Guilty Gear Xrd: Sign

About

"Guilty Gear Xrd: Sign" is the latest entry in the Guilty Gear series, now on Steam with updated 3D graphics and hand-drawn anime aesthetics. The battle system has been revamped with a focus on the "Roman Cancel" system, allowing for strategic gameplay. The game features a roster of 17 characters, including both returning and new faces. *Sin, Elphelt, and Leo can be unlocked through gameplay.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
PvP Player versus Player - Fight against other players in real-time, often in arena-style combat
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,253 reviews

story70 positive mentions

grinding6 negative mentions

Gorgeous graphics and stunning visuals that blend 3D and 2D styles seamlessly.
Deep and rewarding gameplay mechanics with a variety of unique characters, each offering distinct playstyles.
Excellent tutorials and training modes that help both newcomers and veterans learn the game effectively.

The online community is sparse, making it difficult to find matches, especially in ranked play.
Some technical issues, including memory leaks and low-resolution UI elements, detract from the overall experience.
The story mode is primarily a visual novel with no gameplay, which may disappoint players looking for interactive content.

story
298 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
73%
3%
The story of "Guilty Gear Xrd -Sign-" is a mixed bag, with many players finding it engaging yet convoluted, often likening it to watching a long anime film rather than an interactive experience. While some appreciate the depth and emotional moments that resonate with long-time fans, others criticize its fragmented narrative and lack of gameplay during the story mode, which can leave newcomers feeling lost. Overall, the game is recommended primarily for those interested in the lore, as much of the story content is available on platforms like YouTube.
- “Guilty Gear Xrd -Sign- is a remarkable entry in the legendary fighting game series, showcasing an impressive blend of stunning visuals, deep mechanics, and an engaging storyline.”
- “The story mode is another highlight, featuring a captivating narrative that expands the lore of the Guilty Gear universe.”
- “As an old fan of Guilty Gear, I found some inconsistencies in the story and some trinkets in the user interface, but if the story mode made me cry, I am willing to forget the flaws.”
- “The story mode really is just talking the whole time with not an ounce of gameplay in it and the animation for such lovely 3D models doesn't do much justice; it's like seeing static visual novel portraits in 3D and this really shows as an issue when you see fights in story mode look like they're played through Microsoft PowerPoint.”
- “The story is a convoluted mess, but if you like watching anime cutscenes and fighting against the CPU, it's there.”
- “One more thing, unlike in other Arc System fighting games in the past, the story mode in this game is more of a visual novel than anything else; you literally will not fight in its entirety, but rather be a spectator, so if you are going in expecting anything more, you will be disappointed.”
gameplay
228 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
57%
2%
The gameplay of *Guilty Gear Xrd -Sign-* is widely praised for its fast-paced, technical mechanics that offer a deep and rewarding experience for both newcomers and veterans. Players appreciate the extensive tutorial system that eases them into the complex mechanics, while the unique character designs and diverse playstyles contribute to a vibrant fighting experience. Despite some criticisms regarding its accessibility and comparison to its sequel, the game is celebrated for its stunning visuals, engaging soundtrack, and overall solid gameplay that stands out in the fighting game genre.
- “The fast-paced, technical gameplay feels amazing, whether you're mastering combos or just going wild with flashy moves.”
- “The gameplay shines as an honored example of just how fighting games should function, with clean inputs, logical damage distribution, and a whole laundry list of combos that the player can mess around with.”
- “Fast-paced and fun, Guilty Gear Xrd -Sign- is a phenomenal 2D fighting game, featuring a cast of unique characters, a plethora of fun moves, and smooth gameplay perfectly complemented by fantastic music and great graphics.”
- “Still can't recommend for handheld gameplay with such long load time to boot the game.”
- “The gameplay has taken a few steps back, e.g. removing certain moves and systems, the cast is only half as big etc., and, as such, resembles xx2: reloaded a lot more than its updated re-releases.”
- “The story is still impenetrable, and the gameplay isn't much better for casual players, but the good news is that Guilty Gear is always fun to experience on a basic surface level.”
graphics
211 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
39%
2%
The graphics of "Guilty Gear Xrd -Sign-" are widely praised for their stunning anime-inspired visuals and exceptional cel-shaded art style, which effectively blends 3D models with a 2D aesthetic. Reviewers highlight the game's vibrant character designs, intricate backgrounds, and smooth animations, making it a standout in the fighting game genre. While some users note performance issues on lower-end systems, the overall consensus is that the graphics are a major highlight, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
