Blade

I'm gonna say no to that one, sir. Mostly because a lot of BB stories are lighthearted and congenial in nature, with only a few dark spots. Even the sidestories aren't that dark to begin with, novels included. Whereas in GG you have long prodding sections of darkness and mystery (Practically the whole of the Crusades alone accounts for a large section of GG's story. It doesn't start getting "light" until the first GG, (2180) and even then it isn't remotely as light as GGXX onwards. GG2 Overture is mostly dark anyway. Oh sure the end of the stories are happy, but that accounts for maybe...what? 10% of the story?

If I had to say, GG applies itself more to real-life history than BB does. So in fact it IS darker. Examples: Raven's backstory relates to the early portions of OUR Crusades. The foundation of the United Nations Organization. Metaphysics. Cauchian Theory on Time Travel. Geonomes and DNA mapping. Universal theory that the universe has "layers" comprised of energy which could be interpreted as "data". Computer Science...and a whole lot of other stuff. Ask Suzaku about it, he knows more about it than I could even explain.

I think he was advertising another project he was on. Something related to this: www.mausu.net ? The rest is Japanese dialogue tongue twisters...

By the way have they said anything about a Netcode patch?

Okay, so I'm not used to Platinum fights yet, and from what I've seen, no amount of teching is all that safe around her when she uses Bubble. But well, I lose about 90% of my HP to poorly executed wakeup punishment, or a techning mistake, or they were fishing for an airthrow and got it. Or it's punishment for trying to tech behind them which makes it feel like there's no point to tech at all since you get hit out of it anyway. It's frustrating but I need to learn this stuff. They say Americans don't know how to block, so...I figure I need to learn the right way without getting thrown or airthrown.

As far as this analysis goes, I have no complaint except that a lot of the story is extrapolated from both the glam and horror that is Heavy Metal imagery. In other words it is two parts fantasy (think LotR) and one part grim reality (think Shindler's List). The gaps from GG to GGX and GGX to GGXX are "somewhat covered" by the novels and drama CDs, but they are still gaps. Knowing that they learned their lesson on continuity with BlazBlue, I can only hope that the next Guilty Gear will fill in all those gaps with valid information on the activities of various characters and confirm all those who died and those who survived, etc.

Still no news on when U.S. will get Europe DLC???

Now if only we got Cyber Smoke then I am good.

That...actually looked like a character vote ranking poll, if you ask me... @Mightfo...My experience with blocking hasn't been that bad. Oki games like throwing Smokeball on opponents who delay their wakeup keeps them honest and forces them into blocking position right away, they don't really miss the timing at all and get out to attack fairly well. Unless you're trying to jump or do specials after blocking, I don't think it's an issue...most people just do low pokes (2FP, 2FK etc) once they're done blocking since those are the fastest.

OH GOD MY EYES!

My experiences with arcade cabinet sticks have been short and sweet, but my advice is to learn at least TWO methods of gripping your stick, that way your arm doesn't go numb or you twist your wrist during extended play. I switch from overhead grip to wine glass grip whenever I feel like my wrist is starting to hurt. It didn't take me long to get the fundamentals of 214 and 236 inputs, it's the DPs that were hard.

I hate to ask but does anyone know where I can find a complete collection of GG1 face sprites? Like Testament's Bloodied Face or the rest of the cast?

2-9: "Next Time Notice" Narrator 「The two naked fangs of Leon Maining's ambition have been unleashed. The ancient world returns to the present and the perfect dream now gives rise to greed. A duty is forsaken to abandon the love once known. Zato...Venom...and Millia... Together these three Assassins now fall down the pit of fate!* Next Time: Guilty Gear XX Drama CD: Night of Knives Vol. 3: "Duel of the Wolves" Look forward to it!」 (*I had to bullshit through most of this since I'm once again translating by ear, here's the Romaji: Tsui ni sono kiba mukidashi ni shita, Leon Maining no yabou. Furui mono to wa atarashi mono junsui na yumei to mine ko yokubou ga ima. Haikyou to kashi ni tari kyuu ni gekijou te suru. Zato...Venom...soshite Millia...San Nin Assassin ni yotou zureru unmei no kirou! If you wanna take a crack at it, by all means...*)

