All of them, actually

I will never say no to a rhythm game spinoff. I am, of course, a loud and unashamed fan of the genre. I'm always down for more rhythm games, but I'm especially fond of titles that recontextualize the music found in other games. I think nearly every video game would benefit from a?? supplemental m??echanical examination of its soundtrack.

But obviously, some franchises are more suited to rhythm gaming than others. If I were to make a list of the greatest video game series soundtracks of all time, it would probably include Metroid and Halo, but those scores aren't exactly full of toe-tappers. So while I would play a rhythm game based on absolutely any soundtrack, I'd like to outline the franchises I think truly deserve the Theatrhythm treatment.

[embed]//www.youtube.com/?watch?v=T0IxUMu036??k[/embed]

10. Shovel Knight

Jake Kaufman is a very prolific and accomplished composer. The Shantae series could easily have made this list, but limiting myself to one Kaufman-heavy franchise, I have to give it to Shovel Knight. These games, from Shovel of Hope to Shovel Knight Dig, emulate the strict and structured chiptunes of the NES era but with more contemporary?? musical stylings. These are perfect rhythm game soundtracks because they're stable and rhythmically readable, even to the layman.

Plus, Shovel of Hope has a couple of tracks by Manami Matsumae, and I felt really bad about leaving Mega Man off this list.

[embed]//www.youtube.com/w??atch?v=UND5wgnIino[/embed]

9. Assassin's Creed

I don't play Assassin's Creed very often. It's just not my cup of tea. But I do listen to Assassin's Creed pretty regularly. A rotating cast of phenomenal composers has brought an awful lot of wonderful tracks to life. A lot ??of score pieces from the series' history are so driven and thumping th??at I can practically see the beatmap in front of me.

I'm particularly fond of the Assassin's Creed Odyssey soundtrack, and I've found myself finger-drumming to the beat of "Legend of the Eagle Bearer" more than a few times. At the very least, we deserve a shanty-filled Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag rhythm spinoff.

[emb?ed]//www.youtube.com/watch?v=NH-GAwLAO30[/embed]

8. Undertale

Across Undertale and the first two episodes of Deltarune, series creator/c??omposer Tob??y Fox has established a coherent and delightful sound to accompany his series' world. Like Kaufman, Fox plays in the realm of chiptunes, and his are especially earworm-ish.

Some of Undertale's bullet hell moments already feel like a carefully orchestrated dance set to one of the game's wonderful battle themes. Concretizing that comparison with a full-throated Undertale rhythm game would be pretty great. As an aside, you can get a pretty Undertale-ish rhythm game experience out of 2021's Everhood.

[embed]//www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTL?fV7Ru5VY[/embed]

7. Donkey Kong Country

We've gotten pretty close to a Donkey Kong Country rhythm game in the past - there were no fewer than three Donkey Konga games, and Donkey Kong Jungle Beat almost counts - but there's never been a rhythm game solely focused on music from the actual DKC series.

Across the first three DKC games, David Wise, Eveline Fischer, and Robin Beanland redefined what Donkey Kong sounded like. Just about every track from the series is groovy and pleasant. To me, the beautiful soundtracks are the number one reason to return to Donkey Kong Country. ??A game dedicated to those soundtracks would be a dream.

[embed]//www.youtube.com/wa??tch?v=ikQHkh??L8YMM[/embed]

6. Guilty Gear

The precise inputs fighting games demand make them feel like natural siblings to rhythm games, but Guilty Gear feels particularly suited to travel between genres. Music has always been central to the franchise—series creator Daisuke Ishiwatari has composed music for nearly every franchise entry, and as of Guilty Gear Strive, every character has an independent absolute banger for a them??e.

Guilty Gear is indebted to music on nearly every level. Characters like Axl Low take blatant inspiration from real-life rockstars, and there are probably more fans of the Guilty Gear soundtrack than there are fans of the act?ual series. ?A rhythm-based spinoff is an all-too-obvious pitch.

[embed]//www.yout?ube.com/watch?v=nO3??Ap0xOcAE[/embed]

5. Chrono

The Chrono duology will get a bit of rhythm representation in the form of DLC for Theatrhythm Final Bar Line, but honestly, I'm not sure that that's enough. Chrono Trigger and Chrono Cross collectively play host to some of the greatest JRPG music around. Yasunori Mitsuda is an incredible composer and his work alongside the legendary Nobuo Uematsu elevates the first game to in??credible heights (the second one is pretty wonderful, too).

The presence of these soundtracks in Theatrhythm proves that they translate into a gamified context, so I think it would be nice to see them in their own game entirely. If you'll permit me to dream for a moment, I'd love a rhythm game incorporating some of Chrono Trigger's classic dual and triple techs.

[embed]//www.y??ou?tube.com/watch?v=e9r5hx47kxM[/embed]

4. Super Mario

I honestly can't believe this doesn't exist. If you ask a random person to hum a tune from a video game, good money says they'll go for the main theme from Super Mario Bros. There's no denying that the Super Mario series plays host to some truly iconic music.

After The Legend of Zelda got its own Crypt of the Necrodancer-themed rhythm spinoff, I figured Mario, king of the side-game, would follow close behind. But somehow, the series' soundtrack is still limited to cameo appearances in different rhythm games. I do want a Mario rhythm game, but ?more than that, I'm just shocked that there isn't one yet.

[embed]?//www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8OHSXvneOE[/embed]

3. Celeste

I dig the soundtrack from the original PICO-8 version of Celeste, but the series' sonic identity really came into view when composer Lena Raine joined the team for the 2018 remake. Raine's music makes Celeste feel like a sincere mu??sical adventure, and that feeling is only enhanced by the game's "B-Sides"—toughe?r takes on individual levels featuring brilliantly remixed takes on the original soundtrack.

Raine returned to score Celeste's DLC, Farewell, and she also wrote a couple of smaller tracks for the game's miniature PICO-8 sequel, Celeste 2: Lani's Trek. All of ?this music is phenomenal, and all of it would be as well-suited to a rhythm game as it is to a series of precision platformers.

[embed]?//www.youtube.com/wat??ch?v=55uDJ39W4i0[/embed]

2. Sonic the Hedgehog

I'm not even gonna write any??thing for this one. Just listen to it.

[embed]//www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XV7??TeThdVA[/embed]

1. Nier

Like the Chrono games, the Nier series will be featured in Theatrhythm Final Bar Line, but it deserves an awful lot more. Composer Keiichi Okabe's work is responsible for at least a solid 40% of my personal fondness for Nier, a?nd I don't think it's a stretch t??o call it some of the best video game music ever. Okabe's work is often melancholy and complex, but it's also frequently catchy and light.

The music of Nier is truly brilliant. I'd love to see it paired with a set of mechanics specifically built around it. The only issue I can see with this plan is th?at I would probably never play anythin?g else again.

The post 10 video game ??franchises that deserve rhythm games appeared first on Destructoid.

Extremely good

Good Smile Company has some more Guilty Gear on the way, and this time, it's all about Bridget. A new plush of Bridget, the yo-yo wielding fighter who made her re-entrance in Guilty Gear Strive not too long ago, is on the way.

The Bridget plush specifically highlights her Guilty Gear Strive appearance, down to blue hood and handcuff belt. The plush will go on sale first in Japan, but the Good Smile U.S. shop has pre-orders open. The plush will run $40.99 and is expected to start rolling out for Canada and th??e?? U.S. in August 2023.

/??/t?witter.com/GoodSmile_US/status/1622429897695137792

The Bridget plush it??se?lf is 7.87 inches in height, made of polyester, and is super rad. So if you want to spotlight your main or just have a cute plush of a character you dig, it seems like a solid way to check that box.

Doll fighter

Bridget has been in the Guilty Gear series for quite a while, but made her return to the modern roster last year in Guilty Gear Strive . A major part of her storyline was coming to terms with her upbringing ??and identity, eventually affirmin??g her own sense of self. And somehow, Goldlewis Dickinson plays a role in it.

It's a heartwarming story, and that popularity ties in well with her yo-yo-flinging arsenal of moves and Strive's absolutely incredible style. So whether you're a new Bridget main or a longtime fan??, now you've got a pretty decent merch option to clip onto your bag before the next Evo rolls around.

Guilty Gear Strive is gearing up for another year of content, with an Xbox launch on the way. A cross-platform beta just took place too, so hopefully this means the online pool will be even larger as the year goes on. It's looking like there's still plenty of Strive on its way.

The post Guilty Gear’s Bridget is getting her very own plush from Good Smile appeared first on Destructoid.

Hey Yo (Yo)

Damn, it looks like the era of BRIDGET is set to continue �Not only has the Guilty Gear star made her GG Strive debut, appeared in some fun fan projects, AND received her own, real-life Bullet Yo-Yo, but merch maker Spiritale has now revealed ??a prototype wicked-looking figurine, currently in product?ion.

The prototype captures Brisket in all? of her glory, posed exactly as she is in her Guilty Gear Strive splash art. Rocking her big ol' shoes �Bullet Yo-Yo in one hand and haunted companion Roger in the either, our girl looks set and ready to embark upon her next Bridgetquest. The fixed-pose figurine looks very similar in quality and design to Kotobukiya's "Bishoujo" range, though Bridget is also sporting a nicely detailed base as she comes kick-kicking her way into the next battle.

