Well, the title already sums up this review, but I'll still try to explain my opinion thoroughly. I will start this review with my personal story with my opinions on the game, as a person still green in the fighting game genre experience before and now somewhat of an experienced player of these games. One fateful day some years ago, I happened to come across a magazine that bundled with this game (PC version, as well, as I had no PS2 or Xbox). Before this day, I had played fighting games, even with very avidly sometimes, but never really tried learning their true depth. But knowing about and being very interested in the series, I immediately picked up the magazine, last of the store, of the month prior, even. I took that chance so hard that it was the magazine that went bundled for free, not the game. It cost me 5€. The months that followed were filled with this addictive game, even though I could only play single player. During those times, I made sure to learn the mechanics of #Reload and fighting games in general alike. I even bought a stick just so I could get better (make no mistake, however, this game is VERY playable with keyboard or pad in my opinion). And afterwards I began to branch out to other games, too, although always holding GGXX #Reload the closest to my heart. However, around the same time I had bought the game, a newer version, called Slash, had just been released. Of course I was jealous, and it sucked how all information online (about game mechanics, for instance) was relevant only to that version and little remained of the previous. Even worse, very shortly after, yet ANOTHER version was to be released for the arcades, Accent Core. Eventually, I got a Wii and bought AC as soon as I could. Was it a better game than #Reload? Yes. Very, very yes. Does it make #Reload redundant? Yes, it does. Accent Core is quite close to perfection. I apologise to the fans, the publisher and GOG, but it's the truth. Before I got my hands on it, I did manage to play #Reload against other people online thanks to a certain fan-made netplay patch (which, unfortunately, only works specifically on the Japanese version and not my European version, which made me force to seek out... alternative methods. The problem with this is that it probably won't work with this GOG version either), but even after given the option to play Accent Core alone, I didn't go back to #Reload to play against others. What's the difference, you may ask? Two new characters, new game mechanics, new modes and some near-perfect character balance. Some of those are quite important in my view. But then again, this IS GoodOldGames.com, not LatestVersionsOnly.edu or whatever, so this might not matter to most people in this site. It also helps that #Reload will forever be a brilliant game. I'm sure it's been tiring to read my rambling story about this game and its further revisions, so here are some quick pros and cons. Pros: Story mode completely exclusive to other versions (this is a good reason to buy, even for a game mostly about the VS fighting), excelent music, awesome cast, some of the most brilliantly tweaked fighting game mechanics ever, learning curve that can be easily broken into steps and thusly a good introduction to the fighting genre (nothing beats SF2 in that regard, though, that game only teaches good habits). Cons: Accent Core exists with more characters and even better mechanics and balance. This means that if you eventually DO get both versions, you'll need to adapt. Netplay will probably not work with this version (I wonder if this will change in the future). Getting information to help you play better at #Reload is hard nowadays. Conclusion: If you can play Accent Core and if the story mode isn't top priority right now, get that instead. It's cheap, too. Otherwise, Guilty Gear XX #Reload is still an excelent game and the GG series in general must not be missed, even if you have never played any fighting game in your life, for both the fun of playing and the fun of learning how to play.That's five stars of excelence minus one of a missed release. Recommended to anyone who doesn't concern themselves with having the most updated versions