2-8: "And the Future is Chosen" *The Door to the young King's bed chamber opens* Millia 「So this is where his Royal Highness sleeps...」 Zato 「Like his cute sleeping face?」 Millia 「Yeah, just like an angel. Are the explosives ready?」 Zato 「Almost. Once it ignites, this corner of the room will open up to an escape route secured by our 'client'. There won't be any problems.」 Millia 「We've already dispatched the defense force here, so it's just you, me, and his Majesty the King in this area...」 Zato 「Seems that way...*Sigh* So this is the future of our Guild...」 *Zato draws back the blankets of the baby's Crib* Zato 「Such small fragile hands...but...someday they'll grow strong.」 Millia 「Hey, Zato. What do you think about the future of people who only play with the predetermined hand they were dealt with?」 Zato 「If you were dealt a bad hand, sometimes you have to take the fall...」 Millia 「What about this baby who doesn't have the power to defy anyone...?」 Zato 「The hand of a child--」 *A Living Lancer pierces Zato's abdomen from the darkness.* Zato 「Uugh--!--Uh--Uhhh..Milli..a..!?」 *At that moment the baby wakes and starts to cry.* Millia 「Forgive me...Zato...I...chose to bet on the future of this child!」 Zato 「His...future..!?」 Millia 「I am the wager. An Assassin that was born to sorrow, an Assassin destined to die...That was never predetermined! I want to exist in the future I believe in! With no doubts! That's why, Zato!...This is goodbye...truly goodbye!」 Zato 「An Assassin's...happiness...?...Not...bad...」 *Zato collapses in a pool of his own blood as the baby continues to cry.* Millia 「HA!」 *Millia leaps out of the chamber window.*

Does anyone got any good Armor Builds? My Defense is really crap.

