We all love a good brawler. There is just nothing quite like stepping into the arena and beating the living daylights out of your mates. Or getting absolutely destroyed by someone online who clearly has way too much time on their hands. And Guilty Gear Strive delivers that feeling in spades. Arc System Works have been doing this for years. And Guilty Gear Strive 2.0 Starter Edition proves that the series is still one of the best around.
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It delivers a fighter that looks incredible, sounds even better, and has enough depth to keep you coming back for more.
The 2.0 Starter Edition is also the perfect onboarding point for newcomers, as you get almost all the content the game has so far. This means you have access to all the DLC fighters right off the bat, including Baiken, Jack-O’, and even Lucy from the Cyberpunk: Edgerunners show.
All of this makes it a great jumping-on point if you have somehow managed to avoid Guilty Gear until now.
Welcome to the Arena
Though if you are new to the Guilty Gear series, Strive is probably one of the most welcoming entries. While there is plenty going on under the hood, the basics are easy enough to pick up.
With the controls feeling responsive, the fights are fast-paced, and every character feels genuinely different. This means there is plenty of room to find a fighter that suits your style.
And this is where Strive really shines, as underneath all the stunning animated visuals is a truly deep combat system. You can mash your way through a few fights and have a great time, but start digging deeper into things like Roman Cancels, counter hits, and combos, and you quickly realise there is a LOT more to learn.
Visually, this is still one of the best-looking 2D fighters EVER. The character models, effects, and animation are absolutely stunning, giving the whole thing the feel of a playable anime. Every punch, slash, and special move comes with enough impact to make you feel like you are causing serious damage.
And then there is that soundtrack, which is loud, in your face, and packed with rock anthems that somehow make you feel like an absolute badass, even when you are getting battered around the place.
Online play is where Strive really comes into its own, with smooth matches and plenty of competition. Although the lobby system can still feel unnecessarily complicated when all you want to do is get into a fight.
Guilty Gear Strive 2.0 Starter Edition is a fantastic fighter that manages to be accessible for newcomers while still offering the depth that hardcore players crave. It looks incredible, sounds brilliant, and, most importantly, feels fantastic to play.
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