- “The game's art style uses 3D models, but deliberately makes everything look 2D in order to channel the feel of the older Guilty Gear games, even going as far as to make several of the attack animations intentionally choppy.”
- “The graphics are simply stunning.”
- “The visuals are breathtakingly stunning.”
- “The newer Guilty Gear games have better graphics and overall polish.”
- “Even having all the system requirements and playing at lowest graphics, with my power settings at high performance, the FPS stays between 15 and 25 FPS, and I believe that many other players would have this same problem.”
- “The customization regarding graphics is quite limited.”
music
172 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
41%
3%
The music in this game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its exceptional rock and metal soundtrack, often described as one of the best in the fighting game genre. While some players noted that it may not be as memorable as previous entries, the overall quality and integration with gameplay remain impressive. The soundtrack, composed by Daisuke Ishiwatari, enhances the game's vibrant visuals and fast-paced action, making it a standout feature for fans of the series.
- “The soundtrack is a masterpiece; I keep listening to it just like I would to any epic album from the top charts.”
- “The music, animations, graphics, and game mechanics are top-notch; I find myself smiling while playing it because of enjoyment.”
- “The game has fantastic music for you to listen to while taking beautiful 8k screenshots.”
- “My only gripe with the series is that it has a pretty forgettable soundtrack - only the menu music sticks for me.”
- “The music, especially the empty guitar riffs, do nothing for me.”
- “Many songs just have no progression and sound very similar to one another.”
optimization
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
70%
23%
8%
Overall, the game's optimization is generally praised, with many users reporting smooth performance and solid frame rates even on mid-tier systems. While there are minor issues such as occasional performance drops during online play and some initial launch problems, the game is considered well-optimized for PC, offering good graphics and a variety of settings. Users appreciate the ability to run the game effectively on lower-end hardware, making it accessible to a wider audience.
- “Great optimization settings; works like a charm and doesn't even cause stress on performance even on high optimization settings.”
- “I get a constant 60fps on quality settings, with under the minimum requirements; the game is excellently optimized and ported.”
- “Well optimized and the netcode is solid.”
- “Either way, changing the display/graphics options isn't very helpful, because you can actually just pick two options in-game: either performance or quality. You can change the resolution, and basically that's it. I enjoyed those 48 minutes, but playing a game that is poorly ported to PC and can't even run on it isn't fun. Even MKX or SF4 was ported better, and with those games, there were no problems whatsoever.”
- “Also, the performance drops a lot while playing online sometimes; that's the only drawback for now.”
- “Bug: the game client starts getting frame lag and sound stuttering after about half an hour of multiplayer.”
character development
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
26%
16%
Character development in the game is highlighted by its exceptional and diverse character designs, which are praised for their originality and stylishness. Players appreciate the depth of the characters, with unique play styles and backstories that enhance the overall experience, particularly through the tutorial and additional content like Steam trading cards. While the gameplay mechanics may be challenging, the character design and development remain standout features that contribute significantly to the game's appeal.
- “I love the character design; it's so varied and original - so much fun to learn the different play styles.”
- “Arc System Works did an amazing job on character design... I honestly cannot say enough good things about it.”
- “It's deep, funny, action-packed, and the characters/character development is pretty awesome.”
- “Don't know much, but there is character development in the tutorial (and the Steam trading cards give backstory!), which is good.”
- “Guilty Gear is a game where there are a lot of system mechanics, along with some really unique character designs.”
- “Fighting game with Japanese character design, some story going on across the many installments and an emphasis on fabulousness.”
stability
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Overall, the game's stability is a mixed bag; while many players report solid performance with locked 60fps in most modes, there are notable issues such as bugs in lobbies, occasional freezes, and inconsistent button input displays. Some users have experienced significant problems during story mode and multiplayer, including player disconnections and glitches that can disrupt gameplay. Despite these issues, many still find the game enjoyable and playable.
