There is something wonderfully satisfying about a fighting game that welcomes newcomers without making experienced players feel forgotten. Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Legendary Edition has always understood that balance, but this Nintendo Switch 2 version takes it considerably further by packing an enormous amount of content into one remarkably complete package. Whether you want to spend your evening learning the intricacies of a single character, smashing through a story campaign, or simply throwing a friend into the nearest wall, there is an awful lot going on here.
Developed by Arc System Works and published by Cygames, Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising has grown into something much bigger than a straightforward anime fighting game. The Legendary Edition brings together the base experience, both Deluxe Character Passes, and the latest additions, resulting in a roster of 40 playable fighters from across the Granblue universe. Add rollback netcode, crossplay, Grand Bruise Legends, Story Mode, and a host of extra distractions, and you have a package that feels less like a re-release and more like the definitive celebration of everything the game has become.
Forty Fighters, Forty Ways To Fight
The sheer size of the roster is one of the first things that stands out. Having all 40 playable characters available from the start removes one of the biggest frustrations of fighting game bundles. You do not have to spend weeks unlocking fighters or buy additional passes just to get the full experience. Everything is there, waiting for you to find the character who makes you think, “Yep, this is the one.”
The roster is also impressively varied. Characters have distinct strengths, weaknesses, movesets and rhythms, so switching fighters can completely change how you approach a match. Some are aggressive and thrive on getting into an opponent’s face, while others reward patience, positioning and careful control of the arena.
There is something particularly enjoyable about a roster this large as you are still discovering it. You can spend hours experimenting, trying someone new, and suddenly realise that their playstyle suits you far better than the character you originally settled on. For veterans, there is plenty of depth to explore, while newcomers can simply pick a favourite character and start learning without worrying about mastering the entire cast.
Fighting Without The Frustration
One of the game’s greatest strengths is its approachability. Traditional fighting game controls can be intimidating, particularly for players who have spent years avoiding the genre because they do not fancy learning complicated combinations before they can enjoy themselves.
Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising has always offered a more accessible approach, and the addition of Smart and Super Ultimate controls pushes that philosophy even further. These options allow players to perform combinations and unleash attacks without memorising complicated inputs. You can concentrate on the fight itself rather than worrying about whether your fingers are positioned correctly.
That does not mean the deeper Manual controls are any less satisfying. Experienced players can take complete control and learn the nuances of each fighter, allowing the game to grow alongside their ability. It is a clever system because accessibility does not come at the expense of depth. You can play Granblue casually, but there is plenty here for anyone who wants to take the competitive side seriously.
When The Battles Get Serious
Once you move beyond the basic controls, the combat reveals considerably more depth than its approachable surface suggests. Timing, positioning, defence and knowing when to commit to an attack all matter, and experienced opponents will quickly punish anyone who simply mashes buttons and hopes for the best.
The satisfaction comes from gradually understanding your chosen character. You begin to recognise which attacks are safe, when you can push an advantage and how to turn a successful opening into a devastating combination. The new Chain Attack mechanics add another layer to the system, giving experienced players even more opportunities to express themselves.
There is a lovely feeling when a fight suddenly clicks. You stop thinking about individual inputs and start reacting instinctively to your opponent. A blocked attack leads to a counter, the counter becomes a combo, and suddenly you are watching one of those spectacular cinematic attacks unfold. It is the sort of moment that reminds you why fighting games can be so addictive.
Anime Spectacle At Its Best
Arc System Works has been producing gorgeous anime fighters for years, and Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising is another example of the studio’s ability to make every punch feel like an event. The cel-shaded visuals are beautiful, while the character animations manage to look both expressive and spectacular without becoming so excessive that it is difficult to understand what is happening.
The special attacks are the obvious highlights. Super Skybound Arts are wonderfully dramatic, combining cinematic camera angles, huge effects and spectacular animation into attacks that feel worthy of the characters performing them. Even after seeing them repeatedly, there is something satisfying about watching a beautifully animated finishing move connect.
The stages deserve some credit too. They provide colourful backdrops that fit the Granblue universe without becoming distracting. Everything has that distinctive fantasy-anime quality, from the architecture to the lighting, and the Switch 2 hardware does an excellent job of maintaining a crisp presentation even when the screen is filled with effects.
More Than One On One
If fighting another player for hours is not your idea of a good evening, there is considerably more to Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Legendary Edition than competitive matches. Story Mode offers a more traditional adventure, borrowing ideas from action RPGs and giving you a chance to explore the Granblue world away from the versus screen.
It is particularly useful for newcomers, giving you somewhere to learn the characters and systems without being immediately thrown against someone who has been playing for hundreds of hours. There is a sense of progression and discovery that makes the game feel much larger than a standard arcade fighter.
