The landmark release of Street Fighter II in 1991 heralded a renaissance of 2D fighting games. Never before had an arcade fighting game been quite so deep, competitive, and flat out fun to play. The years that followed saw a slew of Street Fighter II copycats; most were dismal failures, though a few went on to become successes in their own right. Though many fighting game franchises such as Soul Calibur and Mortal Kombat play to their own tune, many more still attempt to outdo the classic formula set forth by Capcom’s Street Fighter series and its spinoffs. Foremost among the recent pack of worthwhile Street Fighter clones is Sammy’s Guilty Gear X, released to arcades in 2000. The latest incarnation of the series, Guilty Gear X2, not only pays homage to Street Fighter--it gives the venerable franchise a good run for its money. Guilty Gear X2 is a 2D, no-holds-barred fist-fest of epic proportions. Like any fighter in recent memory, players choose from a number of diverse characters--in this case, 20 of them--and battle it out in lavishly-animated arenas, pitting their skills and reflexes against one another in a battle to the finish. Many of the characters in Guilty Gear X2 are downright bizarre; the game owes much of its stylistic inspiration to the Japanese rock subculture ("j-rock," as the fans call it), and this certainly shows in many of the unorthodox character designs. Anyone accustomed to recent Capcom fighting games will feel right at home with Guilty Gear X2. The control setup is logical and convenient; characters move, jump, and dash around the screen quickly and fluidly. Various punches, kicks, and special moves can be strung together to form chain combos; characters can juggle one another in the air, and perform highly-damaging super moves which, surprise, are charged via the usual meter at the bottom of the screen that builds as you deal damage. The combo system is easy for beginners to pick up on, yet difficult to master. All in all, Guilty Gear X2 has a slightly lower learning curve than most of Capcom’s recent offerings, though it is by no means watered down. Characters are also capable of executing "instant kill" moves once per round. These fatal maneuvers are certainly game-winners if used right, and most of them come with some pretty amusing animations. However, they’re excruciatingly easy to evade--this allows for the possibility of a potentially quick victory, though it isn’t so unfair that it unbalances gameplay. Several modes of play are present in Guilty Gear X2. Arcade mode puts you through the motions as you face a succession of opponents while making your way up the computer-controlled opponent ladder, while story mode follows your character of choice through a series of plot-driven battles. Survival mode pits you against a gauntlet of computer-controlled opponents, testing your ability to survive on a single credit. Mission mode mixes the rules up a bit, throwing you into the fight under an assortment of fixed conditions--such as gradually-decreasing life bars throughout the match, or the inability to jump. M.O.M. mode tests out your combo skills, awarding medals for well-performed chain combos. There’s an obligatory versus mode for two-player fun, and a training mode to get new players up to speed. Several other gameplay modes and an assortment of secret characters lie in wait for those who are patient enough to discover them. Guilty Gear X2’s distinctly anime-esque aesthetics are pulled off rather well; the characters all have a colorful, unique look to them, an aspect that can’t be emphasized enough. Among the most bizarre individuals are a nutty serial killer-like character with a paper bag on his head, and a deformed freak that walks backwards and spits stuff out of his stomach. As surreal as that sounds, it’s definitely a breath of fresh air after seeing the exact same reused Street Fighter sprites for the past nine years. The animation is on par with the Street Fighter Alpha series, which is to say it’s definitely nice. Some of the backgrounds are as wonky as the characters themselves, and certainly as varied. The soundtrack in Guilty Gear X2 is a collection of slam-bang rockin’ tunes clearly inspired by modern Japanese rock and pop. It may not be for everyone, but there’s definitely a certain crowd out there who will appreciate it. Most of the voice samples and sound effects are what one would expect of this type of game; in particular, the fight announcer’s voice isn’t nearly as annoying as some games I might recall. If you’re a fan of 2D fighting games, chances are that Guilty Gear X2 has something to offer you. Jaded Street Fighter veterans should be particularly pleased with this game, which definitely offers a fresh perspective and a wonderful take on the formula that Capcom has pioneered for all these years; fans of anime and j-rock will undoubtedly eat this one up as well. Among all the Street Fighter wannabes, Guilty Gear X2 certainly stands out in a crowd. If nothing else, it stands as a solid piece of evidence that 2D fighting games are still going strong.
Other Helpful Reviews for Guilty Gear XX: The Midnight Carnival
Guilty Gear X2 isn't just the best fighter on the PS2, it's one of the best games ever. Let's start off with the gameplay. It rocks (no pun intended). The fighting system is awesome, as each character is completely di... Read Full Review
It's easily the best 2-D fighter in ages, hands down. Everything about Guilty Gear X2 is well done. Its a sign of what the fighter genre is truly capable of. The cast consists of some 20+ characters. Very unique c... Read Full Review
