Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising – Balance and System Adjustments

CYGAMES recently held a "Battle Adjustment Report Session" livestream detailing significant changes to the gameplay of their upcoming fighting game, Granblue Fantasy Versus -Rising-. The changes aim to improve overall balance and address issues raised during the first beta test, which had an "unpopular" reception.

According to creative director Tetsuya Fukuhara, some critical areas of adjustment include:

• Abilities and Ultimate Abilities: Ultimates now provide more offensive opportunities by canceling from normals and chained into combos. Damage is reduced when canceled. Cooldown use is also allowed at 50% damage.
• Dash Attacks: There is a clearer differentiation between attacks; weak attacks are now plus on block for approach. Heavy attacks cause crumple for combo extensions. Different properties per character expand tactical options.
• Throwing: Reduced throw break window to match GBVS1. New "late throw break" with any button at disadvantage.
• Bravely Points (BP): Out of BP increases damage taken up to 50%. Raging Strike and Brave Counter now cost BP instead of meter. Portraits visually show BP status.
• Mysteries: Restore your own BP and reduce your opponent's BP on hit. It creates big damage opportunities when the opponent is low on BP.
• Raging Chains: Now have gauge penalty on activation to limit spamming.
• Technical Inputs: Damage bonus remains but only applies to non-canceled abilities/mysteries to reward execution.

Fukuhara acknowledged controversy around the technical input bonus but believes it incentivizes execution skills. The goal is to appeal to hardcore fans while remaining accessible to new players.

The livestream included exhibition matches between Fukuhara and GBVS pros using the latest build. Top players generally responded positively to the changes, though the new BP system adds more complexity.

CYGAMES plans to incorporate additional feedback before November's second public beta test. Granblue Fantasy Versus -Rising- launches on PC and PlayStation on November 30.