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Guilty Gear

Guilty Gear is a series of sprite-based video fighting games designed by artist Daisuke Ishiwatari and Arc System Works and is produced by Sammy Studios. It is famous for its high-quality graphics, colorful and original characters, unique gameplay, and its numerous references to rock music, particularly Heavy Metal.

The first game in the series, Guilty Gear, was released in arcades and home systems in 1998. While it did gain some praise, it didn't make much impact upon gamers. However the release of its sequel Guilty Gear X in 2000 gained much more attention with its rich gameplay and high quality, hand-drawn graphics. In 2002, Guilty Gear XX (known as Guilty Gear X2 in North America) was released, furthering the individual stories while improving on gameplay and visuals. The latest installment (2004) is titled Guilty Gear Isuka, and features four-player simultaneous gameplay, allowing for 2 on 2, 3 on 1, and four way free-for-all matches.

Game Mechanics

The Guilty Gear series boasts an exceptionally deep game engine.

• Double Jump: Tap Up During a Jump. The character will boost themselves again in the air to go higher. A direction can be specified, such as Up-Forward or Up-Back. This is useful for avoiding attacks or for psyching the opponent out.

• High Jump: Tap Down, then Up. The character will launch themselves into a large jump. They cannot perform the Double Jump though. A direction can be specified, such as jumping towards the opponent by pressing Up-Forward. You will know if you have done this if a trail of shadows follows your character during their jump.

• Forward Thrust Attack: Forward +Attack button. Certain characters may do special or different attacks when performing this. This usually will have the effect of launching them into the air or across the air, open to a combo. Note that the target can recover out of this.

• Dead Angle Attack: During Guard, Tap Forward + 2 Attack buttons. Assuming you guarded the attack, immediately do this and the character will counter with an attack. You need a tension gauge of above 50% however.

• Dust Attack: Press Dust button. The character will perform an attack that if hit, will launch the enemy into the air. Press Up to leap up after to continue attacking the opponent. The execution time and recovery for this move is often slow, but can lead to some very nasty air combos.

• Sweep: Press the Dust button whilst crouching. The character will do an attack that hits low and knocks down the opponent. Unlike the Dust attack, the sweep attack will not have the mandatory start up delay.

• Air Knock Down: Press Dust button in the air. If the move connects, the character will perform an knock down attack. Like the sweep, there usually is no start up delay unless the character itself has it. Think of it as an Air BD attack from King of Fighters.

• Recovery: After being knocked down, press two attack buttons to flip out and recover. Note that you can also recover in the air, but it is riskier and can set you up for more punishment,

• Throw: Press Forward or Back and Heavy slash when near opponent to perform a throw attack.

• Faultless Defense: Press Punch and Kick whilst blocking to negate block damage. However it expends some of the tension gauge every time you perform this move and requires the buttons to be tapped every time the move hits.

• Roman Cancel: Push Three attack buttons during an attack to stop further animation. Used for creating custom combos otherwise impossible. Requires more 50% of Tension gauge to perform. Note that you can create some very, very nasty combos with this.

• False Roman Cancel: Press Three Attack buttons during an attack to stop further animation. Unlike the 'real' Roman Cancel, this only requires 25% of the gauge instead of the full 50%, giving off the blue flash instead of the normal red one. However, the downside is that it can only be done in specific animations of the attack, thus, making the timing more specific and tight.

• Staggering: Similar to Virtua Fighter 4, certain moves will make the opponent 'stagger' in which they stumble around for a bit, stunned and open. However, the opponent can expedite recovery by shaking the joystick back and forth quickly.

• Burst: The new feature of Guilty Gear XX, it has two purposes. Both are activated by pressing HS+Dust at the same time. If done correctly, the character will 'burst' away and form a "circle flash." The First purpose is for combo breaking. When you are being hit by a combo, you can opt to 'Burst' out of it. It does no damage, but it will knock the character away. The second is to hit the opponent with the burst attack itself. If it connects as a hit, id est, unblocked, it will fill up your tension gauge. However, the limiting factor is that you are limited by the Burst Gauge, located under the life gauge. It fills up like the Tension bar, but at a much slower rate. Therefore, realistically, you can only burst once per round or match even. Nonetheless, it is an essential part of the game play system. When performing the 'Burst' Attack there are several frames of invincibility at the start up of the attack.

