Gunvolt Chronicles: Luminous Avenger iX 2

Genre: Action-Platformer

Players: 1

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Review:

Gunvolt Chronicles: Luminous Avenger iX 2 (from here on referred to simply as Gunvolt Chronicles 2) is an Action-Platformer released on the PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch in 2022. As with the first Gunvolt Chronicles game, Gunvolt Chronicles 2 follows Azure Striker Gunvolt’s supporting character Copen, who has more melee-focused attacks (and in fact, even more so this time around).

Once again, this is a game with some beautifully-detailed pixel art 2D visuals and a fast-paced synthesized soundtrack packed with J-pop tunes. None of the music in this game truly stands out as memorable for me, but it all works well to create a great nostalgic vibe that makes this game feel a lot like the Mega Man X franchise that so clearly inspired the Gunvolt games.

As with the similarly strong presentation, Gunvolt Chronicles 2 is still every bit as much of a blast to play as its predecessor, with your character’s speed, maneuverability, dashing-focused melee-based combat and seemingly-overpowered arsenal of weapons making you truly feel like a force to be reckoned with as you tear through robotic enemies. In fact, Copen kinda’ feels too overpowered, especially since one of the abilities you have available to you at all times is the ability to stop the action and heal up any damage you’ve taken without any sort of trade-off or consequence for doing so.

To some extent, I can understand this choice – without it, I feel like Gunvolt Chronicles 2 would be an extraordinarily difficult game, particularly during boss fights, where it is often difficult to see how to avoid attacks. And I suppose players desiring that sort of challenge could always opt not to use the healing ability. Nevertheless, unless you’re the sort who will wilfully refuse what almost feels like a cheat, you’ll find this game to be rendered nearly a cakewalk by it. And that’s before we even look at the game’s RPG-like upgrade system and its Mega Man-like boss weapon upgrades.

However, easy or no, Gunvolt Chronicles 2 is still an absolute blast to play while it lasts. Like many of the Mega Man games, it can be completed in a matter of a few hours, which makes its $25 price tag ($10 more than the game’s predecessor) feel a bit steep. However, while it may be a short game, those few hours are a lot of fun, with some outstanding action that will have you bashing into enemies and unloading your lock-on arsenal onto them while dodging their attacks. If you’re feeling like some good old-school Action-Platformer action, Gunvolt Chronicles 2 will be every bit as satisfying as its predecessor.

tl;dr – Gunvolt Chronicles 2 is an Action-Platformer with some similarities to the Mega Man games, but like its predecessor has more in the way of melee-style attacks. This sequel still makes it feel outstanding to bash into enemies, although the mix of a high difficulty and an ability to freely heal at any time makes this game feel either far too easy or too hard depending on whether you make use of that ability. Still, even with this issue (and a price tag that’s $10 more than the first game), Gunvolt Chronicles 2 is still a blast to play, and fans of Action-Platformers should absolutely seek it out.

Grade: B+

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