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Guilty Gear Xrd arcade to receive console-exclusive fighters
In a recent Japanese-language update, developer Arc System Works reveals plans to add the console exclusive characters of Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN- to the fighting game's arcade incarnation. According to a translation by the fighting game devotees at Shoryuken, an update for the arcade game will be released that will both balance the game to more closely mimic its console counterpart and add three new fighters: Sin Kiske, Leo Whitefang and Elphelt Valentine. Sin is an unlockable playable character in the console game, while Leo and Elphelt were both added to Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN- as separate DLC characters after launch. Arc System Works offers no word on when it plans to launch the update. [Image: Aksys]
Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN- review: Technical knockout
PS4, PS3 Not everything that glitters is gold, but sometimes that glitter can go a long way. Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN-, the latest fighting game from Arc System Works, handily demonstrates this tweaked adage. Despite carrying over many characters and gameplay elements from the niche-hit Guilty Gear series, this entry adds a wholly new graphics engine that trades 2D sprites for cel-shaded 3D models. The result is a hyper-kinectic 3D fighter that looks like a very attractive 2D fighter while retaining a few neat gimmicks only possible in the third dimension. But beneath that glossy exterior lies an anemic framework. What's there is great, both aesthetically and mechanically, but what's there is also relatively scant. It's hard to dislike Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN- because it does so many things well, but the level of quality present in the game only makes you wonder how much better it might have been had the developers added a few more fighters and gameplay modes.
Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN- spawns limited edition in late December
A few months ago we brought you a detailed explanation of what can be found in the limited edition version of Arc System Works' upcoming fighter Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN-. Now we know when it will reach North America: December 23. According to North American publisher Aksys Games, the limited edition release was originally slated to appear earlier, but labor strikes at California's docks made it impossible to nail down a launch date that could guarantee sufficient copies of a release that includes the exceedingly attractive Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN- alongside a soundtrack, keychain, art book and premium box. "In conjunction with our partners, Aksys Games has been working hard to mitigate this postponement," states the publisher's release date announcement. "We'd like to apologize for the delay and thank all our fans for their patience in this matter." The limited edition version of Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN- will be available for both PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 consoles. On the former machine it will feature a $70 price tag, while the new-generation version of the limited edition is priced at $80. If you don't need any of the these extras and just want to buy the game itself, you can pick up Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN- on December 16 for $60. [Image: Aksys Games]
Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN- clashes with PS4, PS3 in December
Arc System Works' eminently stylish 2D fighter Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN- debuts for the PlayStation 4 and PS3 in December, North American publisher Aksys Games revealed today. Abandoning sprites in favor for a stylized polygonal approach, Xrd features a roster of 16 playable fighters, and expands on series-standard mechanics like the Roman Cancel for deeper and more complex brawls than ever before. If you're wondering how to pronounce that nonsensical title, by the way, here's a quick primer. Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN- premieres on December 16 at retail and digitally via the PlayStation Network. A limited edition release that includes a soundtrack CD, an art book, and a keychain modeled after Sol Badguy's belt buckle will also be available at launch. [Video: Aksys]
Margaret joins Persona 4 Arena Ultimax roster as $5 DLC
The Atlus/Arc System Works mashup fighter Persona 4 Arena Ultimax now has an additional pugilist available for download: mysterious Velvet Room attendant Margaret. A zoning character, Margaret isn't the best pure brawler, but she makes up for this by bringing three Personas into battle where most characters can only summon one. Like the previously free Adachi and Marie characters, Margaret is currently available on both the Xbox Live Marketplace and PlayStation Network Store at a price of $5. For a refresher course on Margaret as a character, the Megami Tensei wiki has a full rundown on her roles in both Persona 3 and Persona 4. For more on her Persona 4 Arena Ultimax incarnation, see the video primer past the break. [Image: Atlus]
Persona 4 Arena Ultimax heads to Europe courtesy of Sega
It's been up in the air, but Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is confirmed now to be coming to Europe and other EMEA territories. Sega revealed it's publishing the follow-up fighter in November, with retail and downloadable versions on the way for PS3 and Xbox 360. Atlus is bringing Ultimax to the Americas on September 30 without region-locking, in contrast to the controversial decision to region-lock the first Persona 4 Arena. That decision caught more attention when the game was delayed by nine months in Europe. Distributor Zen United has since returned the P4A digital rights to Atlus.
