More than Megamgan clone.. Gunvolt has a good balance between gameplay pace, story and character art.
Salam (Peace)
Azure Striker Gunvolt
Is a game by Inti-creates, the team behind Megaman Zero & ZX. Led by the original Megaman creator... The team made many games inspired by Megaman franchise like the famous Mighty No.9 and this game. Gunvolt is first published on 3DS but this is a review for the Steam PC version.
You Can Get It Here
Story and Characters
In the future a new type of power appears. An organisation called Sumeragi controlled the users of these powers (adepts) and brought peace to the world. But they had enemies called QUILL, another organisation who seek the freedom of the power users.
The game follows Gunvolt a teenager who has the power of electricity, he was freed from Sumeragi by QUILL and works to free other 'adepts'. In a mission to destroy the Muse (a musical projection in a girls from that controls the adepts) he finds that it doesn't have a computer core... But it's actually a real girl (Joule) with powers like him.
Making both QUILL and Sumeragi his enemies.
The story while big, it's not told in text most of time since the game is gameplay heavy. There are many unique characters and though most of them have only few lines their personalities are colorful and different.
Other than the hero Gunvolt, the Heroine Joule and her split personality Lumen (also called the Muse). There are notable characters are Azimov (Quill leader), Nova (Sumeragi's leader) and Cupen (a powerful human). All of whom move the story as you complete levels.
Gameplay
The game plays like other platform/side-scroll games... Think Megaman or Super Mario where you have to reach the end of the level. But the creativity comes in Gunvolt's method to attack.
Gunvolt has two weapons... He uses his GUN to target the opponents, and his stronger attack is the VOLTage release which normally takes a sphere form... When Gunvolt releases electricity, most of it goes to the enemies already targeted by a gun. That makes the gameplay more interesting because you never rely on one attack.
Since the game is fast paced. Most of the game challenge is to choose the most suitable attack at the perfect time, which is brilliant in my opinion and makes the game more valuable than another Megaman re-skin.
Gunvolt Missions and Challenges
Every level/mission in the game starts by going to one of Sumeragi facilities to get information. In these missions you have to reach the end of the level, fight or avoid normal enemies (and get points) then reach the boss of the level. In so-megaman-standard-way.
Every boss have a set of moves that's hard but possible to avoid... It would be awesome if you could predict them the first time you see them but they're so hard that Azure Striker Gunvolt assumes you're going to lose many times until you memorize the enemy's pattern.
The Power Of Songs/Music
Sometimes while you play, Lumen will start singing for you... I find two ways to trigger her songs. One is to maintain +1000 Kudos which basically mean "don't get hit" and the other is to lose, and pray that the game gives you another chance.
It's amazing how the game puts the power of Muse/Lumen songs in the actual gameplay... Sumeragi used her songs
Levels, Accessories & Other Modes
The more you play the more Gunvolt level increases and so his HP, attack power.
After each mission you get some items. you can use the items to create accessories... These change how you play, some of them reduce damage, some give you extra jump or decrease charge time.
Due to how important they are, sometimes you have to beat a mission more than once to get a particular item to create the accessory you need.
The game has "speed run mode", "Time Attrack mode" and so... To have a chance in these you need familiarity with the gameplay which is easier to learn through the easier main mode.
A Must Have For All Platfromer Lovers
Azure Striker Gunvolt power isn't in graphics but it's in the gameplay. You can play it slow-paced and win or fast-paced and get rewarded. It's less frustrating than other Megaman clones, and it's innovative enough to not be considered one of them.
What do you think?
~ Hope You Liked This Review ~
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