• Overdrive Attack: With Overdrive gauge at either 50% or full, do the specific command for the character to unleash a powerful attack.

• Instant Kill Technique: Press all 4 attack buttons. The character will go into Instant Kill mode, where the tension gauge turns red and starts deceasing. During that time, the character can unleash an Instant Kill Attack. If the character misses or the bar runs out, the tension gauge cannot be used. It can be summoned at anytime, but if the Instant kill timer runs out, the character will start taking damage until you perform the Instant Kill Attack.

Story

The Guilty Gear series takes place around the year 2180, in a chaotic, mystical future world. In 2010, mankind discovered an unlimited energy source of incredible power, which was fittingly labeled as Magic. However, even with the various energy problems solved, wars still continued. With the power of Magic and science, living weapons know as "Gears" were created. However, the Gears turned on their masters, beginning a century long global war known as the Crusades where the Sacred Order of Holy Knights, fighting for the human race, was able to defeat Justice, the leader of the Gears, and was then able to hunt down the rest of the now mindless Gears.

Guilty Gear

However, some five years later a Gear named Testament begun a plan to resurrect Justice and wipe out the human race. Fearing this, the Union of Nations began a fighting tournament in order to find fighters who would be able to defeat Testament and Justice. Ultimately, the immortal bounty hunter Sol Badguy brought down Justice again, and an uneasy peace began.

Guilty Gear X

Less then a year later there were reports of a newly discovered commander Gear. Again, fearing the start of another war, the Union of Nations held another tournament, offering a prize of 500,000 World Dollars for the destruction of this new Gear.

The Gear in question turned out to be a girl named Dizzy, who while very powerful, had no desire to wage war or needlessly hurt others. She was found but spared by Sol Badguy, and following she was found by Johnny, the leader of the Jellyfish air pirates, who then welcomed her as one of their own. Meanwhile the bounty hunter and struggling chef Jam Kuradoberi arranged to take credit for Dizzy's disappearance and collected the reward in order to finance her restaurant.

Guilty Gear XX

In the time following Dizzy's disappearance, the mysterious Post War Administration Bureau began to secretly investigate the Gears and the various fighters of the previous tournaments for their own needs and ambitions. Various powers began to work in the shadows to fight for the control of the world, with many leads leading to the creator of the Gears, a mysterious figure known only as "That Man." Again, the fighters from before find themselves in events beyond their control.

Characters

Guilty Gear is well known for its varied and often bizarre cast of characters. The following lists the various major characters in their order of appearance in the series:

