#possible retcon

[gear-project]

The Strive synopsis on the official website states That Man actually turned himself into a Gear. Is this mistranslation or does this explain his odd appearance after he finally revealed his face?

Previously, it was understood that Asuka was retrograding his age using an HPC server, and using some kind of unique gene therapy to extend his lifespan.  (Raven talks about this in Asuka’s GG2 story in more detail.)

The GG2 Overture Manga adaptation by Sumeragi isn’t entirely accurate in terms of dialogue translation/sequence of events... so it is possible it was mistranslated or that someone simply “simplified” the story so as to not over-complicate what actually happened.

Unless Guilty Gear Strive has plans to retcon Asuka as a “Gear”, it was simply understood that he retrograded his body and backed up his memories using a different method than Gear conversion.

For now, I can only chalk it up to a mistake on their part (website info does this a lot, even GG VastEdge had a lot of mistaken info), until it’s actually confirmed in the game’s story.

Also, I don’t think Asuka would (for personal reasons) convert himself in to a Gear unless it were absolutely necessary (due to his sense of atonement, among other reasons).

Also keep in mind, that Asuka was already in his 70s by the time of 2074 when the Crusades began... so he is roughly the same age as Sol Badguy at this point (174+ years estimated).

[gear-project]

Yeah I was wondering how you thought that Zessen needed Japanese blood to activate, never saw that in Xtra or the XX games. If I do recall Guilty Gear Judgement says this, but with the translation mistakes in that game I wouldn't put much weight on it. Even though with the new information we get the game makes more sense.

Thank you EVER SO MUCH for jogging my memory!

Yes, in fact Raymond DOES say Anji can use the Zessen “thanks to his Japanese Ancestry” (I just checked the script).

And as far as that particular passage goes in the script, I don’t think it’s mistranslated, because then he’d say something like “you wield the Zessen AND/Because you’re Japanese” which is already obvious and redundant.

Still, GGJ canonicity is disputable, so I think we’ll file this under the peripheral “Gaiden” part of the story.

Jinki OutRage certainly are canon, as is the Magic required to activate them, but the precise nature of said Magic used is up for grabs: Water, Wind, Ki, Fire, Lightning… And perhaps even “Blood” activation!

Perhaps Testament or A.B.A. will shed more light on Blood ritual Magic in the future and how it might relate to the OutRage.

[gear-project]

.  .  .

Ugh, I hate it when I can't find old data, especially if it's been rattling around inside my head for years!

I'm trying to find the "source" of that Japanese Blood > Zessen connection, but it's not in any of my immediate notes from GGXtra, though I could have sworn that was the source.

It wasn't in Ed Chang's old FAQ either.  I may have to go retrieve some data from Japanese website sources just to be sure.

It might be mentioned in other sources, though more obscure.

GG Codex says Daisuke never explained what all it could do yet.

[gear-project]

The GG wiki can be really annoying at times, in spite of the much-improved management. The information submitted there, while accurate, is extremely streamlined and mods prevent people from posting more nuanced information if it isn't 120% confirmed. For instance, we can't post about how Megumi's last name is Saito, Testament's association with it, or the fact it's Axl's main school of martial arts.

I understand that the info sources I gave are questionable, but I also gave a bit of legitimate back-history behind why some of that information got lost along the way.

It's not their fault... it's not even ARC System Works' fault...

Sometimes information gets lost even when official sources provided it initially.

Sometimes that information gets completely RETCONNED... it's just something that can't be helped sometimes.

For now at least... it's just something that hasn't been acknowledged in GG Lore for a very long time is all. If the story every brings it up again, I'm sure ARC System Works will address it.

In particular, Baiken's role and history with Happy Chaos will probably eventually get addressed which will bring up a lot of OLD LORE info that got lost in the shuffle.

Like I said, they'll address missing info and correct it as needed, so no need to worry.

[gear-project]

A question about That Man but does his authority supercede that of a Command Type Gear? I ask because it's said that Leopaldon is weak against him in both the GG 10th Memorial Guide and the Library Database. I'm not sure if it meant in term of strength or if it was referring to a programmed subroutine that prevents him from fighting him. Plus, he was seen leading an army of Gears that caused the destruction of Baiken's village as depicted in her accounts and the GGX anime movie.

Maybe that was true for certain Gears, but Leopaldon is not a Command Type Gear… if anything s/he’s a Megadeth Class…

Still, history shows that at a later point after 2074, “That Man” was eventually captured by the Gears he created and imprisoned.

It wasn’t until I-No freed him from his chains that history began to change.

That scenery from the Animated short isn’t indicative of anything, since:

1. “That Man” isn’t bald, he has white hair (GGXrd’s flashback confirms this).2. At the time, he was probably surveying the damage to see if there were survivors (it was never “That Man’s” intention to destroy Japan, but because of the Variable X incident, he had no choice).3. The figure shown in the short looks closer to Dr. Baldhead if no one else, and that doesn’t indicate anything since we don’t know Faust’s involvement with the Crusades very well, though we do know he was highly respected.  (Furthermore it’s also possible members of the Conclave were on the scene as well.)4. Most Gears look nothing like those shambling bandaged zombies in design and are more streamlined in appearance (remember: they were a hijacked military force, not something that came out of a graveyard).

