AC+

Posted by Jacob H. on 12th Jan 2011

Accent Core Plus is basically the same game that was released in 2008, which was yet another revamp of the old X2. Given its quality, however, that's not a bad thing. That Plus alludes to a few major additions to the previous title. Justice and Kliff are the most obvious of them; after years of exclusion, these series veterans have finally made it back as playable fighters, making the character roster the largest to date. The main attraction, however, is the brand new story mode; it picks up in the aftermath of X2 and delves further into what's already been established. Sol Badguy's past, his rivalry with Ky, and his quest for That Man might take center stage, but each of the characters is treated to his or her own little development. Some are handled better than others; Millia's potentially tragic fate and Slayer's impending retirement and personal insights into his enemies offer more depth. Others, like Chipp's presidential campaign, will make you wonder when Aksys stopped taking things seriously.

But hey, it's never really about the story. It's all about insane, flashy, over-the-top brawls with a bunch of weird characters and even weirder moves. The gameplay operates like a standard 2D fighter; you make button and directional pad inputs and unleash whatever your fighter has up his or her sleeve. The combat mechanics focus on linking attacks together into extensive combos, which means you'll be able to spend countless hours figuring out all the little tricks and subtle strategies that make these warriors tick. Aside from the usual punches and kicks, you'll be able to pull off tons of special moves and abilities. There are no Hadokens or Sonic Booms here; you've got demon summoning, walls of fire, lightning blades, cherry blossom-flinging swordplay, billiard ball assaults, whales, teddy bears, and a slew of other stuff only a Guilty Gear game could pull off. That's on top of the Instant Kill moves, which range from upper-cutting someone in the stratosphere to ramming them at full power. While these things can end a fight in a single hit, they're easily blockable and require you to fight at a close range. Needless to say, victory doesn't come cheap.

The emphasis on character balance and the limits of the movesets is one of the best things about this game. Even if the technical aspects are basically unchanged Accent Core versions, they are still incredibly well polished. Chipp might be the fastest person in the game, but his attacks are close-ranged and deal little damage. On the other hand, Potemkin's gargantuan frame severely limits his movements, but gives ridiculously high attack power. While such strengths and weaknesses are standard, Accent Core worked in deeper and more effective strategies around them. If you're a fan that hasn't played the series since X2, you're going to see your favorite characters pull off stuff you never thought they could manage. Accent Core veterans, however, will be pleased to see the return of the Fautless Defense, Roman Canceling, Instant Blocking, and all that other mumbo jumbo you'll want to learn if you want to delve into the technical awesomeness being offered. Such gamers aren‘t going to find anything new when it comes to the purely strategic details, but Plus is still as every bit as fun and challenging as before.

Of course, Aksys couldn't get away with just a new story and bringing back a couple of fan favorites. No way. Unless you're a hardcore fan, not even the refined mechanics would make you want to shell out another thirty bucks for a game you've already played. That's why Plus comes packing a ton of extra gameplay modes and content. Nearly every mode from each installment of X2 (Isuka's half-assed content is thankfully absent) makes its return. The Team Battles, Versus, and VS CPU modes are made even better with multiplayer options. While the Arcade and Training modes are staples of the of the series, the Mission Mode is back with a vengeance. You'll have to take down enemies with boosted abilities, deal with handicaps, use specific moves, etc. The same goes with the redesigned Survival Mode; not only will you get to take on a gauntlet of foes and bosses, but you'll be able to improve your stats (attack, defense, or health) to last longer in the challenge. All your hours of sweat and tears and Game Overs will pay off, too. With tons of unlockable art galleries and alternate versions of each character, you're going to have your hands full.