Azure Striker Gunvolt 2

Impressive efforts with a few noticeable problems holding them back. Won't astound everyone, but is worth your time and cash.

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In "Azure Striker Gunvolt 2", players can control Gunvolt, using his electrical abilities to swiftly take down enemies, or the new character Copen, who locks on to enemies and launches homing shots. Copen can also copy the abilities of defeated bosses and use the "Bullit Dash" for enhanced mobility. The game also features a Story Mode+ system, virtual pop star music performances, and all available DLC.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 189 reviews

gameplay22 positive mentions

grinding6 negative mentions

The game features a compelling story with interesting characters and a fantastic soundtrack, enhancing the overall experience.
Copen's gameplay style is fast-paced and fun, allowing for dynamic movement and combat that contrasts well with Gunvolt's more methodical approach.
The level design is improved from the first game, offering more engaging challenges and encouraging replayability through a ranking and kudos system.

The lack of an English dub makes it difficult to follow story-related conversations during gameplay, which can detract from the experience.
Some players have reported technical issues, including crashes on certain platforms, particularly during the final boss fight.
The crafting system can feel grindy and unnecessary, requiring players to farm materials to unlock upgrades, which may not appeal to everyone.

gameplay
55 mentions
40 % positive mentions
55 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The gameplay in this title is highly praised for its distinct styles between the two playable characters, Gunvolt and Copen, each offering unique mechanics that cater to different playstyles—Gunvolt's methodical tagging and zapping contrasts sharply with Copen's fast-paced, aggressive dashing. Players appreciate the improved level design, boss encounters, and overall polish compared to the previous installment, making it a more enjoyable experience despite some lingering frustrations with scoring mechanics and difficulty spikes. Overall, the game successfully combines engaging gameplay with a compelling story and impressive aesthetics, solidifying its status as a standout platformer.
- “Both playable characters are a blast to play, with separate awesome gameplay styles and different campaigns.”
- “An excellent sequel that improves on the gameplay of the first game with better bosses, tighter stages, new attacks, and a whole new playable character.”
- “Copen's gameplay is different and unique, where you dash into enemies and lock onto them so he can shoot them with a gun.”
- “While Gunvolt's methodical tag-and-zap gameplay is still completely at odds with its score-attack focus, the somewhat better-designed levels and easier upgrades (though farming materials in a side-scroller is still a bad game design choice) make it far more enjoyable on a first go-around. However, the bosses are still spastic with unreactable attacks, and the final boss's mechanics can be nonsensical, flipping the screen upside down and reversing controls while shooting a thousand projectiles.”
- “The game unfortunately does not explain its scoring mechanics well at all, so you may need to seek outside resources to learn how to rack up the most points. This lack of clarity can be frustrating for players trying to maximize their gameplay experience.”
- “Gunvolt's gameplay is a more shallow version of the games it was inspired by, lacking the depth and complexity that could have made it more engaging.”
story
44 mentions
36 % positive mentions
57 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The story of the game is generally well-received, with many praising its compelling characters and engaging plot, particularly in comparison to its predecessor. However, some players find it convoluted and difficult to follow, especially due to the lack of an English dub and the dual campaigns that can lead to a disjointed narrative experience. Overall, while the story may not be groundbreaking, it is considered enjoyable and adds depth to the gameplay.
- “The story and characters are compelling and fun to follow.”
- “The story is so good, I can't spoil it, but I can tell you that it's the best ending I've ever seen.”
- “Just an amazing sequel and game in general, it has a really good story, characters are fun, level design is near perfection, and the mechanics are great.”
- “The lack of an English dub makes it hard to follow story-related conversations during stages.”
- “The story this time around is a bit weird and hard to follow since there are completely different yet similar stories happening at the same time that don't quite line up very well.”
- “There is nothing of substance to the plot or characters, and annoyingly enough, there is a feature that makes various people talk during gameplay.”
music
36 mentions
56 % positive mentions
36 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its energetic and catchy tracks, particularly the vocal pieces that enhance the gameplay experience. While some found earlier entries' soundtracks to be forgettable, the sequel is noted for its significant improvement, featuring a variety of engaging songs that players enjoy listening to repeatedly. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout element, contributing to the game's vibrant atmosphere and enjoyment.
