Granblue Fantasy might not be familiar to a lot of people and it might surprise them but Granblue Fantasy is actually a very popular IP among mobile gamers. Granblue Fantasy Versus is an adaptation of the popular mobile GATCHA game. Arc System Works made it possible to create a fighting game for all those Granblue Fantasy fans. Let’s see what it’s worth…
You can’t go wrong with a great fighting game, especially when it’s quick and easy to get into. Granblue Fantasy Versus is a beautiful basic game that allows diversity between players. The game mechanics are fairly easy but the game allows the players to dig deeper into the root of the fighting game to let you discover that it has more in-depth mechanics that you might think.
Arc System Works isn’t a stranger when it comes to fighting games. This amazing team is the master behind Dragon Ball Fighter Z and Guilty Gear. Two very popular franchises that brought a lot to the table to stand out, this is no different than Granblue Fantasy Versus. Even if you’re a hardcore fighter or a casual, just like myself, there’s something here for everyone. It depends on how deep you want to dig!
Granblue Fantasy Versus doesn’t want to be a standard rip-off from another fighting game and it shows this vision on many elements that the game has to offer. Most of the time, a fighting game is all about learning the basics, open up the way to a more sophisticated fighting style, train to hone your skills and compete in an offline/ online arcade mode to unlock appealing costumes. Granblue Fantasy Versus wants to think a bit more RPG-like. The campaign is also all about learning the basics and mechanics but poured into a typical anime story. You’ll have to fight basic mobs like wolves or knights and in the end, test your skills against a fiercer opponent. These bosses take on the form as the playable characters in your character roster. While fighting through the hordes of enemies, you’ll discover treasury such as weapons that can be upgraded or uncapped to use their full potential. These weapons are for the RPG mode and can be used to heighten your stats to make sure you get the AI boss down. This RPG mode is a great way to learn the basics but don’t expect a mind-blowing plot. This campaign takes about 2 hours of your time but the two hours are well-spent thanks to the fully voiced cutscenes and boss battles. Don’t forget to bring a friend and enjoy the campaign in co-op mode.
Gameplay-wise, the game does mix up a lot of interesting things that’ll make the game stand out from the crowd. First of all, each character works in different ways. There aren’t your standard light/heavy punches to form up a combo. Instead, they all have 3 auto combos and a special attack. All of your actions can be canceled, if it’s not the right time to use a certain move. Don’t expect a lot of extended combos. So why would a hardcore player, pick up this game if the mechanics are so simplistic? Well, every character has 4 special moves that can be triggered by using simplistic combos. All of these combos use a cooldown, so you’ll have to approach your enemy differently. This fighting game is a bit more tactical than your standard fighting game. This fighting game’s way of battling makes up for a quick entry point for new or casual players. You don’t have to put a lot of hours into this game, to make the most out of it. You just fight, think and use your special actions at the right time. The game can be hardcore but on another level.
“Granblue Fantasy Versus has a great esthetic style that a lot of people will enjoy!”
The game also offers an online game mode that seems to be solid at first glance. Even though it shines like a great try-out for doing something different, they can’t get passed the use of net coding. The net code is a delay-based format, so players playing with an ethernet cable will get a slight edge over you because of the internet speed. Even though this is an unreliable system, it seems to do the job with almost no delay.
Granblue Fantasy Versus has a great esthetic style that a lot of people will enjoy, especially after seeing the visuals of DBZF. This 3D engine fits the game perfectly and it shows. The color palette, the lighting, shader effects, … everything works and makes the game very keen on the eyes. Even the backgrounds are decent, especially because of the fact that the background is “alive and kicking”. The background is a great way to get immersive into your fighting scene. You’re battling an opponent with disaster happening in the background. All of these elements make the game very enjoyable to watch.
VERDICT
This fighting game does try to do something different and that’s always a plus for me. Arc System Works shows off their team’s amazing talent and I’m positive we’ll hear a lot from them in the near future. Yes, the game is simplistic but delivers anyway. It’s another approach that’ll be welcomed by a lot of players that are fairly new to this genre. With its simple mechanics and combo inputs, they open up the gate for a lot of casual players who love a good fighting game but can’t put into the hours to get decent at it. Granblue Fantasy Versus is a great mix between tactical depth and the simplicity of auto combos. The story might not be interesting but thanks to the fully voiced acting and outstanding visuals, the fun will be far from over. The game will get additional support from the team by creating new characters with their own set of skills and keeping the game balanced. If you’re up for a decent simple fighting game to play with your friends offline or online, this might be your entry point into the world of fighting games.