//twitter.com/Spiritale_shop/status/16134?53295808569345?s=20&t=YPDS_v7VvYZruEFEXsxmHg

Unfortunately, Spiratale has not revealed a price nor a release window for the ??Bridget figurine. For whatever it's worth, Spiratale's typical character figurines tend to stand at a 1/7 scale and usually run around the $200-$300 dollar mark. So the more hardcore fans among you might have to start saving up the pennies. To be clear, this price is pure speculation on my part, merely based on the company's previous releases. We'll?? be sure to give you a heads-up when Bridget is ready for pre-order.

Guilty Gear Strive is available now on PlayStation and PC platforms. An Xbox port arrives this spring.

The post Guilty Gear Gurl Bridget is getting her own Spiritale ??figurin?e appeared first on Destructoid.

Could you be the next Original Starla?

The Guilty Gear franchise is renowned for its bizarre arsenal of stylish weaponry, from Faust's 10-foot scalpel to Ino's satanic shredder, but perhaps one of the most ingenious tools belongs to the delightful young bounty hunter Bridget, in the form of her trick-shot-tastic? Bullet Yo-Yo.

And, if you fancy taking an eye or two out yourself, then hobby crafter SpinGear has you covered, as the Japanese yo-yo specialist is now taking pre-orders on an exceptionally cool-looking replica of Bridget's weapon of choice. The "Full Metal Bridget Mini Yo-Yo" is an authentic (if smaller) replica of our girl's face-flicker, faithfully recreating the six-shooter style of its casing? and cast in solid metal.

Check out the ace toy/de?ath dealer in action in this official video, complete with Bridget cosplay!

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3ql62Lot7E

So if you fancy picking one up, hurting yourself, and realizing you're just as terrible with the yo-yo now as you were with that Coca-Cola one in 1991, then head on over to the official YOYOSHOP SPINGEAR website, where you can pre-order the Full Metal Bridget Yo-Yo for ÂĄ44,000 or... erm... $330 USD... Well, if that seems a little on the pricey side for you, then a far simpler design is also expected in Janu??ary, priced at a somewhat cheaper ÂĄ4,400, or $32.

"We understand pre-order expensive yoyo feels little scary." explains the website. Yer-darn-tootin'. But, hey, you can??'t put a price on ??knocking mum's favorite vase off the mantle.

Guilty Gear Strive is available now on PlayStation and PC platform?s?. An Xbox port arrives spring 2023.

Oh, and don't forget to check out our previous report on this cute Bridget fan animation.

The post Get your own (expensive)? Bullet Yo-Yo like Guilty Gear gal Bridget appeared first on Destructoid.

Well, that escalated...

Do you know who has tons of fans? Me? Well, you're very kind but no, I'm kinda lonely... Erm... Anyway, the answer I was looking for was Guilty Gear yo-yo spinner, Bridget, as demonstrated by the huge amount of fan art, cosplay, and other prjects dedicated to the young lassie online. Case in point: This wonderful fan animation, pro??duced by the super-talented?? artist/animator Liz Caingcoy.

The 45-second short sees our gal making the most of a bright and sunny afternoon, taking to the streets with her yo-yo and plush companion, Roger, in tow. It's a pretty delightful affair, and who could possibly expect things to get surprisingly... out of hand. The animation is masterfully created out of textured wiref??orms, which were designed and built within the software package Autodesk Maya. This gives the short its curious and highly recognizable "'90s PlayStation Cutscene" vibe.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiwbfME8g-o

If you take a look at some of Caingcoy's tweets, you can see the Bridget model in its raw form, which spotlights the authentic textures applied to  Bridget in order to perfectly replicate her Guilty Gear Strive style. Be sure to check out some of Caingcoy's animations over on her YouTube channel, and hey, if you're a developer in need of an animator, it's worth noting that ??she's currently looking for ?work.

Guilty Gear Strive is ?available now on PlayStation and PC platforms.

The post Guilty Gear’s Bridget has an apocalyptic day out in cute fan animation appeared first on Destructoid.

Sin brings a flag and some meat to the party

A familiar face is returning to Guilty Gear with a fresh look. Sin Kiske is the next fighter to join the Guilty Gear Strive roster as part of its Season 2 pass, arriving on ??November 24.

Sin, the son of Guilty Gear mainstay Ky Kiske and Dizz?y, shows up here as the "ever-growing wild boy." He's still wielding his flag weapon. And yes, he can still pull? out a hunk of meat to chow down on, mid-match.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQoNLBJ0xSc

The younger Kiske also makes mention of his mom, lending more fuel to the fire that we might see Dizzy alongside Sin Kiske in Guilty Gear Strive. As for gameplay, IGN had a special presentation revealing the new trailer, as well as some gameplay demonstration of Sin Kiske and how he's changed for Strive.

He's got a special bar, a stamina bar, rather than his hunger meter. He seems to have? some interesting potential in his follow-ups using this gauge, as well as a buf??f he can pick up from chowing down on some grub mid-fight.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMfsw4BwiNI

The fight continues

At the end of the Sin trailer, we also get confirmation that two more fighters are due out in 2023 as part of Season 2. It looks like the content roadmap shown off earlier this year is holding up.

Crossplay is also hopefully getting officially integrated soon, as its held some beta tests already. Considering a?n Xbox release is set for next spring, that will be of interest to the new platform's players.

As for the last remaining fighters? Well, Slayer seems to be a much-requested addition, and Dizzy getting mentioned in the trailer plants some speculation. I've really liked the original characters so far too, though, so I hope there's at least one more newcomer in the pipeline for Strive.

The post Sin Kiske enters the Guilty Gear Strive arena in just a fe??????????????????????????w?? days appeared first on Destructoid.

Rock and Roll All Nite

Are you adequately prepared to rock? Arc System Works sure hopes so, as next week will see the publisher launch an open beta to test the rollback netcode update for its excellent anime fighter Guilty Gear Xrd Rev 2 �The beta will kick? off October 17 on the Steam release of the 2017 smash?er.

While ArcSys is currently enjoying the fruits of more recent entry Guilty Gear Strive, its predecessor is still tightly-held by many of the GG faithful as one of, if not the, finest entry in the long-running fighting game franchise. Recognizing this, the developer is taking steps to ensure that those players who still wish to party like it's 2017 are afforded the best experience available, with the same silky smooth netcode that younger brother GG Strive offers.

To get folks in gear (pun fully intended) for the beta, ArcSys is also holding a slew of discounts on the Guilty Gear Steam back catalog. New and veteran players can bag several titles including Guilty Gear Xrd Rev 2, Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus R, and BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle, alongside their respective DLC, for hugely discounted prices. It should be noted that none of these games feature the new and improved version of Testament, but Baiken and Bridget are in the mix, s??o they're well worth your dolla??rydoos.

Prepare to meet Elphelt. Be very afraid.

Guilty Gear Xrd Rev 2 is available now on PS4 and PC. The rollback netcode beta test will take place from October 17 to October 31. In addition, Guilty Gear Strive is available now on PlayStation and PC platforms, with an Xbox port arriving in spring 2023.

The post Guilty Gear Xrd Rev 2 rollback netcode beta ki??cks off next week appeared first on Destructoid.

Studio veteran steps away after 19 years of service

In somewhat shocking news for the fighting game community, developer Toshimichi Mori announced his departure from veteran anime game studio Arc System Works. Mori announced that he was leaving the studio in a new and succinct statement posted to Twitter just yesterday.

"I have something to report to all of the users," begins the message. "I, Toshimichi Mori, have left Arc System works, the company I worked at for many years. I h??ave nothing but gratitude towards the staff of Arc System Works and others who have worked with me, as well as all the users who ??supported us. Thank you from the bottom of my heart."

Mori has been a stalwart member of Arc System Works for just shy of 20 years, where he has worked on popular fighting game franchises such as Guilty Gear, while being best known as the creator of another tightly-held anime scrapper, BlazBlue. Mori's departure, understandably, leaves questions hanging ove?r the future of the latter franchise, questions which the develop??er references in his statement without an answer.

//twitter.com/zatuyoP/status/1573869908651393031?s=20&t=vS3K8?o0aF2P3X3CEReML-A

"I will depart from Arc System Works," continues Mori. "This may cause some feelings of anxiety, especially among fans of the BlazBlue ser??ies. For this, I sincerely apologize. At the moment I’m thinking of creating and delivering a game for the users in some way, and am going to focus my strength? on that endeavor. Your support would be much appreciated."

While it sounds, clearly, that Mori intends to remain in game development, perhaps focusing his talents and abilities on a new title on an independent basis, this does not automatically spell doom for BlazBlue. While the franchise IP will obviously remain with ArcSys, there are many talented fighting game developers at that studio who worked on the series. And so, hopefully, BlazBlue will be able to continue its own legacy in some form of fashion, even if its "father" ha?s moved on to new projects.