Guilty Gear XX #Reload brings the fight to Steam in September
Publisher Kiss Ltd. have revealed plans to release Arc System Works' 2D fighter Guilty Gear XX #Reload on Steam. While this is a very delayed port - Guilty Gear XX #Reload originally reached consoles in 2004, and even saw a PC release in 2005 - it's still a welcome addition to Steam, where 2D fighters are at a premium, and the only other representative from Arc System Works' long-running Guilty Gear series is 2003's Guilty Gear Isuka. Happily, XX #Reload is one of the better entries in the franchise, as it builds on the strengths of Guilty Gear XX while adding additional content and tweaking a handful of minor issues. Kiss Ltd. has yet to reveal a price point for Guilty Gear XX #Reload and it's unknown if the Steam version of the game includes any additional updates, but we can tell you that the game will be available for download on September 5. [Image: Arc System Works]
Adorable BlazBlue action spinoff hits 3DS this week
Developer Arc System Works, a studio most famous for hyper-kinetic 2D fighters, will launch BlazBlue: Clone Phantasma on the 3DS eShop on August 21. Unlike its traditional fighting game predecessors, BlazBlue: Clone Phantasma is a 3D action game that renders the BlazBlue cast as tiny, super-deformed, cutesy versions of developer Arc System Works' typically elaborate character designs. The goal remains "defeat your opponent," but in lieu of flashy combos the giant-headed characters attempt to knock one another off a given stage. This gameplay shift renders BlazBlue: Clone Phantasma more simplistic than its fighting game forebears, but that aligns with the game's budget $6 price tag. Unfortunately, BlazBlue: Clone Phantasma does not feature online multiplayer. This omission will likely shorten its shelf life, in much the same way that 2010's BlayzBloo: Super Melee Brawlers Battle Royale proved a momentary distraction, but lacked enough long-term depth to draw players from the series' fighting game core. [Image: Arc System Works]
There's something about Marie in Persona 4 Arena Ultimax
Atlus confirmed Marie as the second DLC character for Persona 4 Arena Ultimax, and like Adachi she'll be free to download during the fighter's launch week. After that, Persona 4 Golden's cap-clad scamp will revert to being paid-for content. Marie's also starring in the new Persona 4 Golden anime, which began airing on Aniplex earlier this month. So, if you're a Persona fan waiting for the deluge of games on the way - including Ultimax, Persona Q, Persona 4: Dancing All Night and Persona 5 - that might be worth a watch before things kick off this year. Persona Q is already lined up for November 25, while Ultimax remains ready to hit PS3 and Xbox 360 sometime this fall. [Image: Atlus]
Two perspectives on Garireo's amazing Evo 2014 comeback
Forget the World Cup, this weekend's most thrilling competitive drama took place at the Evo 2014 fighting game tournament. Specifically, in the BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma finals between Garireo and Dogura. Coming into the finals, Garireo was fighting out of the losers bracket, meaning he needed to win two straight best of five matches, while Dogura only needed to win one. Garireo barely squeaked by in the first match, winning 3 to 2. Garireo then lost his first two battles in the second match, leaving him moments from elimination, before he managed an impressive three-win streak to take home the championship. Above, you'll find footage of the finals in its entirety. Below, footage of Garireo and Dogura during the last battle. If you're allergic to people's dreams being crushed in undeniably spectacular fashion as a rabid crowd goes nuts in the background, you may want to skip the second clip. [Image: Arc System Works]
Watch out for free Adachi DLC when Persona 4 Arena Ultimax launches
Oh, Tohru Adachi. So clumsy, so silly, so charmingly incompetent. We bet you're not going to be any harm whatsoever as a DLC character in Persona 4 Arena Ultimax. That must be why Atlus is making you free to acquire during the fighter's launch week (after which the DLC will require payment) So... yup, there's nothing to worry about here whatsoever. Now you're safe and secure in that knowledge, why not relax and watch an hour of Persona 4 Arena Ultimax in action? You'll find Atlus' recorded stream below the break, showcasing some of the follow-up's new combatants including Sho, Rise and Ken (of Persona 3 fame and not Street Fighter sadly.) Apart from new characters, Ultimax brings new story modes to the returning ones, along with alternate shadow characters that play differently, Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is due to launch on Xbox 360 and PS3 this fall.
