Guilty Gear -Strive-

The newest title in this heavy-metal fighting franchise may be its best yet. With an amazing anime visual style and significant changes to the fighting mechanics, Guilty Gear -Strive- creates an experience that welcomes newer players without abandoning the fast-paced gameplay the series is known for. It may have a smaller roster with only 15 characters included in the launch version of the game, but each character provides a unique experience, so you should be able to find someone that fits your desired playstyle. While you still have to juggle many mechanics at once to master the gameplay, changes like relaxed timing requirements for combos, streamlined defensive options, and the dash button make getting into the game much more approachable for new players. The new wall-break mechanic provides an interesting strategic element while keeping the play dynamic, inflicting extra damage and shifting the background of the stage. The Roman Cancel system returns, but now your tension meter can be used to create different benefits if used on offense or defense. Every round has the potential for exciting action and new and old mechanics alike should help you get into the fun easier than ever before.

The game's single-player options include a multi-hour story mode made entirely of cutscenes, an excellent tutorial, and the traditional Arcade and Survival modes where you fight a series of AI opponents. While it's nice to see the characters connect in the story mode, the lack of interactivity makes it a slog to sit through. The real draw of -Strive- is in the multiplayer, and it excels when you fight other opponents online or in person. The lobby system gives you a space to customize when inviting others over to fight. You can take in-game currency awarded by doing the single-player content and winning multiplayer matches to acquire new cosmetics to personalize your own lobby and avatar. The ranked tower system has you ascend a set of levels as you win ranked matches online, with each level having higher and higher skilled players. There are a couple of issues with getting into the very highest tier, which has stricter requirements, but otherwise this works similarly to ranked matchmaking systems in other fighting games. Despite a few rough spots here and there, particularly with the story, Guilty Gear -Strive- is a fantastic choice if you're looking for a new 2D fighting game to brawl in.