Either way, Toshimichi Mori's contributions to the fighting game scene over the past two decades cannot be understated, and it will be very exciting ??to see what the industr?y veteran has in store for pastures new.

The post BlazBlue creator Toshi??michi Mori departs Arc System Works appeared first on Destructoid.

Beta testing will begin next month

Some very fun news for the Guilty Gear faithful this weekend, as Arc System Works has announced that it will retroactively be adding rollback netcode to the PC edition of its previous release Guilty Gear Xrd: Rev 2.?? A date was not announced for the tech upgrade, but beta testing will begin in late October.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTnAGIZRtB4

To clarify, this is not the current GG title, Guilty Gear Strive, that is getting the update, (that game already has rollback netcode), but the previous release in the series, which still has a dedicated playerbase due to... well... it was just a great goddang fighter at launch and remains so to this day. Spare a thought for all of those Jam and Elphelt players, for example, still sitting patiently as they await their respective mains to make the leap to the GG Strive roster.

It's definitely neat to see the developer retrofitting its older releases with newer tech �helps keep those titles alive for the devoted players who are either playing multiple GG games competitively or are not quite feeli??ng the latter-day release. The rollback netcode beta test will be open to all players on Steam, so just keep the game installed and ?stay tuned for further details.

Guilty Gear Xrd: Rev 2 and Guilty Gear Strive are available now on PlayStation and PC platf??orms.

The post Guilty Gear Xrd: Rev 2 PC edi?tion to rece?ive rollback netcode update appeared first on Destructoid.

Now get to Slashin'

Input lag �even in 2022, it continues to be a frustrating thorn in the sides of online fighting game players. And, ironically, while the ninth generation of gaming is ??well underway, it appears that Sony's shiny new PlayStation 5 platform tends to exacerbate the issue, rather than repair i??t.

Case in point: Arc System Works' Guilty Gear Strive, which currently suffers from an estimated 4.5 frames of input lag on PS5 when?? compared to its sibling PS4, which only suffers from around 2.5 frames. Input lag is an inevitability in almost all fighting games, but the lower ??a developer can get the fateful number, the better it is for all players.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GYL5FVpjG4

To that end, ArcSys has released Version 1.21 on both PlayStation and PC platforms, bringing with it a few small bug fixes, optimized controls for the Figure Mode and much requested improvements to the server connection time on startup. Specifically for PS5, however, the input include?s reoptimized input lag. This should bring the PS5 edition more in line with its PS4 and PC brethren, although ArcSys is tight-lipped on exactly how much faster your chosen fighter will respond to your instructions.

Courtesy of Kimagre Gaming, here are some post-patch results for all pla??tforms.

//twitter.com/kimagreGaming/status/1556955540001267712?s=?20&t=jIt6z9pG9PRXOEUaWIyCYQ

Guilty Gear Strive is preparing to launch its second season, bringing with it new characters, new stages, a new competitive season, and further updates. The wonderful Bridget is already available today, with more content coming to the title over the coming year. Guilty Gear Strive has already smashed the one million sales mark, and hop??efully, this popularity will continue across the rema??inder of 2022 and into 2023.

The post Guilty Gear Strive update 1.??21 improves PS5 input?? lag appeared first on Destructoid.

That's the original Starla

_{[This article contains story spoilers for Guilty Gear Strive.]}

It was a fine surprise for Guilty Gear Strive fans at this weekend's Evo 2022 tournament when Arc System Works not only revealed that returning superstar Bridget would be the first DLC character of the flashy fighter's second season, but also announced that they would be available in less than 24 hours! The developer has released a new entry to its "Starter Guide" series, which hopes to get you walkin?g the dog in no time at ??all.

Bridget's appearance in Guilty Gear Strive is a particularly notable one, as it sees the complicated and androgynous character finally "h?atch," accepting themselves and their identity for the first time in series history. Offered a (somewhat bizarre) pairing with government agent and all-around conspiracy nut Goldlewis Dickinson, Bridget initially finds herself at a crossroads in her life, be??fore ultimately declaring with great happiness that they are a girl at the climax of their arcade mode. Good for her.

Bridget might be sporting a rad new look, but her barely-controlled yo-yo skills remain the backbone of her fighting ability. Rocking the spinner harder than Treat Williams in The Substitute 2, (there's a reference for nobody), Bridget is such a threat from any d??????????????????????????istance, able to flick out her weapon at range, or use her diminutive stature to quickly close down the distance on her opponent in the blink of an eye.

//youtu.be/xs_kL3IaC5U

If that wasn't enough, Bridget can set up her yo-yo as an on-screen trap, offering well-practiced players the opportunity to extend their combos and add juggles to their strings. The yo-yo setup can be recalled at any point, which offers an additional point of concern for the opponent, and can be used to both distract and interrupt their game plan �for newcomers, think Menat's orb in Street Fighter V.

A combination of forward planning and spatial awareness, Bridget looks to be something of a challenging character to learn, albeit one that will offer a ton of reward once her core mechanics are understood. By combining her send & return yo-yo abilities with her speedy nature, a good Bridget will leave her opponents in? a state of dis??traction, and unable to get their "flow" started. Goddamn. I can't even do "around the world" without smashing in my own orbital socket.

Bridget is available to purchase now in Guilty Gear Strive as part of the Season 2 pass. As a quick refresher, here are the links to the previous Guilty Gear Strive starter guides for May & Axl Low, Sol Badguy and Ky Kiske, Chip Zanuff & Potemkin, Faust, Millia Rage, Zato-1, Ramlethal, Leo Whitefang, Nagoriyuki, Giovanna, Anji Mito, I-no, Goldlewis Dickinson, Jack-O Valentine, Happy Chaos, and Testament.

The post Hey yo (yo), here’s Bridget’s Guilty Gear Strive Starter Guide appeared first on Destructoid.

You wanna step outside?

For the first time in a long time, the greatest fighting game players in the world, (but not me), will descend on Las Vegas for the annual throwdown that is the Evolution Championship Series, more commonly known as Evo 2022. Over the next three days, the best of the best, (but not me), will lock horns in some of the greatest fighting games currently on the market.

From Tekken 7 to Street Fighter V, Skullgirls to Granblue Fantasy: Versus, and, the game of the hour, Guilty Gear Strive, we are promised hours of intense fighting action across three days, as each game looks to crown its champion for the current EVO season. In addition, we can expect news, updates, and reveals pertaining to some of the current and upcoming fighters. Who is headed to Street Fighter 6? What surprises does GG Strive Season 2 hold? Will I ever get the hell out of Ultra Gold?

All (some) of these questions and mor??e will be answered over t?he next three hot summer nights.

You can find the full schedule for Evo 2022 below, complete with links to the appropriate Twitch channels. For simplicity of display, times are listed in PT timezone only. Oh, and be aware that Evo is notorious for running way off schedule, so some events are likely to start and/or run later tha??n expected, with stream channels also subject to change.

Have a good weekend. And, just like ??Elliot Ness didn't say, Never stop fighting 'til th??e fight is done.

�Evo 2022 Schedule �/h2>

�Day 1 - Friday, August 5 �/h2>

Evo Special Event:
Panels, interviews, reveals, and more �10:00 PT to 19:00 PT (Main Stage)

Mortal Kombat 11: Ultimate:
All Pools to Top 8 - 10:00 PT to 19:00 PT (EVO4)

Granblue Fantasy: Versus:
Round 1 Pools �10:00 PT to 17:00 PT (EVO3)

Guilty Gear Strive:
Round 1 Pools �11:00 PT to 22:00 PT (EVO2)

Tekken 7:
Round 1 Pools �18:00 PT to 22:00 PT (EVO3)

Melty Blood: Type Lumina:
Round 1 Pools �10:00 PT to 14:00 PT (EVO6)
Top 64 to Top 8 �15:00 PT to 18:00 PT (EVO6)

Skullgirls: 2nd Encore:
Round 1 Pools to Top 8 �10:00 PT to 16:00 PT (EVO7)
Finals �19:00 PT to 22:00 PT (Main Stage)

Street Fighter V: Champion Edition:
Round 1 Pools �18:00 PT to 22:00 PT (EVO5)

Dragon Ball FighterZ:
Round 1 Pools �18:00 PT to 22:00 PT (EVO6)

The King of Fighters XV:
Round 1 Pools �18:00 PT to 22:00 PT (EVO7)

Vortex Tournaments: (DNF Duel, Killer Instinct, Persona 4 Arena, and more)
All Tournaments �10:00 PT until finish.

PlayStation Evo Lounge stream:
S?tream goes live 12:00 PT and runs throughout the day.

