But wait, he says, there's more. Judgment is actually two games in one. The Judgment part is new; it's a side-scrolling beat 'em up, an expanded version of a similar feature seen in Guilty Gear Isuka. And the second part? None other than a full-on version of Guilty Gear X2 #Reload (pronounced "Sharp Reload"), the excellent X2 expansion that we enjoyed on Xbox a year or two ago. Unless you're looking to play Slash, the most recent expansion for X2, the addition of #Reload makes this package a must-buy, balancing out the experimental and unproven nature of the side-scrolling Judgment game.
Apologies for all the subtitle dropping -- it comes with the territory. Let's look at the two games.
As mentioned, Guilty Gear Judgment is a new side-scrolling adventure. It looks similar to the side-scrolling mode of Isuka but is seemingly much improved in the gameplay arena. You can battle through its many levels of side-scrolling brawling with any of 20 characters, and each will have their full arsenal of attacks and maneuvers despite the altered gameplay format. (It's unclear which previous version of the game the characters will be drawn from; #Reload seems a safe bet; maybe a small chance of Slash.) Each of the characters will have a detailed storyline to enjoy, which will follow their exploits as they try to solve the mystery of a decimated country. Co-op play is possible via ad hoc. Overall, Judgment has potential, though it's unclear if you'll like it if you didn't like the similar stuff in Isuka.
Moving on, Guilty Gear X2 #Reload is a traditional one-on-one fighter of the sort that brought this series to prominence. The high-resolution artwork makes it prettier than any other major 2D fighting game, and the gameplay has a manic intensity and intricate complexity that distinguishes it from the competition. It'll feature 23 characters and most of the modes from the Xbox version, only omitting online play and, for space reasons, Mission mode. The port looks like a technical knockout, with every frame of animation and all of the great sound effects and music intact. It also offers the choice between 4:3 and 16:9 screen modes. 16:9 is a 1:1 pixel mode that looks great, though the characters may take up too much of the screen for your liking. 4:3 scales things out so the artwork looks worse, but you'll be able to enjoy the normal amount of vertical real estate.
My only real concern with the package is that the PSP's d-pad is weak and ill-suited to the precise thrashings required for decent Guilty Gear play. I would definitely suggest performing one of the homebrew d-pad mods, or getting one of those glue-on additions from Capcom. Other than that, Guilty Gear Judgment looks like a killer package. Even if the unproven Judgment segment falls flat, having #Reload on the go is a tempting proposition. Majesco plans to make it in Q4.
