Jam is great for those wanting a straightforward character in the early days of Guilty Gear -STRIVE-’s new meta! Her little bunny is adorable as all get out, too. She’s available now as part of the Season Pass 5.
At long last…Jam Kuradoberi is a playable character in Guilty Gear -STRIVE- as part of their Season Pass 5 that was launched alongside April’s Version 2.00 Update that dramatically overhauls the game’s meta, balance, and overall flow. You’ve probably already read my review of -STRIVE- when it launched on the Nintendo Switch last January. I loved it on that platform, and I still love this fighting game on other platforms, too. It remains the current king of an approachable fighting game with just enough complexity and depth to appeal to the widest audience yet. Version 2.00 (and its subsequent updates made between April and today) has retained these elements while pivoting away from the Wild Assault meta that dominated Seasons 3 and 4. I could go further in-depth about the changes, but I’d imagine that you’re already familiar with them thanks to Version 2.00 being a free gameplay update for PC (Steam), PlayStation, and XBOX.
I’ve spent some time playing -STRIVE- in preparation for the review of Jam. We were given a copy of the new 2.0 Starter Edition that includes all of the DLC (yes, all of -STRIVE-‘s season pass content including the Season 5 Pass, some additional cosmetics, and digital sound and artworks). If you haven’t yet started playing -STRIVE- and want to jump in, the 2.0 Starter Edition is the closest thing you can get to getting the comprehensive gameplay experience without needing to purchase multiple packs in a piecemeal fashion. As a player of -STRIVE- prior to this massive update, 2.00 feels like a great change of pace. Most characters’ combos have been revamped, but matches play out like earlier Guilty Gear titles that included a proper ebb and flow of offense and defense. The days of rushdown playstyles being the be-all-end-all are over, at least for now.
Let’s talk about Jam, as I’m supposed to be covering her for the sole purpose of this review. I’ve been one of the many, many, many players who have been waiting for Jam to be added to -STRIVE-‘s roster. From her initial release in Guilty Gear X, her card mechanics and charm have made her a fan favorite. In -STRIVE-, she returns with a little bunny rabbit in hand and is just as fun as ever. Arc System Works maintained Jam’s card-based playstyle but simplified it to align with the game’s approachability.
The basic gist of Jam is that she has “cards” that power up the next use of one of her three special moves. For instance, when she enhances her Ryuujin (her fiery kick) it triggers an explosive follow up hit and will automatically wall break an opponent in a corner. In simplest terms, her card mechanic adds more power to her existing specials and allow for more flexibility in combat. The best part here is that her attacks are in the same direction with minor variations, making her quite easy to pick up. My one complaint about her is that her Choukyaku Kouryumon (her cinematic super) has an egregiously long windup animation and can be predicted from a mile away. I’m unsure if this is intended, but it’s almost never worth using it seeing as it can whiff so easily.
Given that -STRIVE- has been effectively remade from the ground up with the Version 2.00 update, Jam’s straightforwardness is a welcome addition. Having a complex (think 1-2 star) DLC character introduced as everyone is relearning their current favorite characters is a tough sell; it feels better to find someone who “works” as you learn the ropes of the new -STRIVE- meta. It’s early in Season 5, I know, but I’m generally excited to see where things go when ROBO-KY releases later this year. Let’s see how things change in a few months as players relearn the game and figure out what works and what doesn’t.
Unfortunately, there’s no timing or guarantee that future content will make its way to the Nintendo Switch version of -STRIVE-. At time of writing, the developers have claimed that they’re examining what future content would look like on Nintendo’s console. It’s a shame, really, since that version plays very well and remains one of the best 2D fighters for the console. I’d like to see Switch owners get love in the form of Jam, at the bare minimum.
Jam is great for those wanting a straightforward character in the early days of Guilty Gear -STRIVE-’s new meta! Her little bunny is adorable as all get out, too. She’s available now as part of the Season Pass 5.