Why Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN- ditches pixels for polygons
The biggest change hitting Arc System Works' Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN- is a shift from hand-drawn, two-dimensional sprites to three-dimensional, polygonal characters. You could be fooled into believing the game is 2D, as the game's vibrant cel-shading covers any jagged edges, but the sweeping camera angles betray the game's new 3D technology. According to Arc System Works chief creative officer Daisuke Ishiwatari (via translator), the company's rival fighting franchise, BlazBlue, has reached the apex of what its developers can do with sprite artwork. Describing BlazBlue as the "pinnacle of that style," Ishiwatari feels that it would be "boring to do the same thing with Guilty Gear." Plus, the new three-dimensional space allows the development team access to new camera angles - a feature especially notable in the almost-cinematic launch attacks, where the camera drops behind the attacker, then follows his or her victim into the air where players can unleash a brutal, mid-air combo. [Image: Aksys Games]
How to pronounce 'Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN-'
Unless you've got a baffling grasp of phonetics, you're likely having trouble pronouncing the title of the latest entry in Arc System Works' Guilty Gear franchise, Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN-. Fortunately, we're here to help. According to chief creative officer Daisuke Ishiwatari (via translator), the title is pronounced exactly as you read it. The "Xrd" bit is properly pronounced "ecks-erd," and the remaining bits of the title are pretty self explanatory. [Image: Aksys Games]
Report: Guilty Gear Xrd Sign boasts PS3, PS4 cross-play
The next entry in Arc System Works' Guilty Gear franchise, dubbed Guilty Gear Xrd Sign, will allow PlayStation 3 players to throw down against those on PlayStation 4, according to the latest issue of Famitsu (courtesy Siliconera translation). Those unable to follow the labyrinthine naming structure Arc System Works uses for the Guilty Gear games should know that Guilty Gear Xrd Sign is the fifth official installment in the series, and ninth overall. Unlike 2007's Guilty Gear 2: Overture, Guilty Gear Xrd Sign features three-dimensional characters duking it out on a 2D plane, not unlike Capcom's various Street Fighter 4 iterations. Unfortunately for fans of Arc System Works' gorgeous 2D sprite animation, that's not the only trick Guilty Gear Xrd Sign borrows from Street Fighter 4, as the game will ditch hard-drawn graphics in favor of cel-shaded 3D models. Further information from this week's Famitsu report includes the comforting news that the PlayStation 4 incarnation of Guilty Gear Xrd Sign will run at 1080p resolution. Arc System Works also plans to add new, exclusive characters to the console version of Guilty Gear Xrd Sign, though there's no word on how many polygonal pugilists will join the fight. As we recently mentioned, Guilty Gear Xrd Sign is slated to hit both the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 in North America at some point this Fall. [Image: Arc System Works]
Guilty Gear Xrd SIGN makes it up to North America this fall
Guilty Gear Xrd Sign hits North America this fall on PS3 and PS4, courtesy of localization specialist Aksys Games. The Xth fighter in the series features 2D cel-shaded graphics, and Aksys promises IGN it retains trademark systems with some noteworthy improvements. Xrd Sign features 15 combatants including new villain Ramethal Valentine, who's related somehow to the Valentine from Guilty Gear 2: Overture. Ramethal hit the character select screens in Japan's arcades last month. where players are also trying out fellow newbie Bedman. And we reckon we know why he's called that... [Image: Arc System Works]
Rise Kujikawa confirmed to be playable in Persona 4 Arena Ultimax
Former teen idol Rise Kujikawa isn't staying idle in Persona 4 Arena Ultimax, after Famitsu confirmed her as one of the game's playable fighters. The original Arena introduced the Persona 4 starlet as a non-playable announcer, but in the enhanced follow-up she's one of a bunch of new fighters including Yukari and Junpei from Persona 3, and a character that's brand new to the series, Sho Minazuki. The news gives credence to rumors that Ken Amada, Persona 3's youngest (human) protagonist, also features in the Ultimax roster. As Siliconera reported, a now-baleeted Best Buy listing noted both Ken and Rise as playable in Ultimax. It also mentioned a total of six newbies, indicating there's another fighter we've yet to hear anything about. We'll likely find out soon enough, given the game is due to hit PS3 and Xbox 360 sometime this fall. [Image: Atlus]