Then there is Grand Bruise Legends, arguably one of the most wonderfully ridiculous additions to the package. These large-scale online party games throw you into chaotic multiplayer competitions where the emphasis is less on perfectly timed combos and more on surviving the madness. It is a welcome change of pace and gives the collection a social side that many fighting games simply do not have.
A World Worth Collecting
There are plenty of smaller extras to keep you occupied, too. The Journal gives fans somewhere to explore artwork and other pieces of Granblue history, while Figure Studio lets you create your own little displays. These might not be the features that sell the game, but they add to the feeling that this is a celebration of the franchise rather than simply a fighting game with some bonus modes.
The addition of Partners also gives the experience another layer of personality. Having familiar characters cheering you on might not affect the fundamentals of combat, but it reinforces the idea that you are spending time in a much larger universe.
For long-term fans, these extras are exactly the sort of things that make a complete edition feel worthwhile. You are not simply receiving a pile of downloadable fighters and calling it a day. There is a genuine sense of completeness here.
Switch 2 Looks The Part
The Nintendo Switch 2 version is particularly impressive because the game already had a strong visual foundation. The hardware allows it to maintain smooth 60 frames per second, which is exactly what you want from a fighting game where timing is everything. The last thing you need is for performance to become a variable in a close match.
The presentation remains sharp during the most spectacular battles, with multiple characters, particle effects and dramatic attacks filling the screen without turning the action into a visual mess. The game looks every bit as polished as you would expect from Arc System Works.
Local Communication is another welcome addition, allowing nearby Switch 2 players to face each other without relying entirely on online matchmaking. There is something particularly enjoyable about a fighting game that can be passed around a room, especially when you have a group of friends who are all convinced they are considerably better than they actually are.
Online Battles Without Borders
Online play is another area where Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising continues to impress. Rollback netcode and crossplay mean the player base is not restricted to one platform, giving the online experience a much broader pool of opponents.
Crossplay is particularly important for a fighting game because a healthy online community is essential to keeping matches available. Being able to fight against players on other platforms helps prevent the experience from feeling isolated, while rollback netcode provides the responsiveness you need when every fraction of a second matters.
There will always be the occasional less-than-perfect connection, because, well, the internet is the internet. But the underlying technology does a strong job of keeping the focus on the fight rather than the network.
Music That Deserves Its Own Applause
The soundtrack is another area where Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising absolutely delivers. The blend of rock and orchestral influences gives the battles an energetic sense of scale, while the distinct character and stage themes help give the world its own identity.
There is something almost theatrical about the music that accompanies a good match. The battle begins, the guitars kick in, and suddenly a casual evening of gaming feels considerably more dramatic than it has any right to be. It fits the anime presentation perfectly without becoming generic background noise.
With both Japanese and English voice options available, players can also choose how they want their characters to sound. The performances reinforce the larger-than-life personalities throughout the roster and contribute considerably to the game’s overall charm.
A Fighting Game For Almost Everyone
Perhaps the biggest compliment I can pay to Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Legendary Edition is that it manages to be several different things without any of them feeling like an afterthought. It can be a welcoming fighting game for someone who has barely touched the genre, a deep competitive experience for veterans, a story-driven action-adventure, or a ridiculous multiplayer party game.
That flexibility is what makes the Legendary Edition such an appealing package. You can play it however you want. Spend an afternoon learning one character, jump online for a few matches, lose badly, switch to Story Mode to rebuild your confidence, and then finish the evening by throwing yourself into Grand Bruise Legends.
It is also a game that rewards returning to it. Fighting games are naturally built around improvement, and Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising makes that process enjoyable because there is always another character, technique or system to explore. Even after you think you have seen everything, another fighter can completely change your approach.
Final Verdict
Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Legendary Edition is an exceptionally generous fighting game package, one that feels particularly well suited to the Nintendo Switch 2. With all 40 characters, both Deluxe Character Passes, the latest system updates, Story Mode, Grand Bruise Legends and excellent online support, there is an enormous amount of content here.
More importantly, it is a fighting game that understands accessibility. Smart and Super Ultimate controls allow newcomers to enjoy the spectacle without first spending hours learning complex inputs, while Manual controls provide the precision and depth experienced players expect. That balance is not easy to achieve, but Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising makes it look almost effortless.
The Switch 2 version adds smooth performance, local communication and a beautifully crisp presentation to an already excellent foundation. Add the gorgeous animation, fantastic soundtrack, huge roster and excellent variety of modes, and it becomes remarkably difficult to imagine wanting anything else from the package.
Whether you are already a devoted Granblue fan, a fighting game veteran or someone who has always been curious about the genre but never felt confident enough to jump in, Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Legendary Edition makes a compelling case for stepping into the arena. It is spectacular without being inaccessible, deep without demanding mastery and packed with enough content to keep the battles going for a very long time.
