With the arrival of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners‘ Lucy to GUILTY GEAR STRIVE, we can’t help but wonder who else would make a great collaboration with the aggressive, off-the-wall fighting game. While there are a myriad of options that could fit the bill, none stand out like DanDaDan. The popular anime combines high-octane action and weirdness that feels like a match made in heaven.
Not only does it feel like a great fit in general, but thanks to the wide variety of abilities and combat styles present in the series, there is a character that could fill nearly any role the developers at Arc System Works could be looking to fill. However, before we get into the specifics of how each character could fit into the game’s ever-expanding roster, we need to touch on another element that makes the game fit: justifications for how the character arrives.
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Arc System Works has said that it’s important to them that collaboration characters have a reason for appearing in Guilty Gear. With DanDaDan, there are a slew of options for how someone could show up, thanks to the bizarre science and magic present in the story.
A simple example would be the Serpos have hatched a plot to sling some of the protagonists into another dimension, thereby making it easier to claim one of the prizes they seek. Of course, the plan goes haywire, and only one character gets flung through the portal. Not the greatest narrative, but I’m not that kind of writer. But it just goes to show that it wouldn’t be tough.
But enough about lore, let’s talk characters. With five central figures capable of throwing hands, DanDaDan has a lot to offer. Let’s look at each one and what role they could fill, starting with the most obvious cursed protagonist everyone loves.
Ken “Okarun” Takakura: Rushdown
Okarun’s signature aspect to his fighting style is speed. As such, he would be a great rushdown character. He could doggedly press opponents’ defense, nipping at their heels wherever they tried to go. He would be a ground central combatant, with aerial combat being a weak spot for him. And Okarun’s trademark mechanic would have to be a special gauge: The Full-Throttle Gauge.
Starting each match full, the gauge would be broken into two pieces. When a piece is spent, he would gain even greater movement and a damage buff. But there would be a drawback. As fans are well aware, once Okarun goes Full-Throttle twice, he loses access to his powers for the rest of the day. This would mean his second activation would need to be a game finisher or an instant out.
Momo Ayase: Zoner
A diminutive high school girl who conjures giant green-glowing hands to throw her opponents around. Honestly, when I type it out, I’m kind of surprised this character doesn’t already exist in the game. It sounds perfect on so many levels.
Momo could use her telekinetic projections to control the neutral game and keep her foes off-balance. Powerful strikes and creative grabs could be Momo’s moment-to-moment signatures. If a foe can get inside on her, she can get in trouble fast. Though she should have one tool at her disposal to drive off anyone who tries to take liberties with her up close.
One of Momo’s supers would have to be her trademark roundhouse kick. The cinematic camera angle could swing over her shoulder, recreating the iconic shot that has become one of the show’s signatures since Episode 1. Seeing Momo launch someone like Gold Lewis or the massive Potemkin with the decisive strike would never fail to entertain.
Jiji/Evil Eye: Stance Fighter
When Jiji’s training under Seiko Ayase comes to fruition, he learns how to create a vortex attack and is physically capable of holding his own in a fight. While nowhere near the raw power of his alter ego, this would work perfectly to create a natural stance fighter.
When in Jiji form, he could use range and movement to harass opponents, waiting for them to give up an opening. Once the perfect moment comes, a button input would see Jiji gleefully splash himself in the face with a cup of water, unleashing the far more aggressive Evil Eye.
Whether or not Evil Eye could be allowed his purple projectile or not would be dicey. I think to capture the character’s power, a ricocheting range attack might have to be left behind. But I get the impression players may have already had enough of soccer-themed guest characters, so it would probably be for the best.
Aira Shiratori: Aerial Rushdown
While Okarun would excel at horizontal fighting, Aira would be the vertical master. Due to the high agility gifted to her by Acrobatic Silky, she would always want to be in the air. She could bring some dangerous mix-ups with her aerial focus, making her an intimidating presence as opponents try to keep her in front of them. This would also help her stand out against the other hair-centric character in the game, Millia Rage.
And as a nice side-effect of Aira’s strange journey, there could be an unexpected reunion. Due to the change in magical energies around her, perhaps the spark of Silky that was given to her could allow the spirit to manifest in her victory screen. Seeing her rush to her “mother” and throw her arms around her again would deliver a potent homage to one of the best episodes of anime ever.
Seiko Ayase: Summoner
It would be easy to put Seiko in the all-rounder category. Wielding her trusty baseball bat, “Nessie,” she could bring a well-balanced kit to the game that would be enjoyable and easy to master. But what would be the fun in that? Seiko could be used as a way to bring additional characters into the game, via her moveset.
Seiko has been seen coordinating attacks in some of DanDaDan‘s bigger fights, and her combos could lean into this side of her character. She could summon Taro to dash across the screen, potentially trapping foes within himself for a brief second, or she could bring her student, Manjiro, crashing down from above, knocking careless foes to the ground, teeing up a big swing from Nessie.
And there is only one way Seiko could enter the battlefield. Recreating her fantastic entrance during the battle with Evil Eye, Seiko would be slowly lowered to the ground in a beam of light, standing on Taro’s back. At least until impatience gets the best of her and she jumps down. As a last flavor element, her stage music would have to be the exorcism song, ‘Hunting Souls.’ The heavy metal piece would be perfect for Guilty Gear‘s already hard-driving soundtrack.
With all that laid out, this is a GUILTY GEAR STRIVE- x DanDaDan moment is a must. The pair of franchises feels so perfect. That their particular brands of weird fit so harmoniously together feels like nothing short of fate. Let’s hope the licensing gods and Arc System Works’ devs agree.
DanDaDan Season 2 is airing now on Crunchyroll and Netflix.
GUILTY GEAR STRIVE is available now on PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5|4, and Xbox Series X|S.