�Day 2 - Saturday, August 6 �/h2>

Mortal Kombat 11: Ultimate:
Finals �10:00 PT to 14:00 PT (Main Stage)

Melty Blood: Type Lumina:
Finals �14:00 PT to 17:00 PT (Main Stage)

Granblue Fantasy: Versus:
Round 2 Pools �10:00 PT to 12:00 PT (EVO4)
Top 24 �12:00 PT to 14:00 PT (EVO4)
Finals �17:00 PT to 20:00 PT (Main Stage)

Dragon Ball FighterZ:
Round 1 & 2 Pools �10:00 PT to 16:00 PT (EVO6)
Top 24 �17:00 PT to 19:00 PT (EVO6)
Finals �20:00 PT to 00:00 PT (Main Stage)

Guilty Gear Strive:
Round 1 & 2 Pools �10:00 PT to 18:00 PT (EVO2)
Top 96 �18:30 PT to 20:30 PT (EVO2)
Top 24 �21:00 PT to 23:00 PT (EVO2)

Tekken 7:
Round 1 & 2 Pools �10:00 PT to 18:00 PT (EVO3)
Top 48 �18:30 PT to 22:00 PT (EVO3)

Street Fighter V: Champion Edition:
Round 1 & 2 Pools �10:00 PT to 19:00 PT (EVO5)
Top 48 �18:30 PT to 22:00 PT (EVO5)

The King of Fighters XV:
Round 1 & 2 Pools �10:00 PT to 18:00 PT (EVO7)
Top 48 �18:30 PT to 22:00 PT (EVO7)

MultiVersus:
Top 32 & Finals �14:30 PT to 20:00 PT (EVO4)

Vortex Tournaments: (DNF Duel, Killer Instinct, Persona 4 Arena, and more)
All Tournaments �10:00 PT until finish.

PlayStation Evo Lounge stream:
Stream goes live 11:00 PT and runs throughout ?the day.

�Day 3 - Sunday, August 7 - Grand Finals �/h2>

The King of Fighters XV:
Finals �10:00 PT to 13:30 PT (Main Stage)

Tekken 7:
Finals �13:30 PT to 17:00 PT (Main Stage)

Street Fighter V: Champion Edition:
Finals �17:00 PT to 20:00 PT (Main Stage)

Guilty Gear Strive:
Finals �20:00 PT to 23:00 OT (Main Stage)

Have fun and see you next year! And by "next year" I mean, "Me in top 8 for Street Fighter 6".

The post EVO 2022 schedule: A w??eekend of frenzied fisticuffs, live from Las Vegas appeared first on Destructoid.

]]> //jbsgame.com/evo-2022-schedule-panel-live-stream-fighting-game-tournament-evolution/feed/ 0 338266 //jbsgame.com/guilty-gear-strive-season-2-news-evo-panel-stream-arc-system-works/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=guilty-gear-strive-season-2-news-evo-panel-stream-arc-system-works //jbsgame.com/guilty-gear-strive-season-2-news-evo-panel-stream-arc-system-works/#respond Tue, 02 Aug 2022 17:00:36 +0000 //jbsgame.com/?p=337603

Blame the Beasts

This week sees the Evolution Championship Series (Evo) return in a physical capacity for the first time in three years??. Alongside the gr??eatest fighting game players in the world �duking it out for prize pools, trophies, and bragging rights �fans can also look forward to news, reveals, and other tidbits pertaining to the current crop of competitive scrappers.

Arc System Works, the veteran fighting game developer behind great titles such as Dragon Ball FighterZ, BlazBlue, DNF Duel, and Guilty Gear, has announced that it will be hosting a special presentation on the first day of Evo, offering tournaments attendees the opportunity to play games and bag cool merch, while audiences at home can enjoy exhibition matches, co?mpetitions and giveaways, and various other live stream events.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Y-pBgT2sQQ

The day will be highlighted by a special panel presentation looking at "The Past, Present, and Future of GuiltyGear." Headed up by series creator Daisuke Ishiwatari, the development team will discuss the quirky fight franchise �sharing stories, spotlighting unused concept material, and fielding questions from members of the GG community. The panel will conclude with non-specific "news" regarding the second season of Guilty Gear Strive, so here's hoping that we get a character reveal or two, along with a date for the previously teased crossplay beta.

The Arc System Works Guilty Gear Evo panel kicks off Friday, August 5, at 10:00 PT / 13:00 ET / 18:00 BST. You can check out the action over on the official Evo Twitch channel. The weekend promises all sorts of exciting news pert??aining to the world of fighting games, and we'll be sure to cover as much as we can right her?e on Destructoid.

Evo 2022 takes place between August 5-7 at the Las Vegas Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino.

The post Guilty Gear Strive Season 2 news coming to EVO this F??riday appeared first on Destructoid.

]]> //jbsgame.com/guilty-gear-strive-season-2-news-evo-panel-stream-arc-system-works/feed/ 0 337603 //jbsgame.com/guilty-gear-fragrances-perfume-fairytail-parfum-japan-cologne/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=guilty-gear-fragrances-perfume-fairytail-parfum-japan-cologne //jbsgame.com/guilty-gear-fragrances-perfume-fairytail-parfum-japan-cologne/#respond Fri, 29 Jul 2022 19:30:50 +0000 //jbsgame.com/?p=337176

We need a Bedman scent

If you ever wanted to give off the lascivious odor of the pack of fucking maniacs that make up the Guilty Gear Strive roster, then fragrance company Fairytail Parfum has you covered, from h?ead to ??toe, in fact.

The cologne and perfume company has released a new line of eau de parfum ?products based upon the sexy, sexy stars of the Arc System Works fighter. The range launches with four specific characters: the regal and handsome Ky Kiske, the mysterious world-eater Ramlethal Valentine, super-cute Halloweenie Jack-O Valentine, and hard-edged merc Sol Badguy, who looks like he hasn't seen a shower in a year.

While the men's fragrances are seeing a relaunch, (now in larger 50ml bottles) the two ladies are seeing their respective debuts in the world of fragrance. These are not even Fairytail Parfum's first dalliance with the world of Guilty Gear, as the company has previously released perfumes based on Dizzy and Elphelt Valentine �two beloved characters who are yet to make their roster appearance in Guilty Gear Strive (which ?may be why they have been replaced by Ram and Jack-O in this range).

These are the new fragrance builds, as reported by the fine folk of Siliconera.

• Ramlethal: Red thyme, jasmine, and peony at the top; powder, white freesia, and lily of the valley in the middle; white musk, suede, and spice at the bottom.
• Jack-O: Fragrant olive, yuzu, and jasmine at the top; iris, apricot, and magnolia in the middle; musk and cedarwood at the bottom.

You can check out the full range of fragrances over on the official Fairytail Parfum website. Given the company's Japanese origins, GG fans will likely have to go the import route?? if they wish to pick up the new perfumes. Each bottle retails for ÂĄ3,520, or roughly $27 USD, not ??including shipping.

Guilty Gear Strive is available now on PlayStation and PC pl??atforms.

The post Smel??l like Ramlethal with this new range of Guilty Gear fragrances appeared first on Destructoid.

]]> //jbsgame.com/guilty-gear-fragrances-perfume-fairytail-parfum-japan-cologne/feed/ 0 337176 //jbsgame.com/guilty-gear-jack-o-figure-figure-toy-apex-crouch-pose-tease/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=guilty-gear-jack-o-figure-figure-toy-apex-crouch-pose-tease //jbsgame.com/guilty-gear-jack-o-figure-figure-toy-apex-crouch-pose-tease/#respond Tue, 26 Jul 2022 19:00:10 +0000 //jbsgame.com/?p=336431

Spine-busting collectible coming from Apex Toys

Just yesterday, we reported on Storm Collectibles' upcoming premium figure of Guilty Gear badguy... er?m... Sol Badguy. But what if you aren't all about Sol, what if you're all about the mischievous but thoroughly loveable Jack-O Valentine?? Well, fret not, as Apex Toys has also announced that the Halloween lovin' gal is getting her own figure at some point in the near future.

As revealed during WonFest 2022, (and reported by Siliconera), the new Jack-O figure is scaled at 1/9, which translates to roughly eight-to-nine inches in height... or at least she would, if she were standing upright. Y'see, Apex Toys has teased the new figure with a suspiciously familiar silhouette, suggesting that our girl will be sporting her back-breaking, censor-worrying, meme-creating, crouch pose �the very same pose that took the internet by storm last year in the form of the "Jack-O Challenge."

//twitter.com/APEX_TOYS/status/1551013041780559873?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembe?d%7Ctwterm%5E1551013041780559873%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fjbsgame.com.go-vip.net%2Fwp-admin%2Fpost.php%3Fpost%3D336431action%3Dedit

Apex Toys did not release any other info in regards to the new Jack-O pose figure, so we don't know the release window, price, or pre-o??rder dates. But given that we don't even get to see an unpainted prototype, or even any new concept art, we are probably still a long way out from having to explain to our friends and relatives why the centerpiece of our lounge is a young woman in a bodysuit and a Halloween mask is essentially... well... "presenting."

It's a crouch pose, mom. You wouldn't understand.

Guilty Gear Strive is available now on PlayStation an?d PC. Jack-O Valentine is available as DLC.

The post Guilty Gear’s Jack-O is getting a figure featuring *that* notorious pose appeared first on Destructoid.