Guilty Gear

• Sol Badguy - A lone bounty hunter and former member of the Sacred Order of Holy Knights, Sol has dedicated himself to the extinction of the Gears. At over 150 years old, Sol was involved with the creation of the Gear Project, and he is in fact the first prototype Gear. He fights with the sword Fireseal.
• Ky Kiske - The young, dedicated, and pious chief of the International Police Force, Ky was made head of the Sacred Order of Holy Knights at age 16 and under his leadership, they were able to bring an end to the century long Crusades against the Gears. His dedication to law and order puts him at odds with the free-spirited Sol Badguy, who has become his oft rival. He fights with the sword Thunderseal.
• May - A young, cute, and spunky member of the Jellyfish air pirates, who is utterly dedicated to Johnny, the leader of the pirates and the man who raised her after she was orphaned. She entered the first tournament in order to bail Johnny out of prison, and fights in later tournaments for his benefit. She fights with a massive ship's anchor, which she is able to swing with ease.
• Chipp Zanuff - A former drug addict and dealer for the mafia, he was marked for death when his addiction got in the way of his duties. It was then that he was taken in by the ninja Tsuyoshi, who trained him in the ways of Ninjutsu. However, Tsuyoshi was murdered, and Chipp swore revenge against the killers. Hotheaded and brash, he fights with a blade on his arm and lighting-fast speed.
• Dr. Baldhead - Once a brilliant and renowned surgeon, Dr. Baldhead tragically lost his mind when a young girl under his care died in surgery. He then became a ruthless and brutal serial killer until his capture, when he was then released to take part in the first tournament. Tall, lanky, and utterly deranged, he fights with a six-foot long oversized scalpel.
• Potemkin - A massive slave-soldier of Zepp, a floating continent controlled by a military dictatorship, Potemkin was forced into the first tournament by his superiors. However, during the tournament, the government of Zepp was overthrown in a revolt lead by Gabriel, his mentor. Once Gabriel was made president of Zepp, Potemkin pledged his loyalty to the new government as a special agent. Potemkin likes to draw, but is so srong, he can put four tons of pressure on a pencil with only his fingers.
• Zato-1 - A member of the powerful Assassins Guild, Zato-1 allowed himself to become the host of a symbiotic creature named Eddie in exchange for his sight. With Eddie, Zato-1 was able to take control of his shadow, and use it as a weapon. With this power, he was able to make himself leader of the Assassins Guild. However, as his body weakened, Eddie was able to take more and more control until Zato-1's death.
• Kliff Undersn - An aging veteran and hero of the Crusades, he lead the Sacred Order of Holy Knights for decades before turning it over to Ky Kiske. When the first tournament was organized, he joined in the fear that Justice could return. He wields the massive sword Dragonslayer.
• Axl Low - Originally from the streets of 20th Century London's East End, Axl fought his way through the ranks of the various gangs of his neighborhood in order to bring peace to the streets, until he was mysteriously sent nearly 200 years into the future. He now searches for any way he can return home. He fights with a pair of chained scythes with expert skill.
• Millia Rage - Orphaned in the Crusades, she was taken in and raised by the Assassins Guild who trained her to kill, teaching her how to use and control her hair as a living weapon. However, she did not desire the life of an assassin and escaped when the chance presented itself. She now faces down Zato-1, knowing that she can only be free with his death.
• Baiken - During the Crusades, the nation of Japan was destroyed by the Gears. Following this, those of Japanese decent who still lived were declared cultural treasures and placed in special colonies. However, the Gears attacked even these colonies. During one attack, the young Baiken, after watching the death of her parents and losing her right arm and left eye, saw standing among the Gears their creator: "That Man." From that point, she swore revenge, training herself in the use of the katana and dedicated herself to hunting "That Man" down.
• Testament - One of the few Gears with free will, Testament found himself attempting to return Justice to the world. After the first tournament, he discovered the Gear Dizzy, and dedicated himself to protecting her. Stoic and morose, he fights with a massive scythe and his unnatural Gear powers.
• Justice - The original Commander Gear, Justice had the power to control all other Gears, which she used to wage war against the human race. Ultimately she was brought down and exiled to a dimensional prison by the Sacred Order of Holy Knights. However, she was freed by Testament, but was quickly defeated once again, and finally destroyed by Sol Badguy.

Guilty Gear X

• Jam Kuradoberi - A highly talented and spirited martial artist whose true passion is Chinese cooking. She takes up bounty hunting as a means of collecting enough money in order to open her own restaurant, her lifelong dream.
• Johnny - A charming and dashing swordsman and leader of the Jellyfish air pirates, Johnny works outside the law to help others in need. His crew is made of orphans that he has raised himself, including May. He also enjoys shamelessly chasing after women.
• Anji Mito - A young and curious Japanese man, he travels the world seeking knowledge about the Gears and 'That Man' for his own reasons. He fights with fans in a dance-like style. He is also enamored with Baiken, much to her annoyance.
• Faust - Once a kind and very talented surgeon, Faust became a ruthless murderer after loosing a young girl in surgery. After horribly killing scores of people and being imprisoned, Faust was given a second chance after the first tournament. He first decided to atone for his crimes by taking his own life, but he learned that the girl's death was actually caused by a third party. Donning a paper bag on his head and taking his oversized scalpel, Faust seeks out the truth about the girl's death while dedicating himself to saving as many lives as he can. Although there has been no official statement, it is heavily inferred through their similarities that Faust is actually Dr. Baldhead, having reformed himself.
• Venom - Another orphan raised by the Assassins Guild, Venom became the devoted right hand of Zato-1 when he came to power. Once Millia Rage began to hunt Zato and the parasite Eddie began taking more control, Venom began his quest to save his beloved master. He fights with his own style using a pool cue and billiard balls.
• Dizzy - The daughter of Justice, Dizzy's appearance in the world became a cause of concern to those in power, fearing another war with the Gears. However, Dizzy has no desire to harm anyone and only wishes to live in peace. She is eventually found by and joins the Jellyfish air pirates.

