Nexus Gear Strikers

Nexus Gear Strikers is an arcade sports video game developed by South Korean game company Phantyx. Released in 2021 for the Anima 2, the game combines elements of arcade football and fighting games. The primary game mode of Nexus Gear Strikers is its unique 7 versus 7 football matches, where robotic players known as Nexus Gears engage in fast-paced matches led by a Captain representing an element.
===Development===
Phantyx, a new South Korean game development company, officially announced the development of Nexus Gear Strikers in 2016, then known by the name of BlueVolt. Drawing inspiration from the concept of combining arcade football with fighting game mechanics, the development team aimed to deliver an innovative and expansive gameplay experience in the sports game market that was severely lacking in their view. 
The team released a proof of concept of BlueVolt as an early access title. Back then it was a 5 versus 5 game, and didn't feature the elemental Captains yet, instead focusing on more generic robots, but still having depth similar to fighting game characters. The game caught the attention of NINE100 Studios, who purchased the rights to publish the game, as they were trying to expand into the sports game market. Subsequently, BlueVolt was withdrawn from early access, and development on the game went dark.
Finally in 2021, the game was re-announced as Nexus Gear Strikers, an Anima 2 launch title. The scope of the game was greatly expanded, with the game moving to 7v7, and introducing the elemental Captains, customization options of the Captains and their sidekicks, varying maps, and a singleplayer mode. The game also offered extensive online tournament support, as well as draft league rules and modifiable match settings.
===Gameplay===
In Nexus Gear Strikers, players participate in matches where they control teams of robotic players in a 7 versus 7 football format. The game draws inspiration from both arcade football and fighting games, allowing players to execute combos to create powerful passes, shots, and tricks. The key feature is the role of the Captain, each aligned with one of the nine distinct elements, who not only guides the team but also brings unique elemental abilities to the field.
====Mechanics====
*Elemental AbilitiesOne of the defining features of Nexus Gear Strikers is the elemental abilities of the Captains. These abilities are directly tied to their respective elements and can impact both offensive and defensive aspects of the game. For instance, a Fire Captain's ability might involve igniting the ball for a powerful shot, while a Water Captain might be able to create slippery surfaces to impede opponents.
*Combos and Signature MovesPlayers can engage in skillful combinations of moves and passes to execute powerful shots, passes, and tricks. Each Captain possesses unique combo sequences that, when mastered, allow players to unleash devastating shots, perform deceptive tricks, or set-up perfect passes. Some combo's require Charge, which is gained by performing successful shots, passes, and tricks, but also tackles and interceptions. Charge works similar to a style meter and is shared by the entire team. Once the team is sufficiently Charged, Captains can perform a Signature Move, which is unique per Captain.
*Dynamic ArenasMatches take place in diverse arenas, each with its own environmental elements that can impact gameplay. These elements range from changing weather conditions to interactive obstacles, adding an extra layer of unpredictability and strategy to the matches.
====Captains====
The game offers a roster of nine elemental Captains in Nexus Gear Strikers, each possessing their own strengths and elemental abilities to master.These Captains serve as the leaders of their respective teams and contribute significantly to the gameplay dynamics, as each has a preferred position the team is built around. Each team has 1 Captain, alongside 6 other members known as Grunts. Grunts lack the elemental powers, but still have tricks, special stats, and positions.
*Fire Captain (Explosive Offensive Forward): The Fire Captain excels in launching powerful shots and making aggressive runs down the field. Their explosive offensive capabilities pose a constant threat to the opponent's defense.
*Earth Captain (Sturdy and Bold Striker): The Rock Captain combines robust physicality with bold attacking maneuvers. Their ability to hold off defenders and create scoring opportunities in close quarters is a key asset to the team.
*Water Captain (Creative Precise Winger): The Water Captain is a master of precision and creativity, orchestrating plays with intricate passes and agile dribbling. Their finesse and accuracy make them a formidable presence on the wings.
*Lightning Captain (Trickster and Playmaker): The Lightning Captain's agility and trickery make them a formidable playmaker. With lightning-strikes from afar and rapid dribbles, they unlock defenses and create openings for their teammates.