]]> //jbsgame.com/guilty-gear-jack-o-figure-figure-toy-apex-crouch-pose-tease/feed/ 0 336431 //jbsgame.com/sol-badguy-figure-guilty-gear-sdcc-pre-orders/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=sol-badguy-figure-guilty-gear-sdcc-pre-orders //jbsgame.com/sol-badguy-figure-guilty-gear-sdcc-pre-orders/#respond Mon, 25 Jul 2022 21:00:14 +0000 //jbsgame.com/?p=336255

Swords & Solcery

The weekend's San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) brought with it a wide variety of plastic fantastics, as various merch-makers showed off tabletops full of figurines, statues, and other paraphernalia related to some of the biggest and most popular global gaming brands. Storm Collectibles was in attendance, shining a spotlight on various upcoming Street Fighter and Darkstalkers figures for its partner, Capcom.

But Guilty Gear fans did not go away empty-handed, as Storm also brought with them the completed prototype of GG's hard-edged and hard-edgy poster boy Sol Badguy. The new premium figure sees the badass bounty hunter ready to lay the smack down on his next opponent, armed with his faithful and ferocious blade, O?utrage MkII. The Sol Badguy figure features a finely sculpted, fully poseable body and comes complete with five pairs of interchangeable hands, three head sculpts, and an optional flame effect to punctua?te his more dynamic poses.

//twitter.com/stormcohk/status/1551498??418056339456?s=20&t=ADr7XpjkQWw16PCSzXQ9fQ

Storm, curiously, has not listed the height of the new figure, but Sol Badguy is listed in their 1/12 scale category, so we can probably expect him to stand between 10-to-12 inches. Retailing for a very princely $95 (not including shipping), pre-orders for Sol are live over on the official Storm Collectibles website, ahead of his expected release?? window of early 2023 �which is quite a fast turna??round for a modern collectible.

Sadly, there was no sign of any Testament figures, statues, or models at SDCC this year. Oh well, maybe next time. If you want to take a look at Storm's Street Fighter reveals from the weekend's event, then be sure to check out our Street Fighter SDCC 2022 roundup article right here.

Guilty Gear Strive is available now on PlayStation and PC.

The post Storm Collectibles opens pre-orders on Guilty Gear Sol Badg?uy figure appeared first on Destructoid.

]]> //jbsgame.com/sol-badguy-figure-guilty-gear-sdcc-pre-orders/feed/ 0 336255 //jbsgame.com/guilty-gear-baiken-statue-toys-may-dizzy-ramlethal-figure-pre-order/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=guilty-gear-baiken-statue-toys-may-dizzy-ramlethal-figure-pre-order //jbsgame.com/guilty-gear-baiken-statue-toys-may-dizzy-ramlethal-figure-pre-order/#respond Thu, 26 May 2022 18:00:54 +0000 //jbsgame.com/?p=323921

Warning: Statue is Top Heavy

Yesterday saw Arc System Works make a series of announcements pertaining to its flash fight franchise Guilty Gear. In addition to the news that a huge, gameplay-changing update is headed to Guilty Gear Strive for the game's one-year anniversary, the stream also took the time to talk about some cool upcoming toys, figurines, and statues for the Guilty Gear die-hard's bookshelf.

Leading the pack was the announcement of a massive 1/6 scale Guilty Gear statue of the wandering samurai Baiken. Currently in the works at Union Creative, the statue is set to be pretty damn huge, in more ways than one, and (according to the image used) will likely depict the buxom warrior in the thick of the fight �rising to? her feet to deal another mighty blow. Given the recent pricing of 1/6 statues,? it is very likely that Baiken will retail for a princely sum. But I'mma start saving anyway.

For those who prefer their fighters a little more on the happy-go-lucky side, Broccoli offered up its first painted prototype of this utterly delightful May figurine. Rocking her GG Strive hoodie and accompanied by her trusty anchor, the seafaring adventurer will be made available to pre-order on June 6, although no price was announced. Stay tuned to the official Broccoli Twitter for more details on this gorgeous piece.

Next up, premium merch maker Prime 1 Studio will be making figurines of two very popular GG veterans, Dizzy and Ramlethal. These figurines are not quite the same scale as yer gal Baiken, and will stand roughly nine inches tall �a pinch higher than your average Kotobukiya model. Again, the?re were no prototype images available, but perhaps the concept art will give us a sneak glimpse at the posing Prime 1 will be going for. Prime 1 Studio is a premium retailer, so prepare your wallet, Dizzy fans.

Meanwhile, Storm Collectibles is working on a more typical action figure for Guilty Gear poster boy and card-carrying scene kid Sol Badguy. As you can see from the image below, Sol looks more to be an action figure of the common variety, complete with full articulation and several accessories. Storm has done an excellent job in capturing the distinct chunky proportions of a typical GG character model here.

These are unlikely to be all of the Guilty Gear-related merch headed to hobby stores over the coming year, especially as the title gathers speed heading into its second season. It's pretty mind-??blowing to see that Baiken, of all the fighting game characters, is in line for the 1/6 statue treatment, but I'm not complaining, obviously.

Guilty Gear Strive is ??available now on PlayStation and PC platforms. The new update launch??es June 10.

The post Baiken 1/6 statue leads reveal o??f Guilty Gear collectible line appeared first on Destructoid.

]]> //jbsgame.com/guilty-gear-baiken-statue-toys-may-dizzy-ramlethal-figure-pre-order/feed/ 0 323921 //jbsgame.com/super-mario-64-mod-totsugeki-may-guilty-gear/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=super-mario-64-mod-totsugeki-may-guilty-gear //jbsgame.com/super-mario-64-mod-totsugeki-may-guilty-gear/#respond Fri, 06 May 2022 23:00:52 +0000 //jbsgame.com/?p=320613

Mario isn't the only one who can ride dolphins

A new mod for Super Mario 64 asks and answers a simple question. What if May, from the Guilty Gear series of fighting games, was the main character of Super Mario 64?

Enter Totsugeki 64. This mod for the Nintendo 64 classic exchanges Mario for a 3D version of May, the chipper young first mate of the Jellyfis??h Pirates.

Author SpK released the mod on May 5, May's birthday in the Guilty Gear universe. It includes a brand-new May model, additional control options, and some secrets too. The source code's also open to dig through, if you want to make your own Totsugeki hack.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCqyNJAh3LA

Users have been able to confirm that Totsugeki 64 does indeed work on console too, for those looking to ?mess aro??und with those files.

It's gonna be May

May is a staple of the Guilty Gear series, as o?ne of the main roster characters all the way back in the original 1998 entry. Her signature orang??e coat and hat, as well as a giant anchor, are just one aspect of her design.

The other, referenced in the name of this mod, is her ability to summon and cooperate with denizens of the sea. Dolphins, especially. Play a decent amount of Guilty Gear Strive against a May player and you'll be all too familiar with the ring of "TOTSUGEKI" as a young lass and her dolphin fly a??cross the screen.

Here, Mr. Dolphin just helps out as a platforming tool. Much less aggressive and in your face. Funny enough, it highlights a fun overlap May and Mario have, in their ability to ride dolphins. It's a pretty cool birthday present, as well as a fun way to re-experience a Nintendo classic with a little bit of Guilty Gear mixed in for good measure.

You can find Totsugeki 64, as well as SpK's other various mods, over on RomHacking.

The post It’s-a May, not Mario, in this Super Mario 64 meets Guilty Gear mod appeared first on Destructoid.

]]> //jbsgame.com/super-mario-64-mod-totsugeki-may-guilty-gear/feed/ 0 320613 //jbsgame.com/baiken-is-back-in-guilty-gear-strive-and-shes-packing-heat/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=baiken-is-back-in-guilty-gear-strive-and-shes-packing-heat //jbsgame.com/baiken-is-back-in-guilty-gear-strive-and-shes-packing-heat/#respond Tue, 25 Jan 2022 17:00:58 +0000 //jbsgame.com/?p=305549

Samurai Shootdown

In just a few short days, the wandering warrior woman will make her presence felt when she returns to the star-studded roster of Arc System Works' excellent fighter Guilty Gear Strive �/em> This new iteration of the Baiken has a somewhat overhauled fighting style, boasting more than a few new twists, even for her most ardent fol??lowers.

So let's check out the newest edition of Guilty Gear Strive Starter Guide and see hwhat's hwhat.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFTPaZmQJS4

Right off of the bat, the starkest change to Baiken is the almost complete removal of the majority of her Guilty Gear X??rd arsenal, with this iteration of the samurai rolling out only a handful of specials... Some of whic?h are entirely new. Her encyclopedic array of Guard Cancels have been scrapped, mostly consolidated into a single counter known as "Hiragi".

This, at its very core, almost entirely changes the Baiken gameplan, which might be a tad frustrating for those who have already put in the hours to master Xrd's complicated defense system. Conversely, it will open the doors for newcomers or GG amateurs (like yer boy Moyse) t?o get ?off to something of a running start. To offset the loss of her cancels, Baiken has some intriguing new tricks up her sleeve. Literally.

The first is a fascinating mechanic that sees Baiken literally tether herself to ??her opponent, forcing them to remain at close range for a few seconds as she mixes them up with brutal close-quarters attacks. This results in a bizarre "bungee" situation, where th?e two fighters recoil and retract toward each other until the tether finally breaks. In 30 years of playing fighting games, I can't really recall anything quite like it!

