Granblue Fantasy Versus Rising
Rating 7/10
I played the free version of this game, and was able to play two different game modes, arcade and story.
As a quick recap, Granblue Rising is a 2D fighting game that was released four months ago. It’s based on the Granblue anime and a sequel to the 2020 game, Granblue Fantasy Versus. Granblue Rising has many intricately designed anime characters you can choose from and a RPG component in the story mode. In the free version, you only have access to four characters.
[free characters]
I started off with the arcade mode. I played the character, Grimnir, against beginner level fighters, which allowed me to learn a bit of the controls and how the game worked. In terms of 2D fighting games, I have only ever played Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter before, and those were mainly on arcade machines rather than on a computer, which I never play games on, so it took a while to get used to the keyboard controls. Much like what the video explained, and what I resort to in these types of games, like with Smash Bros, I kinda gave up and started button mashing / flailing around shortly after I started combat…
This worked fine with the beginner CPU, but I have yet to fight against more experienced players and doubt my button-mashing would hold up then. I also could not find the tutorial at first, so I was very lost. I eventually found the moves guide and started trying out more complex moves; Grimnir’s cyclone and storm moves were super cool! I feel like it wouldn’t have been as fun if I chose the other, more basic characters. I really liked Grimnir’s character design and his wind attacks. Definitely a fun character to start out with! ( but also, probably a little on the harder side to play…)
[grimnir (,,> ᴗ <,,)]
Overall, it was fun progressing through each combat and experiencing different opponents. I did get a bit bored after some time, and each battle felt a bit repetitive. Maybe it would have been better if I played with someone else? I think I like fighting games more when I’m yelling at and fighting with a real person, rather than against a CPU.
Next, I tried out the story mode, where you play as the main character, Gran, who was not as exciting as Grimnir. In the beginning, I was very invested and found the storyline pretty interesting. I liked how they incorporated the fighting scenes within the story, and the animations / graphics were all impressive. I thought that the subtle changes in the characters’ facial expressions and body positions when they reacted to something were cute and kinda funny. Unfortunately, it did get a bit tedious clicking through all the dialogue and going through what seemed like the same fight scene over and over again.
So far, I don’t think I could play this game for extended periods of time, but it was nice gaining exposure to more 2D fighting games. Next time, I’ll definitely try playing with another person! I also want to try out more characters 🙂
It sounds like you had a decent introduction to Granblue Fantasy Versus Rising! Jumping into a new 2D fighting game, especially coming from a background of classic arcade games like Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter, can definitely be a shift, especially on a keyboard.
Starting with arcade mode seems like a good way to get a feel for the game mechanics, even if the initial learning curve was steep without the tutorial. It’s great that you enjoyed Grimnir’s dynamic moves and design—characters with unique abilities can definitely make the gameplay more engaging.
The button mashing strategy is a time-honored tradition for beginners in fighting games! It’s good to hear that you were able to move past that and start exploring more complex moves. Fighting games often have a depth that only reveals itself through practice and experimentation, so your progression sounds right on track.
It’s understandable that playing against the CPU can feel repetitive; fighting games often shine the brightest during multiplayer sessions where you can challenge friends and experience the unpredictable fun of real human competition.
As for the story mode, it sounds like it started strong but didn’t keep you hooked due to repetitiveness. That’s a common challenge in games where the narrative is broken up by frequent battles. Maybe playing with a friend or exploring other characters, as you mentioned, could spice up the experience and keep it fresh.
Your thoughts definitely highlight the potential of the game and areas where it might improve. Thanks for sharing your insights and experiences. Hopefully, your next sessions, especially if they’re multiplayer, will be even more enjoyable!
Hi Tracy,
I really enjoyed reading more about your experience with Granblue, in particular, the story element and learning curve you experienced while playing. I wonder how fighting games can create less of a repetitive nature, especially when playing against computers who are programmed.
For me, I thought that Granblue was mostly enjoyable because I could play against other players much like Super Smash Bros!