Join the Flock

Arc System Works, in association with publisher CyGames, has released the first gameplay trailer for the adorable Anila, the first new character announced for anime scrapper Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising. Anila was first revealed in a teaser last week, but now we can finally see ?the?? sexy shepherd in action.

Anila, who is classed as "Queen of the Sheep and ruler of the South-Southwest" is an incredibly fun-looking character, who will step forth into battle armed with he??????????????????????????r trusty po?learm and supported by a huge flock of obedient wool-bearers.

Anila herself sports a pair of ram horns, as well as a thick woolen ??gown and a luscious lock of blonde hair. She's also pretty sleepy, which comes with the territory. I legitimate?ly think that she's one of the most fun designs to grace fighting games in some time. And I'm surprised that it's taken this long for a shepherd gimmick to make its appearance in the typically wacky genre.

//??www.youtube.com/watch?v=adsXBjPnlV0&a?b_channel=CygamesEN

As you can see from her trailer, Anila is something of an all-round character, afforded decent range thanks to her polearm, (check out that half-screen sweep!), some smothering chains, ?and even some basic zoning capabilities... thanks to her fuzzy friends. Anila can send out her flock as ground-based projectiles, and even ride them into battle in order to close the distance at great speed. Anila's amusing super sees the opponent stampeded in a flurry of wool and hooves. You don't need to count sheep when they'll gladly send you into the land of slumber the hard way.

While Anila's release date has been somewhat confusing, it seems clear that she is destined to make her debut in Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising, the updated edition of the original 2020 fighter, complete with new modes and mechanics, as well as a fresh rebalance for its attractive and engaging roster. While the details are still strangely sketchy, one would assume that Anila will be available as paid DLC for the vanilla edition of Versus, while Rising will be made available compl??ete with several additio??nal fighters. CyGames will reveal the next new character at EVO 2023, which is scheduled for August of this year.

Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising will release later in 2023 on ?PlayStation and PC.

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Hot Shots

[Update: Sony has now confirmed that Need for Speed HEAT, Granblue Fantasy: Versus, and TOEM are September's PlayStation Plus Essential releases. The titles will be available to down??load from September 6.]

Regular as clockwork, French retailer Dealabs has leaked the three titles heading subscribers' way as part of the coming month's PlayStation Plus Essential offerings. According to the site, September will see EA racer Need for Speed HEAT, CyGames' fighter Granblue Fantasy: Versus, and delightful indie adventure TOEM made available for download to PlayStation Plus members everywhe??re.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4Q3uh2RaZo

Released in the fall of 2019, Need for Speed HEAT is the 24th title in Electronic Arts' long-running racing series, an??d represents the final series entry developed by Ghost Games, before the franchise was returned to its veteran developer, Criterion Games, who continue to develop the series today.

Set against the backdrop of Miami stand-in Palm City, NFS HEAT features an open-plan city packed out with races, challenges, and objectives, while a story campaign sees the player attempt to climb the ranks of an underground racing collective known as The League. NFS HEAT received m??iddling praise from critics and players on release.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JCSb837dF4

2020's Granblue Fantasy: Versus is a 2.5D fighting spin-off set within the universe of cult RPG franchise Granblue Fantasy. Developed by the tried and tested folks at Arc System Works, Granblue Fantasy: Versus sees a charismatic and compelling, (as well as highly attractive), cast of characters battle it out in well-designed one-on-o?ne fisticuffs.

Always facing an uphill battle due to the niche branding, GF:V is assuredly a solid fighter, but unfortunately struggles in an online capacity due to its smaller community and lack of rollback n?et?code. It remains, however, an engaging, great-looking fighter with a small army of devoted players.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxJPDQfYBqA

Made with passion and enthusiasm by independent outfit Something We Made, TOEM: A Photo Adventure is, as the title s?uggests, a thoroughly wholesome affair based on the concept of taking photos while exploring an ethereal fantasy mountainscape, meeting its denizens, and learning its legacy.

While on a pilgrimage to experience the titular "TOEM," the player will encounter various characters and puzzles, all of which can be helped with the aid of some snap-happy camerawork. Available on PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch, TOEM received critical acclai??m on release, even winning a BAFTA for Best ??Debut at the 2021 iteration of the awards.

Assuming that Dealabs sources are correct �and they usually are �Need for Speed HEAT, Granblue Fantasy: Versus, and TOEM will be available to download for?? all PlayStation Plus subscribers i?n September.

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Rush, Rush, Shift into Overdrive

CyGames has released its previously teased major update for attractive fighter Granblue Fantasy: Versus. Now available on both PlayStation and PC platforms, Update 2.80 adds three major new mechanics to the super-stylish and surpri?singly sexy anime ring ??rocker.

The first new mechanic, "Rush", is a quick forward dash that can be activated at the cost of half of your SBA meter. The dash is strike-invincible just after startup, but can still be shut down by projectiles. The purpose of dash is to perfect the timing of the player's advance in order to gain ground in the face of a heavy assault from the opponent. Think of it ala tactical rolls in The King of Fighters, except lacking projectile invincibi??lity. Rush can also be linked with certain attacks in orde?r to extend combos.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbJ44fWfMug

The second mechanic, "Backshift", is similar to Rush except used as a retreat rather than an advance. A backshifting player loses half of their SBA meter in order to put some distance between themselves and their opponent. Backshift can also be performed out of knockdown in order to avoid highly offensive players from maintaining their momentum as you return to your return. As such, it is a ha??nd?y tool for avoid meaties and some 50/50 guessing games.

The final new mechanic, Overdrive, is an all-in-one buff that can be activated once-per-round. Costing 100% of a filled SBA meter, Overdrive applies several upgrades to your character, including increased ?damage, increase??d chip damage, nullified incoming chip damage, faster overhead attacks, and "enhanced simple commands". Overdrive lasts as long as your meter drains, and taking hits will speed up its reduction rate.

These three new additions definitely throw a cat among the pigeons that are the Granblue Fantasy: Versus' d?edicated community. It has to be noted that the players were hoping for rollback netcode implementation, which clearly was not on the cards. Here's hoping that update helps make the flow of the fight better than it has ever been.

Granblue Fantasy: Versus is available now on PlayStation and PC.

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New mechanics, balance tweaks, and more

Granblue Fantasy: Versus is still holding its own. Despite playing host to a niche IP, and launching into a brutally competi??tive time for the fighting game scene, CyGames' lavish-looking anime scrapper still carved out a community for itself, one that has stayed true to their?? chosen title's great looks, engaging action, and �importantly �its unbelievably hot cast of characters.

This week, two years on from the title's launch, Granblue Fantasy: Versus is receiving its 2.80 update, a literal game-changing affair that will not only bring about a fresh run of buffs and nerfs to the roster, but will also be adding no less than three brand new mechanics to GF:V's core gameplay, shaking up the meta and, hopefully, making its combat more exciting and? engaging than it has ever been.

The only problem is... CyGames has still not said what these three new mechanics, (or "actio??ns") ar?e.

//twitter.c?om/gbvs_official/status/1532089603171270657?s=20&t=HfpHrKe9B62f1GAE7owT?1A

Updating a fighter with new mechanics has proven, in the past, to be a great way to add a new lease of life to gameplay. Take for example Street Fighter V's addition of second V-Triggers, or the still underutilized "V-Shift" dodge. Of course, new mechanics can also mess with the status quo, throwing long-time players right off of their game, or simply breaking a title's flow completely. For the most part, however, evolution in a fighter is a good thing, and hopefully, the new update will not only improve Granblue Fantasy: Versus as a fighter, but might also help it get back on the map in time for the summer. Although, frankly, adding rollback netcode and cros??splay would go far to do just? that.