And, if that wasn??'t wild enough, THE HAND CANNON RETURN?S.

Well, okay, it's not quite a gun, but Baiken's first new super "Kenjyu" sees her draw her mighty blunderbuss from her sleeve like Travis fuckin' Bickle, before letting loose with a powerful firework projectile. You can light up the night and your opponent's noggin. Kenjyu works both on the ground and in the air, giving Bai??ken some much-needed assistance when distanced from her prey, or when putting the icing on a devastating combo.

When it's time to end the fight in style, Tsurane Sanzu-Watashi will see Baiken lurch forth with three devastating slash attacks, causing major damage while closing out the fight with some exceptionally dramati??c visuals �recalling the cinematic samurai legends of yore. It's not like you need your legs.

From this video, it's clear that Baiken's arrival is going to be quite polarising. While many will be pleased at her more rounded "stripped-down" approach, and even long-time players will be excited to get to grips with her odd and exciting new mechanics, some Baiken veterans might be left grumbling at the lack of recognition to her classic playstyle �one that was particularly tough, and therefore rewarding, for them to have mastered in the first place. I'm the former. But then, I'm an awful GG player.

Baiken joins the battle on Friday, January 28, for all Guilty Gear Strive season pass holders. For everybody else, she will be available to purchase from January 31. As a quick refresher, here are the links to the previous Guilty Gear Strive starter guides for May & Axl Low, Sol Badguy and Ky Kiske, Chip Zanuff & Potemkin, Faust, Millia Rage, Zato-1, Ramlethal, Leo Whitefang, Nagoriyuki, Giovanna, Anji Mito, I-no, Goldlewis Dickinson, Jack-O Valentine, and Happy Chaos.

The post Baiken is back, and this time… she’s packing heat! appeared first on Destructoid.

]]> //jbsgame.com/baiken-is-back-in-guilty-gear-strive-and-shes-packing-heat/feed/ 0 305549 //jbsgame.com/guilty-gear-strive-teases-dlc-character-ahead-of-red-bull-kumite/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=guilty-gear-strive-teases-dlc-character-ahead-of-red-bull-kumite //jbsgame.com/guilty-gear-strive-teases-dlc-character-ahead-of-red-bull-kumite/#respond Fri, 12 Nov 2021 17:00:45 +0000 //jbsgame.com/?p=295272

That doesn't look like Mariah...

This week sees the bell ring on the annual fighting game tournament, Red Bull Kumite, which will see some of the world's finest fighters gather together in Las Vegas for a weekend of epic throwdown on titles such as Street Fighter V, Tekken 7, and Guilty Gear Strive. And, in regards to the latter, developer Arc Sys??tem Works is teasing a brand new DLC reveal!

In response to a Red Bull Kumite tweet yesterday, the anime fighting enthusiasts slid into the reply string to drop a mysterious silhouette, suggesting that the third of Guilty Gear Strive's DLC characters will be making their debut during the weekend's festivities. While little can be ascertained from the shadow itself, I have something of a feeling that it will not be odds-on favorite Mariah Carey, which is frankly heartbreaking. It als?o does not look like Baiken. Double Dang.

Guilty Gear characters are particularly notable by their wild visual design, particularly in regard to their haircuts, and thus fans are already crossing mighty-maned characters such as Jam off of their prediction list. Still, it could all be a hot swerve. We'll find out soon enough, regardless, when Arc Sys finally shines its spotlight on the new (or returning) character, who will join Goldlewis Dickinson and Jack-O Valentine as post-release combatants to the GG Strive roster.

Maybe next year, Mariah...

Red Bull Kumite takes place November 13-14 and can be viewed live over on the official Red Bull Twitch channel.

//twitter.com/ArcSystemWo??rks??U/status/1458918085956550658?s=20

The post Guilty Gear Strive teases DLC character ahead of Red?? Bull ??Kumite appeared first on Destructoid.

]]> //jbsgame.com/guilty-gear-strive-teases-dlc-character-ahead-of-red-bull-kumite/feed/ 0 295272 //jbsgame.com/guilty-gear-mod-cartoon-noises/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=guilty-gear-mod-cartoon-noises //jbsgame.com/guilty-gear-mod-cartoon-noises/#respond Mon, 23 Aug 2021 19:00:53 +0000 //jbsgame.com/?p=280674

It's Heaven or Hell, Boo Boo

Guilty Gear is a fightin?g game series where witches with electric guitars can fight against the U.S. Secretary of Defense, wielding an entombed cryptid. But a new custom sound pack adds a little extra oddity to the party: the silly, emphatic noises of Hanna-Barbera cartoons.

Twitter user "MeowzyKat" has created content for other Arc Systems Works games in the past, like trans flag-colored palettes for Persona 4 Arena Ultimax's roster of fighters. With the Hanna-Barbera mod, though, MeowzyKat transforms Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus R into a Saturday morning cartoon slap-fest.

//twitter.com/MeowzyKat/status/1428070547?594883081

According to Meo?wzyKa??t, it took weeks of work and hundreds of sound files to make happen. But as you can see, the results speak for themselves: it's fantastic.

Once I saw Sol Badguy lean into his run and heard the Scooby-Doo running noise, the two became inextricably linked in my brain. The sound of pots and pans clanging into one another, spring noises and general cartoon chaos filling the heavy metal-infused world of Guilty Gear works so, so well.

Accent Core Plus R saw a revival of sorts when Arc System Works added rollback netcode to its PC version, making it much easier for players to find matches without worrying as much about geograp??hical distance. And the other plus-side of the PC version, aside from being able to back-add rollback, is modding in cartoon noises.

You can grab the sound pack and add them yourself through MeowzyKat's Twitter. Once you do, it's as simple as placing the files in the sound effects folder and bam, you've got your very own Hanna-Barbera fighting game. Well, kind of. It at least makes me fondly reminisce about eating cereal and watching Wacky Races.

If you're more into the modern Guilty Gear entries, Arc System Works recently announced Jack-O' is coming to Guilty Gear Strive this month. Surely you'd think her minions woul??d work well with the Hanna-Barbera noises too, right?

The post Guilty Gear sound pack adds Hanna-Barbe??ra?? cartoon noises to the brawls appeared first on Destructoid.

]]> //jbsgame.com/guilty-gear-mod-cartoon-noises/feed/ 0 280674 //jbsgame.com/baiken-samurai-shodown-dlc-guilty-gear-trailer/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=baiken-samurai-shodown-dlc-guilty-gear-trailer //jbsgame.com/baiken-samurai-shodown-dlc-guilty-gear-trailer/#respond Thu, 19 Aug 2021 16:00:29 +0000 //jbsgame.com/?p=280246

(Though her clothing probably could be, frankly)

Just look at her! Have you ever seen a crossover character so perfectly to the franchise in which they are making their grand appearance? Today sees Baiken �sultry samurai of Guilty Gear fame �lock swords with the stoic warriors of SNK's Samurai Shodown, and?? I'd be hard-pressed to think of a better-suited crossover in modern gaming.

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

As you can see from the brand new trailer above, Baiken has taken to the Samurai Shodown style like a duck to water, with her ultra-cool look and deliberate swordswomanship perfectly fitting in alongside Haohmaru, Shiki, Galford, and the rest of the SamSho crew. Baiken mastery of damaging single slashes, speed that belies her large frame, and an ice-cold killer instinct make her the perfect addition to SNK's tactical fighting title. Baiken arrives in-game today as the final character of season three,? and perhaps the final character of the game period, making her debut? a little bittersweet.

Samurai Shodown is an excellent title, with cool visuals, a distinct visual style, and ruthless gameplay that feels completely different from every other fighter on the market. While SNK did a fine job with the reboot, Samurai Shodown struggled to find its feet in the crazy competitive fighting game market. Epic Games Store exclusivity, a lack of cross-play, and netcode woes worked against the title's positives, such as free DLC for early adopters, a huge roster of characters, delightful presentation, and a wide range of platforms. For everything SNK did right with Samurai Shodown, it would slip elsewhere. Regardless, it is still a? very fine release �one of the studio's best ever �and should it be entering its twilight phase, then this guest appearance is a more than fitting swansong.

You can find the full patch notes for today's update right here.

The post Guilty Gear’s Baiken joins Samurai Shodown today, and she couldn’t be a better fit appeared first on Destructoid.

]]> //jbsgame.com/baiken-samurai-shodown-dlc-guilty-gear-trailer/feed/ 0 280246 //jbsgame.com/baiken-samurai-shodown-guilty-gear-dlc-trailer/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=baiken-samurai-shodown-guilty-gear-dlc-trailer //jbsgame.com/baiken-samurai-shodown-guilty-gear-dlc-trailer/#respond Mon, 16 Aug 2021 13:14:48 +0000 //jbsgame.com/?p=279506

Was there ever any doubt?

