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Ever since 1998 and the days of the original Playstation there has been Guilty Gear games. A sprite based combat game with amine style graphics and usually a rock based music score.

Guilty Gear Dust Strikers is its latest incarnation and the first to appear on the Nintendo DS. As with other versions it is still a combat game but this time you can play as any one of the 20 other characters that have been used in previous titles. Up to 4 human players can play at once across both screens on the DS across 6 different game modes including some mini games which you play to develop your individual characters’ various skill factors. These have purposely been designed with the touch screen facility in mind but they are a mixed bag of quality.

But is the game any good?

Well yes and no. Personally although I think the DS is good for the game in that you can play against your friends over the wireless system, I also think that the screen sizes are too small for the amount that is going on, on the screen at any one time. This is especially true if you are playing against 3 other players. There are also occasions where you will be fighting on the bottom screen and then without warning you will be on the upper screen. It does get confusing at times and you have to bare with it and try to not lose patience.

Graphically the game is colourful as you would expect will various different settings throughout the game. However the backgrounds are rather static which some people may find a little detrimental.

Gameplay wise, it’s a tried and trusted formula. There is arcade mode where you have to defeat all the opposition; there is Story Mode where you have to follow one characters unique storyline. VS Mode and Challenge mode is where you play against your friends. It all feels a little familiar which is not necessarily a bad thing but unfortunately for this game, beat em ups have moved on a long way since 1998, and in some ways this series hasn’t.

Can I recommend it? Yes. If you have played other games of the series and you loved them then you will love this. It’s the first of its series on the DS so will be welcomed by its fans. For newcomers to the series though I would say if possible try it before you buy. Not a disaster by any stretch of the imagination but not a classic either.

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Developer:

Arc System Works

Publisher:

THQ

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Genre:

Fighting

Release Date:

04/25/06