REVIEW: ‘Granblue Fantasy: Versus’ Is Uneven But Still A Hit (PS4)

Granblue Fantasy: Versus, developed by Arc System Works (DragonBallFighterZ) and published by Cygames, is an action-packed head-to-head fighter that takes place in the world of hit mobile game and anime, Granblue Fantasy. Granblue Fantasy: Versus is a game where power, skill, and spirit collide in an adventure to find the real champion of the sky. Throughout the game, players develop their fighters in an all-inclusive character and weapon upgrade system that will be familiar to all seasoned fans and easier to adapt to for newcomers too.

The game includes an RPG and Versus modes for gameplay. In RPG mode, players go head-to-head against waves of enemies and intimidating Primal Beasts. Players can choose to battle solo or team up with a friend in local or online co-op while Versus mode allows players to take on AI opponents or fight against other opponents in local or online two-player matches.

I found the game’s tutorial to be extremely helpful and comprehensive. Whereas other RPG tutorials made me want to skip over them because they drag on for far too long. Granblue Fantasy’s tutorial didn’t feel like it was wasting my time. It is concise and gets right to the point. It teaches you what you need to know, and then you are on your way.

Another thing to note is that Granblue Fantasy: Versus is an anime fighter game that’s accessible for gamers of all levels. As someone that is a massive fan of most anime games, I can say that my experience with anime fighting games has not always been ideal. Mainly, this is because the fighting systems are a bit more complicated and harder to get the hang of if you aren’t someone who plays fighting games very often. However, I will say that Granblue Fantasy: Versus gives fighting game fans an accessible battle system that is appropriate for beginners and seasoned players alike.

The games RPG mode features an all-new, original story presented in beautifully rendered cut scenes. The story also features a vibrant cast of famous characters such as Gran, Katalina, Io, Charlotta, and more. I will say, as being someone more familiar with the anime instead of the mobile game, I enjoyed seeing and playing as characters from the anime. However, I had hoped the RPG mode would be more satisfying.

Mainly RPG mode consists of you hopping from each destination to defeat low to mid-level enemies and then a boss battle, and then you move on to the next destination and repeat the process. Don’t get me wrong, battling waves of enemies in each quest is fun at first, but it can feel a bit tedious after you’ve accomplished a dozen or so quests. I think RPG mode might have been more appealing to me if there had been some open-world exploration included in the game. The world that the game takes place in is full of so much magic and adventure. So it would have been nice to explore other aspects of the game’s world outside of just fighting waves of enemies.

Versus mode is possibly my favorite part of the game. In this mode, you can choose from 11 characters to battle with, which includes fan favorites such as Gran, Katalina, Charlotta, and more. While the roster of characters is small, each character has their own unique fighting style. Learning the character’s moves is an easy task, but mastering them is a bit of a challenge.

However, playing against the computer gave me plenty of time and practice to learn my favorite characters moves and combos. Once I got the hang of fighting with a few different characters, I felt comfortable enough to go up against some other players. As I mentioned earlier, my only gripe about Versus Mode is that the roster of characters to choose from it a bit small. However, I would assume the roster will grow when more DLC content and playable characters are made available in the future.

Last but certainly not least, I have to talk about the game’s gorgeous designs and visuals in this game. The world of Granblue Fantasy: Versus is designed in a vibrant 2.5D style that gives a high production value to the battles and cut scenes. The brilliant art director behind these captivating visuals is Hideo Minaba, known for his expertise and work in the Final Fantasy franchise. Minaba’s talent shines through in every scene of this game from the characters to world designs.

Overall, I think Granblue Fantasy: Versus is a game that has something to offer to a wide variety of fans. Arc System Works and Cygames created a game that is approachable to newcomers, while still meeting the expectations of long-time fans of the franchise and fighting games alike. And while RPG Mode fell a little short for me, Versus Mode and the vivid visuals more than made up for it.

Granblue Fantasy: Versus is available on PS4.