GUILTY GEAR Series Creator Talks About Taking Full Advantage Of 3D In Upcoming Title

Arc System Works has done something very special with their Guilty Gear series, as they decided to embrace 3D graphics but worked hard to make them look like stylised 2D anime graphics — unlike other video game fighting series that embraced 3D models.

The developer also used the same technique to bring to life the critically acclaimed Dragon Ball FighterZ — which is yet another fighting game with 3D models that looks like 2D. It is, in fact, its unique art style one of the many things praise about the game.

Guilty Gear - Strive - , which is the next entry in the Guilty Gear series, is also embracing the 3D that looks like 2D art style, and Daisuke Ishiwatari — the series' creator — has recently revealed that they want to take full advantage of 3D in ways that previous titles in the series haven't.

"What we aimed for in the visual design of Guilty Gear Xrd was "3D that looks like 2D." To achieve this, we focused on depicting Japanese anime, and removed anything that doesn't exist in it. We reached a certain level of success, and we were also greatly honored to receive favorable reception from the players."

The Guilty Gear Xrd series of titles was their first attempt at that "3D that looks like 2D" art style, and the game is incredibly polished in that regard, but Ishiwatari reveals that they may have embraced 2D a little bit more than he thinks they should have.

Ishiwatari then reveals that they "might have been running away from 3D. This time we'd like to take advantage of 3D fully, and develop the game utilizing its strength." 

"We expect to improve the feeling of immersion for players in battle and create a "real" feeling of the background by using dynamic camera work and seamless transitions from special moves. We also try to revamp the quality of characters' animations and the details of their model designs."

Another thing that the team of developers at Arc System Works want to focus on is facial expressions while still stayin true to the "limited animation method" seen in anime; something that they have recreated perfectly in the past with Guilty Gear Xrd series and the more recent Dragon Ball FighterZ.

"Lastly, we seek the best expressions of the limited animation method at every point. There are no clear goals. We keep seeking the best possibilities and challenge ourselves toward achieving them."

HEAVEN OR HELL! LET'S ROCK! Having recently celebrated its 20th anniversary, the revolutionary fighting game series GUILTY GEAR returns in 2020 with a breathtaking new game!