2-7: "Howl of the Wolves" (*Cue "Black Soul"*) *A large explosion rocks the outer pavillion of the castle.* Millia 「To think they would come so quickly--TANDEM TOP!!」 *Millia generates an raw energy sawblade with her hair.* Super Soldier A 「Goohh!」 Zato 「It's a good thing I work best in the shadows...INVITE HELL!!」 Super Soldier B 「Bruggh!」 *Zato summons a spiralling drill of his shadow from the ground beneath his enemy, but the soldier rises from a pool of his own blood.* Super Soldier B 「...Kill...Assassin...kill...」 Zato 「Hoh...even though that was a direct hit...」 Super Soldier C 「Ideyoyaaaaghhh!!」 *Another soldier jumps in to strike* Millia 「Hep!」 *Millia gathers the soldier up in her hair and tosses him against a wall to knock him out.* Super Soldier C 「Grrh!」 Millia 「Sorry...I came across these men last time I was at the castle. Just cutting them won't kill them.」 Zato 「Just like the 'Original Assassin' they met before...?*」 *He's referring to Slayer* Millia 「Who's that?」 Zato 「Our founder.」 Super Soldier D 「Guuuuuooooohhhhhgaaahhh!!」 *Another Soldier charges in.* Zato 「Out of the way!!」 *Zato mows him down with Eddie* Super Soldier D 「Goohhwaaa!!」 Zato 「The Crusades have begun again...even though they started a long time ago... Assassinations were the prescribed 'cure' to this toxin. To experience the horror and pain of being raised a soldier within an organization, and then ultimately become an Assassin as well...that's the history...」 Millia 「So then...the drugs these guys are taking?」 Zato 「Probably...now I see... Unusual abilities of that nature to match our own in combat... Someone thinks they're being clever to work on the inside but they're actually very shallow.」 Millia 「Really...very shallow...」 Zato 「After all...strange talents of that nature GRANT POWER!!」 Millia 「Within us dwell Forbidden Beasts from the past!!」 Zato 「We are the children!」 Millia 「Exactly!」 Zato 「EXECUTOOOR!!」*Zato's body wraps itself in a large sword of darkness.* Millia 「EMERALD RAIN!!」*Millia fires a series of energy sawblades from her hair.* *In a flash the super soldiers are slashed as a shockwave of violence blasts through.* Super Soldiers 「Guwaahh---Gwaaagghhhh--!!」 Zato 「Willing to endure the pain, yet they carelessly avoid the truth. But...the body is human flesh after all and cannot exceed its limits!」 Millia 「Ah! Zato--!」 *An enemy tries to rush them with a surprise attack* *Zato's body becomes a sword of shadow yet again.* Zato 「SHADOW!」 *Eddie blasts through the offensive line but is somehow blocked.* Millia 「What is this...golden...thread?」 Super Soldier E 「Shiyaaaahhhh!!!」 *A soldier with powers similar to Millia's appears and attacks with set of blades for hair.* Zato 「Can you avoid it, Millia!?!」 Millia 「I'll have to!!」 *Both dodge the attack* Zato 「To steal a woman's pride--! Rude annoying gnats!! Geh...SHADOW--CONSUME THEM!!」 *Eddie's Amorphous form appears beneath the soldiers as enormous fangs of darkness tear through their bodies.* Super Soldier E 「Gah!」 Super Soldier F 「Muuguuff!」 Millia 「Back then--!? That vile Maining...What on earth did he draw out of my body!? Probably...the Forbidden Beast's power? *gasp* REVOLTING!! Enhhhiihh!」 *Millia is on the verge of a breakdown* Zato 「Survive the job and live, survive your existence and live...Let's go, Millia...*」 (*The phrase he uses is "Ki ni kuwa nu shigoto ni, Ki ni kuwa nu iraijin" which refers to "eating others to survive"*) Millia 「Yes, Zato...」 *The two infiltrate the castle.* ~~~Elsewhere, at the Main Castle Gate's Barrier~~~ (*Cue "A Solitude that Asks Nothing in Return"*) Gottfried 「Last time was a blunder, today you won't win, Assassin!」 Venom 「"The Iron Whirlwind" Gottfried, huh...I hold no such reputation. Before the head of my household died, he gave me the name "Venom"...」 *Venom immediately fires some cueballs at him, but Gottfried deflects them with a gale from his Halberd.* Gottfried 「The last time in the castle incident, there was no space to fully wield this Halberd of mine! But today is different! I will judge your crimes now in this wide courtyard, your luck has finally run out!!」 Venom 「Now then...what will you do...?」 Gottfried 「I'll pulverize that brittle stick of yours! EAT THIS: MALBOLGIA BLACK WHIRLWIND!!」 *A whirlwind of energy snakes out from his attack, only to be stopped short by a jolt of Venom's Shaft.* Venom 「That was it...? This idiot is taking me too lightly... I'll charge you for lessons, then...」 Gottfried 「Then for the next one, I'll aim for that weird silver-grass-looking hair on your head, and break your skull!」 *Gottfried unleashes another wave of wind.* Venom 「I'm not over there...」 *Venom's Ball Teleport* Gottfried 「Geh--!? Disappeared!?」 Venom 「As I said before, burning light only creates a blind spot! MAD STRUGGLE!! HAAAAA!!!」 *Venom warped above him and dives downwards with a flurry of Cuestick strikes.* Gottfried 「--Gehhiiihh...but the unlimited flame of loyalty in my heart continues to burn...my knees shall never yield!!」 Venom 「I know that. Just now the goal was to put you in just the right position to take you down. RED HAIL!!」 *Venom fires relentlessly piercing Gottfried's defenses.* Gottfried 「Grrgh! Guuuhhh!」 *Collapse* Venom 「To yell with a fighting spirit only takes you so far. Your body can't feel any pain, yet I could still easily disable your nerves, so the result was the same as last time...You really should learn from your mistakes.」 *Gottfried gets back up despite his wounds.* Gottfried 「...Your boasting...isn't enough!」 Venom 「Wha!?」 Gottfried 「DOOOORRRRIIYYAAAAAAA!!!!」 *A blade of wind finally hits its mark on Venom's body.* Venom 「Deaawwagghhh!!--Dahhiihh...Impossible! ...No human could possibly move after having their nerves destroyed...no human...!」 *Venom hits his knees* Venom 「Ma..Master Zato...Venom's...life has failed you--!」 *Venom collapses.*