I guess we'll have to wait and see what improvements CyGames has up its sleeves. Of course, none of these will apply to my wolf boy Eustace. How do you improve upon that dude? Sigh...

Granblue Fantasy: Versus is available now on PS4 ?and PC. Update 2.80 is scheduled to? launch later today.

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Let's talk about Seox, baby

CyGames, alongside developer Arc System Works, has updated its super stylish anime fighter Granblue Fantasy: Versus to version 2.61, bringing with it a fresh run of general tweaks and fixes alo?ngside the arrival of new DLC character, Seox, now available to purchase for around $7.

Seox, (or "Six"), promises to bring with him devastating otherworldly power and a frightening rushdown game. As one of The Eternals �celestial beings with might and magic beyond compare �Seox should be one of the universe's wisest overseers. Unfortunately for the folk of Granblue Fantasy, Seox is woefully unstable, merely desiring even more strength, power, an?d supremacy �constantly reachi??ng for a status above that of his fellow Eternals. What an idiot. A sexy idiot.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=6inRS8RAwcY&t=49s

As exemplified in the above trailer, Seox moves with lightning speed and fluidity, s?mothering his opponent in an array of dash attacks, short hops, and air-based maneuvers, before getting his chop-chop on with razor-sharp gauntlets. If you like to end your rounds before they've barely begun, stealing huge swathes of your rival's life bar before they can adjust, then Seox might just become your best buddy. Watch out though, he'l?l probably stab you in the back as soon as look at you.

As with all paid DLC characters, Seox brings with him a custom lobby avatar and Star Character icon, as well as his own RPG Mode chapters. In addition, two new stages have been added to Granblue Fantasy: Versus in the form of Celestial View and The Abyss. For full notes on bug fixes and other tweaks pertaining to Version 2.61, check out the official patch notes over on the Granblue Fantasy: Versus website.

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Stylish fighter celebrates 500,000 sales

It might not be the biggest brawler on the block, but CyGames attractive fighter Granblue Fighter: Versus continues to entertain its audience, now deep into its second season. Having hit an impressive milestone of 500,000 units, publisher Arc System Works has dropped a trailer for?? the next DLC character, Seox, who will jo??in the roster next month.

Seox, (or "Six"), ain't nothing to fuck with. As one of the celestial beings known a?s "The Eter??nals," Seox is carrying power as unbridled as his unstable emotional status. Already one of the world's most powerful beings, Seox desires to be more powerful still, clawing for supremacy and reaching for an astral plane far above his already lofty status.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=6inRS8RAwcY

As you can see from the above video, Seox is all about the rushdown. The Eternal uses aerial strikes and dash tactics to close the gap on his prey, before laying i??n with extended combos and mixups, utilizing his vicious claws to slice 'n' dice his opponent before they even know what is happening to them. A frightening foe who can end the round in a flash.

Granblue Fantasy: Versus will add Seox as paid DLC on July 13, accompanied by the obligatory Lobby Avatar, Character Icon, and custom story mo?de. On that same day, All players will receive two new stage?s free of charge: "Celestial View" and "Abyss."

GF:V has battled against rough netcode and stiff competition in a particularly crowded market, so kudos to CyGames for hitting the half-million milestone. But I hope that the developer will choose to focus on GF:V's stability very?? soon. The roster has more than enough sexy characters, now it's time to focus on some sexy tech.

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Bite Me

[Update: Version 2.51 is now live in Granblue Fantasy: Versus, bringing a glut of fixes as well as numerous character balance tweaks. You can check out the full patch notes for the update over on the official website.]

CyGames has announced a release date for the next fighter headed to its stylish one-on-one slugfest Granblue Fantasy: Versus. As teased back in early March, literal lone wolf Eustace will be joining GF:V's stupidly s??tylish roster of ?fighters on April 20.

Master marksman Eustace patrols Skydom as a wandering vigilante, delivering judgment to the wicked via the business end of his ornate custom rifle "Flamek Thunder" and a handful of explosive devices. Afforded heightened senses thanks to his raw... animalistic... untamed... wolf-like nature, Eustace is a fearsome opponent, equally dangerous at bo??th ?long-range and in close proximity.

As with all previous Granblue Fantasy: Versus DLC characters, Eustace comes complete with a custom lobby avatar, star character icon, and RPG quest chapter. Be sure to check out the Japanese GF:V Twitter account for a selection of short videos showing off Eustace's moveset as we see our fuz??zy boy locked, cocked, and ready to unload... Ok, I'm calling this article right now.

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Let me scritch his ears, please.

CyGames' visually stunning fighter Granblue Fantasy: Versus is still kickin' ass, and in fact has just announced that next DLC character joining its roster as? part of the anime punch-up's second season pass. Locked 'n' loaded, the sharpshooting marksman Eustace will be arriving in-game late next month.

This quite literal "lone wolf" wanders the world as a vigilante, bringing justice to Skydom and visiting harm upon those who seek to inflict pain and punishment on the innocent. A master marksman, Eustace packs heat in the form of his beautifully ornate rifle, "Flamek Thunder," which will no doubt come into play as a part of his Granblue Fantasy: Versus fighting style.

As a weapons master, Eustace is expected to play as a ranged fighter, but we'll know more come April 15, when our wild boy will receive an official gameplay trailer. Additionally, CyGames has also announced a third Battle Pass will be added to Granblue Fantasy: Versus in April, which will offer up ?numerous exclusive cosmetic items including color variants, weapon skins, avatars, and lobby cards.

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If you want peace...

Cygames, in association with developer Arc System Works, has announced that Anre, the next DLC character headed to Granblue Fantasy: Versus, will be joining the roster of?? the gorgeous fighting title next week - January 26 to be exact?.

An in??trospective and impossibly wise being, Anre (or "Uno") actually dislikes war, combat and the unhappiness and pain that it brings. To this end, Anre has entered the fray in the hopes of attaining such power that he will be??come a deterrent to those who wish harm on mankind. In battle Anre retains his stoic and peaceful demeanor, while fending off assault with expert use of his "Spear of the Eternals", a legendary artifact of devastating faculty.

Granblue Fantasy: Versus is available now on PS4 and PC.

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You know you're a... sweet little heart-break-er...

Granblue Fantasy: Versus receives a brand new character today, one who seems sure to be popular with rushdown fans and DeviantArt supporters everywhere. Foxy franchise fan-favorite Yuel is now ready to join the battle, arriving as part of the gorgeous fight?er's se??cond season pass.

In Granblue Fantasy lore, Yuel is a daring adventurer, who is constantly distracted from her life quest to discover a thousand-years-old treasure by the people and places that she encounters on her journeys. A very popular character in the Granblue Fantasy universe, no doubt thanks to her teasing, femme-fatale nature, lavish design, and playful attitude, Yuel joins the GF:V roster as a speedy rushdown character,? tackling her opponents on ground and in the air with her trademark "Foxfire" swords. Yuel is also equipped with her "Third Dance", a stance that slows mobility but allows for?? slick counterattacks.

You can check out Yuel in action in this f??eet-happy gameplay trailer.

In addition to Yuel's arrival, the trailer above offers the first look at the next DLC character in line for Granblue Fantasy: Versus. Anre may seem relatively short in stature but, as one of the masterful deities known as "The Eternals" is actually a being of incredible knowledge and power, tasked with providing balance to the world's emotions, and ridding civilization of sadness. Damn, hope he succeeds in that task real soon. Anre will be made available in-game ?in early 2021.

Finally, Granblue Fantasy: Versus will be receiving a "Battle Pass" of sorts as part of its Version 2.22 update later this?? month. The pass will challenge players to complete time-limited challenges in order to unlock skins, colors, RPG Mode bonuses, in-game currency, and more.

