After getting shafted pretty much right out the gate by the pandemic in 2020, Granblue Fantasy Versus is back with a new entry that builds off the first.
What’s more is Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising offers up a free-to-play version of the game for players to hop in without spending any money, but is it worth the time to do so?
We’ve spent a few hours combing through the contents and features included (and perhaps most importantly left out) in this free version that left us feeling a bit conflicted.
This won’t be a review of Granblue as a whole and its game mechanics since we’re just going to focus on this version anyone can pick up compared to the full release.
For starters, free players will only have access to 4 of the game’s current 28-character roster. They are going to rotate each week with the launch offerings being Gran, Djeeta, Zeta and Siegfried.
There are the 4 default colors to choose from for each as well as the default weapon skin, but you can purchase more in the Rupie Shop, which is a bit harder to justify spending on when they’re going to rotate out.
We see no real way of purchasing individual characters, which means you can’t piecemeal your game content like you can in something like Killer Instinct unless you just buy the full version, and can’t change your Partner from Lyria.
Like the full game, you can also spend Rupies obtaining illustrations, EX stages, and cards too. You cannot, however, buy different lobby avatars, figures or the special content — so you’re stuck walking around as Gran.
You can technically play all of the single-player modes with some caveats including Arcade (where all characters can be fought as opponents), Versus (only including your free fighters), Training, Story, Replays, the Journal and Figure Studio (which is limited to only Gran and Djeeta).
Free users only have access to Story Mode part 1 of 3, but even that appears as though it should offer hours and hours of content, which is nice. Story save data from the first game cannot be transfered to the free version, but can be to the full release.
You can try out Granblue’s upgraded Training Mode suite though the Situational Training for Character Strategy and Match-Up Training are limited to only trials for Gran unfortunately, which won’t change with the rotation.
You can, however, still view the command list, character explanation and basic combos for each of the free characters, so you can have a better understanding of how they operate.
As for online play options, the free version includes Online Lobby, Casual Match, Ranked Match, Grand Bruise! and the Rankings, but you can’t make or join private Room Matches.
Outside of the private match limitation, however, you can fight pretty much freely against players with the full versions in the other online modes including Grand Bruise where you can earn level up rewards for free.
And it does appear you need PlayStation Plus to take the free version online for PS4 and PS5.
While the title of Free Version is technically correct, we view this more as an expanded trial version of Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising.
There’s no real way to upgrade your experience or get a consistent character without just purchasing the full version, and that’s a bit of a shame for what it could have been.
That being said, however, there’s still hours upon hours of content offered up free of charge including ways to help you learn the game and get a better sense of its depth without dropping money first.
Granblue’s free version is an easy recommend to anyone with even a passing glance at the game or even to friends who may be on the fence about fighting games in general, but if you enjoy it, you’re better off upgrading to the full release pretty quickly.
It certainly sold me.
I just wish there were more lobby avatars because free users can be spotted a mile away with everyone stuck as just casual Gran.