She won the character poll

Dizzy won the character poll Arc System Works doled out last year for Guilty Gear Xrd, and announced that she was going to be added to the game at some point. The o?nly thing is, it's been months without any real word, so the developer decided to remind us this morning and essentially tell us "yep, she's still on the way."

As well as detailing newcomer Raven's playstyle, Arc also provided a silhouette of Dizzy, so you know it's legit. For those of you who aren't keeping track, the Revelator update is now slated to include Johnny, Jack-O, Jam, Dizzy, Kum Haehyun, and Raven.

Guilty??? Gear Xrd: Revelator details Raven, teases Dizzy [Gematsu]

The post Yes, Dizzy is still coming to Guilty Gear Xrd appeared first on Destructoid.

BlazBlue, UNIEL and more coming later

Update: In a series of tweets sent out by Arc System Works, it has been announced that all DLC for Guilty Gear Xrd -Sign- will be free for the first month, including the three ?DLC characters:

All DLC free for the 1st month. System voices, color palettes, Sin, Elphelt, Leo. #GGXrd //t.co/KmZyoPQmXq pic.twitter.com/0iP5HL0TDg

— ArcSystemWorks (@ArcSystemWorksU) December 8, 2015

It was also confirmed that the game will?? cost $29.99, with a 20??% launch week discount:

#GuiltyGear Xrd -SIGN- will be $29.99 with a 20% first week discount. #GGXrd #Steam //t.co/KmZyoPQmXq pic.twitter.com/41DqzWrh2T

— ArcSystemWorks (@ArcSystemWorksU) December 8, 2015

Following its inclusion on a leaked list of upcoming games, Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN- is finally making its way to Steam. With no pomp and circumstance, developer Arc System Works has used the game's Steam page to announce not only its existence,?? but als?o a release date: December 10. 

There’s currently no pre-purchase available, so we won’t know for sure how much Xrd costs until it launches. There are also three characters (Leo, Elphelt and Sin) that can either be bought as DLC or unlocked by grinding in-game currency, but right now we don’??t know how much the??y’ll cost either.

Those DLC characters were introduced on consoles with the 1.1 patch back in February, which is currently the most recent major patch the game has had. This means that the PC port will likely b?e on the same version number as its console counterparts. Considering Arc System Works doesn’t usually have the best track record of bringing the latest versions of their games to PC, this is a really good sign!

Xrd is the first of Arc System Works' new-found enthusiasm for the PC, as it's also announced through its official site that Melty Blood Actress Again Current Code, Under Night In-Birth Exe:Late, River City Super Sports Challenge ~All-Star Special~, and BlazBlue Chrono Phantasma Extend will al??l be hitting the platform by Summer 2016. That's a lot of anime fightin' action.

Good job, Arc System Works!

The post Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN- is coming to PC this week appeared first on Destructoid.

From H2 Interactive

A lot of fighting games have been coming to Steam this past year, including Guilty Gear XX. It seems as if publisher H2 Interactive isn't done with the series yet, as Guilty Gear Xrd has been listed on the Korean Game Rating database for PC??.

This is odd timing, as the follow-up, Revelator, was just confirmed for an international release this week. This listing is for Sign, which is the base game. We've reached ?out for comment, but H2 will likely be sharing the news at some point in the near future.

The post It looks like Guilty Gear Xrd Sign will b??e coming to PC appeared first on Destructoid.

Japan-only at the moment though

Still miffed that there weren't enough characters in Guilty Gear Xrd? Well, the Revelator update is getting Johnny and Jack-O, but it looks like more might be in the pipeli??ne. Arc System Works is o?pening up a vote in September for Japanese players, and it involves picking potential new characters.

Check out the full list below, but note that while it is pretty extensive (Fanny!), it doesn't include everything. My vote is for Kliff -- the first Guilty Gear character I ever pla??yed in the original game.

Guilty Gear Xrd [Arc System Works via Shoryuken]

Guilty Gear Xrd -Revelator vote list:

• A.B.A
• Izuna
• Valentine
• Kliff
• Zappa
• Justice
• Holy Order Sol
• Dizzy
• Testament
• Dr. Paradigm
• Baiken
• Fanny
• Bridget
• Anji Mito
• Raven
• Robo-Ky

The post Players c??an vote for the next potential Guilty Gear Xrd character appeared first on Destructoid.

Heaven or hell? Maybe we'll finally know

Right before the conclusion of the Arc Revolution Cup 2015, Arc System Works decided to drop a bomb on everyone watching the Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN- tournament.

