After years of waiting and asking, Elphelt Valentine has finally returned in Guilty Gear Strive, and players are going pretty nuts with her.
On top of her new gameplay quirks, Elphelt’s victory animation is immediately standing out as the best in the game showing off her charm and rocking aptitude.
Winning a match with Elphelt in Strive, a spotlight appears above her, darkening out the stage before a microphone pops out of her gun that she lays quite the scream in to.
The game’s stage has been replaced with that of her concert stage show where Elphelt strikes a pose for her screaming fans and then giving her cutesy win quote.
Considering Guilty Gear itself is basically just one big ode and tribute to rock and metal music, it doesn’t get much better than this to bring things full circle.
If you haven’t seen Elphelt’s victory screen, you’re missing out on peak pic.twitter.com/EaQKAGlZfb
— Jyanpii (@MaidJumpy) December 8, 2023
My only concern is it getting old after long sets or play sessions.
For those who don’t know her updated story and why she ditched the wedding dress, Elphelt basically ran away from Illyria Castle to start her own band — much like her ex she left at the altar before being activated as a Valentine in Guilty Gear Xrd.
Elphelt’s band is named Speothos Venaticus, which is the scientific name for the Bush Dog, and is certainly a reference to Sol’s Junkyard Dog weapon that her gun now closely resembles.
In case you thought Elphelt may have given up on marriage, her interactions with other characters says otherwise and that certainly goes for her Arcade Mode conversation with Nagoriyuki.
We don’t have much to say except it’s hilarious to see someone like Nagoriyuki be so dumbfounded, and even his English voice actor Evan Michael Lee had to chime in too.
Guilty Gear Strive Elphelt madly in love with Nago Conversation absolutely hilarious pic.twitter.com/YDV2LWg9OL
— Sikthy Mangetrix (@SikthyM) December 8, 2023
So far Elphelt seems to be a pretty big hit in the Strive community though there are of course those out there who aren’t in love with her gameplay and design changes, which is perfectly valid too.
Banner image: Foo Fighters – Best of You.