Guilty Gear Isuka[a] is a 2D fighting video game developed by Arc System Works and published by Sammy Corporation.

Announced by Arc in September, it was released on December 17, 2003, in arcades as the sixth installment of the Guilty Gear series.

[4][5][6] The game introduces a four-player option in Versus Mode, giving a player four characters who can fight two-on-two, three-on-one or everyone-for-themselves.

[7][10][11][14] In addition to the attacks, other aspects such as jump height, offense, defense, recovery time, tension, and speed can be improved.

[10][14] The game also features other modes: Color Edit, a palette swap editor that allows the player to customize nearly every aspect of the characters, including buckles and hair;[15] Training, in which a player can practice with (and against) computer-controlled opponents[1] and Arcade, similar to the survival mode featured in other fighting games.

[1][4] Guilty Gear Isuka features twenty playable characters in its arcade version: Anji Mito, Axl Low, Baiken, Bridget, Chipp Zanuff, Dizzy, Eddie, Faust, I-No, Jam Kuradoberi, Johnny, Ky Kiske, May, Millia Rage, Potemkin, Slayer, Sol Badguy, Testament, Venom, and Zappa.

[17] In September 2003, Sammy Corporation announced that a new game dubbed Guilty Gear X Series The Newest Version would be featured at the Japan Amusement Machinery Manufacturers Association (JAMMA) arcade show; at the show, the company revealed that Guilty Gear Isuka would be the game's name.

[22] Guilty Gear Isuka was released in Japan on December 17, 2003, by Sammy for the Atomiswave arcade cabinets,[23] followed by the PlayStation 2 version on July 29, 2004.

[35] Although the introduction of two planes and the turning button were considered good ideas in theory,[15][38][39] both features were heavily criticized by reviewers.

[1][38] Turner said it deprived the player of the ability "to have a normal Guilty Gear X2-style match", and Dunham said the computer reacted faster.

[34] The perceived poor execution of its new features led GameSpy to give it a special "It Sounded Good on Paper" award.

Dunham called the Boost and Factory modes "intriguing distractions",[15] while Turner praised the latter for "much depth and nuance", unreached by other games.

[50] Writing for the same site, a reviewer dubbed GoldfishX rated it 7 out of 10, citing "it lacks the depth of previous entries in the series.