The studio announced the follow-up to the current version of Xrd, Guilty Gear Xrd -REVELATOR-, will launch in Japanese arcades?? on August 25.

The fighting game will have balance changes as well as three new characters. These include franchise favorite Johnny, the previously-announced tower defense-based character Jack-O', and the newly-revealed Jam Juradoberi, a martial artist who first premiered in Guilty Gear X.

Nothing regarding a console port or western localization has be??en d?iscussed at this time.

The post G?uilty Gear Xrd -REVELATOR- debuts in August with playable Jam Kuradoberi appeared first on Destructoid.

Available for $7.99

Before I got worked up about a $7.99 DLC character in Guilt Gear Xrd, I thought about what was already on offer. The console version has a few extra exclusive characters in comparison to the arcade edition, and Elphelt is currently free DLC for a limited time.

Still, since my main concern with Xrd was the limited roster, charging $7.99 for a really cool and unique character seems wrong -- serious players will have to get him to remain competitive and practice every single new fr??ame.

Ultimat??ely, it's a good thing that it's a damn fine fighter, and worth spending the extr??a cash on.

Leo Whitfang [PS3, PS4 PSN]

The post Guilty Gear Xrd’s Leo Whitfang is out now as DLC appeared first on Destructoid.

Heaven or Hell, rock again

I've spent many late nights with Guilty Gear. Week-long tournaments, money-matches between friends; it was the perfect series to play around with, and one of my?? most competitive. But as time went on, the franchise started to get a little stale. We saw the same exact character models, the same movesets, and not much in terms of innovation.

Guilty Gear Xrd changes that significantly with a complete overhaul of the visual style on top of everything that made Guilty Gear so great in the first place.

Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN- (PS3, PS4 [reviewed])
Developer: Arc System Works Team Red
Publisher: Aksys Games
Released: December 16, 2014
MSRP: $49.99 (PS3), $59.99 (PS4)

Whether you're jumping in for the first time or you want to dust some of that rust off, Xrd has a comprehensive (and funny) tutorial mode. As a six-button fighter (four for attacks), picking up Guilty Gear is easy -- there's a punch, kick, slash, and heavy slash button, as well as throws, air dashes, and cancels. ??Easy, right? Well, at first!

Eventually you'll work?? into the core mechanics of the game, which involve dust attacks (launchers), the intricate combo system (including easy-to-use beginner Gatling combos), Roman Canceling, and a lot more. Some of the advanced techniques include variations of the canceling system, including Purple Romans, which work as anti-whiff recovery in case you're expecting a big punish.

Then there's the Gold Psych burst move that grants maximum tension gauge (super) when used correctly, and the Blue Psych, which is basically a combo-breaker of sorts. Instant Blocks work as a "just defense" mechanism, Faultness Defense is a nuanced pushback counter, and the Blitz Shield blocks one hit of your choice with a Dragon Ball Z-esque power-up frame of sorts. The best part about Bli??tzing is that you can do it back and forth, which can get comical if you hit it off just right.

This is all on top of the core principle of the game -- aggression is king. In order to keep your Tension up, you need to constantly rush down your opponent and actually get in the thick of it. Turtling for too long will deplete your gauge, which is used for nearly every major ability including supers. It gives Guilty Gear a unique feel where even zonin??g has to be more aggre?ssive, and it's all the better for it.

With Xrd, the entire graphical style has been o??verhauled. The game looks insanely detailed by way of 3D cel-shaded animation, even though it looks and feels like a 2D fighter. Everything from Dust Attacks to Overdrives (supers) also have a cinematic feel to them, and insta-kills feel like they're ripped directly out of an anime. At one point I couldn't tell a custscene apart from the in-game animation, whic?h is crazy. For reference, it runs at 720p on PS3, but glorious 1080p on the PS4.

To add to the upgraded sense of style, the new soundtrack (although a bit small), is worthy of its place in the series. Characters like Chipp have a new dimension to them stylistically, to the point where it fe?els like I'm meeting them for the first time. Seeing Venom open up his pool cue is just as awesome as it was years ago, and nuances like Sol's Dragon Install modifying his physical state and his Tyrant Rave animation are nice touches. I also love the Potemkin and Millia revamps more than the old models. Oh, and Slayer's haikus are back.

Speaking of the cast, you'll find everything from the arcade version, and 17 fighters in all if you include the two DLC characters (one of which is free for a limited time). The console version adds Sin Kiske, boss Ram?lethal Valentine, and the DLC-specific Elphelt and Leo Whitfang. The newcomers in the mix are extr?emely welcome, as Ram has the ability to manipulate two swords separately, and Bedman can recall past versions of himself to enact abilities he has used previously.

