Guts

GUTS (Gory Ultimate Tournament Show) is a fighting game set in a hyper-consumerist society in 2067, where a scientist discovers that people exposed to high levels of violence on TV are healthy and peaceful. Television violence is allowed, and fighters become major celebrities. You play as one of nine contestants, each with their own story and reason for appearing on GUTS, a reality show where fighters dismember one another for the audience.

Dismember to win

GUTS has no health bar. To win, you must remove all four of your opponent’s limbs and land a final blow; punching and kicking alone cannot secure victory. The fight continues after a character loses limbs, even when only two stumps remain. GUTS Moves are special unblockable attacks that remove a limb when they connect, while stage-specific hazards and traps can dismember fighters on contact. You can also use fallen limbs as weapons.

Moves and special attacks change according to how many limbs a character has left. The U-Points system lets you use special movements to heal and recover a lost limb. Matches have no timer, and hazards increase as a bout progresses, raising the stakes near its end. The showrunner can also introduce surprises, such as disabling healing or defensive moves, to keep the show entertaining.

Characters and story

The nine characters have individual backstories, including a fitness-focused father and a princess who is the world’s most popular Eating Sports Athlete and a spokesperson for the Yummy Fatty eating trend. The single-player game offers over eight hours of play as you unlock 18 endings, two for each character.

Modes and extras

GUTS includes online play, described as being in beta for community-wide testing, as well as several party game modes. Its soundtrack changes dynamically according to how many limbs remain in a match. Unlockables include skins, videos and the soundtrack.