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Version 2.11 now live

Granblue Fantasy: Versus has been updated to Version 2.11, bringing a selection of bug fixes and mode tweaks to???? CyGames' attractive fighter, along with all-new DLC character Cagliostro.

Known as "The Prettiest Alchemist," Cagliostro is a? young mistress of the arcane arts, arts that she utilizes in the pursuit of a state of absolute cuteness. Despite her adorable demeanor, Cagliostro has quite a temper bubbling under her kawaii surface and is a force to be reckoned w??ith in the thick of the fight.

Not only is Cagliostro capable of producing huge swords and spears from the environment with ease, but her tricky teleportation skills also keep her well out of harm's way. Sneaky gal. Cagliostro is available to pur?chase for around $7, which includes the requisite lobby avatar and a new RPG Mode chapter.

Alongside Cagliostro, the new update fixes several minor text and technical issues across the board, as well as tweaking an ongoing issue involving Throw Breaking. You can check out the full patch notes over on the official Granblue Fantasy: Versus blog.

Granblue Fantasy: Versus is available now on PS4 and PC.

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Cagliostro demonstrates her magical might

Publisher Arc System Works, in conjunction with developer CyGames, has revealed the third character headed to Granblue Fantasy: Versus as part of the gorgeous fighter's second character pass.?? And this time around its none of than the daring adventurer, Yuel.

Yuel was announced in a brief teaser at the end of a new gameplay trailer, which gave us our first look at cheerful mage Cagliostro in action. Yuel is an extremely popular character among the Granblue Fantasy community, undoubtedly thanks to her teasing, femme-fatale nature.? A brave and steadfast warrior on an epic journey to find a thousand-year-old treasure, Yuel is very easily distracted by the wor??lds, characters, and events she experiences while en route to her goal. She also throws up a pretty mean nWo Wolfpac signal.

As for Cagliostro, the young alchemist will launch in Granblue Fantasy: Versus tomorrow, October 20, bring??ing her ancient arcane powers to the fight. A "mistress of blades," as it were, Cagliostro uses her magic skills to conjure up razor-sharp swords, spears, and whirring buzz saws on the battlefield, while staying out of her foe's grasp with her frustrating teleport abilities. Don't let her cute, wholesome demeanor fool you, this angry gal will cut you down in seconds flat.

Granblue Fantasy: Versus is available now on PC and PS4.

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Abs for days and nights

CyGames has released Version 2.01 for anime fighting title Granblue Fantasy: Versus. The new update brings a slew of tweaks and bug-fixes to the cult fighter, along with the first DLC character of GF:V's second season, Belial.

One of the main antagonists of Granblue Fantasy: Versus' single-player mode, The F??allen Angel is now available for purchase as a playable roster addition. Luring in opponents with a rogueish, nonchalant attitude and an amazing midriff, Belial is then qui?ck to dispatch his foes with damaging "slashing" attacks, and powerful metaphysical weaponry.

Belial is the first of six characters that will arrive in-game over the course of GF:V's second season. The Fallen Angel will be followed by cutesy alchemist Cagliostro at some point in October, with a further four characters to be revealed ??and released over the coming months.

You can check out the fully-translated patch notes for Version 2.01 over on EventHubs.

Granblue Fantasy: Versus is available now on PS4 and PC.

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RPG mode getting new chapters as well

It was a bit odd last December when Arc System Works and Cygames pulled back the curtain on the second season of DLC characters for Granblue Fantasy: Versus before the first season had even been revealed. But with such a large Granblue cast to choose from, it was pretty predictable the DLC train would keep rolling full-steam ahead. After wrapping up its first season with the addition of Zooey, Versus is ready to start its sophomore ??year with the previously revealed Belial and cute-as-a-button Cagliostro.

Belial will be available for download on September 23 with Cagliostro following in late October. It should be noted due to COVID-19, neither character will launch with their English language voice ov?ers. Twenty-twenty will see one more ch??aracter added to the season pass with three more to follow in 2021.

Additionally, on August 9 -- or late night on August 8 depending on your timezone -- Granblue Fantasy: Versus will update to version 1.40. This update will add Boss Battle Time Attack and Blitz modes, as? well as new chapters to the RPG mode. 

Granblue Fantasy: Versus is now available on PS4 and PC.

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Dragon Days

CyGames has released the newest update for its artistic fighting title Granblue Fantasy: Versus. Version 1.31, which is live now on both PC and PS4 platforms, brings the last of the game's initial batch of DLC characters, along?? with a laundry? list of in-game tweaks.

Zooey, accompanied by her serpentine pals Dyrn and Lyrn, has graced the GF:V universe with her presence in order to prevent the bringing of chaos through The Singularities - namely Djeeta, Gran, and Beelzebub. A master of swordsmanship, with her att??acks boosted by her command of lightning, Zooey's shit-list is a pretty bleak place to be. There's a storm coming...

Zooey comes loaded with a selection of new missions, combo trials, in-game avatars, and other lobby goodies. Also available right now is a glossy new stage: The Jewel Resort. Both Zooey and The Jewel Resort are available as part of the GF:V season pass, or can be purchased separately. Further characters are expected to launch thi?s fall.

In addition to the arrival of Zooey, Version 1.31 brings about Granblue Fantasy: Versus' largest balance update since release. The patch contains some tweaks to GF:V's control system, shifting directional priority and move buffer mechanics, along with various balance changes to the fighter's roster. Several irritating bugs have also been squashed. You can check out the full list of changes over at the official GF:V blog.

Granblue Fantasy: Versus is available now on PS4 and PC.

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Thanks fans for ongoing support

Publisher CyGames has proudly announced that its delightful-looking fighting title Granblue Fantasy: Versus has passed 350,000 shipments and digital sales worldwide, getting the anime? battler o?ff to a comfortable start during its staggered release period.

CyGames made the announcement on Twitter with a short message thanking the fans, accompanied by some cute artwork of Granblue Fantasy stars Djeeta and Lyria. Granblue Fantasy: Versus first launc??hed on PS4 in Japan, before arriving in North America and Europe in March. A PC port was also released at this time.

Granblue Fantasy: Versus will release the last of its initial DLC characters, Zooey, on April 28. Zooey will be followed by a free story expansion this summer?, before the fighter laun?ches its second season pass of characters sometime this fall. The first new arrival from this second run is expected to be fallen angel Belial.

Granblue Fantasy: Versus is available now on PS4 and PC.

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— グランブルーファンタジー ヴァーサス (@gbvs_official) April 23, 2020

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She calls the big one Bitey

CyGames and Arc System Works have announced that fifth DLC character Zooey will be made available for purchase in Granblue Fantasy: Versus on April 28. The ethereal dragon mom joins previous roster additions Narmaya, Beelzebub, Soriz, and Djeeta.

Accompanied by her dragon deities, Dyrn and Lyrn, Zooey arrives in the GF: V universe with plans to bring order to the chaos caused by The S??ingularites - namely Gran, Djeeta, and Beelzebub. With her dragon pals, lightning magic abilities, and expert swordplay,?? this petite but overwhelmingly powerful fighter should not be taken lightly by anybody.

Zooey will be made available to purchase on April 7. In keeping with all GF:V DLC fighters, Zooey arrives as part of the game's Charact??er Pass, or can be picked up as a stand-alone purchase.

It raises eyebrows to see Granblue Fantasy: Versus drop four paid DLC characters within its first month of release, but it seems that ArcSys is not done yet, as the above trailer's climax reveals a second character pass, which will add Be?lial and five further characters this fall.