Delightful news this morning as a dropped trailer has quietly revealed that Guilty Gear's savvy samurai Baiken will be a guest DLC character in tactical slasher Samurai Shodown. Could there be anyone more befitting? While neither Arc System Works nor SNK have officially commented on the video, the trailer states that Baiken will be available to purchase on August 18, the latest contender in Samurai Shodown's third season of DLC warriors.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7hM2Et_Wlo

Many Guilty Gear fans had already predicted that it would be Baiken making the leap to the legendary SNK franchise, and who could blame them, really? With her stoic arrogance, powerful frame, and exquisite and deadly swordswomanship, Baiken was an absolute shoo-in for the guest spot. Baiken is a main dame when it comes to GG, and while I'm disappointed that this guest appearance might rule her out for showing up in Strive down the line, I'll be more than happy to fire up Samurai Shodown again for a bit o??f the old cut 'n' thrust. Welcome to the par??ty, sister.

Samurai Shodown is available now on PS4, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, and Stadia. It's one of SNK's best-ever releases, compelling in its deliberate nature, and? certainly deserves more time in the spotlight... if SNK could only see to tightening up those troublesome online woes.

The post Guilty Gear’s Baiken coming to claim heads in Samurai Shodown appeared first on Destructoid.

]]> //jbsgame.com/baiken-samurai-shodown-guilty-gear-dlc-trailer/feed/ 0 279506 //jbsgame.com/destructoid-cblog-recaps-10-july-2021/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=destructoid-cblog-recaps-10-july-2021 //jbsgame.com/destructoid-cblog-recaps-10-july-2021/#respond Sat, 10 Jul 2021 17:00:05 +0000 //jbsgame.com/?p=274675

Cblogs of 7/3 to 7/9/2021

-Captiosus is worried about how the Mass Effect s??eries will continue and is not confident on th??e current Bioware to pull it off.

-GoofierBrute takes a look at Yoshi's Safari in this blogging series about games that time f??orgot.

-Kerrik52 reviews Prey (2017) as part of his Traveler in Playtime review blogs.

-Gamingnerd sheds the light on some must-have Steam games? that are currently under discount.

-Black Red Gaming outlines entries 25 to 28 i??n their collection of must-play games.

-Necrowondo writes about the value of video games??? resisting homogenization.

-Black Red Gaming shares their thoughts on Black Skylands on the PC.

-NinjaSpeed wonders about the future of Superhero games.

-PhilsPhindings discusses the similarities between the soundtrack of Wonder Boy 3 and Japanese Dance Pop music.

-SigfriedLion gushes about the soundtrack of Guilty Gear: Strive.

-ChronoLynxx opens this week's TGIF community disc??ussion forum.

-Riley1sSpook starts this blogging series about watching the Mobile Suit Gundam anime.

Thanks, as always, to Lord Spencer for this week’s recap and to all of you, our belov??ed community for another batch of interesting thought-works. Work continues on fine-tuning many elements of Destructoid after the switchover, but we hope to return to Blog Promotions, Bloggers Wanted, and other community-themed projects soon! Thanks for your patience!

The post ?Are you hopeful for the future of the Mass Effect franchise? appeared first on Destructoid.

]]> //jbsgame.com/destructoid-cblog-recaps-10-july-2021/feed/ 0 274675 //jbsgame.com/reviews/review-guilty-gear-strive/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=review-guilty-gear-strive //jbsgame.com/reviews/review-guilty-gear-strive/#respond Wed, 16 Jun 2021 23:10:10 +0000 //jbsgame.com/?post_type=eg_reviews&p=269411

The sweet smell of the game

Arc System Works has sat atop the anime subgenre of fighting games for some time now, a position that's only strengthened with games like Dragon Ball FighterZ. With Guilty Gear Strive, the develo??per has ??meshed many of its best aspects into one: a gorgeous look, a compelling battle system, a solid roster, and excellent netcode.

That doesn't mean it isn't lacking in some areas, especially compared to other popular fighting games. But Guilty Gear Strive excels where it needs to; and while it's not quite all-encompassing, it is also very good at what it does. It pits anime characters against each other in spectacular bouts filled with gorgeous effects, and—in what is one of its greatest strengths—makes it easy to d??o online.

Strive is the new platform for Guilty Gear moving forward, following Xrd Sign and its Revelator upgrades on the previous generation. It is still available on PlayStation 4 as w??ell as PC, but I took the chance to see what a next-gen fighting game would look like on the PlayStation 5.

Guilty Gear Strive (PC, PS4, PS5 [reviewed])
Developer: Arc System Works
Publisher: Arc System Works
Released: June 11, 2021
MSRP: $59.99

The starting roster of 15 brings a good deal of variety to the table, too. It's fairly straightforward with only two newcomers, but both the return of an older character in Anji and the retooling of various characters' kits offer up new looks and ways to play old standards. Ramlethal quickly became my main; she has big swords, good attacks, and easily suited my playstyle of fishing around in the neutral space for hits and punishing headstrong opponents. But even characters like May and Potemkin, who I've bounced off in the past, were drawing me in this time around in Strive.

As for the battle system, it gets complicated here. Guilty Gear is sometimes notorious, though not as much as other anime fighters, for having more complex mechanics to think about. In Guilty Gear Strive, some have returned and some have gone away. I'm writing this review more for the fighting game-??interested rather than the fighting game-fluent; while the removal of Dead-Angle Attacks, changes to Gatling combos, and the addition of Wall Breaks are one thing to the latter group, the jargon mig??ht go over the head of the former.

Wall Breaks are the most visible change, and they're overall an interesting addition. What it means for competitive play is one thi??ng, but at the average level, I've seen it as a reward for a good combo. It allows for a reset to neutral ground, with a momentum advantage for the player who lands the Wall Break, and it also looks visually?? cool.

[brid video="805865" player="12899" title="Guilty%20Gear%20Strive%20Review" duration="450?" description="Destructoid's review for Guilty Gear Strive.In today's review, we're looking at the latest entree in the Guilty Gear series known as Strive! Is the lore as deep as ever? You bet. Are the visuals as stunning as always with Arc System Works? Absolutely. Is th?e game any good? Find out!The version played: PS5 (also available on PS4 and PC)Developer: Arc System WorksPublisher: Arc System WorksReleased: June 11, 2021MSRP: $59.99" uploaddate="2021-06-16" thumbnailurl="//cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/10260/thumb/805865_t_1623885923.jpg" contentUrl="//cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/10260/sd/805865.mp4"]

As for the overall systems, Guilty Gear Strive does feel more approachable than previous games. Systems have been streamlined, options are a bit clearer, and overall, this isn't going to feel as overwhelming up-front. That's not to sa??y you can't still get rocked by a Sol Badguy player while trying to climb the matchmaking towers, but the on-ramp is a bit smoother than it's felt in the past.

Missions help a bit with this, though they make a trade-off of sorts. There are a lot of very situational and in-depth tutorials designed to teach players everything, from the fundamentals of Guilty Gear (what's a Roman Cancel, how to use Faultless Defense) to more intricate and demanding tasks (cancelling a Roman Cancel). While it's great for getting up to speed, I wish there had been a little more focus on character-spe??cific combos. It's a minor thing that the community usually solves, but I got used to having them as interactive warm-ups before I played.

There are a few other places where Guilty Gear Strive feels leaner than other fighting games as well. Its Story Mode is essentially a long movie, and though I really enjoy the interactive lore timeline that lets you read up on all the deep history of the series, it ma??de single-player options feel a bit limited. There is cosmetic progression with your fight money, which you can use to fish for things like trailers, concept art, music, and attire for your online avatar.

And while the lobbies may be better, they're still reminiscent of what the old, maligned lobbies were. Having stations, rematching, and Player Match options are all great, but pieces of this still feel clunky. Lobbies are at the very least functional, and ge??t you to the star of the show: the actual online play.

It feels a little weird to be saying this, but the strength of the online play might be worth it alone for Guilty Gear Strive. I've played fighting games online in a lot of ways: on different platforms, over third-party apps, connecting to random servers and getting walloped. Guilty Gear Strive's rollback netcode?? is smooth and surprisingly capable. For one of my evening rumble sessions with another reviewer, I tested out how the Wi-Fi held up—and even crossing many state lines, we had a solid connection with literally one or two odd hitches across several matches.

Online alone can't make a game, but it can accentuate what's already there, and that's the dual-pronged strength of Guilty Gear Strive. It is a fundamentally solid, fun game to play against other people, and playing it online doesn't feel like settling for a lesser experience to in-person brawls. Netcode has done this before, reviving several other games including a previous Guilty Gear game in the online scene, but this needs to be a priority moving forward, especially as the pandemic made it so clear how important netcod??e can ??be to a game's long-term viability.

It might lack in some areas compared to fighting games with larger suites of features or options for those who aren't looking for a competitive experience. Guilty Gear Strive is absolutely that: this is ?a fighting game you get if you want to play against other people, rather than play ?through a cinematic campaign or set of CPU challenges.

As a competitive fighting game though, it's one I keep coming back to and thinking about. Guilty Gear's cast of characters has always been unique and memorable, and they're on excellent display here. The fightin??g is exciting, compelling, approachable, with enough depth to keep working and refining what I do. And its online play makes it ridiculously easy to match up against anyone, without having to think about bad connections ruining our good times, even if the lobbies are still�Let's call them quirky.