Guilty Gear XX

• Eddie - After fighting Millia, Zato-1 falls to his injuries, and the parasite Eddie takes control of Zato's now decaying body. He desprately seeks out a new living host to control.
• Slayer - An ancient vampire who founded the Assassins Guild, he comes out of hiding when the Guild dives into chaos after Zato's disappearance. Cultured and debonair, Slayer enjoys haiku and spends his time with his wife Sharon, another immortal. He is also the mentor of Gabriel, the president of Zepp.
• I-No - A mysterious and seductive woman, I-No's goals and motivations are shrouded and hidden. She fights with an electric guitar and enjoys speaking with suggestive overtones.
• Bridget - Despite the name and appearance, Bridget is actually a boy. He was born in a village where the birth of twins of the same gender was considered bad luck, and hence his family named and raised him as a girl. When he became older, he decided that he would prove his worth and his masculinity by becoming a bounty hunter. He fights with a yo-yo and his intelligent teddy bear Roger.
• Zappa - A hapless young man who has found himself possessed by a number of angry and vicious sprits, who often take control of his body to attack others. Zappa seeks out Faust in the hopes of finding a cure for his bizarre condition.
• Robo-Ky - A robotic copy of Ky Kiske created by the shadowy Post War Administration Bureau as the first in a line of mechanical soldiers.

Other Characters (Non Playable)

• That Man - The creator of the gears. Little is know of him and his motivations, but it is know that he is immortal and has played key roles in many events of the past 150 years.
• Raven - The devoted servant of That Man. Little is known of him, but he does share some sort of connection with Axl Low.
• Gabriel - Mentor of Potemkin and student of Slayer, Gabriel lead the revolt against the leaders of the floating continent of Zepp and was elected its president shortly afterwards.
• Sharon - Wife and constant companion of Slayer. While not a vampire, she is immortal and apparently cannot be killed, even to the point where Slayer can completely drain her of blood with no ill effect. She speaks very little, if at all.
• Roger - Bridget's teddy bear, helps him in his fights.
• S-Ko - A vengeful spirit that has possessed Zappa, and is quite possibly the most powerful one occupying his body.
• April - Member of the Jellyfish air pirates, she is May's first mate and best friend.

Music References

Daisuke Ishiwatari is a devoted enthusiast of Heavy Metal and other forms of rock music. Throughout the series, the names of the various characters and attacks contain many references to various musicians, songs, bands, and album titles. For instance, Testament has an attack named "Master of Puppets," after the album of the same name by Metallica; Eddie is named after the zombie mascot of Iron Maiden, Axl Low is modeled on Axl Rose, and so on. Referenced more then any other group however is Ishiwatari's favorite band: Queen. Not only are there characters named after all four members of the band (May - Brian May, Johnny - John Deacon, Roger - Roger Taylor, and Sol's actual name is Frederick - Freddie Mercury), but a number of attacks are also named after their songs and albums. Slayer has an attack named "Under Pressure," and Potemkin's finishing move is named "Magnum Opera," a reference to the album "A Night at the Opera." Even the name Sol Badguy is a reference to Freddie Mercury's solo album "Mr. Bad Guy."

Some extra heavy metal references: Slayer, Testament and Venom are named after bands of the same name. Bridget's special move "Kickstart My Heart" is named after the Mötley Crüe song of the same title. Ky Kiske is named after Kai Hansen and Michael Kiske from the power metal band Helloween, in addition his special moves "Ride the Lightning" and "Rising Force" are named after the Metallica and Yngwie Malmsteen albums, respectivly. Millia Rage is named after the band Meliah Rage. Her Iron Savior, Winger and Iron Maiden attacks are all named after bands. Eddie's "Break the Law" is a reference to the Judas Priest song "Breaking the Law" and his instant kill "Black in Mind" is named after a album by Rage. Potemkin's "Hammer Fall" is named after the band Hammerfall. Venom's "Carcass Raid" could be a reference to the band Carcass, and his "Dark Angel" overdrive is a reference to the thrash metal band of the same name. Testament's "Grave Digger" and "Warrant" are both named after the bands. Dizzy's "Skull Crusher" may be a reference to the Overkill song "Skull Krusher" The overdrive that both Dizzy and Justice can use, "Gamma Ray", is named after the band.

And on a non-metal note: Zappa is likley named after Frank Zappa. The character of S-ko is a reference to the film and book Ring's malevolent apparition, Sadako.