On the free side of affairs, more chapters are being added gratis to the GF:V RPG mode, with Episodes 41-45 scheduled to release this summer, and Episodes 46-50 landing in early 2021. Finally, the Granblue Fantasy: Versus soundtrack wi?ll be made available to purchase June 17.

Granblue Fantasy: Versus is available now on PS4 and PC.

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Beautiful Beatdowns

The latest update is now live for the PS4 edition of lovely looking fighter Granblue Fantasy: Versus. Version 1.21 brings a new run of balance tweaks and bug fixes, and also adds new DLC characters to the store. The Version 1.21 update ?will go live on PC April 13.

The official patch notes (as translated by EventHubs) only feature a small and immediately problematic series of changes, as Version 1.21 is merely a prelude to a more substantial patch expected later this month, which is expected to tweak GF:V on a more fundamenta??l level, improving projectil?e hitboxes, and plus-frames on close normals across the cast. For now, however, tweaks have been made to Charlotta, Zeta, and Vaseraga, among others.

Old boy martial arts master Soriz and Granblue Fantasy protagonist Djeeta are the latest DLC characters to join the roster, following Beelzebub and Narmaya. Both characters are now available to purchase individually, or arrive as part of the Granblue Fantasy: Versus character pass. They will be followed by dragon master Zooey at a later date.

Granblue Fantasy: Versus is available now on PS4 and PC.

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Another seven days in the dojo

Tomorrow sees the scheduled release of two new roster additions for gorgeous-looking fighter Granblue Fantasy: Versus, but it appears PC players will have to wait a little longer to get their mitts on the divine Djeeta and martial arts master, Soriz.

Publisher XSEED has announced at the final hour that both characters will be delayed until April 13 on the PC platform, with GF:V director Tetsuya Fukuhara citing development issues as the cause for the postponement. Both Djeeta and Soriz are still expected to launch on PS4 tomorrow, April 7, where they can be purchased individually or will arrive as part of the GF:V character pass.

Granblue Fantasy: Versus is available now on PS4 and PC.

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I need a hero

It appears that Granblue Fantasy: Versus DLC character Djeeta will be making her way to the roster very soon, according to a recently leaked trailer from Arc System Works, which you can check out right here.

Djeeta is essentially the female player avatar in the original Granblue Fantasy title - her male counterpart being Gran, who is already on the roster. Although they are essentially character swaps in their origin games, Granblue Fantasy: Versus will? see Djeeta have an entirely different moveset to Gran, making her "a capabl??e captain in her own right."

Djeeta will be made available to purchase on April 7, alongside martial arts expert Soriz. This pairing will be followed by dragon gal Zooey at a later date. As with all GF:V DLC characters, Djeeta can be purchased separately or arrives as part of the game's Character Pass. There has been concern from some players at the notion of at least four paid DLC characters within a mere month of GF:V's release, (two on launch da??y, in? fact). Regardless, I wouldn't be surprised if we see even more announced in future.

Granblue Fantasy: Versus is available now on PS4 and PC.

??Granblue Fantasy: Versus DLC character Djeeta launches April 7 [Gematsu / Ruliweb]

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Let yer ol' dad handle this one

Arc System Works and CyGames have revealed the launch date for Soriz, the next DLC fighter headed to the attractive Granblue Fantasy: Versus. The expert martial artist will be ready t?o step into the ring on A??pril 7.

A mature gentleman who once ran a successful weapon store, Soriz soon realised that with discipline and training he could hone his own body into becoming the ultimate weapon. With that mantra in mind, Soriz set about tuning his body to perfection and making his hand-to-hand abilities second-to-none. While that all sounds very noble, the official blurb does also state? that he is capable of bein?g "a mere dirty old man." Okay...

Soriz launches on April 7 worldwide, and can be purchased individually or as part of the Granblue Fantasy: Versus Character Pass Set, which also includes Beelzebub, Narmaya, Zooey, a?nd Djee??ta, the latter two of whom will arrive at a later date.

Granblue Fantasy: Versus is available now on PS4 and PC.

Granbl??ue Fantasy: Versus D?LC character Soriz launches April 7 [Gematsu]

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Go Gran go

Growing up wit?h Arc System Works, it's been a treat to see them evolve to the point where they basically run EVO alongside of giants like Capcom and Nintendo.

With humble beginnings as a brawler and platformer developer, Arc crashed onto the fighter scene with Guilty Gear in 1998 and never looked back. As one of the first fighters I started to truly pore over, I can attest to its impact, and the studio has gone on to create more industry titans like BlazBlue and co-developed Under Night In-Birth.

Now we can add another game to that plucky pantheon: Granblue Fantasy: Versus. Although, it lives a floor below them.

Granblue Fantasy: Versus (PS4)
Developer: Arc System Works
Publisher: Cygames, Sega, Xseed Games, Marvelous
Released: March 3, 2020
MSRP: $59.99

For those of you who aren't aware, Granblue Fantasy is a huge new franchise that sprung up in 2014, involving big-time JRPG talent and helmed by Cygames. Granblue made a lot of money with its gacha monetization system, so naturally it became a cross-media franchise with an anime, a full-on console RPG, and now, a fighter. Versus, in collaboration with Arc System Works, is the latter arm of th?at giant marketing wing.

The first thing that stood out to me with Granblue Fantasy: Versus — it's just a pretty game. It looks pretty, it sounds pretty, it's all-encompassing in that way. Characters interact with one another ("prepare yourself, Lancelot!"), or gasp when they whiff an attack like they were in an anime. Versus' animations and sound effects are crisp, perhaps best shown through Ferry's quick whip cracks. The anime base and Arc System Works' signature style come together wonderfully. To go hand-in-hand with this welcoming aesthetic, Versus is also one of the easiest f??ighters to learn that I've come acr?oss in some time.

The face buttons correspond to four attacks (light, medium, heavy, unique), while R1 serves as your go-to skill/ability trigger, block/dodge is R2, throw is L1, and L2 enables overhead attacks. That's it. There are barely any required command inputs unless you really want to use them: mostly just simple directions and fireball motions (quarter-circle-forward) to use supers (Skybound Arts). Once you start to get proficient, you'l??l want to use the direct commands as they have lowered cooldowns (timers before you can use them again), but even then thos?e commands mostly stick to the basics.

Training is also very encouraging. Attacks like projectile?s and charges are clearly marked with specific icons, with videos for each ability, so you know what they are before you even practice them. This is always available in the pause menu under player command lists, but you can also free train or train with specific missions in mind to really hone in on? a character and their combo potential. Right now online play seems stable, and we'll update you if that changes.

As far as content?? goes, there's the aforementioned two training modules, versus, an?d arcade play, and the very unique-sounding "RPG Mode." The latter is actually a full campaign (as in, roughly 10 hours long) with a light story through the lens of a brawler motif. It also serves as a low-key training sequence of its own: at least initially. So, there's two problems with the mindless RPG Mode.

Most importantly: there's little to no context or emotional resonance. Even at the start, you're tasked with dispatching pesky Imperial forces as Gran with absolutely no setup or sweeping voice-over to explain the world (watch the anime if you want to immerse yourself). You can slowly piece everything together as you watch the fully-voiced cutscenes, but there's a missed opportunity to onboard folks as well as Arc System Wo??rks did with the mechanical tutorial framework.?? Given how emotive the characters are in-game, that feels like a disservice.

Another issue lies with the AI: it's dumb. The idea of going through?? multiple beat-'em-up stages with very impactful character team-ups and damage numbers in all their glory is enticing as hell, but there isn't much follow-through. The missions themselves are simplistic without any option to enhance their difficulty, and atte?mpts at depth like the equipment system (which provides mainly nominal gains) don't cut it. Constantly re-using level environments, even within the same quests, also isn't a good look.

