&overture; Guilty Gear 2

the recoming

Guilty Gear 2: Overture is a love-hate game, and apparently to most fans, it is a hate game. The drastic changes made for this game seemed too much to handle. The transition from 2D to 3D may not have been so bad, speaking that the graphics were quite good for the first time. But the main change was the change in characters, and the plot. Without any history behind it, Sol becomes less anti-social, and Ky... well, he's got a wife and a son. I think the Ky part was the most shocking for fans. The rest of the characters were trashed out and made room for new ones. Many new ideas into the plot also have been executed, and with a cliffhanger ending, which brought much confusion. With so many plotholes and paradoxes, fans question its chronological order with the other games.

Ky is a king of the kingdom Illyuria. Loved by many for his intellect, his strength, his sense of justice, and his beauty, he proves to be a worthy man in the country, and easily won their election. During his years, however, he had assigned his men to watch over a Gear woman during the period of isolation of the remaining independent Gears. He eventually fell in love with this woman. She became his wife (though not legally), and they bared a child, Sin, who had special powers as a Gear, possibly by mistake. Fearing for his safety, he eventually gives his son to his own rival, Sol, to watch over him. However, a recent Gear threat erupts the peace. His wife eventually starts disappearing due to some sublimation (don't ask me what; I'm still confused on that part). He tries to save her, sacrificing his Fuuraiken, but all he could do was freeze her state. Soon after, his kingdom becomes under attack by Valentine's forces, who hope to use his wife as the "key". He knows one man who could save the peace - Sol. In an informal way of calling him, he issues bounties on his head to give him a secret message. By the time Sol arrives though, Ky has been sealed.

Eventually, Sol finds some new friends and they managed to save Ky's life. Only he, who had known about the Maiden, could answer their questions. Sin, however, snaps at Ky's negligence (possibly blaming him for his mother's current state and Ky's secrecy to that fact), and runs off. Ky shows signs of hurt by his rejection, but carries on.

Dr. Paradigm informs everyone that the only way to stop Valentine was to make sure she doesn't get the "key" - the very Gear cells of the maiden. Ky, however, finally admits his affair with the Maiden, with such concern for her life that Dr. Paradigm knew he could not kill her. But then the question rises... If Sin is his son, then his blood would inherit that key. But Sin was already away! The kingdom becomes under attack again, so the group splits off. Ky and Dr. Paradigm both deal with the invasion, while the others rescue Sin.

Later, Sin is saved and fighting off more enemies with Sol, Dr. Paradigm, and Izuna. Ky joins him and apologizes for being a terrible father. A rather heartwarming moment occurs between the two giving sublime messages of concern for one another. As things get more serious for Sol's group, Ky tells Sin to go ahead and he'll take care of the rest.

After Sol confronts Valentine (Mecha Valentine), he deals with the seal, though doesn't completely take care of it (he destroys it himself... yeah, bastard). The sublimation is still alive (so I'm assuming his wife isn't back yet). Ky is in great gratitude for Dr. Paradigm's assistance in dealing with the sublimation, and offers him a place in his kingdom. Sol walks off, and Ky asks Sin if he plans to go with him. Sin, however, decides to stay for his mother, and possibly patch things up with his father.

Confusing? Yes, I think so.