2-6: "Dance's People Left Behind" *Inside the castle, Gottfried bursts through the door into Lord Maining's room* Gottfried 「Lord Maining!」 Leon 「Gottfried, huh...What's the matter? Lower your voice, you're indoors...」 Gottfried 「But sir, infiltrators are assaulting the main gate's power source! Currently the 88th Cavalry Regiment's Company 1 Squad 2 is engaged with them, but it's only a matter of time until the front gate's barrier will be breached!!」 Leon 「Ah, so they've arrived...As expected of the swift Assassin Guild.」 Gottfried 「What's that!? You knew they were going to attack today!?」 Leon 「But of course... I am the Minister of Imperial Defense Force Management, Leon Maining, after all. I have no doubt that this direct assault from the enemy is a diversion tactic.」 Gottfried 「Diversion...! Then, their real target is--!?」 Leon 「Naturally...the King.」 Gottfried 「Then...I shall go to his Lord Majesty's side without delay--!」 Leon 「No...you're better suited to suppress the front insurgents. Just recently in fact, we've been able to complete the defense forces in that sector.」 Gottfried 「"Complete"...?」 Leon 「The "God Series" hehehe...that's their name. Well then, would you like to be an 'arm' for them, Gottfried?」 Gottfried 「"Arm", sir?」 Leon 「Indeed. Just a little injection, first...」 *Leon pierces his arm with a powerful needle filled with a mysterious liquid pumping from a strange device.* Gottfried 「Oogh..gehh...t-this...my body is...burning up...!」 Leon 「Just some nutrients... With this those damned Assassins are guaranteed absolute defeat. Heh...I expect results from you.」 Gottfried 「Sir! First Degree destruction at my hands, I swear upon my honor, you have my extreme gratitude! Now then, Gottfried shall sortie out!」 *Gottfried tears out of the room.* Leon 「Heheheheheh...heheheheheheheheh... Do your best Imperial Troops...for my ambition!」

Oh yeah, and there's one thing I was going to point out... There's a subtlety in the dialogue between Tager and Makoto when they "exchange the password" that I think a lot of people missed. When Makoto is referring to how she doesn't want things to change, she's actually referring to Noel being treated as a Murakumo Unit...since it seems that Makoto made a trip out to Ikaruga prior to this and was made painfully aware of what was going on. So when she says she'll make anyone who touches Noel pay...she's referring more to Hazama.

The PSP translation of the extra story just calls him Roy, despite the fact the earlier translation calls him Lotte...so I guess there's a discrepancy in the text there... English voices don't exactly drop the hint either.

You ever heard of "dishwater blonde"...fools.

Why you denyin'?

I wish there was a GG: The Missing Link tier list.... Also, I seem to recall lots of bitching and moaning about Johnny, Jam, Dizzy, and Testament in the GGX days....also random Potemkin sillyness.

Well, I have the PSP version, so I can fairly say that these events occurred: --Kokonoe goes to a boring meeting...leaves, finds out an investigation team at Ikubikuro (sp?) where the Nirvana was supposed to have been picked up was thrashed. The only survivor becomes Tager. --Relius stops by wanting to use Kokonoe's magic inheritance to jump-start Ignis (though Nirvana assists). At first she refuses, but when he offers her a Prime Field, she accepts. --Part of the setup requires exposure to the 11th, 12th, and 13th Prime Fields near the Sheol Gate at the bottom of Sector 7. --They discover that all Nox Nyctores weapons have a miniature cauldron core (namely a mini Black Beast) which is needed in order to achieve stability...this combined with the "spark" of life (Nine's "Snap" spell) is what essentially completes Ignis once she obtains the core of a Nox. The "core" runs rampant for a while, killing Library Soldiers who tried to stop the process, until Ignis and Nirvana block it from killing Kokonoe. She uses her magic to contain it, then Ignis grabs the core on Relius' command. It is here that Nirvana attacks Relius (probably because he would've had Kokonoe and Roy killed). Relius isn't dead however...he escapes the incident, Kokonoe collapses. --They learn that the 11th along with the 12th was taken to Ikaruga (11th only being used for stability testing), while the 12th would be the actual procedure, and the 13th was taken to Kagutsuchi. --Kokonoe recovers in a hospital, Tager is no less for wear, and shortly thereafter they learn of Ikaruga's destruction due to the Satellite (Noel's origins) they go to pick up the 11th Prime Field from the debris. There is nothing that says Roy is Lotte...Lotte is always referred to as Lotte, never anyone else.

When I was at Frosty Faustings this year, lotta people were playing Eddie and Testament...sigh...I barely had a chance to try my Ky out on anyone.

IMO that shoulda been Baiken's Default color. She was originally a blonde in the first GG anyway.