Thank goodness then, that the core fighting game system of this fighter is a firm foundation, and arcade/versus will keep me busy for the foreseeable future. That, in part, is due to its strong roster. Gran is sort of your Ryu [Shotokan] of Versus. He has access to a projectile?, anti-air, and a gap closer. As you delve into the roster you'll start to notice more technical characters like Percival, who can enable combos using his unique black hole setup throw and bank charges to power up attacks. Even the archetypes are a little remixed.

Vaseraga is your token edgy scythe wielder, but this hulking monstrosity has a few tricks up his sleeve, like a special stance that looks menacing while providing useful cancellation options. Ladiva, "The Herald of Love," is your slow grappler, and Lowain is the swift rogue Chipp Zanuff analog with shades of Axl Low (both in terms of attitude and parry counters). The latter also has an ability where he and his crew f??orm a human pyramid that shuffles around and can't block, using moves like "It's Lit, Bros." He can also summon a God-like avatar for a limited time. It's a varied roster, to say the least!

Right now there are 11 characters. Now I've always been of the school of thought that quality beats quantity. Nearly every roster member (a few ??are too clunky for my liking and/or lack great combo potential) shines enough to the point where I feel like it would be months before I master all 11. You might feel differently, in which case you'll need to go with your gut. Of cours??e, since this is an Arc System Works game — and a joint venture with a very microtransaction-heavy franchise — there's tons of premium DLC in the pipeline.

Beezlebub is arriving on launch day as a paid add-on character (and as a free RPG mode unlock), as well as multiple character passes and numerous "color packs" (included in premium editions, but also known as the kind of stuff you earned for free in old fighters). With SNK just recently giving away its first season pass for Samurai Shodown for ?free for early adopters, this stale? method of doling out DLC for fighting games is even more of a relic; and thus, more of a case to wait for the "complete edition."

Granblue Fantasy: Versus might not fulfill your dreams of providing a deep RPG and fighter in one, but given that the bulk of the ?game is focused on what Arc knows best, it's easier to overlook that sin. Hardcore players might scoff at the lower ceiling compared to other fighters, but there's a lot of potential here, and the meta will only continue to evolve.

_{[This review is based on a retail b?uild of the game provided by the publisher.]}

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Quit dragon it out

CyGames and Arc System Works have officially revealed the fifth DLC character headed to lush fighting game Granblue Fantasy: Versus, and of no surprise to anybody it is indeed the guardian of the skies, Zooey, as inadvertently revealed late last week.

As you can see in the hard-rockin' video below, Zooey certainly seems to be momentarily casting aside her kind and sympathetic nature, proudly stepping into battle armed with a resplendent sword and shield combo, whilst accompanied by some spirited wyvern pals. In fact, it was noted by Gematsu that Zooey w??ill have an exclusive "Wyvern Gauge", so no doubt her winged friends will serve her well in combat.

As demonstrated by the new trailer, Zooey is the final character in the GF:V character pass and is expected to arrive late April. Zooey will follow on from Beelzebub and Narmaya - both ava?ilable in game right now - and Soriz and Djeeta, who are coming at a later date. The next trailer will drop on March 24, though I expect Zooey will have to take a backseat while the spotlight shines on other approaching DLC characters.

Granblue Fantasy: Versus is available now on PS4 in Japan and North America. It will also launch on PC ??March 13 and on PS4 in Europe March 27.

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Yo, you wanna play some footsies?

Granblue Fantasy: Versus is finally out, and if you've read our review, you should have a solid idea of how it works compared to other fighting games. Granblue Fantasy: Versus, I think, succeeds in making every character feel distinct in their playstyle and preferred strategy. You'll just need to take some time testing each of th??em in the training mode to really figure out which fighter is right f?or you.

If you pick based on aesthetics alone, then it may be easier to pick the seductive Metera or the edgelord Vaseraga. But if you want to figure out who best fits you in terms of playstyle like keepaway, rushdown, or mixup,? then here is a general overview of every initial character from launch, from someone who has bee?n at the game since it first debuted overseas.

I’ll go over each character from the launch roster, in a simplified explanation of how they play, and important moves they’ll be rely??ing on. Damage is high, so matches can end quickly if you guess wrong a few times in a row. Plus, there’s not a lot of distance to the corner, so a good chunk of a match is going to be spent either doling out or suffering through some especially powerful corner combos.

Gran, as the main hero, is an all-around fighter with incredibly potent stagger pressure. Depending on the matchup?, he can make it very difficult for his opponent to do anything other than block. Because of all of his tools, he’s a very good all-rounder, using his fast fireball to control space when he wants or just rush in with his advancing attack, Overdrive Surge, before pressing a lot of buttons that are plus on block.

• Gran literally has a tool for every occasion: Reginleiv is a fireball for zoning, Overdrive Surge gets you in and is safe on block when spaced right, and Rising Sword is an invincible reversal to get out of jail free.
• Close M and crouch L are notoriously plus on block and fast to start, letting Gran pressure opponents into making mistakes if they panic to break out.
• His Skybound and Super Skybound Arts are invincible on startup, giving you high damage punishes if you predict your opponent is going to do something dumb.

Katalina, the big sister figure to Gran and Lyria, has largely the same strengths as Gran: projectile zoning, an advancing attack, and a reversal. The difference is Katalina’s sword gives her longer? reach for more effective pokes, but her advancing attack isn’t as ??safe compared to Gran’s. Otherwise, Katalina is also an all-rounder like him, with some slight trades that make her more suited to frustrating opponents with long-range pokes before capitalizing on mistakes.

• Katalina has a tool to handle anything that comes her way. Frozen Blade for zoning, Enchanted Lands to close space, and Emerald Sword as an invincible reversal.
• Katalina’s stand out buttons are close M and far M. Far M is a long-reaching poke to keep your opponent in check and close M links into itself, making it a great hit confirm for a combo or a strong pressure tool on block.

Lancelot i??s a fast rushdown character who relies on confusing mixups to bewilder opponents before opening them up. While his left/right mixups can be negated by holding the block button rather than holding back, his high/low game is still an effective way to confuse people while they block his slow-moving setup projectile. Once Lancelot scores a knockdown, he can suck his opponents down into a deadly vortex. His fast run, effective command dash, and multitude of air options making getting in on unprepared opponents a snap.

• Wogenstrom is a slow-moving but fast-recovering fireball that Lancelot can run behind to brute force the neutral into his favor. It’s not great in a fireball war but use it after knockdown to get his oki going and really start putting the pressure on as they’re forced to block it.
• Lancelot’s unique action is a command dash called Wirberlwind. When used in the air, Lancelot quickly hits the ground, letting him immediately go into his fast low-hitting crouch L, forcing a passive opponent to guess if he’ll jump for an overhead or hit the ground for a low.
• The first two hits of his rekkas, Southern Cross, are safe on block and create frame traps if you space the timing of the follow-ups. Combined with close M, crouching L, and his footspeed, Lancelot can keep his opponent blocking for a while.

Percival, Lancelot’s fellow dragon knight, uses the long reach of his sword Flamberge to keep his opponents blocking until he can open them up. Percival’s sword provides an immense range that lets him whiff punish his opponent’s bad deci??sions. He is also a resource character, stocking flame orbs from Trauemerei to reap increased strengths on his special attacks to really lay on the damage whether they block or hit. Since he is a resource character, Percival will be making micro-decisions on knockdown whether to ready his oki or charge Trauemerei stocks. But with his far M and H to use as spacing, you can potentially scare your opponent into giving you the breathing room you want to charge orbs.

