Set after the events of the last Guilty Gear game, Guilty Gear Strive, the all-new, first anime adaptation expands the lore of the beloved Arc System Works fighting game franchise. The most intriguing part of Guilty Gear Strive: Dual Rulers is how the popular franchise protagonists, Sol Badguy and Ky Kiske, step into supporting roles and let Sin Kiske take the spotlight.
Sin, the forbidden child of a human and a magically crafted biological weapon known as a Gear, lives in a world where magic has replaced science and scars from the Gear rebellion remain. While attending his parents’ (Ky Kiske and Dizzy) taboo-breaking wedding, he encounters a mysterious girl named Unika, who harbours a deep hatred for Gears. Sin and Unika’s fateful confrontation threatens to upend the world once again.
One of the primary reasons fighting game enthusiasts love Guilty Gear—aside from other popular titles like Street Fighter or Fatal Fury—is how well the games invest in their storylines. Many top fighting games do this too, like Mortal Kombat and Soulcalibur, but Guilty Gear features a fully fleshed-out fantasy/sci-fi world that feels like it could have started as an anime or manga. Surprisingly, this is the first anime adaptation for the series, even though the games have been around since 1998.
“Guilty Gear Strive: Dual Rulers Episode 1 drops a lot of lore that can be overwhelming for viewers who have never played the games.”
Guilty Gear Strive: Dual Rulers Episode 1 drops a lot of lore that can be overwhelming for viewers who have either never played the games before. But this is an issue like many other popular IPs. Audiences who enter this world through this anime have multitudes of content and rich backstories they can sift through online afterward—maybe encouraging watchers to play the games after finishing the season. Guilty Gear Strive continues updating content and adding in new characters every few months.
The Guilty Gear anime leans heavily into exaggerated character designs, with the male characters portrayed as super-buff beefcakes and the iconic female characters sporting bombastic proportions. The series doesn’t hold back either. While the designs may seem over-the-top, they’re common in many modern fighting games. No body-shaming here — everyone has different body types.
Beyond the distinctive visuals, the roster’s backstories are equally engaging. With a near-constant barrage of exposition, Guilty Gear Strive: Dual Rulers Episode 1 attempts to briefly introduce as many characters as possible. Side characters flash across the screen for 10 to 30 seconds, giving longtime fans a glimpse of their favourite Gears while building intrigue for newcomers unfamiliar with the games.
“For those who love deep, high-quality world-building and a wide range of distinct characters in their anime, Guilty Gear Strive: Dual Rulers is a perfect match.”
For those who love deep, high-quality world-building and a wide range of distinct characters in their anime, Guilty Gear Strive: Dual Rulers is a perfect match. The beautiful, clean animation from Sanzigen translates the games’ style to the TV screen flawlessly. Guilty Gear players get to see their in-game mains brought to life in a fresh, carefully crafted medium. Every fight sequence is as vivid and crisp as those in the modern games.
While the first episode is two-thirds lore-dumping and one-third action, there are still plenty of fights to come — with the episode ending by teasing the appearance of another fan-favourite character from the games. For those interested in diving deeper into the franchise’s fantasy/sci-fi world, Crunchyroll offers a guide to the lore and history of Guilty Gear.
