E3 2014: Hands-On With ‘Guilty Gear Xrd: -Sign-‘

It was around E3 last year when we brought you the news that a third Guilty Gear was on its way. How Arc System Works finds the time to make so many fighters at the same time, but its undeniable that Persona 4 Arena and BlazBlue both are heavily influenced by the game that put the developer on the map. Not to be outdone, Guilty Gear Xrd: -Sign- brings the series back, complete with a brand new look and the fast, frantic fighting we fell in love with so many years ago.

Featuring popular characters from past versions like Sol, Ky, I-No and Jam on top of a new, powerful character with Bedman, seeing it in motion left me feeling like Xrd just might be the most gorgeous 2D fighter that I’ve seen yet. Using 3D models that are as bright, animated and fluid as a 2D sprite, the game almost looks like an anime in motion. There were a few times that I had to double check to make sure the opening and victory screens were in-engine and not pre-rendered cutscenes.

But aside from the flash and glamour that comes with the updated visuals, Guilty Gear is still as fast, fluid and fun as its always been, and the switch to 3D models hasn’t slowed it down one bit. Playing as the two cover boys, Sol and Ky, it took me back to years ago when the series was making a name for itself in the arcades and on the PS2. All of their moves, specials and instant kill attacks make their return as well as a few new tricks, all of which are faithfully recreated in this new engine.

Fighting fans, if you haven’t seen this thing in motion, you HAVE to check out the latest trailer and be blown away with the rest of us. Thankfully, playing the console version in person proves that the game plays every bit as good as it looks, so there’s no doubt that Xrd will be at the top of my list come this holiday season.

Guilty Gear Xrd: -Sign- is scheduled for a PS3 and PS4 release at the end of the year.