The Granblue Fantasy franchise may not yet be a household name in the West, but Granblue Fantasy: Versus may very well be the game to change all that. Based on the browser game originally released in Japan in 2014, Granblue Fantasy: Versus introduces the beloved franchise to an entirely new audience, combining the universe of the mobile JRPG with head-to-head fighting mechanics in an all-new, fast-paced combat game that will delight fans of both genres.

An Expanding Empire

Granblue Fantasy: Versus isn’t the first time the mobile game has seen an expanded adaptation to another format. The game also received the anime treatment in 2017 with season one of Granblue Fantasy The Animation, while season two premiered in late 2019. We’ve seen JRPG-style fighting games before, though. So, what would make Granblue Fantasy: Versus stand out to a Western audience in a niche sub-genre?

For starters, Granblue Fantasy: Versus is developed by Cygames - the original Granblue Fantasy developer - in partnership with ARC SYSTEM WORKS - the studio behind the critically acclaimed Guilty Gear franchise. That alone should be enough to get fighting genre fans to raise an inquisitive eyebrow. It’s a good thing ARC SYSTEM WORKS was involved, too. Because while Granblue Fantasy: Versus’ focus on head-to-head combat is well-executed, it’s new, original story leaves quite a bit to be desired.

Excuse Me While I Kiss The Sky

Granblue Fantasy: Versus’ RPG Mode is a solid way to become familiar with the playable characters, of which there are only 11 at the time of the game’s release (two additional DLC characters are slated for release on March 3rd, while five total characters will be added over the course of Season One).

While the voice acting is superb, the visuals stunning, and the soundtrack wonderful, the story is pretty one-note, with Gran and his friends making their way through the endless sky to different island worlds, taking on waves of corrupted enemies (which are severely lacking in terms of variety). Along the way, head-to-head battles take place against other main characters who are also corrupted and under control of the villain. Defeating these characters breaks their corruption, which adds them to the party as playable characters. Character-specific side quests are also added, allowing players to learn the ins-and-outs of each character they unlock.

Players can also seemingly dive deep into the RPG elements of stats and skills boosting while upgrading and customizing their weapons. However, it never really felt like it made much difference in terms of progression. I personally only upgraded three or four times throughout the entire RPG Mode playthrough, and was able to handle each battle without too much trouble (unless I was trying my hand at a newly acquired character).

Mostly, RPG Mode provides a predictable formula that is ultimately forgettable, which is a shame considering the vast amount of lore that the game presents in its loading screens and unlockable glossary entries. That said, because two characters are used for each battle in 2-vs-1 type of combat, players can join up locally or online for co-op action with each person taking control of a fighter. The RPG mode is easy enough to take on alone, but the co-op option is a nice feature.

Put ‘Em Up

Don’t let the faults of the RPG Mode fool you, though. Granblue Fantasy: Versus is a fighting game through and through, and a satisfying one at that.

As far as fighting games go, Granblue Fantasy: Versus lands on the more accessible end of the spectrum, allowing for veterans and newcomers alike to take part in the action. Easy to pick up, but difficult to excel at, the control scheme is simple in its four-button layout, with a light, medium, and heavy attacks, along with a character-specific unique attack. Each attack can be modified depending on the direction pressed on the D-Pad, while throws, overhead attacks, and dodges also exist as strategic options (honestly, a perfectly-timed dodge in Granblue Fantasy: Versus might be one of the most satisfying defensive maneuvers in any fighting game).

Projectiles, anti-air attacks, and traps are also at play for players to use, along with a special moves that become available once a character’s meter fills up to 100%. Special moves come complete with an animated cutscene as the character prepares the attack, which is pretty typical nowadays in the genre. The nice thing about these special moves is that they aren’t limited to only one per match. As long as a character continues to build up their meter to 100%, players can use their special move multiple times throughout the match.

Players can speed up this process through chaining attacks together, earning more points. This differs slightly from combination systems like the one found in Mortal Kombat 11. There really aren’t major combos to speak of - at least in comparison to MK11, which utilizes the entire real estate of the arena. Granblue Fantasy: Versus is very much a game where success and “combos” can be achieved when backing your opponent into the corner. This is obviously a frustrating tactic that turns off plenty of players, but Granblue Fantasy: Versus has a weird way of keeping you engaged in the fight, even when you’re the one with your back up against the wall.

In addition to regular attacks, buffs can be used to help turn the tide against your opponent. These can come as defensive maneuvers, such as restoring HP, or offensive attacks, such as magic arrows raining down from the sky. These cooldown moves are simple, but effective, provided players know how (and when) to use them.

If It’s Good Enough For EVO, It’s Good Enough For Your PS4

Truth be told, I’m not the biggest fan of JRPGs, nor am I the biggest fan of the fighting genre, but there was something about the trailer for Granblue Fantasy: Versus that had me wanting to know more. Boy, am I glad that I found out.

Granblue Fantasy: Versus effectively blends the two genres into a head-to-head fighting game that I can’t seem to get out of my mind. Sure, the RPG mode is a bit lackluster, but it did enough to make me want to know more about Granblue Fantasy as a whole (you can bet I’ll be watching the anime soon enough). More importantly, the game has also renewed my interest in the fighting genre, making me want to figure out my main so that I can compete against the top players online, and maybe… just maybe… even become good enough to compete in the Granblue Fantasy: Versus tournament at EVO 2020. Hey, dare to dream, right?

A physical PlayStation 4 Premium Edition of Granblue Fantasy: Versus was provided to TheGamer for this review. Granblue Fantasy: Versus will be available on March 3rd for PlayStation 4.