Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising, a 2D fighting game developed by Arc System Works, is finally out! Read our review to see what it did well, what it didn't do well, and if it's worth buying.
Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Review Overview
Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
 Lower Execution Barrier Amazing Visuals Great Story Mode Smooth Online Experience |
Execution May Be Too Easy |
Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Overall - 90/100
Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising is an amazing overhaul of the previous game while adding the necessary rollback netcode that every fighting game desperately needs. The game was known to simplify a lot of things that new players may struggle with in fighting games but it was able to add additional layers of depth to the game without compromising the difficulty. It also sets the bar as having the best story mode for any fighting game to date.
Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Story - 8/10
The story of Granblue Fantasy Versus is definitely one of the better ones out there. It doesn’t bombard you with crazy and over-the-top jargon immediately and lets you follow through its well-animated and fully-voiced dialogue and cutscenes. The game becomes a classic beat-em-up in the story mode and even allows another player to join in on the fun!
Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Gameplay - 10/10
Despite being marketed as the simplest fighting game due to having one-button specials and auto combos, the gameplay is top-notch. Every character has unique mechanics and allows for a different experience while using and fighting against anyone in the cast. Every fighting game archetype that you could think of, GBVSR probably has it. Not to mention that the game finally has rollback netcode, which means that Online play is now smooth and amazing and even allows you to play against other players in different countries.
Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Visuals - 10/10
The franchise has always had an amazing art style with its gacha game and anime. Being able to adapt it and make it into a fighting game is no easy task, however, but Cygames and Arc System Works were able to make it happen. The character designs are distinct and spectacular along with having different outfits for some of the characters as well as multiple different weapon designs for them. It is definitely a contender for being one of the best-looking 2D anime fighting games out there, maybe you could even say that it is the best.
Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Audio - 8/10
The game’s audio is pretty good, but not exactly stellar or groundbreaking. It has everything you expect in a fighting game with hit sounds, block sounds, etc. Voice acting is great both in the story and in gameplay, which is definitely not all fighting games are great at, but other than that it’s not the main draw or the focus of the game’s design.
Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Value for Money - 9/10
Not every fighting game is able to provide a free-to-play model that, while limited, allows everyone to be able to try the game out for themselves. It has a multitude of game modes ranging from story and just random fun, as well as an insane variety of characters available for use. It’s well worth its $50 price tag for the gameplay alone, yet it comes with a great bonus of having a great story as well as a diverse character pool that is unique in that there’s definitely a character for everyone.
Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Review: Believe in Victory
Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising (GBVSR) is a really, really good fighting game and it closes out this year as one of the best years for the genre. The first game was always marketed as a simpler fighting game and one that aimed to get newcomers on board with simpler inputs and good single-player content to keep them hooked. Add on the amazing character designs and you have a recipe for success. The only thing that really hurt its release in 2020 was the fact that the global pandemic hurt the fighting game scene as most play spots and venues were closed. With delay-based netcode, the game had a hard time having a footprint in the scene as online play wasn’t great. Fast forward to 2022 when the sequel was revealed with both cross-play between PC and consoles as well as rollback netcode.
This game has set the bar for me for modern fighting games not having a good enough story mode. Now I’m not saying that fighting games should make the story into their primary focus, but they should definitely try to put in a bit more effort to give their characters more personality. GBVSR isn’t necessarily the only fighting game with a good story mode as Mortal Kombat has always put in a lot of work into theirs and even Tekken 6 with their unique Scenario Campaign. It’s a good way to introduce and enhance your characters especially since part of the struggle in new fighting games is making likable characters as well as greatly designed characters.
I was able to play more of the online matches during the PS5 early access and the online implementation is probably the best experience by far from the fighting games I've played this year. I was able to play matches that had upwards of 200+ ping even reaching 300 and rollback frames of 5-7, but I never experienced any crazy rollback stuff. Amazingly, I was still able to confirm and do my combos without any difficulty. The matches I had were great and admittedly, I got my butt kicked a lot during the experience. Regrettably, I was not able to try out Grand Bruise Legends! at the time of writing and just focused on the game's core experience.
