Guilty Gear, the cult classic 2D fighting game, is widely considered one of the best franchises in the genre. The series is well known for its anime style and smooth animation.

We’re only a few months away from the April 19 release of the latest title, Guilty Gear -Strive-. The last time we got a Guilty Gear game was the Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus R remaster on the Nintendo Switch last year.

Here are five reasons we’re looking forward to the newest installment.

New Character Anji Mito

While franchise favorites like magic heir Millia and brown paper bag head Faust are coming back, Strive features some brand new characters posed to join their ranks. One of the most intriguing is Anji, a dancing martial artist who fights with fans instead of swords.

He looks like a cross between a geisha and a librarian who goes to the gym too much, but if the trailer is any indication, he’s going to be a viable addition to the roster. Learn more about the fresh fighter in his reveal trailer:

The Game Modes

Guilty Gear Strive promises a complete experience whether you play casually offline or competitive online. There are modes geared toward players who enjoy the single player content, want a variety of different match options, and just love the series’ compelling story.

For example, there’s a robust tutorial mode to help sharpen skills and Arcade mode guides you through how to play in a natural way. On the other hand, Survival mode is an online-ranked barrage of enemies to see how long you can last.

The rest of the modes include:

• Mission mode is an objective based mode designed to teach and practice skills.
• Training mode takes tutorial mode a step farther with real-life situations.
• Online mode features rollback netcode. Pit your skills against other players around the world.

Crossplay

The fact that PlayStation 4 players can play against PlayStation 5 owners shows that the developers are making sure all players are covered from now into the future. It’s a reassuring measure that shows commitment, especially since not every developer puts in the extra effort.

The Stunning Visuals

If the trailers are any indication, then this is the best looking Guilty Gear yet! The graphics look clean and crisp, with plenty of zoom-ins and slow motion camera work.

One of the coolest things about the series is that it’s basically a playable anime. This version is no different. In fact, it takes visuals to a new level, even with text effects and of course, cutting edge animation.

The Story

Even without the engrossing gameplay and visuals, the Guilty Gear series has always been rich in story. What’s great is that Arc System Works has a page with visual comics so you can catch up on all the backstory from the series. Get ready for the release.

Their drive to keep the hype alive is visible on the developer's YouTube channel. ArcSys released all of the story cinematics for Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN, Guilty Gear Xrd -REVELATOR, and Guilty Gear Xrd REV 2.

We’ll see you online when the game releases in April!