Here’s everything you need to know about Testament inGuilty Gear Striveand theGGseries by Daisuke Ishiwatari: first appearance, gender, and story elements.
Arc System Works at ARCREVO America Finals just announced Testament as the next DLC character inGuilty Gear Strive, and many players never saw this character before. Especially newer players who got into the series withStrive, seeingGGSTis by far the most popular game in the series and one of the most popular fighting games of all time now. Though many would also tell you it’s sadly not the most enjoyable game in the series, but I digress.
Who is Testament in Guilty Gear?
Testament first appeared in the originalGuilty Gearon PlayStation 1 in 1998 as the penultimate boss, and was originally a villain planning to resurrect Justice. Testament is a recurrent, iconic character of the series since then. However, Testament wasn’t playable inGG Xrd, so thisGGSTDLC announcement is a big return for older fans of the series. Testament specializes in long-reach attacks by wielding a scythe, and in long-range attacks with familiars.
What is Testament’s gender?
Testament always had an extremely effeminate character design but has been officially referred to as a male character in the past, such as “Kliff’s adopted son”. However, Arc System Works in the past alsoofficially statedthat Testament became non-binary due to his modification into a Gear. Moreover, the press release for his DLC release inGGSTalso uses the pronoun “they”.
I’d personally add that it’s important to note Japan’s pop culture has its own history and culture when it comes to LGBTQ+ themes and genderless characters. Those themes were already very prevalent in a lot of anime, games, and manga ever since the 80s. It’s definitely not something “new”. You could even cite Go Nagai’sDevilmanfrom 1972 as a good example.
Visual kei and goth inspirations
Moreover, just like everything else inGuilty Gear, Testament’s design has references to music. In their case, Testament is basically a reference to Japanese Visual Kei. Testament looks like a typical Visual Kei artist.
Visual Kei is a movement consisting of musical artists who have striking makeup, hairstyles, and distinct androgynous features. It’s a style that has been popular in Japan since the 80s, with iconic artists like X Japan and Yoshiki.
Testament’s story in Guilty Gear
Testament was originally part of the Holy Order, a group of fighters who fought against Gears and their leader Justice, and was the adoptive son of the leader, Kliff Undersn. However, Testament was captured by a certain country and turned into a Gear, triggering their hatred for humans. Kliff believed his son to be dead and hadn’t seen him for over 40 years. Testament is around 60 to 70 years old in human years.
However, Testament was still alive, and just like every other Gear, was under the control of Justice. In the originalGuilty Geargame, Testament was the organizer of a tournament seemingly organized to gather stronger fighters to fight Justice. However, the true goal of the tournament was to gather blood sacrifices to break Justice’s seal and resurrect her. In the penultimate battle of the tournament, Testament fights protagonist Sol Bad Guy, saying only one more sacrifice is needed. When Sol defeats Testament, he reveals he planned to use himself as the final sacrifice either way, triggering the resurrection of Justice in what is still one of the coolest cutscenes in games history to this day:
Testament’s redemption
At the end of the original game, Sol manages to defeat Justice with his Dragon Install gear power, as it turns out Sol is the original prototype Gear that cannot be controlled by Justice. In the sequel,Guilty Gear X, Testament is actually still alive and free of mind control, but still hates humans, most notably as they try to hunt down Justice’s innocent daughter, Dizzy. Testament feels like a Guilty Gear, trying to atone for their past sins, and decides to protect Dizzy. Testament is, again, the penultimate boss inGuilty Gear X.
Now inStrive, Testament’s profilementionedthey are currently living with the elderly couple who used to protect Dizzy and managed to reach happiness, leaving their misanthropy behind.
Testament voice actor and seiyuu in GGST
In Japanese, Testament is now voiced by Yu Kobayashi inGGST. She’s a veteran seiyuu popular since her debut in the early 2000s. She tends to voice high-tension, comedic female characters like Lala inSchool Rumbleor Yanagin inDanshi Koukousei no NIchijou. Or Sasha inAttack on Titanto cite an example younger people know about. She also voices more serious characters like Lucina inFire Emblemand Mikoto inRune Factory Oceans.
Yu Kobayashi also regularly voices young-looking male characters like Kanon inUmineko. She’s also an accomplished singer and most notably voices Otome Tohoten in the popularjoseimuke rapping franchiseHypnosis Mic. Joseimuke are franchises primarily aiming for a female audience. Lastly, Kobayashi Yu is also infamous for her talent for drawingincredibly disturbing and horrific imagery.
In previous games, Testament was voiced by Katsuaki Kobayashi. In English, Testament is now voiced by Kayleigh McKee, who recently voiced Yuta Okkotsu in theJujutsu Kaisen0movie, and Tasuku Kuresawa inSasaki and Miyano.
Comments on Testament from VA Yu Kobayashi
“Yu Kobayashi in the house. I was allowed to voice Testament in Guilty Gear Strive. I’m incredibly grateful to be voicing Testament-san, joining the newest game of such a historic franchise. You’ll get to hear me soon. Thanks for your support.”
Testament reveal trailer and official profile translated
Saito Style ancient martial arts is the style using scythes practiced by Testament and Axl. In other words, it seems Testament dislikes their own fighting style.