*Ice Captain (Calm Controller Midfielder): The Ice Captain boasts exceptional control in the midfield by slowing down the pace of the ball and opponents. Their ability to maintain possession under pressure and distribute the ball accurately adds a crucial layer to the team's play.
*Sound Captain (Long Range Passer and Enabler): The Sound Captain excels in long-range passing and enabling team coordination. Their anticipation of opponents' moves and strategic positioning contributes to building up plays from deep within the field.
*Wind Captain (Aggressive Fast Wingback): The Wind Captain's speed and aggression on the wing make them a versatile asset in both offensive and defensive situations. Their ability to swiftly transition between roles adds flexibility to the team's strategy.
*Toxic Captain (Area Zoning Defender): The Toxic Captain's unorthodox defensive style involves setting up zones of miasma and sludge that impede opponents' progress. Their ability to disrupt the flow of the game adds a strategic dimension to the team's defensive tactics.
*Nature Captain (Defensive Interceptor): The Nature Captain specializes in intercepting passes and thwarting opponents' advances through spawning branches and foliage. Their defensive prowess and anticipation play a crucial role in breaking down the opposition's attacks.
====Gear Mods====
In Nexus Gear Strikers, players have the opportunity to fine-tune the performance of their robotic players, both Captains and Grunts, through a feature known as Gear Mods. This mechanic enables players to modify specific parts of their Gears, enhancing certain attributes while making trade-offs in others. By carefully selecting and customizing Gear Mods, players can tailor their team's strengths to match their preferred playstyle and strategies. 
Examples of Gear Mods:
#Power Arm Mod: By equipping a Power Arm Mod, a player's robotic player gains increased shooting power, allowing them to launch more potent shots towards the goal. However, this boost in power comes at the expense of dribbling finesse, as the heavier arm impacts the player's agility and ball control.
#Precision Sensor Mod: Installing a Precision Sensor Mod improves passing accuracy, ensuring more precise deliveries to teammates during gameplay. However, this increased focus on precision results in a minor reduction in the player's sprinting speed, as their systems prioritize accuracy over raw speed.
#Defensive Plating Mod: The Defensive Plating Mod reinforces a player's defensive capabilities, providing enhanced resistance against opponent tackles and challenges. This augmented durability, however, leads to a slightly decreased maximum sprint speed due to the additional weight of the plating.
#Agility Processor Mod: With the Agility Processor Mod, players can boost their robotic player's agility and responsiveness on the field, allowing for swifter movements and quicker reactions. Nonetheless, this increase in agility comes at the cost of decreased shooting power, as the processor reallocates resources towards mobility.
#Boosted Engine Mod: The Boosted Engine Mod enhances a player's sprinting speed, enabling them to cover ground rapidly. As a trade-off, the boost in speed results in a temporary reduction in endurance, as the player's systems prioritize short bursts of energy over sustained performance.
By strategically selecting and combining Gear Mods, players can create a team composition that aligns with their preferred tactics and style of play. The Gear Mods mechanic adds an extra layer of depth and personalization to Nexus Gear Strikers, allowing players to craft unique and specialized robotic players to dominate the field.
===Victory Road===
Nexus Gear Strikers boasts a single-player campaign known as Victory Road, featuring a tournament roster where the player takes the role of an experimental Adaptive Gear, which can copy tricks of defeated opponents. The player advances through tournament brackets, each time facing more difficult challenges, and once they lose they are out, making the game mode effectively a roguelite. However, if they keep winning, they can select rewards from a trio of offers per win, depending on the defeated opponent. These rewards vary from stat boosts to specific aspects, such as shooting, passing, and speed, to copy of special shots and tricks.
The narrative is delivered through cutscenes in between matches. These cutscenes play out differently depending on the order of matches, meaning that the narrative changes with each unique walkthrough. The storyline focuses on the Adaptive Gear and its disgraced creator, and how the underworld has its grasp on the other Gears and using the matches as a breeding ground for technological advancements, for good and for worse.