New BloodRayne teased by fighting game studio
Arc System Works is teasing a new game called "BRCS," which appears to be related to the BloodRayne franchise. VG247 points out the iconography on the character's medallion and sword are that of red-headed dhampir, Rayne. In recent years Arc System Works has been best known as a fighting game developer, with Guilty Gear, BlazBlue and Persona Arena to their credit. However, the company also did Hard Corps: Uprising in 2011, which was a heavy-action sidescroller, so that's also a possibility for this potential BloodRayne game. The last good game to use the license was BloodRayne: Betrayal, a well-executed 2D action game by WayForward. [Image: Arc]
BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma brings the fight to PS3 today
Better late than never, publisher Aksys has announced that BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma is making its PlayStation 3 debut today. BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma is the latest hyperkinetic 2D fighter from developer Arc System Works, the same people behind the Guilty Gear series and Persona 4 Arena. In November, we reported that the game was slated to hit the PS3 on March 14, but that date came and went without any word on the fighter. Regardless, the game is now winging its way to retail locations, with a digital version scheduled to debut on the PlayStation Network come April 1. Those of you on the fence about picking up BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma should know that the initial print run of the game will feature additional content. Specifically, a new character named Yuuki Terumi who serves as the game's antagonist. If you miss your early bird chance to add Terumi to the BlazBlue roster, the character will go on sale as a standard DLC release on May 27. [Image: Aksys]
Atlus confirms four new Persona games for North America
In November, Atlus revealed four new games in the Shin Megami Tensei spin-off series, Persona. Notably absent from that announcement was any information on a North American release, but now Atlus has revealed its plan to bring those games to the West. Chibi-style dungeon crawl Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth will reach the 3DS in the Fall of 2014. Atlus describes the dungeon crawl as a cross between Etrian Odyssey and Persona, that sees characters from Persona 3 and 4 plumbing the first-person depths of an alternate version of Yasogami High School. Persona 4 Arena Ultimax, an enhanced re-release of Persona 4 Arena, is slated to debut on the PlayStation 3 in the Fall of 2014. Atlus' description of the fighting game mentions the addition of two characters from Persona 3, Junpei Iori and Yukari Takeba, as well as a wholly new character, the mysterious Sho Minazuki. A more nebulous "2015" release window has been attached to Vita rhythm game Persona 4: Dancing All Night. According to Atlus' description, Dancing All Night stars pop idol Rise, who returns to Inaba only to discover something called the "Midnight Stage." This Stage is populated by evil shadows, but these foes can't be defeated by simple elemental attacks. Instead, Rise will have to rely on funky fresh dance moves. Persona 5, the latest entry in Atlus' fan-favorite series, will also reach the PlayStation 3 in 2015, though Atlus offers no further information on this heavily anticipated roleplaying game. Alongside this confirmation comes a swath of new media. Above you'll see a new Persona 5 teaser, while footage from both Persona 4 Arena Ultimax and Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth can be found below the break. Screenshot galleries are below this text. [Image: Atlus]
Report: BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma coming to Vita, at least in Japan
Arc System Works' latest hyperkinetic fighter, BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma, is coming to Sony's Vita handheld as well as the PlayStation 3, according to Japan's Dengeki PlayStation magazine. The magazine's report (helpfully translated by Siliconera), claims that the handheld incarnation of BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma will feature DLC cross-buy functionality with the PS3 game as well as the updates planned for the arcade version of the fighter. Siliconera also notes that "beach events" are being added to the game, though it's unclear what exactly they might entail. Lacking from the Siliconera report is any word on when BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma might hit the Vita. However, a Gematsu translation of the same Dengeki PlayStation article states that the game will make its Japanese debut on April 24, and that it will feature a price tag of 5,800 yen (about $58). No Western release dates have yet been revealed.
