Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising

Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising is a bonefide cure-all for your fighting game ailments. A banger release, right at the end of the year.

Want to get into fighting games but are intimidated by obtuse mechanics and exhaustive move sets? Check out Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising. This exceptional fighter is the definition of ‘easy to learn, hard to master,’ while offering a healthy amount of modes. There’s a free-to-play version, too.

Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising is a real surprise. If you thought that the fighting game genre had run out of steam with Street Fighter 6, think again: the year of fighting games ends with a surprise twist. Impeccable netcode, Crossplay and rich single player content are just part of the numerous advantages of this production. If you are a newbie and want to enter the world of fighting games with a graphically clean product, with little chaos and no lengthy movelists, this is the title for you. Absolutely worth trying at least in the free version.

Granblue Fantasy Versus Rising is a fighting game that makes immediacy its strong point, easy to approach but incredibly deep. The mechanics of the first chapter have been properly refined, and a rich roster offers hours of fun in company. It's a shame that the content reserved for solo players is very limited, classifying the game as a party for the use and consumption of those who love to challenge themselves online. Then again, I really can't like those simplified commands.

Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising once again shows Arc System Works' skill in making fighting games. Its new features are sure to please Granblue Fantasy fans.

Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising is one of the most complete fighting games to date, offering a decent roster of characters, as well as single-player and online modes, plus a considerable amount of extra content that will keep players interested for quite some time.

Granblue Fantasy Versus Rising is the sublime re-edition of an already excellent fighting game, exponentially improved thanks to the new netcode and really well-integrated additional mechanics. This is a perfect fighting game for beginners, with a lot to offer even to long-time fans. Although more could undoubtedly have been done in terms of content, it truly deserves your attention. It remains to be seen if it will withstand the assault of the ruthless competition that surrounds it, and especially if the free-to-play version will be enough to improve its distribution in our region too.

The old adage about not swinging at the first pitch rings true for Granblue Versus: Rising. Like most sequels, you’ll find the requisite tweaks and additions. But returning players will witness a wealth of recycled fighters and some rehashed storytelling. As such, it’s newcomers that are best served, thanks to accessible control schemes, improved netcode, and diversions that make the Rising bountiful.

The attempt to make significant changes from the previous title was successful. Visual and system upgrades transformed it into a rewarding fighting game, bringing a new vitality. While efforts were made to enhance the tutorial and controls, it's regrettable that they did not integrate well with the story.

Granblue Fantasy Versus Rising is an excellent surprise. The game features an original combat system, has a cast rich enough for everyone to find something to their liking, and boasts an excellent online mode. Comparisons with the previous opus are inevitable, but the recycling seems to have been done intelligently: we keep what's good and improve the rest while adding things on top. The game is well worth the price for a new one, even if Versus players may be left a little hungry, with few additions to the single-player section (and not the best part either). In fact, it's this lack of single-player content that prevents us from considering it a must-have, unless you're a real fighting game enthusiast or a fan of the license.

Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising is a redemption and course correction that the series sorely needed to compete against some fantastic FGs out on the market already. If not for the overpriced DLC and lackluster single player content, it could have been “THE” anime fighter to beat. As it stands, it’s one I’m sure to go back to play from time to time and eager to see played at a high level during the majors coming later this year.