Existing char??acters also have plenty of fun gimmicks to differentiate themselves, like Zato using Eddie as a summon/minion of sorts. All in all you'll find the following: Faust, Millia, Sol, Ky, May, Chipp, Potemkin, Slayer, I-No, Axl, Ramlethal, Venom, Zato-1, Bedman, and Sin pre-DLC. Sadly, a number of classic characters are missing like Jam, Baiken, and Johnny. It stings -- and unlocking Sin by grinding for tons of points is a massive pain -- but the new cast fits ?right in.

You'll have ??a bit more to chew on in terms of a story as well, as each character has at least an intro, mid-movie, and ending in Arcade mode. Though the dub is quite serviceable and features a cast that treads the perfect line between serious and cheese, you can simply switch to Japanese voices in the options menu. Default dual-audio? Yes, please.

The visuals once again are employed perfectly in the main story as it deals with yet another "world ending" scenario, intertwining the entire cast in one giant plot. There's plenty of single-player? goodness to enjoy here as you see the events unfold through multiple sets of eyes, and there's even a full "story" mode that serves as a miniature movie to wrap this particular plotline up. It should really appeal to fans of the series and anime fans in general, though the fact that it's not playable feels like a misstep (yep, it's all automatic). There's also an objective challenge mode for every?? character, a linked mission mode, and the survival-esque Medal of Millionaire (M.O.M.) returns.

The online modes are fairly robust, with gigantic 64-player lobbies, reserve slots, "winner stays" settings, room passwords, the ability to "quarter up," track records, and the option to train while you wait. You c??an tweak nearly every option, including individual round settings and spectator options. There can be four battles going on in each lobby, leading to some intense matches going on simultaneously. Cross-Play between the PS3 and PS4 is the cherry on top.

The netcode itself is running smoothly as tested at launch (12/16). The system is server-based, and you can access a number of regions like North America and Asia. Lobbies vary, as Japan is compl??etely maxed with multiple 64-person lobbies, but some North Am??erican regions only have a few full rooms. Once you're rocking, though, the good times keep on rolling. You can even queue up a ranked match and do any other activity in the game while waiting.

Guilty Gear is still one of the most badass fighting franchises out there, and Xrd -Sign- honors that legacy. It looks breathtaking, the action is constant and in-your-face, and although the ro??ster is smaller than I'd like, there is a lot of variation to be found once you start digging into the game.

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

The post Review: Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN- appeared first on Destructoid.

Waiting on netcode testing

As of right now, the embargo on Guilty Gear Xrd has lifted -- we can talk about it, and hot damn is there a lot to say. The game is beautiful, extremely crisp, and the gameplay is just as good as it always was. While some cast members are mysteriously absent (like Johnny or Baiken) the newcomers bring a lot to the meta-game, and new mechanics are added on top&??nbsp;of everything like Roman Cancels, Dust Attacks, and Gatling Combos.

What's really crazy is how much like an anime Xrd looks. A lot of the cutscenes are actually in-engine, and even some of the supers ??and Instant Kills look cinematic. Even after a few weeks of testing this game still blows me away -- espec??ially so since the hardcore spirit of the series has been preserved. It looks just as good as the videos.

There's also a bit more here for solo players than normal, including a full-on arcade mode with individual stories, and a storybook-like option that lets the conclusion of this chapter play out. It's not going to win any writing awards, but anime fans and Guilty Gear enthusiasts will lov??e?? the fact that there's more world building here.

Our full review isn't quite ready though, since we haven't been able to test the netcode at all. The lobbies look great. There's plenty of spectator potential and a whole host of options for? ranked and unranked play -- hell, there's even PS3 and PS4 Cross-Play. But we haven't been able to get in yet and give it a shake, ??so we'll wait until we can do that first.

The post Where is our Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN- review? appeared first on Destructoid.

Cast in the name of God, ye not guilty

Arc System Works released Guilty Gear Xrd -Sign- in arcades earlier this year in Japan, with console versions coming soon. Famitsu released a sneak peak of Network and Training Modes coming to the PlayStation 3 a?nd 4.

It has been revealed that Network Mode will feature full cross-play that will allow PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 gamers to go head to head with each other. Practice Mode will feature four different ways to play. In addition to tutorials and missions, the Challenge feature will let players try out combos and special moves with various characters, and the Trai?ning feature will let players brush up on fine details in moves.