A lot of GG’s productions and promotional materials weren’t well-thought-out in the early years, so much of that animated short could be considered ret-conned and not hold much value canonically.

[gear-project]

Are there any glaring cases of retconning in GG's lore?

Depends on what you mean by “glaring case”, as there’s lots of room for the story’s “plot holes” to be filled.

There are a few glaring issues that need to be touched upon, to say the least.

Axl Low’s existence coinciding with that of Raven’s (especially given Raven’s origin story appears to occur long before Axl Low even existed).

Sol’s true 'relationship' with Justice and "That Man" (the real history, not assumptions relating to Aria, Dizzy, or Valentine).

Dizzy’s connection to the OutRage (which has yet to be explored) and to Justice.

The history of Sol’s weapons (depending on who you ask and which source you go by).

"That Man’s" 3rd Servant, who has yet to make an appearance.

Any and all references to/from Bedman’s Instant Kill (which cites events in each victim’s past that we may or may not EVER know about).

This isn’t really a retcon, but more of a “fan misunderstanding”, Zato=ONE’s death is not ‘based’ on Kaneto Shiozawa’s Death, but rather it was planned as part of the story.

Not to mention all the errors that appear throughout the series.—-Zappa’s Birthday and Sin’s estimated age were listed wrong on official websites, respectively.—-The Junkyard Dog Mk.II and Mk.3 are both listed as “Model H” when they are clearly completely different looking weapons and created on different dates despite being ‘made the same year?’—-An illustration Daisuke did of Order-Sol revealed that sheet-metal slab sword Order-Sol iconically uses was named the original “Junkyard Dog”, this flies in the face of data from the GGXX Slash Encyclopedia which said the sword originally didn’t have a name.—-Testament was at one point listed as the “Ultimate Gear” (which was the title only given to Justice, this was a mistranslation), and it was also erroneously stated in his in-game bio that he orchestrated the 1st Sacred Order Martial Arts Recruitment Tournament… (when actually it was the 2nd Tournament).—-Plot oversights like the forementioned Zappa / Faust train wreck story line.—-Don’t get me started on all the movelist mistranslations/garbled Engrish/Ramletherl/Image Leaks/etc.

[gear-project]

In one of Venom's endings, he meets an orphan child named Eddie. He adopts Eddie and takes Eddie with him. On the wiki it says that Eddie is a boy, but they(I don't know what word to use)look like a girl. So is the kid a boy or a girl?

Here's what essentially happened, Venom after killing Millia realises that nothing can be accomplished in an Organization of sorrow and death (and that it took TWO deaths for him to realize this), so he disbands the Assassins' Organization:

----------------------

Millia: "How...Unfortunate...So this is...the end..."

*dies*

Venom: "Rest in peace, Millia. I think...that he is waiting for you too. (It's over...But what is this emptiness I feel?)"

~~~~

(Venom in a Dream)

Venom: "This is...the usual dream, huh?"

Nightmare Zato: "rrRhhhmmm..."

Venom: "Disappear. I no longer fear Nightmares!"

Nightmare Zato: "rrrrhhhhhaaaAAAAAHhhhh..."

*attacks but is blocked*

Venom: "You still fight...Fine. I will destroy this illusion, and with it, MY FEELINGS FOR MASTER ZATO!"

~~~~

Assassin Servant: "Are you awake, sir?"

Venom: "Yes. I feel really good this morning."

Assassin Servant: "Is that so?"

Venom: "Gather everyone. Inform them that, as of today, the Assassins' Organization is disbanded."

Assassin Servant: "Wha-! That's...why?"

Venom: "Nothing can be done when one is tied down by an Organization. How ironic. It took two deaths for me to realize that..."

~~~~

Venom: "What's wrong? What are you doing there?"

Boy: "The town was...burned down."

Venom: "I see...What happened to your family?"

Boy: "Ah......"

Venom: "You have no one to go to?"

Boy: "No..."

Venom: "...Do you want to come with me?"

Boy: "Eh...?"

Venom: "This long journey was starting to feel a little lonely. I figure I could use a companion."

Boy: "Mister...what do you do for a living?"

Venom: "Me? I'm a hustler. I never stay in one place though."

Boy: "Hus...tler?"

Venom: "I shoot pool. You know what that is?"

Boy: "No."

Venom: "I'll teach you. Eventually. Come with me. There's someone in the town up ahead who's waiting for a match."

Boy: "Okay. Um...is it really okay to come with you?"

Venom: "Only if you want to. My name is Venom. What's yours?"

Boy: "...Eddie."

Venom: "...That's a good name. Let's get going."

----------------------

It seems that this young boy was caught up in a recent post-Crusades conflict and the sole survivor of a destroyed village, much like how Millia, Zato, and Venom were orphaned during the Crusades.

It's unclear exactly when this might have taken place, but as of 2182 the Organization is still in existence based on the Novel Butterfly and Her Gale, so in all probability it has an extremely low chance of being canonical, so at best it's an alternate ending.

And yes, it's pretty clear he's a boy (based on the voice acting), but he just so happens to have long hair so it could be misleading.

And no, contrary to fan belief he is no relation to Bridget, since it appears he's the survivor of a destroyed village and not a relative or Bridget's twin brother.

But, that doesn't necessarily mean that Venom won't meet up with Eddie in the future, should Venom retire. Based on what we know of Gaiden, it's very possible, though the circumstances may be different.