Note - this review also covers XX, not just the #Reload update. #Reload is pretty much the most complete version I have access to before Accent Core.

The jump from Guilty Gear to Guilty Gear X was huge, adding a bevy of tough but fair mechanics, incredibly improved sprite work and a story with plenty of fun and weirdness abound. Guilty Gear XX continues on this further, and while it doesn't feel like a whole new bag of tricks like X did, it keeps on the same level of fun you'd come to expect.

The story is a bit more haphazard, featuring a villainess that is a blast to play and can make for some tough endgame fights, but only serves as a minor distraction from the shadowy Postwar Administration Bureau that attempts to close its grip on the fighters from the previous game and a few additions. All of the additions are solid and fun, whether it be the yo-yo traps from Bridget or the sheer insanity of Zappa's random spirit summons.

That said, there has to be a reason why this is a 4 instead of a 5. At least during GGX Plus, there was a solid manner of introducing players to character movesets, even providing them an easier means of practicing them onscreen and having the AI do the movements for them as a way to step them through the basics. Not so in XX - it feels like a step back, especially with how tricky it can be to pull off some moves. There are a couple new additions such as Fake Roman Cancels, Air Throws, remapping the Dust button, and Burst, but apart from the FRC (which is demonically cruel to pull off in this version), nothing feels like it particularly sways the tide of battle, even with a combo breaker.

As for modes, there's a medal score attack mode (MOM), a mission mode that has a mind-numbingly large amount of missions, and 60 endings (plus a secret one) for Story Mode. It feels like a bit much, though that could be based on preference. That said, throwing on a bunch of technical options and modes is fine, but XX needs a bit more zing to really reach the same heights that X did.