Guilty Gear Xrd -Sign- will be released later this year for P??layStation 3 and PlayStation 4 in Japan.

G?uilty Gear Xrd -Sign- Has A Practice Mode With Four Different Ways To Pla?y [Siliconera]

The post A look at Guilty Gear Xrd -Sign-‘s practice and multiplayer appeared first on Destructoid.

Watch him eat some meat

Guilty Gear II's Sin Kiske, the unholy spawn of Ky and Dizzy, is set to hit Guilty Gear Xrd. To celebrate, Famitsu has a bunch of new screens up of the fighter, which show off his ski?lls as well as his eating mechanic -- which requires him to fill up on food when he uses too many special moves.

Sin will use the War Flag as his weapon, which can link a ton of special moves in quick succession. It also has a massive range, and will wield a host of lightning moves similar to his father Ky, but with?? a red tint to them.

Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN- [Famitsu]

The post Guilty Gear’s Sin Kiske gets a batch of new screens appeared first on Destructoid.

Plus expanded story, cross play, and more

The new Guilty Gear is coming to PS4 and PS3 in North America this fall. It was originally released in Japanese arcades. Ramlethal Valentine came post launch and will be bundled in the console release, but so too will "new character(s)." So it could even be ??more than one? Neat. 

Xrd Sign will allow PS3 and PS4 (which is 1080p) users to play with one another. You can also transfer saves between both versions. There's also an expanded story mode and Medal of M?illionaire mode (MOM), which pits single players against AI to earn medals to strengthen your character. So an RPG-ish progression. 

Sounds like a lovely release. 

The post G?uilty Gear Xrd Sign gets M.O.M. mode, teases new character appeared first on Destructoid.

Check out her sword laser

4Gamer got to check out Ramlethal Valentine, the next playable character to join Guilty Gear Xrd -Sign-. She? ?was actually the boss in the game, but she'll now be playable in the game's next arcade update.

Ramlethal has a two swords at her disposal that can connect together so you can switch between single or dual sword modes. Her swords can also shoot lasers. Lasers are cool. Swords that shoot lasers are even cooler.

Anyway, no news on an American release yet. It sucks, but I know a lot of you are really into Guilty Gear around here s?o wanted to sh?are this news at the very least.

The post Ramlethal be?coming a playable character in Guilty Gear Xrd -Sign- appeared first on Destructoid.

In arcades first

According to Siliconera, Guilty Gear Xrd Sign will launch on February 20th in Japanese arcades. After that, Xrd Sign will launch on the PlayStation 3 and the PS??4 later this year in Japan. There are no announcements for a localization or ??for Xbox and Nintendo platforms at this time.

As a side note, the new character named Bedman doesn't talk (because he's always s??leeping), and you'll be able to se??e what he's thinking on-screen. Weird!

Guil?ty Gear Xrd Sign Rocks In Japan’s Arcades On February 20 [Siliconera]

The post Guilty Gear Xrd Sign launches in ??February in Japan appeared first on Destructoid.

Stupid pretty

Some sort of Jumanji book about the secret Backyard gets hidden away, but an evil power erupts from the Backyard itself (kind of like The Gate) threatening the world and, uh, only the powe?r of cheesy rock and roll and drop dead gorgeous faux 2D animation can stop it. 

Whatever, I don't care, Guilty Gear Xrd -Sign- looks as pretty as it's name is stupid.

I still can't believe that's 3D. How am I going to?? complain about how 2D is the best D if 3D can look this good, this 2??D?

The post Beware the Backyard in Guilty Gear Xrd’s arcade opening appeared first on Destructoid.

I wonder what his wake-up game is like? Oh snap!

Last week, Arc System Works teased a brand new addition to the Guilty Gear series, and that character has been revealed as none other than "Bedman." Not much is known about this mysterious addition, other than the fact that he appears to be laying on a giant r??obotic bed, and that said machine will accompany him in battle.

A voice actor has already been picked out for the character, and it's none other than Hikaru Midorikawa -- Gundam Wing's Heero Yuy. I'm pretty stoked to try out the new Guilty Gear next yea??r, and this new oddball fighter is only adding to that excitement.

Guilty Gear [Famitsu Scan] 

The post That mysterious new Guilty Gear character is ‘Bedman’ appeared first on Destructoid.

That's Za-to - no 'mister', accent on the 'to!'

