GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE-

GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE- is widely praised for its stunning anime-style graphics and exceptional soundtrack, which greatly enhance the overall experience. The game strikes a balance by being accessible to newcomers while offering deep mechanics that reward skill and strategic play, making it enjoyable for both casual and competitive players. The diverse character roster and unique playstyles add to its appeal, supported by smooth and responsive gameplay with solid rollback netcode for online matches.

However, the game faces criticism for lacking robust single-player content compared to previous entries, with modes like Tower being deemed frustrating and underwhelming. The lobby system and some gameplay mechanics, such as blockstrings and wall breaks, receive negative feedback for being either boring or poorly implemented. Additionally, the community size and matchmaking experience can sometimes be disappointing. Despite these issues, ongoing balance updates and upcoming ranked modes show the developers' commitment to improving the game.

Highlights

Players consistently praise the game's beautiful anime-style 3D graphics and an energetic, memorable soundtrack that elevates the fighting experience. The gameplay is noted for its smooth, accessible mechanics that appeal to both newcomers and veterans. The roster offers diverse, creative characters with unique playstyles, encouraging mastery and experimentation. The rollback netcode ensures smooth online matches even across regions, making competitive play enjoyable. Additionally, the game’s tutorials and training modes provide helpful tools for learning complex fighting game fundamentals.

Criticisms

Common criticisms focus on the lack of substantial single-player content, with modes like the Tower being frustrating and lacking depth. The lobby system is often described as clunky and unfinished, detracting from the online experience. Some players find certain gameplay mechanics, such as repetitive blockstrings and wall breaks, unengaging or poorly balanced. The game’s high-damage, punishing nature can be intimidating for some, and the player base is perceived as smaller than expected, affecting matchmaking quality. Additionally, the absence of in-game frame data hampers advanced training without external mods.