Guilty Gear Strive's First DLC Season Pass Character Releases Next Week
The first post-launch character for Guilty Gear Strive, the bombastic coffin-carrying Goldlewis Dickinson, has been revealed. The stylish fighting game, developed by Arc System Works, is the seventh major installment in the long-running series. Guilty Gear Strive was intended to be a reconstruction of the series, refining old mechanics and introducing entirely new ones.
Released on June 11, 2021, reviews for Guilty Gear Strive praised the game's rich story and visceral gameplay. The series' newest title acts as a climactic end to a years-long story, going so far as to include a three-hour long animated film completely devoid of gameplay. Supplemental material, such as a glossary and timeline, further emphasize the game's narrative and help newcomers catch up on the story so far. Meanwhile, Guilty Gear Strive's gameplay is considerably slower than previous installments, giving a feeling of more weight and power to each successful hit. Additional modes, such as Dojo and Arcade, give both new and experienced players a place to practice and master the game's various combos and mechanics. A pre-release beta tested the game's rollback netcode, which is said to increase the game's responsiveness between online players.
A trailer for Guilty Gear Strive's first downloadable character, Goldlewis Dickinson, has been released by Arc System Works on YouTube. The brutish enforcer is set to be the first of five additional characters to be released as a part of the game's Season Pass 1 expansion. Goldlewis' combat style is defined by a massive coffin, said to contain alien spirits, which he carries around and uses to crush his opponents. His status as the Secretary of Absolute Defense also affords him some powerful weaponry, such as a massive chaingun. Players who own Guilty Gear Strive's Season Pass 1 can access Goldlewis Dickinson on July 27, while all others can purchase him individually starting on July 30.
Downloadable content has become a simple and effective way for developers to expand the rosters of fighting games. Most modern titles in the genre include some form of post-launch support, adding new characters or stages for players to purchase. Mortal Kombat 11 recently ended its DLC support after more than two years of upkeep from developer NetherRealm Studios. MK11's post-launch support included twelve playable characters, including both beloved franchise favorites and surprising guest appearances, as well as a new story mode.
Guilty Gear Strive has been praised by both long-time franchise fans and newcomers. The fighting game acts as a climactic conclusion to the long-running story of the series, while also innovating gameplay in a satisfying way. The game's Season Pass 1 promises to deliver even more outlandish characters to control, and the alien corpse-wielding Goldlewis Dickinson looks like a worthy addition to the roster.
Guilty Gear Strive is available on PS4, PS5 and PC.
Source: Arc System Works/YouTube