A new character has been revealed for Guilty Gear Xrd: Sign, and it's none other than Zato=One. As Guilty Gear fans know, Zato actually died over the course of the franchise -- a victim of fighter Millia Rage. His shadow parasite "Eddie," took over his dead corpse as a clone of sorts in later games. ??Zato was a rare case in which a fighting game character was seemingly dead for good, but now he's back. I'm interested in hearing the story behind the revival.

In other Guilty Gear news, a really odd silhouette has been teased on the site, which you can find below. I see a cross, a chain, giant ??hands, and crab feet -- anyone have an ideas?

Zato = One [Guilty Gear]

The post Zato=One returns in Guilty Gear Xrd: Sign appeared first on Destructoid.

Man, if it were free to play that headline would be perfect

I'm really digging this trailer for the horribly named Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN-. It bathes in a guilty pleasure, 90's anime feeling that has me inexplicably gearing up for the game. Today we learned Arc System's BlazBlue alternate will be coming ??out on both PS3 and PS4.

Some of the more recently announced characters are on display. So too is the game's enticin??g art style, which features 3D models th??at look like high resolution sprites. It's still a bit of trip to see the full model as the camera pans.

I love 2D fighting games. I don't play them often, mostly because I suck, but they are some of my favorite things to see in motion. I love good animation. Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN-'s novel lo??ok is enough to make me want to pick it up because I just want to watch it move. 

The post Enjoy this stunning Guilty Gear tr?ailer guilt-free appeared first on Destructoid.

Additional character reveals to come

It appears as if the official Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN- website has been updated, and we now have official confirmation of a playable Millia Rage -- a classic Guilty Gear character and fan favorite. A few other details h?ave been confirmed, such as the return of the classic button layout ?of punch/kick/slash/heavy slash/dust, and high maneuverability options like air-dashing.

In the game's first location test, ??seven characters will be playable, and four more will be revealed on August 6, 2013. Here's hoping for Faust confirmation -- he'll look amazing with ?that new engine.

Guilty Gear [GGXrd via Event Hubs]

The post Official Guilty Gear Xrd site upda?ted, Millia confirmed appeared first on Destructoid.

The game's director is testing the market in Japan

Guilty Gear Xrd SIGN is well into development, and it appears as if the game will be heading to select arcade test markets in Japan. Specifically, the game will be tested first on August 9 at the Sega Akihabara Building 1, on the fourth floor. It'll run until August 12, and the game??'s director, Daisuke Ishiwatari, will be there f?rom 10:00 AM until 10:30 AM.

I've said it many times before, but Guilty Gear is one of my favorite fighting game franchises of all time. I can't wait to give this new game a spin, as it looks like the biggest step forward since the very first game. Siliconera is reporting that Xrd may be coming to next-gen consoles, which would be glorious.

Guilty Gear [Siliconera]

The post Guilty Gear Xrd SIGN is coming to Arcades in ?August appeared first on Destructoid.

It partially depends on how well a fan petition does

Do you want the newest Guilty Gear to come to the Wii U? Well, developer Arc System Works isn't sure if they can justify it, so they're encouraging their fans to sign a petition asking for a Wii U version.

Well, we complain about the "chicken and egg" Wii U and third party issue all the time, but this is your chance to put up and support them directly on the Wii U. This isn't a sma?ll-time petition with just a few signatures, likely to go unnoticed by a major publisher. This is an officially sanctioned poll that could very well influence the development of a game on the Wii U.

So if you want it, let Arc System Works know. I just signed it? -- the more console versions, the me??rrier!

Arc System Works [Twitter via GoNintendo]

The post Guilty Gear Xrd: Sign may get a Wii U release appeared first on Destructoid.

I can't believe it's not buttery-smooth sprite animation

When Arc Systems Works created BlazBlue, many assumed that Guilty Gear as we knew it was over. Guilty Gear 2: Overture certainly wasn't very encouraging. Well surprise surprise, Guilty Gear is back, with series co-creator Daisuke Ishiwatari is at the h?elm, running on the Unreal engine.

Polygon margarine on Guilty Gear muffin? Say it ain't so, Ma! Wait a minute, are you sure you put polygons in this? It sure tastes like 2D sprite-based butter to me. There even appear to be traditional frame-by-frame animations, a ??perfect fit for the kind of lightning fast, easily cancel-able attacks that 2D fighting game fans crave.?? Could this be the greatest imitation of hand-drawn art every achieved by a group of polygons?

We'll just have to stay tuned to find out.

Rejoice?! Arc ??Sys announces Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN- [Japanator]

The post Arc ret????urns to their roots with Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN- appeared first on Destructoid.