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GLaD 10: Guilty Gear X2


On 03/10/2013 at 07:32 PM by Super Step

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Bing Image Mad Libz: Gallinipper Mosquitoes terrorize the Milwaukee Brewers' Spring Training this year, forcing the players to train at Key West, but all they end up doing is playing Guilty Gear X2 on PS2.

Yeah, today's Bing Mad Libz is kind of lame, partly cause it makes sense that these are top searched images, and partly cause I don't know much about any of them. I know that mosquitoes are annoying, the Brewers are from a city in Wisconsin my parents grew up in, and that Hanson wrote a song about called "Man from Milwaukee" I liked when I was a kid (I was eight, and you've seen the music I've posted on recent blogs sounding nothing like them, stop judging), and I know that Key West is a resort in Florida. So, yeah, can't really make snappy jokes about things I don't know enough about. Could have made a better one if I knew the personalities of the Brewers' players, but I don't, so I digress.

Anyway, Guilty Gear X2 is one of my favorite fighting games, and the favorite of mine as far as the PS2 is concerned. Rented it from Blockbuster several times and never felt disappointed in its smooth animation, tight control, high-octane music, and over-the-top combo system, which included one-hit-kill reversal moves, shown here:

I'm not sure exactly how much more I can say about it, other than the obvious fact I love the hell out of this game, but I'll try. First, here's a video of Guilty Gear X2 #Reload gameplay that takes place in my favorite stage, and features the two characters I play as most:

Second, I guess I'll mention that a reason I enjoyed this game others might not think about, is that it actually does have a storyline for each of its characters, most of whom have really cool designs, decently developed personalities and goals, and some well-done Japanese voice acting.

I know a lot of people don't really care about game storylines, but I for one enjoy having them. Even if they're not the most deep storylines or characters, I always read the manuals to find out a little more about the characters I was playing, and appreciate it immensely when fighting games implement storylines, so I don't feel like it's just a random jumble of bouts I'm playing, even if really, that's the case.

I can't say I remember much, having only rented this game quite some time ago, when my older brother still lived in this house, and his PS2 was still here, but I did find all of the characters interesting enough, and found their designs cool enough, to try beating the game with all of them at some point.

I especially love the design of the mysterious witch I-No.

Finally, the most obvious thing you'll notice about the game aside from its fantastic animation, cool characters, and fun gameplay, is its soundtrack, heavily influenced by blues, jazz and heavy metal, so let's make our three selections for today be from those categories.

First, since it's Sunday, how 'bout some Sabbath? I don't know if any of you would remember riffcompelsme from 1up, but he started a website called GamesmeetMetal.com that I used to help out with, and one of the things I'd upload aside from reviews and previews would be "Sabbath Sundays," where I uploaded a Sabbath song every Sunday. He's still posting stuff up on that website, you should check it out; while you're here though, enjoy the awesome riff of "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath."

And how about some blues from Stevie Ray Vaughn, in keeping with the shred guitar them of the game?

Of course, there are songs in the game that implement jazz horns, so have some Miles Davis.

And hey, I gotta have seven videos to keep my luck up, so have a tune from the game. My favorite character Ky's stage theme, "Holy Orders," and it even has a bit of a classical influence, which is awesome!

Apologies to V4Viewtiful for not going as in-depth as this game deserves, but if it's any consolation, I love it too.

How was your Sunday? Mine's been pretty relaxing. Woke up at 1:25pm not realizing the clock had moved an hour forward, and went and renewed my gym membership, got a good couple miles and some deadlifting in, gonna have steak for dinner here.

Started playing Order of Ecclesia again yesterday, after our cable got knocked out by the loudest thunder strike I've ever heard, and I was unable to see SNL past Justin Timberlake's induction into the 5 Timers Club. Turns out I have saved all the villagers, so I guess now I just need to go back up to that boss and beat him again, unless I'm missing something; I'll check GameFAQs before forging ahead, just in case some other dumb thing will give me "Game Over" after I beat him again.

I wish you guys a laid back Sunday as well!


 

Comments

Cary Woodham

03/10/2013 at 07:46 PM

My memory is a little rusty on the Guilty Gear cast, so pick out a favorite character for me.

Super Step Contributing Writer

03/10/2013 at 08:10 PM

My memory's not that great, either. I'll just say I-No. lol

V4Viewtiful

03/10/2013 at 08:22 PM

Loved  this series growing up, still do. I met the Designer of GG and he signed my CD Box collection and my copy of GGCool

Order Sol is my fave (Slash, I believe) but my favourite song is Slayer's theme "Haven't You Got Eyes in Your Head" the bass and Sax where epic, his and Sols fight on Slayers Stage with that song is the business, Suck a Sage, Make Oneself and March of the Wicked King are runner ups.

The Designer Daisuke Ishiwatari not only designed the characters but wrote the music and voiced Sol, how great is that? Laughing

Super Step Contributing Writer

03/10/2013 at 09:44 PM

That's awesome about Daisuke, did not know that.

Halochief90

03/11/2013 at 02:48 AM

A lot of fighting games have a story for each of their characters, the problem is they usually suck so bad they are rarely worth anyone's time to care. Is GGX2 the exception?

Super Step Contributing Writer

03/11/2013 at 03:27 AM

Maybe not, but I just recall enjoying it on some level. Like I said, I just enjoy fighting games that have one player experiences that break up the monotony of fights with cutscenes. Obviously, they should be skippable, but someone like myself that plays one player appreciates when effort is put into character stories beyond what's in the manual.

I can't really say if it's better or worse than other fighting games, but there's more of it than normal in my experience, and I recall enjoying it.

BrokenH

03/11/2013 at 04:00 AM

Most of the fighting games I favor have strong storylines. The ones I had the most problem with were "dream matches" or "versus events" that cramed in gazillions of characters yet had no plot at all. (This is why I wasn't as much into arcade hits like Marvel VS Capcom 2 as much as say something like Garou: Mark Of The Wolves or Guilty Gear)

Super Step Contributing Writer

03/11/2013 at 04:25 AM

I enjoy playing stuff like Marvel v Capcom 2 multiplayer or in an arcade, but you and I are the same in preferring fighters with strong storylines for single player. I'll have to check out this Garou if I get a chance, thanks for the comment!

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