Summary
After a lengthy three-year break, theGranblue Fantasy Versusseries is back, and it’s already proving to be a worthy successor to its much-beloved predecessor among many fans. As withany of Arc Systems fighting gamesthough,Versus Risingsimilarly has a bunch of mechanics and systems that players need to know about to hit the ground running and to avoid falling into the very common mistakes that beginners can often run into.
Admittedly, there has been a much bigger effort to make the game a little more accessible, and it’s ultimately a much easier game to learn this time around, but it can still be useful to know about some of the core systems that make up the fast-paced gameplay. For anyone who’s jumping into theGranblue Fantasyseries for the first time, or just returning after a long absence, these are the major mistakes to avoid making throughout the newest game.
1Don’t Just Hold Back To Block
Players Should Try To Utilize The Dedicated Block Button As Much As Possible
It’s sort of a given nowadays that in a new 2D fighting game, the fighters will be able to block while holding back, as is a tradition set byStreet Fighter, with the only exception beingMortal Kombatwhich features a dedicated block button.Granblue Fantasy Versus Risingcombines the two though, giving players both methods to use for defending themselves.
This might seem like a small addition on the surface, but a dedicated block button can also help with standing still to perform commands which is incredibly useful, especially for new players. Rather than just relying on one or the other, players should attempt to get into the habit of switching between them when the situation calls for it.
2Don’t Forget About The Super Jump
Super Jumping Works Very Well For Closing The Gap, But It’s Also A Great Anti-Air Maneuver
Granblue Fantasy Versus: Risingdoesn’t feature a forward air dash likeGuilty Gear, but what it does have is an extremely fun super jump that can propel a character well above their enemy. For rushdown fighters, this can be an excellent way to get in close while avoiding any projectiles or heavy attacks, but it’s also an amazing anti-air maneuver thanks to how fast it is.
It can be easy to completely forget about the super jump since there areso many other movement mechanics in the game, but it’s a really important maneuver that can prove to be a real game-changer in a lot of scenarios.
3Don’t Be Shy About Rushing In
Chaining Combos Is Very Easy In Fantasy Versus Rising, So Getting In Close Is Always Encouraged
It feels like a necessity in any fighting game to hang back for a moment or two so that a player can plan their next attack, but in stark contrast,Versus Risingis a game that encourages players to get in close, since it’s soeasy to pull off chain combos. So long as the fighter is standing right next to their opponent, they can initiate a chain combo by tapping the same attack button in a row, but this only works when nearby as the attacks change at a longer distance.
There’s also a run mechanic that is incredibly fast in this game, allowing fighters to get up close and personal in no time at all. Therefore, players shouldn’t be nervous about going in for the kill. Simply rush in, start chaining basic combos, and begin thinking about how they can be extended.
4Don’t Rely On The Roll
The Roll Has A Few Counters Which Can Make It A Little Unreliable
Rolling is another movement mechanic that essentially works the same as a dash, but it’s not quite as effective as some of the dashes seen in otherfast-paced fighting games of the same caliber. For one, a roll cannot go through a throw, so it’s no good trying to get on the other side of an opponent who’s going to hit the grab button after a wakeup.
Additionally, the roll also can’t avoid low attacks either, so while its speed can make it useful for getting in close and dodging projectiles, it has a lot of shortcomings that make it a little unreliable too, so it’s best to exercise with caution.
5Don’t Ignore The Skill Button
The Skill Button Can Make It Much Easier To Perform Input Commands
As mentioned previously,Granblue Fantasy Versus: Risingaims to be much more accessible in its gameplay, and the main way it achieves this is through the Skill button. By holding down this button and aiming in a direction, the character will perform the command that would normally require an input.
For example, a quarter-circle punch with Anila will throw out her sheep projectile, but she can also activate the ability just by holding forward and the Skill button, providing a much faster alternative that can make a lot of the trickier fighters more fun to practice with.
6Don’t Just Use The Bravery System For Defense
Most People Use The Bravery System For Defense, But It Can Also Tear Apart An Opponent’s Guard Too
The Bravery System can seem incredibly complicated at first, but it’s essentially just split into two different parts. The most popular use for it is as a combo breaker, allowing players to break away if the enemy is pummeling them with attacks, but it can also be utilized offensively too, where it will act as a guard break.
If players can manage to slip the Bravery System in against a defensive opponent, they’ll leave them wide open for yet another attack which can rack up some ridiculous damage. It’s advised to get familiar with the Bravery System’s defensive properties first, but it also goes a long way to try out the offensive side of it too, since it can allow a lot of characters to be far more aggressive in their playstyle.
7Don’t Conserve The Meter
The Meter In Versus Rising Charges Extremely Quickly
The super meter inGranblue Fantasy Versus: Risingbuilds incredibly fast since it can be charged by the character performing any action. Punching, jumping, and even just simply walking will fill the meter by a pretty staggering amount, so there’s no need to be shy about spending it on theSupers and Ultimatessince they can be refilled in no more than a few seconds anyway.
This is without a doubt the biggest difference between the core gameplay ofGranblue Fantasy Versus: Risingand all other games in the genre since it’s common knowledge that in the majority of fighting games, using meter wisely is the key to victory. This time around, players should instead throw out their most devastating attacks as much as possible to try and catch the opponent out. Who knows, it could just lead to a winning KO.