• Far medium is an incredible poke, both reaching far and moving Percival forward slightly. Cancel it into Anzuenden, which is basically Sol Badguy’s Gunflame, to really force your opponent to block or act.
• Lord’s Charge is the cornerstone of Percival’s pressure and mixup. As a fast-moving command dash, he can hit low, perform a wide swing that keeps his turn on block, or do nothing and throw instead, with all these actions being enhanced with Trauemerei orbs. The heavy follow-up, Zerreisen, also does obscene damage, especially with orbs stocked on a clean hit. Learning his combos to punish mistakes into Zerreisen can really tip the match into his favor.
• Percival’s rising attack, Platzen, is very useful. Not only is it a reversal, but the medium and heavy versions start with a shoulder charge, making it easier to use in combos that end in a knockdown. Of course, it also benefits with increased damage with orbs stocked up.

Charlotta, also known as the pipsqueak reincarnation of E. Honda, is a difficult-to-contain and difficult-to-punish rushdown character whose constant barrage of safe attacks and mixups let her crush the opposition under her small, adorable heel. Her small stature is a double-edged sword, making her a smaller target to hit but with shorter range on her normals. While she has no way to deal with fireballs effectively, once she pushes someone into the corner, Charlotta’s damage skyrockets thanks to her corner combos and her demon flip mixu??p. It’s important to note that, thanks to easy inputs, Charlotta’s charge input special moves are always on tap with the touch of the easy input button.

• Sword of Lumiel is Charlotta’s way of keeping her turn. Anyone who blocks this is forced to respect her or get their counterattack stuffed. Combined with close M, which advances Charlotta forward, and she can be annoying to push out once she gets in.
• Shining Onslaught has a fast recovery on whiff. Not only is it difficult to punish on block, but spacing it so it whiffs right in front of the opponent can let Charlotta sneak in a surprise low with her crouching L.
• Noble Strategy provides Charlotta with Akuma’s Demon Flip mixups, including a dive that lets her start her offense and a grab that leads to damaging combos in the corner.
• Unlike most reversals, Charlotta’s Holy Ladder is difficult to punish on block depending on the matchup, ranging from unrewarding to impossible. There’s almost no reason to risk the longer cooldown on the EX version unless you absolutely want the extra damage, otherwise, the lesser versions have just as much invincibility with the same relative safeness on block.

Lowain might look like a joke character but he has several ways of throwing a ton of crap on the screen to control neutral, with Brofam and Lady Katerpillar, before becoming a setup character who thrives on people who decide to block rather than risk a trade. Asides from being a setup character, he??’s also somewhat of a comeback character who turns dangerous when backed into a corner. His Super Skybound Art is capable of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat, as even a knowledgeable opponent who knows how to avoid chip damage still has to deal with the Lowain player changing up his attacks to throw them off. Since there’s no way of stopping Lowain from using his SSA to call mom when in a pinch, you should never count him out.

• Crouch M and crouch U not only lets Lowain poke, but it also lets him low profile most attacks. True to Lowain’s smooth personality, these two attacks let Lowain slip through higher attacks and smack his opponent. Both moves are also special cancelable, with Awesome Sauce being his go-to move.
• Both Sammy & Tommy, as well as Magnificent Tool of Destruction, are Lowain’s main setup moves that let him approach or create oki. While they can be negated with just about any attack, Lowain is free to act how he wants while these moves play out. He can even create true unblockables by calling Elsam out to hit with his low hitting slide while Lowain prepares either a jump in or his overhead.
• While Human Pyramid Attack is certainly usable, any Lowain player worth their salt will wait until they can call mom with his SSA, Try This On For Size! There’s no stopping this move from coming out, so Lowain can use this when he’s in a bad spot to immediately get out of jail free. All of Yggdrasil’s moves can be spot dodged but do a ton of chip damage if the opponent isn’t confident in timing it correctly, so the real challenge is tricking your opponent into messing up their timing with different moves. The most effective strategy tends to involve trying to trick the opponent into blocking either the green projectile or the lightning strike so that the unblockable lava is guaranteed. In most cases, even the most basic patterns tend to push an opponent to the opposite end of the screen, letting Lowain reappear onscreen safely. Skilled opponents can figure out a way to sprint up before Yggy disappears and be in a position to punish Lowain.

Ladiva is the grappler of the game, and the character I personally main. She differs from other grapplers in the genre in t?hat her game plan doesn’t 100% revolve around landing her command grab but rather putting her opponent in 50/50 mixups to either block her attacks or jump to avoid a buffered command grab. She can’t play like Zangief because the range on her command gr??ab isn’t extreme and Ladiva’s neutral strategy almost non-existent. Despite that though, since it’s relatively simple to carry someone to the corner, Ladiva is capable of doing 50% easily with her corner loops. Ladiva’s matchups are tough, but you’ll definitely like the damage she puts out as a grappler if like you like grabbing people out of crouch block and making them sweat on her grab mixups. Just be wary of how she absolutely devours cooldowns since her EX moves make her especially powerful but she’ll sometimes be missing her special moves at critical moments.

• Far and away Ladiva’s most important move is the Jewel Resort Screwdriver. Since the light and EX versions come out as fast as her fastest lights, moves that give her frame advantage on block make her very scary to deal with. The main plan with her Screwdriver is buffer the 360 input or easy input it as late as possible during her blockstrings so that it actually works since grabs don’t work in hitstun. After conditioning people to fear it, she can substitute with other attacks that will hit opponents during the startup of their jump animation. The medium version is three frames slower but has great reach for that surprise factor,. Just be wary of people mashing lights to stop it. Since it’s slower though, it easier to time it outside of blockstun.
• Love’s Headbutt is extremely important in setting people up for Ladiva’s 50/50 guessing game. The frame advantage given from the medium and EX versions allow Ladiva to continue her pressure, but her EX version is special in how many uses it has. It provides frame advantage on block, extends combos on hit, and can be repeated two more times for just damage and hard knockdown. So depending on what you need, you can either go for guaranteed damage or put them through a 50/50 and gamble for more damage.
• Elegant Lariat is key in Ladiva’s corner carry and corner loops but despite it sending Ladiva careening forward, it’s generally not a great tool for closing space in neutral. It also whiffs on crouching characters, which makes it absolutely maddening to hit confirm correctly. Still, this move guard crushes on stand block, meaning Ladiva can once again prepare her grab mixup as they recover.
• Since every matchup will be looking to zone you, you’ll be using far M a lot to counter poke and maybe even fish for counter hits. Far H is a high risk/high reward move with more active frames but it tends to whiff on crouchers. Crouching M is Ladiva’s only reliable low outside of sweep but it functions like Ryu’s crouch M, being a reliable, long-range low that you can special cancel.
• Ladiva’s Skybound Art is of special mention as Maximum Love Bomb is a unique trump card she can use to immediately punish a fireball. Not only is it invincible, but it is also invincible the entire time as Ladiva quickly crosses half a screen’s length to deliver a punishing blow. It does not go fullscreen though, so you’ll have to hover around mid-screen before using it. Still, it’s fully invincible on startup, so you can easily react to a fireball and pass through completely while delivering this punish.

Welcome to Metera, the exact opposite of Ladiva, being a keepaway zoner. Nearly everything revolves around frustrating her opponent with a variety of p?rojectiles at mid-screen before committing to offense established either from set-play with Aetherial Seal or fast overheads with her Zephyr hop. To counterbalance this, Metera has mediocre frame data and n??o reversal to contest people who get close. However, Metera’s Zephyr gives her great, if not predictable options in the air to escape the corner. If you want a character who zones like Sagat but still has damaging combos in the corner, Metera’s your girl.

