Guilty Gear Petit 2

"A must for the avid pocket fighter"

Despite being out for a couple of years, the Wonderswan Color didn't really spark my interest in it due to my English speaking background and because it seemed to be a mostly RPG saturated system. However because I'm into handhelds and fighting games alike,(and because I came into possession of a large sum of play money)I recently imported a unit along with what has turned out to be one of my best buys ever; Guilty Gear Petit 2! Note that I have never played any other Guilty Gear game besides this, so I don't know much about the game's story and background. Hence, this ought to be a fairly unbiased review.

Story
Well like I said, I can't read Kanji and I've never played the console versions so I'm at an impasse. Actually, the game is more of a straight-up fighter than one laden in story. I'd imagine that Sammy intended it to be more of a fighter on the go over a comic book. There is some drama in story mode though, and If you've played Guilty Gear or Guilty Gear X on the Playstation, you'll probably understand it to a degree.

As for the character designs, GGP2 adds originality while seeming to take inspiration from others. Sol Badguy is the obvious 'Ryu' of the game, but has to be one of the coolest lead character's ever. Ky Kiske is his 'Ken' or rival who is equally as cheap as Sol. Theres May, a dolphin shooting, anchor wielding pirate who seems to have a thing for Johnny, the darkly dressed, long range Ukyo Tachibana (from Samurai Shodown)of the game. Millia Rage, a Russian blonde who uses her hair as a weapon searches for her nemesis Zato-1, a character similar to Venom of the Spider-Man comics. Then theres Potemkin, your large power grappler and Chip Zanuff the fast ninja type. Theres Axl Iow who comes off as a sickle wielding Billy Kane, and Anji, a glasses wearing guy who fights using fans. Lastly theres the bag headed Faust and nurse Fanny, a duo who wield large medical tools and seem to have a connection. In addition, theres hidden versions of certain characters to unlock.

Gameplay: 9
Ah now to what is really important(at least I think). Guilty Gear Petit 2 has to be one of the tightest controlling fighters on a handheld. This is good considering fighting games, whether handheld, console, or arcade, are usually either fun or not fun depending of their control. At first I was concerned about the WSC's control pad, but after a few minutes of play, my concerns faded. The system handles quite well, though it lacks the joystick of the Neo Geo Pocket it doesn't hamper gameplay much at all. To make it even easier, theres an option to toggle between standard 'Normal' mode, and an easier 'Simple' mode, giving grizzlers about the WSC's control less of an argument. If you still want better control, Sammy even put out the Wondercoin accessory to make handling even easier.

The control scheme is fairly easy and will be familiar to the veteran 2D fighting game player, with the A and B buttons as punch and kick respectively. Characters all have regular specials and supers which become available when the tension gauge at the bottom of the screen fills up. In addition, the player can go in to the infamous 'one hit kill' mode, using a special super that instantly K.O.s the opposition. Also, each character has two taunts each that can be used an unlimited number of times...Dan players rejoice!

Audio and Visuals: 9
Visually superb! The artwork in this game uses the Manga style with Super Deformed characters on a 'petit' scale. The animations of the characters are also top notch and flow smoothly, on par with Samurai Shodown 2! from the Neo Geo Pocket Color. The colors are rich and lively in the background stages and characters(I never though I'd see skin pigment again after playing Match of the Millennium for so long). And if the visuals are this good, just take a gander at the audio. The game sports no voices but the sound effects really add to the experience. From the jingle of Axl's chains, to the clang of Sol and Ky's swords, the effects are really admirable. Even more good things go to the BGMs. Really catchy considering your listening to a little midi.

Replay: 8
You'll be playing this one again and again if your into fighting games like me. Even if your not a die-hard, GGP2 will keep you enthralled during waits. The game sports a story mode, versus mode, survival mode, time attack mode, and training mode as well as option menu with BGMs(I turn them on in the shower) to add longevity to the game. If you're lucky enough to have a friend with a WSC and Guilty Gear Petit 2, you'll be in versus mode heaven.

OVERALL: 9

The only reason GGP2 doesn't get a 10 from me is because I cannot understand the story! Otherwise, the game is nearly impeccable. What more can I say? If you don't mind importing and want a fun game to keep you entertained, or your a fan of pocket fighting, pick up Guilty Gear Petit 2. Highly recommended.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 03/06/02, Updated 03/06/02