‘Versus’ delivers fun fighting game, glorious look
“Granblue Fantasy” was eventually going to reach consoles, but the path it took was unexpected. The franchise started as a turn-based role-playing game for mobile devices that had runway success in Japan. That’s partly because key members of the “Final Fantasy” team reunited to work on the project. The game’s popularity led to a beautiful but uninspiring anime, and in turn, that animated series was the foundation for the “Granblue Fantasy: Versus,” a fighting game on PlayStation 4 and PC. That’s a journey that spanned different mediums and genres. Thankfully, the project was developed by Arc System Works, the makers behind the popular “Guilty Gear” series and “Dragon Ball Fighterz.” It’s a studio that excels at anime-inspired fighting games that feature over-the-top action with visuals that look hand-drawn. Arc System games have a distinct style that makes screenshots jump off the page. At arcades or streams, players can’t help but stare at the dynamic graphics on monitors. The team’s work on “Granblue Fantasy: Versus” has the same quality and it capitalizes on the gorgeous visuals established by art director Hideo Minaba. The 2D fighting game has the trappings one would expect of the genre. It boasts an arcade mode, an online versus mode and training mode. Those options are solid but somewhat thin. With its fantasy origins, the more compelling part of “Granblue Fantasy: Versus” is the RPG mode. That’s a story-driven option that introduces players to the complex characters and universe. This is where having a background with the anime helps as players connect with characters such as Gran, Lyria, Katalina and Ferry. The crew of the airship, Grandcypher, faces a mysterious threat to the Phantagrande Skydom. Crystalline entities called Exia have brainwashed old allies and turned them against the team. Players will start off with Gran and battle against these crewmates in order to free them from the mind control. Each time they defeat a friend and return them to their senses they become part of the crew and expand the roster. The RPG mode is a way for newcomers to acclimate themselves to a combat system that’s slower-paced than its peers. “Granblue Fantasy: Versus” gives each character at least four special moves. They have a light, medium and heavy attack that can be mashed for an autocombo while a unique action button gives each character a wild-card move. The unique action complements the characters’ moveset. Sometimes they parry. Other times, they receive added maneuverability. The variety of moves on the button forces players to learn the customary ins and outs of a character. On the bright side, “Granblue Fantasy: Versus” makes the game more accessible to players with a skill button that triggers a special move. Although players could have a chance of abusing that, Arc System mitigates this by adding a cooldown to the moves. Players can use a special move only twice. It’s unconventional and creates a slower and more strategic match as players have to use their moves more judiciously. If players fall behind, “Granblue Fantasy: Versus” also has a comeback mechanic in the form of a Skybound Art and Super Skybound Art. If players are low on health, they can even up a match if they can connect. Plus, the moves have some of the cooler animations in the game. Building on top of this core, Arc System also adds the option to equip different weapons, upgrade them and add support skills. These features add more of an RPG element and give players motivation to tackle missions twice or head to Sierokarte’s store to buy new gear. Unfortunately, it isn’t as in-depth and at times the gear system is convoluted with a grid system and upgrades. The skill system is more interesting because it lets players cast two spells such as healing or boost damage that impact a mission’s success. Ultimately though, the RPG mechanics aren’t as well done as the rest of the game. They add a feeling or progression and strategy, but it isn’t a system that players will pore over looking for every tiny advantage in a campaign that’s rather short. When it comes to the competitive modes, the weapons and skills players earn in the RPG mode don’t carry over. In addition, the gameplay is streamlined to be more conventional. Players won’t have a block button as they do in the RPG mode. This is a title that will be featured in tournaments such as EVO after all. The online versus and arcade modes are where players go after they cut their teeth on the story. It’s where players can test their skills and appreciate the complexity of the combat system. “Granblue Fantasy: Versus” is a game that has its moments despite being so unusual. Visually, it’s one of the best efforts from Arc System Works, but at the same time, the RPG mechanics don’t often mesh well with the fighting games ones. It isn’t perfect but it shows how a talented studio can bring out the best from any series.