GBVSR has amazing gameplay and spectacular visuals that really sets the bar for a lot of anime fighters moving forward. Despite being marketed as an “easy” game, the only thing that makes it easy is the accessibility of the moves. Special moves and combos are easy enough where you may only need a couple of minutes to explore a character and try them out in the wild. It puts the emphasis on the mental warfare you’d find in any fighting game because your options are laid out and are easier to use. It may have the easiest inputs which lessens the execution barrier, but don’t mistake it as anything less than other fighting games where it may actually be the fighting game with the most content on release. I had a lot of fun trying and learning Granblue Fantasy Versus Rising. It was definitely a game I had my eye on for years, but not having rollback during its release really put me off. Now though, you can expect to see me in the online lobbies.
Pros of Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising
| Things Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Got Right |
|---|
|
Lower Execution Barrier Amazing Visuals Great Story Mode Smooth Online Experience |
Lower Execution Barrier
Ever since 2020, Cygames and Arc System Works have marketed this game as one of the easier fighting games. For the most part, that’s true. The execution barrier of the game has been lowered to be able to hook in unfamiliar players to the fighting game genre. New players may find combos and hit confirms to be daunting things to do in a fighting game and this game’s easier inputs make it so that you can do these easily. The game focuses more on mind games and being able to answer situations with your available options rather than making it into a harder experience.
Amazing Visuals
GBVSR is a gorgeous game and it may be one of the better-looking anime fighting games in recent years. All the characters are unique and have amazing designs and the visuals on the super moves and supers are also a treat to the eyes.
Great Story Mode
Without spoiling anything, the story is amazing. It features a three-part story mode that even includes the previous game’s story. The gameplay is engaging and even allows for 2 players to experience it together. It teaches you how to play the game while simultaneously introducing you to the game’s diverse cast of characters and showing you how they’re involved in the story.
Smooth Online Experience
With rollback netcode, you’re now able to enjoy the game online more and even take it overseas without leaving your house. I was able to play a lot of matches without experiencing any significant slowdowns or lag spikes. With fighting games getting more into the online scene, having a good online experience is now a big must-have for any fighting game. Another bonus that the game has is the new Grand Bruise Legends which is a completely new online mode to unwind from the competition and just have fun in this party mode.
Cons of Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising
| Things That Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Can Improve |
|---|
|
Execution May Be Too Easy |
Execution May Be Too Easy
If you’re big into doing hard inputs and long combos with strict timing, this game may be too easy for you. Like I said earlier, they didn’t want the execution to be a burden to players of any skill level so they made it easier to do for everyone.
Is Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Worth It?
Absolutely. It Even Has a Free Version.
It’s no secret that the fighting game genre is a hard genre to get into, especially since they’re charging for a pretty high price point and it will really come down to you to keep playing and keep yourself interested in fighting other players. With GBVSR, it has a free-to-play version to get your feet wet and try out the game to see if you vibe with the game or not. It has an amazing cast of characters, spectacular visuals, and a story that’s actually compelling. The game also makes the daunting mechanics that you would probably be scared of when trying fighting games way easier and is a very good introduction to fighting games. It’s time to take to the skies and start your fighting game journey playing Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising.
Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Overview & Premise
Embark on a journey through the vast skies of Granblue Fantasy and immerse yourself in an epic adventure while mastering the fundamentals of gameplay. Take on quests in this action RPG-inspired experience, where you'll continue to grow stronger. The game will include the story of the previous game as well as a brand-new original storyline.
Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising FAQ
How much does Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising cost?
The Standard Edition is priced at $49.99 and the Deluxe Edition is priced at $79.99. The game will also come with a free-to-play version with limited features and a weekly rotation of three characters plus Gran.
How many characters are there in Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising?
The total comes to 28 characters, 24 of which were included in the previous game, while the remaining 4 (Anila, Siegfried, Grimnir, Nier) are new characters introduced for the sequel as well as the new story.
Game8 Reviews
Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Product Information
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|
| Title | GRANBLUE FANTASY VERSUS: RISING |
|---|---|
| Release Date | December 14, 2023 |
| Developer | Cygames, Inc., Arc System Works |
| Publisher | Cygames, Inc. |
| Supported Platforms | PS5, PS4, PC |
| Genre | Fighting |
| Number of Players | 1-2 (Local), Up to 30 (Online Lobby) |
| ESRB Rating | T |
| Official Website | Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Website |
