The first location test for Arc System Works’ upcoming Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN- is currently running at SEGA Akihabara Building 1 in Tokyo, Japan. Luckily for those of us who live outside the land of the rising sun, ElvenShadow over at the Dustloop forums has been providing some early impressions from his time at the event. We’ve taken the liberty of sorting through these and arranging them below.

UPDATE 2 – A couple small pieces of video recently surfaced online thanks to aristobule.

UPDATE – Additional notes from ElvenShadow have been added to the list below, as well as a translation of Dengeki’s visit to the location test courtesy of Dustloop’s Suzaku.

Chipp can do his special where he shoots forward through the opponent (alpha blade) in the air and if he ends by the wall he can wall cling after!

Dubious curve is gone but that new move QV sorta works the same way as in you can combo into it and it summons a ball.

Venom has that big black ball. That’s his new super. It seems to stay on screen a long time as in I saw him hit it at Ky, Ky blocked it. And it just bounced off and stopped near in front of him and remained in screen. Venom seems to be able to summon it towards him like other ball formations. That’s all I really know but it looks good.

Potemkin has a new regular throw. He now just lifts you up with one arm and flopilly slams you down right on the ground in front of him like a rag doll.

I think you can YRC all of PO’s specials. I know the super armor one works. It still has P cancel too.

ICPM can be tiger kneed. It also can be YRCd so even if its not safe it’s a great way for Po to close distance and I can see it leading to scary setups.

I dunno much about dragon install specifics but sol is really fast in it and he can shoot a giant beam.

I think the RISC bar works mostly the same as the old one (guard bar)

ICPM causes Potemkin to launch himself across the screen in a wide, parabolic arc. It can apparantly be RCed to create various approach opportunities. Trishula creates a vertical pillar of fire. Anti-air, creates upper body invincibility.

For the various cut-ins, although they use 3D models, they seem to be designed with fixed camera angles, so they always have the same appearance. It gives the impression that they were animated seperately in two dimensions, but you can tell it’s 3D if you look closely.

May’s attacks are really cute. She comes into the stage riding a dolphin and a lot of her attacks involve animals. She was always a cute character, but this time the cuteness is more ‘refined’ and stands out more. Her version of Ensenga, is an immitation of Johnny’s. She throws different objects, and (if I’m reading correctly) has a more vertical angle, so you might miss if the enemy is crouching. Her version is ditzy, compared to Johnny’s manly version. You can also ride the dolphin by touching it after it lingers, allowing for some tricky possibilities.

Likewise, Ky and Venom both have more strategic options. Ky can generate a crest with his Grinder Placement ability, which remains in the location where it was summoned. Then with Durandal Call, triggered by hitting the Grinder with a Stun Edge attack, it shoots out a lightning bolt (or beam?). Split Ciel also generates a Grinder.

QV replaces Dubious Curve, summons a ball which hits the opponent multiple times. Bishop Run Out summons a huge black ball that doesn’t disappear even after hitting the opponent.

Writer did not get much time to check out Chipp and Sol. Chipp’s Wall Cling seems interesting and his Kunai attack apparantly leaves the kunai laying on the ground. His Dragon Willow (Ryuu Ryuu) Overdrive apparrantly throws tons of Kunai all over the place. Sol’s Dragon Install is much more flashy and Crash! (Kudakero) is a dive attack. Millia’s got more rolling options, but he didn’t get to play as her at all.

General impressions: As the Guilty Gear series progressed, more complicated abilities (Force Break, Slashback, FRC) were introduced one after another. By rolling back those introductions and improving the basic Roman Cancel system, various new strategic options have still be introduced, and there are fewer complex systems for new players to memorize. It’s like a “rebirth of Guilty Gear.” Because this is set after Guilty Gear 2 and not a “gaiden,” the writer hopes more new characters will be introduced.