If I was looking for an on-ramp to understanding Guilty Gear or even one-on-one anime fighters, this is the game to do it with; and what's here looks ready to act as a platform for more to come, as there will no doubt be balance changes and new characters to come. I can lament what it might be missing, but Guilty Gear Strive is also w??hat I needed right now: a good, solid, very online-capable fighting game with plenty of big swords, charging dolphins, and doctors with questionable credentials to go around.

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

The post Review: Guilty Gear Strive appeared first on Destructoid.

]]> //jbsgame.com/reviews/review-guilty-gear-strive/feed/ 0 269411 //jbsgame.com/guilty-gear-strive-impressions-in-progress/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=guilty-gear-strive-impressions-in-progress //jbsgame.com/guilty-gear-strive-impressions-in-progress/#respond Mon, 07 Jun 2021 22:00:38 +0000 //jbsgame.com/?p=268477

Online kicks into a new gear

If you haven't played a lot of fighting games online, it might be hard to get across what makes Guilty Gear Strive stand out. It is a Guilty Gear game, despite some gameplay changes that caused some initial stir; Roman Cancels, Faultless D?efense?, and airdashes aplenty are still the name of the game.

The most notable point in Guilty Gear Strive's list of features might not even be a new feature or mode, but how it approaches its online. The fighting game discourse at large has been talking about rollback netcode for ages, and Guilty Gear Strive uses it. And here and now, just as? in the beta, it's s?tellar.

We've spent some hours playing Guilty Gear Strive ahead of launch, but many features—including its story mode and launch balance updates—were not accessible to us until this morning. I'll be putting together some more holistic thoughts as those open up, but one major upside of Guilty Gear's l?atest en??try has already been apparent whenever we've had the chance to hop on the servers.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yhr9WpjaDzw

With some fighting games, a good connection can feel like a mix of luck, timing, and circumstance. I've had decent connections across the country, and I've had laggy, hitching messes within my own state. Guilty Gear Strive, however, makes use of rollback netcode; if you're not familiar with it, there are some fantastic explainers out there, bu??t the short version is that it uses assumptions and basic reasoning to mask frames of delay between l??onger-distance connections.

This might not seem like a huge change?? for two pals with good connections playing in the same city, and it might not be. But playing with other folks who had early access, across great distances, felt great. It's strange how just a good connection can make the competition shine all that much brighter, but it really does.

As for the competition itself, I've been enjoying my time with Guilty Gear Strive. The cast is varied and has a good mix of playstyles available from the outset. Sure, you have Sol Badguy and Ky Kiske, because you can't really make a Guilty Gear without those two, and several other familiar faces are also here. A few, like Ramlethal, even ha??d their kits? shaked up a bit from previous iterations, and it's nice to see Anji Mito back in the lineup.

Newcomers Nagoriykui and Giovanna feel right at home, though. The former is an imposing samurai character, using some really neat blood mechanics. He's got some big swings and damage potential, balanced out by having less mobility than, say, Giovanna; a close-range combatant with lots of fast moves? and tricky attacks to block.

Overall, it's a potent starting roster for a Guilty Gear game that definitely seems to be trying to appeal to players who might be coming in from other Arc System Works games, like Dragon Ball FighterZ or Granblue Fantasy Versus. And like other Arc System Works games, Guilty Gear Strive is fittingly gorgeou?s. Aside from some of the massive numbers and UI elements being a little over-the-top, the look of every character and the way they animate i??s spectacular to watch in motion. I've been mostly playing Ramlethal, and launching her massive sword-cannon blast across the scene feels spectacular, partly because of how dang cool it looks to do.

While the company's been popular with fighting game aficionados for a while now, I've seen more players make their way towards their particularly stylish brand thanks to games like Dragon Ball FighterZ. If you're worried this means the complexity is completely gone, don't worry too much. The mission mode alone is a good reminder that Guilty Gear Strive can be complex; wh?ile it starts out with basics like backstepping and dashing, by later maps I was working on combos that uti??lized Roman Cancel� Cancels. Strive is still an anime fighter, even if it feels a bit easier to work your way into than some other games thanks to the missions and general movement of the game.

It's hard to talk about balance at all right now; changes are still being made, and will keep being made, and Guilty Gear Strive hasn't really hit the broader playerbase. It also seems to be very focused on the multiplayer side of things, with what I could play of story mode playing out solely in cutscenes and the other options being fairly straightforward arcade or survival modes. If you're picking up Guilty Gear Strive, you'll want to do it because you want to play against other people, rather than looking for any sort of Net?herRealm-style story mode.

For a competitive fighter though, th?e online alone seems like a good reason to try it out. We'll be spending more time both finishing out the story mode and seeing how the online holds up to a broader swathe of players as early access buyers trickle in. But for right now? ??I've been spending my time away from the controller still thinking about combo ideas, mulling over whether my corner pressure could be extended or modified to keep opponents guessing. That's already a good sign.

Guilty Gear Strive launches for premi??um editions on June 8, and for standard editions on June 11.

The post Guilty Gear Strive impressions: Still my heart?? is blazing appeared first on Destructoid.

]]> //jbsgame.com/guilty-gear-strive-impressions-in-progress/feed/ 0 268477 //jbsgame.com/shiro-tokisada-amakusa-trailer-samurai-shodown/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=shiro-tokisada-amakusa-trailer-samurai-shodown //jbsgame.com/shiro-tokisada-amakusa-trailer-samurai-shodown/#respond Thu, 03 Jun 2021 15:30:40 +0000 //jbsgame.com/?p=267914

Former Samurai Showdown boss Shiro returns to the battle

SNK has released the first full gameplay trailer for the next DLC character headed to its claret-splattered fighter Samurai Shodown. Shiro Tokisada Amakusa will be the third fighter to arrive as part of SamSho's Season 3 pass, following on from recent returnees Cham Cham and Hibiki Takane.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdsS1aBMkYg

The arrival of Shiro has been foretold for some time, with Samurai Shodown's post-credits sequence featuring? a teasing glimpse of an ominous glowing orb. This orb, or "gem", is the cornerstone of Shiro's attack pattern, and can be used as a projectile, a defensive tool, or even just a frustrating distraction, allowing Amakusa to get in and deal deadly damage. The gem also affords Shiro swift movement and teleportation abilities, making the religious revolutionary a terrifying opponent not only at all times, but also from any conceivable distance...

...I mean, he was a boss character, after all.

Shiro Tokisada Amakusa will be made available for purchase on all platforms June 14. The same day will also see Samurai Shodown end its one-year exclusivity deal with Epic Games Store, and thus will see SNK bring the brilliant fighter to the Steam platform. Given Shiro's importance in the narrative's modern timeline, it would be a snug assumption to suggest he may be Samurai Shodown's final native character. This is, of course, not including a still-unidentified Guilty Gear guest star, who will round out Season 3 lat?er th?is year.

It's gotta be Baiken, right? Please let it be Baiken.

The post Shiro Toki?sada Amakusa will brin??g devastating power to Samurai Shodown appeared first on Destructoid.

]]> //jbsgame.com/shiro-tokisada-amakusa-trailer-samurai-shodown/feed/ 0 267914 //jbsgame.com/get-a-taste-of-guilty-gear-strives-absolute-bangers-fellow-kids/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=get-a-taste-of-guilty-gear-strives-absolute-bangers-fellow-kids //jbsgame.com/get-a-taste-of-guilty-gear-strives-absolute-bangers-fellow-kids/#respond Wed, 26 May 2021 18:00:00 +0000 //jbsgame.com/get-a-taste-of-guilty-gear-strives-absolute-bangers-fellow-kids/

Six Minutes of Metaaaaalllll

As much as it is typified by its wild fashions, awesome artwork and litany of fairweather players, Guilty Gear Strive is known for its relentless, teeth-gnashing soundtrack. A veritable melody of metal and mayhem combined, GG's guitar-squeal?ing riffs and sub-M?ike Patton wailing has become as iconic to the brand as anybody on its colorful roster of characters.

Guilty Gear Strive is apparently no exception, with each and every one of the starting roster's 15 characters being blessed with their own bespoke theme song. Dramatic to the point of operatic, and packing more adrenaline than Eric Stoltz in a dirty bathrobe, the GG Strive soundtrack looks to be the series' most ambitious to date, and w?ill hopefully help e??ach and every fight feel like a world-ending battle for the ages.

But you don't have to take my word for it. Presented for your consideration, a "Soundtrack Sampler" video, which features short, teasing bursts from each and every playable character's theme tune — all of which receive ridiculous titles such as "Smell of the Game" and "Alone Infection". Fittingly, my gal Ramlethal's song is titled "Necessary Discrepancy", a name which sounds like I wrote it. The full soundtrack is available as a bonus item for players who pick up the Guilty Gear Strive Ultimate Edition.

Have a listen and let us know which tr??ack is your favorite.

Guilty Gear Strive launches on PlayStation and PC June 11.

The post Get a taste of Guilty Gear Strive’s Absolute Bangers, fellow kids appeared first on Destructoid.

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