There’s a new Testament in town: Guilty Gear Strive reveals final season one DLC character

Death has No Gender

Something wicked this way comes. As part of this weekend’s ARCEVO tournament festivities, Arc System Works revealed the fifth and final DLC character rounding out season one of fantastic fighter Guilty Gear Strive — Ask not for whom the bell tolls: Testament has returned.

A veteran character of Guilty Gear‘s deep, extended lore, Testament first debuted at the climax of the original Guilty Gear way back in 1998. Since then, they have made sporadic appearances throughout the series’ lineage — both in the ring or simply lurking in the shadows. Testament is a notoriously troubling character to fight, capable of controlling the battlefield with their blood traps and reaping souls with their attractive but sinister familiar EXEBEAST. Importantly, they also like potatoes.

Testament’s new design is, bluntly put, fucking stunning. The previously masculine character has fully embraced their non-binary nature and now goes by They/Them pronouns. While their amazing and alluring trademark Gothic style remains — naturally befitting that of the Grim Reaper — Testament has completed the look with a show-stopping top hat. I think they look amazing. The redesign is one of the greatest fighting game glow-ups ever.

Jesus Christ, I wish I looked that good.

Testament will launch in-game on March 28 for season pass owners, before being made available to all players from March 31. Until that day, GG Strive players will be waiting with bated breath to explore Testament’s redesigned gameplay — terrified that the nightmare matchups from Guilty Gears of yore yesterday will return to claim further skulls from hapless players. ArcSys also confirmed that a second season of DLC characters are en route, as well as crossplay between PlayStation and PC platforms.

In related news, ArcSys also announced that March 28 will see the arrival of an all-new “Digital Figure Mode”. This is, essentially, a photo mode sandbox, allowing players to construct dioramas out of Guilty Gear Strive‘s characters, stages, and even background furniture in order to setup up beautiful custom photoshoots. This is a very neat idea, especially given Strive’s gorgeous visual design. I’m looking forward to seeing some of the awesome portraitures that will no doubt be created by the GG faithful.

Guilty Gear Strive is available now on PlayStation and PC.

Chris Moyse

Senior Editor – Chris has been playing video games since the 1980s. Former Saturday Night Slam Master. Graduated from Galaxy High with honors. Twitter: @ChrisxMoyse