Official PlayStation Magazine - 04.2020

081

REVIEW

INFO

FORMATPS4

ETA 27 MARCH

PUBMARVELOUS

EUROPE

DEVARCSYSTEM

WORKS

A

reyouoneofthe 25 million

players of the mobile game

Granblue Fantasy, or a fan of

the anime adaptation? Then

you’ll love how Granblue

Fantasy: Versus is steeped in

nods and references for the

devoted. But even if you’re

not, Versus is a terrifically fun fighter. No

punches, whip-cracks, or spear thrusts have

been pulled by veteran fighting game developer

Arc System Works (the punching bag behind

Guilty Gear, Dragon Ball FighterZ).

The fighting fundamentals are simple, though

not lacking in depth. Every character has light,

medium, and heavy attacks using their weapons

with r, w, and e respectively – though their

fighting styles ensure each feels unique. When

striking, tapping the buttons again can give you

an auto-combo up to three hits. On top of that,

moves can be altered depending on distance, or

if you’re jumping or crouching. Every character

also has their own action on q – things like

parries, extra dashes, or even a health-boosting

snack – which makes a massive difference to

their fighting style.

COOL OFF

One of the biggest mechanical twists is the way

characters’ specials (called Skills) work, and it’s a

stroke of genius. The only moves that use meter

are the full-power Skybound and Super Skybound

Arts. Every other skill – your Hadouken- or

Dragon-Punch-type moves – has an individual

cooldown displayed below your health. You can

activate all four by tapping u on its own or with

a directional input. But there’s a lot of variation

within that simple-sounding framework. You can

GRANBLUE

FANTASY:

VERSUS

Going overboard with this airship

of punch-up delights

EASY BREEZY @MrOscarTK

Meeting these eligible
anime fighters is no
fantasy – you’ll be
endeared quickly.