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Blog Assignment

Guilty Gear – Genre and Setting

I’ll be focusing on the Guilty Gear franchise, a fighting game series by Arc System Works. The first game was published in 1998 and has continued to make sequels and spinoffs. The game I’d like to focus on is the second installment Guilty Gear XX.

Guilty Gear XX #Reload All Characters [PS2] - YouTube

Guilty Gear’s aesthetic comes from its heavy metal influence. The character select screen makes it abundantly clear the edgy and violent feel of the game, and the characters reflect the feel.

GGXX Tumblr posts - Tumbral.com

As a fighting game, the characters have to contrast with the backgrounds in order to stick out during gameplay. Along with the characters on the screen, a health bar and super meter is kept in a place where it’s visible at all times regardless of the character’s position. They maintain an essential part of the mechanics of the game while still staying true to the games narrative of rock and metal.

“May’s Ship” from Guilty Gear XX Accent Core
The Mayship stage reflects the technological advancements made in Guilty Gear’s sci-fi narrative.
AD 2172 | Guilty gear, Guilty, Threat
AD2127, otherwise known as The United States of America, reflects the intensity and aftermath of a war against monsters called “Gears.” It’s never explicitly told, but the country is so desolate it’s no longer named.
“Babylon” from Guilty Gear XX
The serenity in the Babylon stage showcases the end of a country we have no knowledge of in game. It supports the further mysterious and engaging world the game has to offer.

The world of Guilty Gear is a mix of both the new and old, with the in-game lore exploring magic and ancient artifacts that give people power. Despite the simple premise of a fighting game, the creators made it clear to its audience that there is indeed a story behind it.

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