Review Guilty Gear x Dual Rulers ⚔️ Crazy CGI, Stylish Fights and Over the Top Drama

Welcome to another post here in the community.

I’ve been a longtime fan of Guilty Gear, following the story since the days I used to spend hours playing video games, and I’ve owned every game in the series, or at least I think I have. When they announced the anime Dual Rulers, I confess I was filled with both excitement and a bit of fear that CGI wouldn’t live up to the hype. In 2025, we already have at least 8 episodes available, so I feel confident talking about it in this post, and that’s exactly what I’ll do now. Right off the bat, the anime’s biggest highlight is its visuals. The CGI style here is far from amateur. The studio Sanzigen nailed it by recreating Strive's vibrant aesthetic, with lighting effects, dynamic angles, and intense colors. The fights feature fluid movements, bold shots, fast cuts, and that familiar feeling of watching the game in motion (CBR).

But the downside is the inconsistent quality. In episodes like 1 and 2, the animation drops outside of action scenes, relying on static or simplified images (including “Ken Burns”-style frames), which sometimes breaks immersion. UK Anime Network called it on shoestring, meaning low-budget, but still stylish and functional.

As a fan of the game, I think the CGI did justice to the aesthetic and energy I expected. But for newcomers, the drop in quality during calmer scenes might be frustrating.

Dual Rulers continues the story after the events of Strive, focusing on Sin Kiske, now the main character, dealing with emerging conflicts involving Unika, who shows up interrupting the wedding of Ky Kiske and Dizzy. Some critics say there’s an overload of dramatic poses and long expository scenes. The site Black Nerd Problems commented that the anime suffers from “reverse aura farming.” Everything revolves around posing and style, but the plot feels shallow. The first episode especially was criticized for feeling like a DLC, with too many names and faces but little development.

On the other hand, in episodes 2 and 3, Sanzigen showed significant improvement. The story became more cohesive, the pacing more balanced, and the production more fluid, as pointed out by Sportskeeda.

In my opinion, the pacing does falter in the beginning. It feels like they’re just filling time with style. But around the third episode, the character dynamics improve, and the story starts to gain depth. It seems they found a balance.

Sin Kiske is the highlight. He’s your typical shonen protagonist but with strong internal conflicts. The idea of trying to understand someone who hurt you, and still show empathy, adds a mature layer and room for growth. Unika, who starts off as the villain, ends up having important moments within a redemption arc.

Classic characters like Ky, Sol Badguy, Bridget, and Johnny make appearances, but only in brief scenes that don’t directly affect the main plot (Infobae).

In the community, many fans are asking for more interactions between classic names, like Bridget and Johnny, Sol and Baiken, Ky and Dizzy. But so far, those connections have only remained as wishful thinking (Reddit).

On the Reddit forums, many pointed out that the anime seems made only for those who already know Guilty Gear. Some of the comments I found were:

“Visually, this is the best looking anime I’ve seen in quite some time... For 3D anime lol.” (Reddit)

“Newcomers may be turned off because they might not even know about the series’ lore.” (Reddit)

And I agree. Anyone unfamiliar with the franchise might get lost in the mythology. Sin and Unika do carry the story well. The Kiske family and Sol are full of charisma. But yes, the anime is very niche. To enjoy it fully, it’s best to have played at least Guilty Gear Xrd or Strive.

Sound, voice acting and soundtrack

The narrator’s voice is done by Tomokazu Sugita, the same voice actor as Joseph Joestar in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. He brings a comedic and exaggerated tone that perfectly matches the anime’s aesthetic (UK Anime Network).

The overall voice acting is very good. The cast delivers emotion, especially in dramatic moments.

The soundtrack is composed by Ryo Takahashi and blends electronic elements with orchestral tones, staying true to the franchise’s musical identity. During action scenes, it shines without being overwhelming (Sportskeeda).

In this aspect, the anime really delivers. The audio elevates the scenes and greatly contributes to the overall atmosphere.

With 8 episodes, the anime delivered a satisfying conclusion. The final episode was praised for its blend of action and emotion, wrapping up the main arc with dignity (Infobae). Despite ongoing pacing issues, it was a solid ending.

The ending works.

It closes the major conflicts well and leaves hooks for something bigger. I only missed a more daring climax.

Final impressions

When I watched the first three episodes, it felt like watching a series of trailers. Pretty, but empty. Still, the anime found its path over time. Sin gained depth, Unika surprised me, and the presence of Ky, Sol, and Dizzy gave that nostalgic touch.

The CGI was a risk that paid off. The anime isn’t perfect, but it has soul. For longtime fans, it’s a visual gift. For newcomers, it might be better to try the games first.

My score is 7.5 out of 10. If there’s a second season, with more substance and less unnecessary exposition, I’ll be there to watch.