• Metera’s far H is actually a mid hitting projectile which can be canceled into either high or low Starry Sky. She prefers mid-screen zoning to fullscreen because the opponent has time to use the crossover move to pass between far H and Starry Sky. If the opponent is between mid-screen to close, far M is her safest poke. If they get any closer than that though, Metera is better off blocking.
• Metera also has access to three different lows, far L, crouch L, and crouch U, which is also a sliding sweep not unlike a certain dictator’s slide from Street Fighter V. Since Metera also has bad movement speed, crouch U is not only used to knock people down but also push them into the corner where they’re bound to have a bad time.
• Crouch H is an anti-air shot that can be fired as a low angle for pre-emptive jumps or a steep angle for people jumping right on Metera. Metera lacks any good defensive options if an opponent is right on top of her head, so being ready on the draw with this early is important for Metera to capitalize off anti-air shots.
• Since Starry Sky can be ducked or jumped over like Sagat’s fireball game, Metera has two other tools to establish dominance during neutral. The Great Fall creates a shower of arrows at certain points away from Metera that can stop advances and is also an air unblockable hit on the way up. Aetherial Seal is a butterfly that does nothing by itself but explodes when it comes into contact with any of Metera’s arrows. Both of these moves are especially useful on oki since most of Metera’s other moves aren’t all that great at challenging other attacks.

Of the two hardcore zoning characters, Ferry is stronger than Metera in terms of pure keepaway. Her main tools to challenge neutral have huge, active, difficult to avoid hitboxes. I?t’s not a stretch to say that s??he can tilt players by just pressing H and keeping people out with a face full of whip.

But her game plan isn’t the same as Metera’s because Ferry is a setplay character. Ferry’s plan revolves around hitting her opponent with her pet, Geegee, which hits multiple times and sets them up for Ferry’s mixup game on block. She mainly achieves this by hitting them with Gespenst then using Heel to drag them in and knock them down so that Geegee can park on top of them to start the mixup. Ferry’s keepaway also benefits Granblue Fantasy Versus’ unique cooldown mechanics, as she can keep her opponent in check with her long-range buttons while her moves go into cooldown until you’re ready to use her setplay again. If you’re a fan of zoning and setups like Menat from Street Fighter V, you should try Ferry.

• Far M, far H, and crouch M are all of Ferry’s long-range moves, perfect for keep people out and conditioning them to block at a distance. Gespenst can’t combo from most of these moves unless it’s the EX version, but staggering this move after Ferry’s big buttons keep people on their toes unless they want to lose health for not paying attention.
• Ferry’s main trap is called Geegee, Get’em! And any player will quickly learn to hate this little guy if they’re at the receiving end of this move. Like any good setplay tool, Geegee turns into a multi-hitting hitbox, being easy to block in most situations but creating a lockdown that holds people down while Ferry goes for a high/low mixup. It’s important to time Geegee’s arrival exactly as hitting Ferry in any way causes Geegee to disappear.
• Most keepaway characters would kill to have a reversal like Ferry does in the form of Beppo, Sic’em! Only the EX move is invincible on frame 1, which makes this one of the riskier defensive options in the game since a blocked attack means you won’t have access to this move against for quite some time. As if frame 1 invincibility isn’t enough, it also inflicts a hard knockdown, letting Ferry throw out Geegee as an added bonus.

Zeta can do a variety of things thanks to the versatility provided by her spear. She has a beam that will pierce through?? fireballs, a rush attack that can be repeated in any direction including backwards, and generally good range on her normals thanks to using a polearm as a weapon. All these tools together allow Zeta to engage her opponent freely however she wants and never have to meet them on their terms. If she is forced to deal with an opponent on defense, her options are poor, having no reversal and having to depend on an armored guard point instead. Zeta is a good choice if you want to play rushdown but be flexible outside of it to dicta??te the match the way you want it to go.

• Zeta’s projectile, Infinite Wonders, is unique in that it is a true beam, so it’ll absolutely crush any other projectile in the game short of another Infinite Wonders in a mirror match. This is the main reason why a rushdown character like Zeta doesn’t fear a zoning strategy as much as most other characters.
• Spear of Arvess is Zeta’s bread and butter move, used as both a combo ender and occasionally as a cheeky poke, so long as you lunge backward after hitting. Angling the follow-ups, especially with the extra follow up on the EX version, allow for more combo potential and safe jump opportunities.
• Knee Assault is the heavy follow up from Zeta’s guard point stance, Rhapsody. This move catapults her forwards while allowing her to continue to attack from the air, adding to her pressure. This move is one of the reasons Zeta’s rushdown can sustain for a long time, though gutsy opponents can reversal out in the small gap in pressure.
• True to being a spear user, Zeta’s far M is a good old fashion thrust that can keep opponents in check. Her crouching M is largely the same but faster. Taken together with far H alongside Infinite Wonders and Zeta can keep people at arm’s length until Zeta is ready to commit to some serious offense.

Vaseraga, the big edgelord with a heart of gold, easily appeals to the player who has a preference for big, bulky, powerhouse who can dish out as much damage as they’ll probably take due to the sheer size of their hitbox. Vaseraga’s main tool is his unique move, Soul Forge, which grants armor to several of his key attacks. In simplified terms, ?what Vaseraga hopes to do is bully the opponent with his armored moves until they get so scared of pressing buttons against him that they leave themselves open to his command throw. Vaseraga will oftentimes find himself in a catch-22 whenever he scores a knockdown: Vaseraga wants to press the offensive whenever he has the chance but he also needs space to use Soul Forge safely without fear of a punish. If you want to play the biggest character in the game with access to some of the highest damage per hit, Vaseraga (who in English is voiced by SungWon Cho) is your man.

• Far H is similar to Zangief’s fierce punch in Street Fighter V, being a monstrously powerful button to push with a very high commitment to recovery if you whiff it. Crouch H is one of the best anti-airs in the game, being key to some of his highest damage juggles and more than capable of plucking people out of the air from far away. Playing against a Vaseraga that knows what this button is capable of means limiting the time you spend jumping against him.
• Vaseraga’s projectile, Instinction, is invaluable for a character as large and as slow as him. While it doesn’t go fullscreen, it allows Vaseraga to challenge people from farther away without extending his hurtbox, and using it at the end of blockstrings is safe. It, of course, has the double-edged effect of knocking people away to fullscreen, where Vaseraga can’t do anything but chase them down.
• Battalions of Fear is one of Vaseraga’s most valuable moves in neutral, allowing him to force his way into his opponent’s face under the protection of armor if used after a Soul Forge. Like any advancing move, it’s unsafe when used up close, but Vaseraga will usually be using this attack from max range anyways in an attempt to get in on unwilling opponents.
• Savage Rampage is Vaseraga’s special walking stance, each follow up having important properties to take advantage of especially since the stance has armor after Soul Forge. Light attack is a high swing that knocks people out of the air, medium is a nasty low sweep, heavy is plus on block and ground bounces on hit, setting up for extended combos, and the unique button is a mid attack that has its own separate instance of armor for when you think the opponent is going to attempt to challenge you with a fast attack.

That covers the launch cast of Granblue Fantasy: Versus. Two new characters are already on the slate for March 3 with more to follow, so more matchup knowledge will be needed even then. Hopefully, ??this guide can help you choose who f??its you based on your preferred playstyle and even if you pick based on aesthetics, this will hopefully educate you on how your cool new character choice plays in a nutshell.

The post A fighter’s guide for Granblue Fantasy: Versus appeared first on Destructoid.

The truth is in the colours

Publisher Cygames has prematurely leaked the identity of the fifth DLC character headed to its delightful 2D fighter Granblue Fantasy: Versus. Joining the previously revealed quartet of Beelzebub, ??Narmaya, Soriz and Djeeta is The Arbiter of the Skies, Zooey.