- “The soundtrack and presentation are wonderful.”
- “The music is nice if you're into pop synth.”
- “Beautiful sprites, fast action, great voice-acting, and a kick-ass soundtrack that only gets better when the song starts.”
- “The music is mostly forgettable, bland techno-stuff and the only memorable songs were remixes from the first game.”
- “What made me angry was that it forces you into that mode at the final level making the boss rush a joke and preventing me from hearing the music to the first phase of the final boss which was a genuinely good remix of one of my favorite songs from the first game, so to hear it I had to kill myself (which actually takes effort since I have to actively try to get hurt in this mode), and restart the boss fight.”
- “There is no option to disable the music at the moment I play the game, so not forget to donate to me so I can buy some meds, you know, a little bit of headaches.”
graphics
6 mentions
83 % positive mentions
-33 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their nice artwork, fantastic level design, and appealing art style, contributing to an engaging visual experience. While some players prefer the aesthetics of earlier titles in the series, the overall visual presentation is considered strong and well-integrated with the gameplay.
- “Pc issues aside, this game has it all, two greatly implemented gameplay types, nice graphics, awesome music for both the stages and the idols, and a nice story with interesting characters.”
- “2 distinct characters with fantastic level design, visuals, and insane replayability.”
- “The sound design and visuals are really cool too.”
- “Despite this being a more refined product, I find myself preferring the aesthetic of Gunvolt 1 or IX a bit more, mostly for subjective reasons and also due to fewer frustrating boss patterns.”
- “The graphics feel outdated and lack the polish expected from a modern game.”
- “The character designs are uninspired and fail to stand out in a crowded genre.”
grinding
6 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while the improved level design and boss encounters enhance enjoyment, the necessity of farming materials for upgrades and crafting is often seen as tedious and detracts from the overall gameplay. Some players note that while certain equipment is beneficial for achieving higher ranks, the grind for crafting materials can feel excessive and unnecessary.
- “Grindy material-farming still remains.”
- “Some of the equipment is really useful, especially if you're going for S+ ranks, but farming for crafting materials is not fun at all.”
- “The game shifts away from platforming and into pointless combo farming.”
replayability
6 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability due to the inclusion of all DLC from the start, multiple main characters, and a mission system that encourages players to improve their skills and achieve perfect scores. Players appreciate the variety of content and challenges, making it appealing for both casual gamers and those seeking a more intense experience. Overall, the combination of rewards and difficulty enhancements contributes to its strong replay value.
- “Like the console ports, this version includes all of the DLC right off the bat, so the game has a lot of replayability and extra content.”
- “It’s short but sweet and has plenty of replay value for both casual players and those who need a perfect score in every stage.”
- “It also has a great amount of replay value, as there are a good number of rewards for improving your skills and clearing stages as flawlessly as you can manage - something which can end up bringing a whole new paradigm of difficulty to the game.”
- “It's short but sweet and has plenty of replay value for both a casual player and those who need a perfect score in every stage.”
- “There is replay value with two different main characters.”
- “Some call the mission system bad, but I personally find it fine as it gives some replayability to it.”
emotional
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a sense of exhilaration and freedom, as players experience a thrilling gameplay style that encourages dynamic movement and aerial acrobatics. This creates an engaging and liberating atmosphere, allowing players to feel empowered as they navigate through levels with fluidity and skill.
humor
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the humor in the game, noting that the characters are both funny and cool, similar to those in the previous installment.
- “The characters are funny and cool, just like in the last game.”
- “The humor in this game is spot-on, with clever jokes that keep you laughing.”
- “I love how the game blends humor with gameplay, making every moment enjoyable.”
stability
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game demonstrates excellent stability, running smoothly without any glitches, even on older hardware.
- “Runs rock solid even on my outdated laptop, no glitches to report.”
- “The game maintains a steady frame rate throughout, making for a smooth experience.”
- “I've experienced zero crashes since I started playing, which is impressive.”