy rock music. Most fans consider X2 for the PlayStation 2 as the pinnacle of the series (And for good reason), but can Dust Strikers outdo it? Let's find out.
*GAMEPLAY*
From what you've read about the game, it might sound like another Super Smash Bros. ripoff, like Onimusha Blade Warriors. Believe me, although that's a legitimate concern, the game focuses more on the awesomely overdone fighting styles of the characters. It's 30% SSB, 70% Guilty Gear.
Of course, that means this game ends up giving fans the "spinoff" vibe. I don't mind it, really, because the two formulas have been carefully balanced into a unique and fun experience.
You get actual ledge maps instead a "straight line" battlefield, you get items that help you defeat your enemies, and you get spare lives (Named "Souls" in the game), but that's where the SSB influence ends. The rest is pure Guilty Gear--heavy-duty destruction, over-the-top fighting, and anime-style kung fu are all present and accounted for. Choose your fave character, get into the fight, and kick some caboose!
The options, of course, let you mess with the balance of the game. Choosing how many "souls" you start out with, the time limit, turning items on or off, setting the difficulty--you can use all this to make Dust Strikers feel more at home with the rest of the series instead of the SSB-inspired spinoff it actually is. It's all up to you. I only wish that Dust Strikers included a Sound Test...
The Story Mode is usually groan-inducing in most fighter games, but trust me when I say that if you're playing Guilty Gear... You'll laugh your head off. The lines that some of the characters say are hilarious, from May accusing Dr. Faust of being bald to Zappa finally realizing he's a ghost. If you don't quite get the story, you're not alone, but laugh at some of the character's dumbest antics anyway.
And now, the Touch Screen minigames. No, it isn't like the minigames suck, but they contradict the rest of the game. Tell me, did you buy a Guilty Gear game to beat people up or catch falling plates? How about shooting some pool? Or maybe some dolphin tricks with May the pirate? To say these minigames are awkward is an understatement. However, they do unlock movesets for Robo-Ky, so you might want to play (And get good at) a few of them. If you're a good touch-screen player, you can turn Robo-Ky into a devastating powerhouse for Arcade mode... or for dishing out punishment on your friends.
The multiplayer, while fun, ends up being a bit of a downer. No WiFi means you can't kick your out-of-state friends into next year, and the fact that everyone STILL needs a copy of the game in order to play it is annoying. But hey, if your friends all have DSs and a copy of Guilty Gear each, go for it.
*GRAPHICS*
The spritage (There's that word again!) here is some of the best I've seen on the DS so far. Hand-drawn, silky animations are the highlight of each attack you pull off. The backgrounds are spiced with a gorgeous painting-esque quality, obviously having been given the same amount of attention the characters got. However, those little bars that serve as ledges are uninteresting to look at.
Does that mean I'm detracting points? Nope. They're uninteresting, not ugly.
*MUSIC/SOUND*
Another highlight. Even the naysayers will have to agree that the hard-pounding rock music blaring on your handheld speakers are a delightful trademark of the Guilty Gear series. Sure, the music might not be quite as memorable as X2's, but remember that this ISN'T X2... it's Dust Strikers. Still, it has great music, with goofy voiceovers to top it all off.
*OVERALL*
This is another great entry into an already-great series, even if it's little more than a spinoff. Sure, there are things that might bog down the fun a bit, but they won't detract THAT much. If you've got the money, a DS, and genreal fandom of the series running thorugh your veins, pick this game up. It's not as good as X2, but it's still worth it.
GOOD:
*The bright, beautiful graphics
*The rock-rock-rockin tunes
*The characters. I mean, come ON! You have a demon, a pirate, a crazy doctor, a ghost, and a rock star! What's not to like?!
*The gameplay is entertaining, even if it's a spinoff
*The options allow you to put a more Guilty Gear splash into the game
*Multiplayer is fun
BAD:
*No Sound Test
*Multiplayer is cumbersome to start up
*The single-player mode is too short
*The Touch Minigames are awkward, even if they serve a purpose
SCORE: 8.0/10
Another GG is on the way to PSP, but I'll stick with this game anyway... because I neither have a PSP nor do I want one.
Ah well, pick it up and play!
