If the onslaught of amazing Halloween deals that have inundated us throughout all of October are getting old, why not take advantage of a different kind of deal? To coincide with the release of its fourth season’s first DLC character, the 2021 fighting game Guilty Gear Strive is down to 50 percent off on PC, Xbox, and PlayStation. While there are newer and flashier fighting games, Strive remains one of the best offerings in the genre, and it’s only gotten better in its fourth year.
At the time of Strive’s release, the Guilty Gear franchise was something of an underrated competitor in the fighting game genre. Those who knew knew and those who didn’t didn’t, with casual players flocking to big tentpole franchises like Tekken and Street Fighter. Strive changed all that, and has established itself as an undeniable juggernaut. That all happened thanks to how the game’s deliberate changes to the franchise’s formula one-up the action not only of past entries but also of other fighting game series. The cherry on top is that it also delivers some of the best-looking visuals the genre has seen.
While the core of Strive remains true to the rest of the series, focusing on combos and heavy-hitting attacks, the game mixes up the formula in a way that makes it a more deliberate and more welcoming entry. You’ll still be dashing and jumping around, but Strive has a slower movement speed that can make each character feel a little heavy, and you’ll particularly notice this in matches when you experience tension over whether you can close gaps in time or dash out of danger. But that slower pace also comes with heavier base attacks, meaning when someone does finally land a hit, things turn ugly fast for the opponent. Strive is, to be cliche, an easy game to pick up but a tough game to master thanks to its deep systems. Once you start getting into understanding its special Roman Cancels and tension meter, you’ll realize just how much strategy there is.
Despite being four years old, it isn’t too late to get into Strive. The game is still thriving, something illustrated by the release of new characters and stages in season four. At the discounted price of $19.99, Strive is a steal, and you can also pick up its previous seasons for a bargain while you’re at it.
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