Gungrave

"This game goes up in a Blaze Of Glory"

To begin with, THIS IS NOT DEVIL MAY CRY ! For all you folks out there that are looking for a DMC clone...look elsewhere . This game is the modern day successor to old school shooters like CONTRA , SPACE HARRIER and maybe something not so old school like Einhander . The point of Gungrave is this : If it moves... SHOOT IT ! If you can see it...BLOW IT UP ! And make darn sure you look good doing it. The game will reward you if you do . Now let's get on with this baby

STORY :
Gungrave is the story of a man named Brandon , who , after having been left for dead ( There's a little more to it than this , but no spoilers here ) by his best friend and the criminal organization he works for , returns from the dead as Beyond The Grave to exact his revenge , and Boy , is getting payback fun !! Armed with two pistols named '' Cerberus '' and a coffin that doubles as a super machine gun and missile launcher strapped to his back , Grave goes on to get some serious payback .This is where the mayhem and mindless slaughter begin . Let me break it down for you .

GAMEPLAY :
This game is a blast to play . Shoot anything in site and rack up the points so you can use your special attacks , other wise known as Demolition Shots . You accrue the points by continuously shooting anything and everything in sight : enemies , environments , you name it , you shoot it . As you continue to shoot , you fill a Beat Meter , which once full , allows you to use and accumulate one of several Demolition Shots , which are earned as you play through the game . The Demolition Shots look very cool , and they do some serious damage . This is basically how you progress through the levels . The control scheme is tight , and other than some minor camera issues , Gungrave handles beautifully . As with most 3rd person games , the camera can be a bit temperamental sometimes , obscuring the action a wee bit . The hands on controls are fine and work as follows : You move Grave around with the left analog stick and by utilizing the R3 feature can make the character jog a bit . You shoot by holding the square button , perform Demo Shots with the triangle button , jump and do front , back and side rolls by using the x button ( move the stick in the direction you want to go in to perform rolls ) and break into a run by pressing down on the circle button . The shoulder buttons also have their own individual functions including targeting and slow motion . I can't stress enough how important it is to remember that this game is about SHOOTING and more SHOOTING . The game will reward you for not breaking the shooting streak , and striking a STYLISH pose in the middle of a fire fight will get you points also . Just remember to keep that Beat Meter going . The game is only 6 levels long , but you should allow some room for replay value , as it has a few unique unlockables , not the least of which is infinite Demo Shots . I think it would take the average gamer about 2-2 1/2 hrs the first time through .

GRAPHICS:
Oh Baby , this game is pretty ! Fans of anime will love the Cel-Shaded graphics . The technique is used to enhance the feel that you are playing an anime and it works beautifully . The minor characters are not very detailed but look fine and the character modelling for Grave is terrific. The special effects are handled expertly , with gun muzzles flashing , cartridges discharging , bullets leaving holes in walls ,cars and anything else that you can hit . The anime cut scenes are amazing , some of the best anime I have ever seen in a game or anywhere else for that matter . They use the digital 3d effects that were used in '' Blood , The Last Vampire '' and do an even better job of it . I have never been a fan of Cel-Shading ( Yes....I've played Jet Set Radio and that disaster called Cel Damage ) but this game made me appreciate what can be done with the technique when it is handled properly . This game is some really serious eye candy .

SOUND :
The audio quality is very good , although the sound effects tend to drown out the background music . ( minor issue , just go into the options and set your own audio levels ) The sound effects are well done , the sound of Grave's pistols firing , stuff blowing up around you , all done well enough to set the tone and atmosphere of the game. The music itself is catchy , and I found myself humming the opening theme on more than one occasion . Overall sound quality is good .

To finish this review , let me remind all of you again that this game is not an adventure or action game like DMC or MGS2 . I haven't played such a straightforward game as this in a long time . Get from point A to point B , all the while shooting everything and everyone . I recommend this game to anyone that likes shooters in the Contra style. Yes , it's not a very long game , and the gameplay isn't very varied , but neither were some of the best shooters of the past . Sometimes all we want as gamers is a quick fix , something fun to play that doesn't require looking for a lever or finding the missing crest or emblem . Sometimes we just want to blow stuff up . This is the game for those moments .

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 09/22/02, Updated 09/22/02