It does not take long to hear the inspiration Guilty Gear Strive draws from rock and metal music. From the first time you start a battle and see the bald eagle fly across the screen with the aggressive electric guitar playing in the background, you know you are in for a rocking time.
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If you are a true metalhead, you probably noticed the rock and metal influence in Strive does not stop with the soundtrack. The game is full of references and nods to heavy music. Whether you are an old-school rocker with an affinity for the 70s or a speed metal fanatic who likes to go fast, Strive has something for you.
Eddie: Hallowed Be His Name
Eddie is the shadow who aids Zato in battle. He is a recurring character in the Guilty Gear franchise who fights alongside Zato and grants him powers of shadow manipulation. While Eddie serves as Zato’s mascot, his name is a nod to Iron Maiden’s mascot who shares the same name.
The Maiden references do not stop there with Zato and Eddie; Zato had an instant kill move in prior Guilty Gear games called Revelator, a possible nod to the song Revelations.
Ride The Lightning: Guilty As Charged
Ky Kiske is a swordsman in Strive with an arsenal of electrical attacks. One of Ky’s Overdrives is called Ride the Lightning. The move is a staple of the Guilty Gear series where Ky’s sword charges up and he is surrounded by a ball of electrical energy. The attack is a callback to the 1984 Metallica song and album of the same name.
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A bonus music reference involving Ky: the fighter shares a last name with Michael Kiske, founder of the band Helloween.
Slash: Appetite For Destruction
Some musical references in Guilty Gear are built right into the matches. When you start a fight, “Let’s Rock” is displayed across the screen. But when you win, and hopefully hit a few cool combos in the process, the narrator says “Slash.”
It may seem like an odd word to end a match, but once you realize Guilty Gear’s abundance of musical references, you notice it is a reference to the lead guitarist of Guns n’ Roses: Saul “Slash” Hudson.
Sol Badguy: He Will Rock You
Sol Badguy is the face of Guilty Gear Strive and one of the toughest characters to face. Sol’s entire existence is riddled with references to the band Queen and their lead singer Freddie Mercury.
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The Badguy last name is a reference to Mercury’s nickname, Mr. Bad Guy. Mercury and Sol both were born with the last name Bulsara before undergoing name changes later in life. To top it off, Sol’s headband reads “Rock You” and his belt buckle is inscribed with the word “Free,” references to the Queen songs We Will Rock You and I Want To Break Free.
Sepultura: Brazilian Metal
Guilty Gear Strive introduced secret service agent Giovanna to the franchise. Giovanna is a rushdown fighter who uses the help of her wolf spirit, Rei. Giovanna’s speed, and her arsenal of special attacks, give her the ability to chase down her opponent and rack up tons of damage.
Giovanna uses a modified form of the Brazilian fighting style Capoeira. One of her special attacks, Sepultura, shares its name with a Brazilian metal band. When using the move, Giovanna throws out a kick with the help of Rei. New players should try out Giovanna to learn some core fundamentals.
Chipp Zanuff: Feel The Bass
Chipp Zanuff is a recurring character in the Guilty Gear series. Chipp is a drug addict who turned his life around and became a ninja. Equipped with a blade on his arm, he uses his speed and air mobility to overwhelm opponents.
Chipp’s moveset has no references to rock or metal music, but his name is one of the more blatant musical nods in the game. Chipp is named after Chip Z'Nuff, the bass guitarist for the band Enuff Z’Nuff.
Axl Low: Welcome To The Jungle
This musical reference is not really hiding from anyone. Axl Low is a long-range specialist in Guilty Gear Strive, but he looks like his specialty may be fronting one of the greatest rock bands of all time. Axl sports a striking resemblance to Guns n' Roses frontman Axl Rose, and they share the same first name.
With Axl's long hair and bandana, you may be surprised he is attacking you with his sickles instead of pulling out a microphone to sing a verse or two from Sweet Child O' Mine.
Stairway To Heaven: All That Glitters Is Gold
Guilty Gear Strive’s online mode features a tower where players can reach new levels as their skill increases. The tower has multiple floors where you can match against players of similar skill levels. Each floor is named after a song or album.
Floor five, for example, is named Still Of The Night, sharing its name with a Whitesnake song. Floor seven is named after Slayer’s Reign In Blood album. You climb all the way to the 10th floor, Stairway To Heaven, before moving on to the celestial level.
Goldlewis Dickinson: Secretary Of Absolute Defense
The first character to receive the DLC treatment in Guilty Gear Strive is Goldlewis Dickinson. The massive brawler can be tough for newcomers to figure out, but applying a few simple strategies can make life easier for aspiring Goldlewis players. The series newcomer is riddled with musical references if you look closely.
His nickname, Secretary of Absolute Defense, is a play on the abbreviation for the band System of A Down. His move Down With The System is another SOAD reference. His first name is a play on the name Gord Lewis, the singer for the band Teenage Head. And, finally, his last name could be a tribute to the Iron Maiden lead vocalist Bruce Dickinson.
Overdrive: Turn It Up
A crucial part of becoming a great Guilty Gear Strive practitioner is mastering the art of the overdrive. Each character has some incredibly strong moves called overdrives that can change the course of a battle if you land one on an unsuspecting opponent.
You can not just use your overdrive attacks at will, you have to build up your tension meter and unleash them at the right time. This is similar to the way guitarists stomp on their (you guessed it) overdrive pedal before shredding a guitar solo.