Published by Majesco
1-4 Players
****review by Pilgrim John
While at one point Guilty Gear was just a budget game expected to fail, GG has grown into a much-loved fighting game series known for its over-the-top fighting styles, interesting characters, and heavy rock music. Most fans consider X2 for the PlayStation 2 as the pinnacle of the series (And for good reason), but can Dust Strikers outdo it? Let's find out.
*GAMEPLAY*
From what you've read about the game, it might sound like another Super Smash Bros. ripoff, like Onimusha Blade Warriors. Believe me, although that's a legitimate concern, the game focuses more on the awesomely overdone fighting styles of the characters. It's 30% SSB, 70% Guilty Gear.
Of course, that means this game ends up giving fans the "spinoff" vibe. I don't mind it, really, because the two formulas have been carefully balanced into a unique and fun experience.
You get actual ledge maps instead a "straight line" battlefield, you get items that help you defeat your enemies, and you get spare lives (Named "Souls" in the game), but that's where the SSB influence ends. The rest is pure Guilty Gear--heavy-duty destruction, over-the-top fighting, and anime-style kung fu are all present and accounted for. Choose your fave character, get into the fight, and kick some caboose!
The options, of course, let you mess with the balance of the game. Choosing how many "souls" you start out with, the time limit, turning items on or off, setting the difficulty--you can use all this to make Dust Strikers feel more at home with the rest of the series instead of the SSB-inspired spinoff it actually is. It's all up to you. I only wish that Dust Strikers included a Sound Test...
The Story Mode is usually groan-inducing in most fighter games, but trust me when I say that if you're playing Guilty Gear... You'll laugh your head off. The lines that some of the characters say are hilarious, from May accusing Dr. Faust of being bald to Zappa finally realizing he's a ghost. If you don't quite get the story, you're not alone, but laugh at some of the character's dumbest antics anyway.
And now, the Touch Screen minigames. No, it isn't like the minigames suck, but they contradict the rest of the game. Tell me, did you buy a Guilty Gear game to beat people up or catch falling plates? How about shooting some pool? Or maybe some dolphin tricks with May the pirate? To say these minigames are awkward is an understatement. However, they do unlock movesets for Robo-Ky, so you might want to play (And get good at) a few of them. If you're a good touch-screen player, you can turn Robo-Ky into a devastating powerhouse for Arcade mode... or for dishing out punishment on your friends.
The multiplayer, while fun, ends up being a bit of a downer. No WiFi means you can't kick your out-of-state friends into next year, and the fact that everyone STILL needs a copy of the game in order to play it is annoying. But hey, if your friends all have DSs and a copy of Guilty Gear each, go for it.
*GRAPHICS*
The spritage (There's that word again!) here is some of the best I've seen on the DS so far. Hand-drawn, silky animations are the highlight of each attack you pull off. The backgrounds are spiced with a gorgeous painting-esque quality, obviously having been given the same amount of attention the characters got. However, those little bars that serve as ledges are uninteresting to look at.
Does that mean I'm detracting points? Nope. They're uninteresting, not ugly.
*MUSIC/SOUND*
Another highlight. Even the naysayers will have to agree that the hard-pounding rock music blaring on your handheld speakers are a delightful trademark of the Guilty Gear series. Sure, the music might not be quite as memorable as X2's, but remember that this ISN'T X2... it's Dust Strikers. Still, it has great music, with goofy voiceovers to top it all off.
*OVERALL*
This is another great entry into an already-great series, even if it's little more than a spinoff. Sure, there are things that might bog down the fun a bit, but they won't detract THAT much. If you've got the money, a DS, and genreal fandom of the series running thorugh your veins, pick this game up. It's not as good as X2, but it's still worth it.
GOOD:
*The bright, beautiful graphics
*The rock-rock-rockin tunes
*The characters. I mean, come ON! You have a demon, a pirate, a crazy doctor, a ghost, and a rock star! What's not to like?!
*The gameplay is entertaining, even if it's a spinoff
*The options allow you to put a more Guilty Gear splash into the game
*Multiplayer is fun
BAD:
*No Sound Test
*Multiplayer is cumbersome to start up
*The single-player mode is too short
*The Touch Minigames are awkward, even if they serve a purpose
SCORE: 8.0/10
Another GG is on the way to PSP, but I'll stick with this game anyway... because I neither have a PSP nor do I want one.
Ah well, pick it up and play!