Here I am complaining about the lack of weirdness and novelty on our next-gen consoles. Well after 2 years I don’t know if we can still say they are new but let’s move on. Anyhow, here it is Gungrave GORE points the tip of his nose to prove me wrong. And even if GORE isn’t the first episode of the series (for a “classic” episode you still have to go back to 2004 on PS2), the level of originality in the current landscape isn’t bad! But what’s the value of this game coming straight from the IGGYMOB studio based in South Korea? If today it will not be possible to answer them fully, I already have some answers…
A TPS not quite like the others
At first glance, however, the title doesn’t necessarily offer much that is new: we steer Grave there in the 3rd person view and kill or destroy what stands in our way. A basic TPS what. Yes but no. The bourrinage is fine here. Already now you don’t have to look for a ball counter anymore. Ammo is infinite and will be reloaded for absent subscribers. Not the time to fool. So we spend our time shooting everywhere without stopping while something is moving on the screen. But hey, it would get boring quickly, despite the constantly panicking combo counter. Do we agree: A combo under 100 is a failed combo! You will understand, you will not spend your time crouching behind a low wall.
So we add a lot of special and mechanical moves. Small grappling hook to pull an enemy towards you and use them as a shield. Or vice versa, another small throw, but this time to charge towards a group of enemies and unleash a whirlwind of bullets. And if that really isn’t enough, you could also send the sauce from one of the 4 very badass and totally insane special moves, right?
The demo I was able to play at gamescom was too short. It represented only the first level of the game. The number of enemies is therefore not always important and a large part of it is devoted to presenting the different mechanics. But by the end of the level, when you start mastering the different mechanics… it becomes quite an entertaining ballet! I can’t say if interest will last over time but I would have definitely continued!
Culture point: South Korea is located in Asia
The rest of the game is typically Asian. We like it or not, but that should not leave you indifferent. The weapons are obviously of disproportionate size, Graves’ arrival at the site of the first mission is in a coffin that cheerfully tumbles down on an enemy in large spatters of blood, the boss is a giant mecha spider … Again, realism is required, not in order .
On the graphics side, don’t expect to have to pick your retinas off the floor. That’s fine, but no more. It doesn’t matter because the game was perfectly smooth in this version and that’s by far the most important thing. On the DA side, aside from the main character, which I find very successful, the basic enemies are pretty generic. That’s probably on purpose, and I’m hoping for more madness in the middle of the rest of the game. The same goes for the featured level: a big hangar with everything you can find there. Honestly I’m not worried too much, but it will be necessary to wait for the final version to confirm that there is enough variety in enemies as levels.
Expectation level: high
Gungrave GORE is a purely Asian product, which Western studios cannot do. Everything is blocked, everything is nagging. And it’s all especially fun once you understand the basics. If the full game manages to keep us entertained over time, I would no doubt enjoy it immensely. But be careful where you step, there’s little chance everyone will like it. Final answer on November 22nd when the game releases on our consoles (and PC)!