In the Granblue Fantasy series, Zooey is depicted as a kind-hearted, overly-empathetic girl, charged with keeping balance in the skies of the universe. Despite her diminutive stature and gentle nature, Zooey is more than adept in battle with her sword and shield. Zooey's inclusion was leaked via the Asian PlayStation Store, which included the gal's name as part of a Color Pack purchase featuring only the Granblue Fantasy: Versus DLC characters. Zooey ??ha?s since been removed from the page.

Granblue Fantasy: Versus launches in North America today, bringing with it the first two DLC characters, Beelzebub and Narmaya (though the former can be unlocked for free by completing the game's Story Mode). You can check out Chris Carter's review right here.

Granblue Fantasy: Versus is available on PS4 now in Japan and North America. It will launch in Europe on March 23, and on PC via Steam March 13.

Gran?blue ??Fantasy: Versus DLC character Zooey reveal leaked [Gematsu]

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Slice 'n' Nice

Arc System Works' stunning fighter Granblue Fantasy: Versus has announced the coming of its ?second DLC charac??ter, the friendly-but-fearsome swordswoman Narmaya, who will be made available to purchase worldwide on March 3 - incidentally launch day for the game's North American release.

Narmaya's charming presence and diminutive stature belie her incredible skills in battle. As part of a family whose goal is the mastery of every fighting style known to man or woman, Narmaya's sword technique is above reproach, allowing her to deal huge damage at close range, or fend off her assailants with stylish ranged jabs. Despite her frightenin?gly effective abilities, Narmay??a is a delight to know, with a personality bursting with warmth and friendliness - almost to a fault.

Narmaya will be made available to purchase on March 3, alongside the devilish Chaos Bringer, Beelzebub. Both characters can be purchased separately or are included as part of the Granblue Fantasy: Versus Character Pass. As a reminder, Beelzebub can also be unlocked in game for free ??by completing the Story Mode.

Granblue Fantasy: Versus launches on PS4 in North America March 3, in Europe on March 27, and on PC worldwide March 13.

The post Narmaya ??will cut loose in Granblue Fantasy: Versus March 3 appeared first on Destructoid.

Anime Apocalypse

Anime game lovin' publisher XS??EED will be s??howing off its wares at PAX East in Boston this weekend, giving attendees the chance to check out some of the gorgeous-looking new releases.

Rune Factory 4 Special is the Nintendo Switch remake of 2012 3DS title, and features all of the farming, crop-growing, animal-rearing and marital strife of the original. New features in dual audio support for English and Japanese language, an all-new "Newlywed" mode, and a higher difficulty option for anime farming pros. The western localisation of Rune Factory 4 Special?? is available right now, having launched just ??this week.

Also at PAX is RPG Ys: Memories of Celceta. This 2012 PS Vita remake tells the story of a young man, Adol Christin, who is tasked with mapping the dangerous and mystical Forests of Celceta. Obviously, this job leads to dramatic adventures, friendly and not-so-friendly encounters, and a helluva lot of fighting. Ys: Memories of Celcta will launch on PS4 sometime in 2020.

Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin is a cute-looking adventure title that blends farming simulation with platforming action. Players take on the role of the titular Sakuna, a troubled harvest goddess who must help the inhabitants of Hinoe Island fend off armies of demons while simultaneously facilitating the growth of a struggling rice crop. Destructoid's CJ Andriessen checked the game out at E3 last summer, and you can find his thoughts right here.

Finally, XSEED will also be demoing its awesome fighting title Granblue Fantasy: Versus. Already available in Japan, (where it had a very impressive debut), this one-on-one fighter has turned heads due to its charismatic cast of characters and absolutely stunning art design. Granblue Fantasy: Versus launches in North America on March 3 and in Europe on March 27.

PAX East takes place at the Boston Convention Center between February 27 and? March 1.

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You come from outta nowhere

In a surprise announcement made on the Granblue Fantasy Japanese Twitter account, it has been revealed that Arc System Works' gorgeous fighting title Granblue Fantasy: Versus is officiall?y coming to PC worldwide - via Steam - and as soon as March 13.

This is quite the surprise, as not only had there been little-to-no murmurings of an incoming PC port, but the noted release date means that Granblue Fantasy: Versus will be launching on PC before it has even hit PS4 in Europe and Australia (though it will be available in North America by the?n).

Two caveats that should be noted, however. Firstly, it appears there is no cross-play or cross-save support incoming. So hopefully a healthy PC community will be able to establish itself in double-quick time, lest this become yet a?nother PC anime fighter that dies out in a matter of months.

Secondly, the PC edition will not include the exclusive codes that allow you to unlock extra content in the Granblue Fantasy mobile game. These codes will only be available to customers who pick up the PS4 release. This news has already disappointed a number of fans in the comments of the original tweet.

Granblue Fantasy: Versus launches on PS4 in North America March 3, in Europe?? and Australia on March 27, and on PC worldwide March 13?.

Granblue Fantasy Versus PC version releasing March 1??3th [EventHubs]

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— グランブルーファンタジー ヴァーサス (@gbvs_official) February 27, 2020

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Physical set cancelled due to time constraints

Marvelous Europe finally has a release date for the European and Australian editions of Granblue Fantasy: Versus. The gorgeous looking 2D fighter will be hitting the continents on March 27, just a couple of weeks a?fter its March 3 North American street date.

Unfortunately, in a statement on its official website, the publisher also announced that plans have been cancelled for the physical Premium Edition, previously expected to?? be a Marvelous Europe Online Store? within Europe. Marvelous puts the cancellation down to "ongoing time constraints and production issues."

"We know that a lot of Granblue Fantasy fans are eager for this physical Premium Edition and, as fans ourselves, it is with deep regret that we will not be able to produce this edition for Europe," reads the statement. "We would like to apologize to those affected and we thank you for your continued support with Granblue Fantasy: Versus."

European fans will still be able to pick up GF:V in standard physical or digital editions, or in a "Digital Deluxe" format. This bundle includes ??several in-game items such as a??vatars, themes, character colours, a digital artbook, digital soundtrack and a pass for five incoming DLC characters.

Granblue Fantasy: Versus launched in Japan at the start of February to huge success, thanks in small part to eager western players who chose to purchase a copy of the fighter through import merchants or on the JPN PSN store. Granblue Fantasy: Versus launch?es officially in North Ameri??ca on March 3, before following in Europe and Australia on March 27.

Granblue Fantasy: Ver?sus to launch this March within Europe and Australia [Official]

The post Granblue Fantasy: Versus wil?l launch in Europe March 27, but ?without Premium Edition appeared first on Destructoid.

The Chaos Bringer cometh

Granblue Fantasy: Versus might not be out on these shores just yet, but Arc System Works is all ready to drop the beautiful fighter's first DLC character. The Chaos Bringer himself, Beelzebub, will be made available to purchase worldwide on March 3, which also happens to be GF:V's North American launch date.

Having spent thousands of years sealed away in Pandemonium for his ?invasive acts, Beelzebub is awakened by the fallen angel, Belial. Returning to his chaotic ways, Beelzebub immediately continues to his endless quest to become? the one supreme being, supported by Avatar, the embodiment of destruction, and rocking some frankly fucking amazing hair.

Purchasing Beelzebub will unlock The Chaos Bringer himself, along with additional quests and in-game character icons and lobby avatars. However, it is important to note that Beelzebub can also be unlocked free-of-charge by simply co??mpleting the game's RPG mode, so you're probably best going down that rou??te.

Granblue Fantasy: Versus launches in North America on PS4 Ma??rch 3. Although the game is also coming to Europe in Q1 of 2020, no specific date has been announced.

Granblue Fantasy: Versus DLC character Beelzebub launches M?arch 3 [Gematsu]

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