Guilty Gear Xrd -REVELATOR- offers up a wonderfully entertaining, complex game, and the addition of stylish mode makes it the perfect starting point for those looking get into Guilty Gear. It's addictive, frenetic, and varied, not to mention absolutely stunning. If you already own Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN-, you may have to take a harder look at this improved package, but for everyone else, this is one of the very best fighters on the market.
Street Fighter V's gameplay sits with the best that gaming has to offer. The characters are truly distinct, the presentation first rate, and the netcode is utterly sublime. A lack of single player modes at launch dulls the sheen somewhat, and is the only element preventing the title from achieving true greatness. However, with the engrossing Capcom Fighters Network, the game's set up as a fantastic online playground in which to research techniques, stalk idols, view friends' failures, or simply sit back and watch – all the while waiting for your next challenger in this deep, enthralling fighter.
Unfortunately for Nitroplus Blasterz: Heroines Infinite Duel, its single player content is so threadbare that, more than ever, like-minded friends are essential in order to enjoy the game to its middling potential, and even then, any online sessions will most likely be scuppered by the wonky netcode. It's messy, it can look bad, and it feels incomplete, but beneath all of this is core gameplay that isn't without merit – if only for the most hardcore of Nitroplus' fighting game fans.
While there's little to recommend upgrading from the PlayStation 3 version of the game, BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma Extend is a confident execution of a title that knows its strengths. It may not match the subtle finesse or wider fame of heavy-hitting giants such as Tekken and Street Fighter, but instead delivers an ambitious take on storytelling in fighting games. Though this approach and delivery will not appeal to everybody, what remains is nonetheless a superb fighter with variety and much to enjoy, boasting qualities more than worthwhile in their own right.
While by no means unimpressive – fighting game enthusiasts should have plenty of fun with the game, especially when played with friends – Skullgirls often feels like the wrapping is in danger of out-pricing the gift.