The fighting system works around a four attack button configuration, consisting of punch, kick, slash, and heavy slash.[1] Additional buttons allow the player to perform taunts, and throw enemies in the air.[2] When a character causes damage or moves toward its adversary, a tension gauge charges.[3] However, when a character moves backwards or uses defensive moves often, its tension gauge is reduced.[4] Once a character's gauge is filled super moves called Overdrive Attacks, or a variety of special techniques—"Instant Kill", "Faultless Defense," "Dead Angle Attacks" or "Roman Cancels"—can be performed.[3][4][5]
Guilty Gear X2 adds a new feature to the series: a burst gauge, which is filled as the player causes or receives damage.[2] By pressing buttons in combination, the player character jump and unleash a blast of energy—a Psyche Burst.[6][7] It allows the player to break combinations and super moves in the middle of the opponent's offensive.[2][8] Also, if the blast hits the adversary, the tension gauge is filled to its maximum capacity immediately.[5][6]
Guilty Gear X2 offers eight modes: Arcade, Survival, M.O.M. (an acronym for Medal of Millionaires),[9][10] Mission, Story, Training, Versus 2P and Versus CPU.[4][11] The Arcade Mode allows the player to fight against several enemies until reach the final fight against the boss.[12] On the Survival Mode, the player continuously battle against enemies until reach the 500th and final level or die, whichever comes first.[2][12] Medal of Millionaires is a variation in which the player earn medals by performing combos.[1] In the Mission Mode, there are 50 challenges,[11][13] in which the player fight with and against a predetermined character; the player character have handicaps such as being prevented from jumping, poisoned or start a fight with half of health.[1][12]
The Story Mode, reveals the game's plot through battles interleaved with conversations between the player character and its enemies.[1] It vary depending on the player's choice and performance in the battles; there is a total of 60 possible endings.[14] The Training Mode allows the player to learn attacks by fighting a customizable CPU enemy.[8][11][12] Two players can play in the Versus 2P, and on the Versus CPU the player fight against an AI-controlled character.[10][11] In addition to those modes, there is a gallery with artworks, character endings, and cutscenes that are unlocked by playing Arcade, Mission and Story Mode.
