Score
Gameplay:	8
Graphics:	8
Sound:	9
FunFactor:	8
PlasmaFactor:	8
Overall:	8.2

Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Review
March 10, 2008 by Corey Caudill

Accent Core is the latest incarnation in the Guilty Gear series by Arc System Works. Accent Core gives fans of the series more of what they loved from the old versions with added content for you to enjoy. One notable difference with accent core is that the Wii allows gamers to take advantage of the Wiimote and Nun Chuck combination, instead of just having to mash buttons.

 Gameplay

Accent Core has your usual style arcade mode play through. You are given the choice of beating it with every character and unlocking different images or colors. The AI in arcade mode is rather slacking, those who do spend time learning and practicing combos will find no chore in beating the game on the hardest difficulty. However the final boss battle can be frustrating at times and always has been since X2 came out. However casual fighting game players will enjoy going through arcade mode and challenging themselves with increasing the difficulty.

The addition of the typical modes is great, but it is what they have changed that really makes this game great. Just like each new game made in the Guilty Gear series, the characters have been rebalanced and there are new and flashier moves. However, the original moves are still in the game and have new properties which have given rise to a new arsenal of possible combos characters can do. In versus mode, players can choose to play as the current characters or have the option of playing the previous versions of that character, just for reminiscing of course.

There are new types of statuses that the characters can enter in after being hit in by counters, clean-hits, etc. After being hit in one of these circumstances you can get stuck to the wall, or slide across the stage. Obviously, these types of conditions can put you in a major advantage or disadvantage greatly increasing the level of pressure when playing with friends or in a tournament.

They’ve added new standard moves for all characters such as force breaks, slashback, and throw breaks. Force breaks are a new move that consumes 25% of the tension bar and is a powered up version of a move they already have. Most force breaks are performed almost instantly and are very useful in a pinch or, with some characters, a key move in a new combo. Slashbacks are Guilty Gear’s version of parrying, you perform it in the same fashion as faultless defense and a yellow orb surrounds your character as you parry the enemy’s attacks. Through my experience this move is kind of a waste of your super meter, blocking and waiting seems to do the job just fine then wasting the tension on attempting this. Finally, throw breaks add a new level of pressure especially with close range and throw heavy characters. Throw moves allow you to stop a throw from happening if you hit the throw command just as your opponent tries to throw you.

Graphics

Keeping true to the series, Accent Core is a 2-D fighter and delivers. Moves are more flashy than ever and have smoke and explosion effect that please the eyes as much and makes trash talking to your friends that much more enjoyable. Some of the older moves were also redone and look better than ever. Character models are pretty much the same as the previous version, but they’ve just added new color schemes for this version. Stages get a face lift in this version and add a fresh new look to the stages you’ve already liked. For example Eddie’s Hell stage, has blood trail your character as you as you make your assault, which brings a smile to my face every time I see blood follow my next attack.

Sound

I’ve always loved Guilty Gears audio tracks, adding metal into any fighting game is an instant win. What was interesting with this version is that the sound was completely redone and rerecorded. Everything from the announcers to the characters themselves have been switched with new actors or previously unused audio samples. This is a very interesting move on the developer’s part since they have kept the same sounds since Guilty Gear XX, this was a risky move on their part, but it has paid off. The new sounds were interesting to hear after listening to the same ones since XX and gave gamers new vocabulary to try and decipher what the characters were saying.

PlasmaFactor

I would have to say this game’s PlasmaFactor, is and has always been, its competitive play. With the new tweaks in gameplay and rebalancing of characters, it will regain the interest of many die hard fans who may have become bored with the series. The pressure and intensity of playing in a competitive group of people is as high as ever, making this game extremely fun. Even if you aren’t extremely competitive, Guilty Gear has always been an intensely fast paced and flashy fighting game, which can keep a casual gamer playing for a long time.

Conclusion

This game is a solid fighter. Though it may lack some things that many people see in a traditional fighting game, it makes up for it with its trusted formula of competitive play. The rebalancing of characters and the new tweaks on gameplay, give players a new way to alter their gameplay style. With its enhanced graphics and remastered sound, Accent Core is sure to catch your attention even if you are not the one playing. Whether you are a casual or serious gamer, all of these factors added up should be enough for you to stop reading and pick this game up for your collection.