- “The game runs great maxed out on my system @ 1080p (FX 8350 @ 4.6 GHz, GTX 670, 5GB RAM Windows 7 64 bit) stable 60fps online and offline.”
- “The game runs great, solid locked 60fps except for when in story mode and when the prerendered cutscenes are going on, then it's 40fps, never higher.”
- “The game runs great, looks great, sounds great, feels great.”
- “I love Strive, but this game is so buggy and won't even let me use 1080p.”
- “This game has two noteworthy problems: the icons for button inputs don't seem to know what you're using to input them, so they just flash back and forth constantly between that of a keyboard and an Xbox 360 controller, and there are some inexplicable freezes and/or crashes that occur from time to time.”
- “Maybe linked to this issue, rooms tend to get buggy sometimes: random player disconnect/reconnect messages, impossible to see where players are actually seated, which can cause you to be stuck waiting for a game that doesn't exist... this needs a fix, really.”
humor
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is frequently highlighted as a standout feature, with players enjoying the quirky character expressions and witty writing that often elicits laughter. The blend of comedic elements with intense gameplay, such as funny instant kills and humorous character interactions, enhances the overall experience, making it both entertaining and engaging. While some players find certain aspects less appealing, the humor remains a consistent source of enjoyment throughout the game.
- “The writing is on point and often funny.”
- “Very stylish, the music kicks ass, the characters are all badass or hilarious.”
- “These characters fought with their hair... so the first character in GG Xrd I pick up is 'Millia'... funny.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while unlocking characters and content can be achieved relatively quickly through challenges, the process of grinding for in-game currency to purchase extras is often seen as tedious and frustrating. Some users appreciate the faster pace of earning rewards compared to other titles, but the overall sentiment leans towards grinding being a cumbersome task, especially for certain modes.
- “Grinding for money to buy the 3 'extra' characters is a hassle.”
- “It eventually becomes such a tediously long grind that you end up wasting large amounts of time for little reward.”
- “Unlocking miscellaneous stuff, such as new characters, announcers, color palettes, etc., doesn't take too long, but you can just buy them with real money if it still feels too tedious.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
50%
The game offers significant replayability, particularly due to its variety of playable characters and content, though some players feel it lacks the depth of branching story paths that enhanced replay value in previous versions. While the potential for future character releases is promising, the absence of a more integrated narrative may limit some players' desire to replay.
- “Tons of replay value!”
- “I do kind of miss having the story be more ingrained to the gameplay and the various branching story paths, as they added more replay value and also presented some cool what-if scenarios.”
- “You're better off getting rev 2 instead of this game because it is essentially the same game but with more playable characters and content.”
- “You're better off getting Rev 2 instead of this game because it is essentially the same game but with more playable characters and content.”
- “Could have had more playable characters, which I believe they are going to release more.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the emotional depth of the characters and their journeys to be a significant aspect of the game, often leading to strong emotional reactions, such as tears during the story mode. While some users noted inconsistencies in the narrative and interface, the overall emotional impact and engaging story have left a lasting impression, contributing to high praise for the game.
- “Players are encouraged to invest in the characters and their journeys, adding an emotional weight to the battles.”
- “As an old fan of Guilty Gear, I found some inconsistencies in the story and some trinkets in the user interface, but if the story mode made me cry, I am willing to forget the flaws.”
- “Wow, it's a great game! The graphics are amazing and the story is so emotional with deep thoughts. The fighting system is so good, and there are no problems with the training mode for new players. For me, this game is perfect and deserves a 10/10. Good job and keep it up!”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is noted as unique and engaging, complementing the decent gameplay experience.
- “In short, decent gameplay with a unique atmosphere.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game is characterized by its high-paced, intense Japanese-style 2D combat, which is complemented by a significant depth of gameplay. However, specific details regarding monetization strategies, such as in-game purchases or ad placements, are not mentioned in the review.