Azure Striker Gunvolt 2

79%
Game Brain Score Based on 383 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • music
Azure Striker Gunvolt 2 Game Cover
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.

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Nintendo 3ds
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

79%
Audience ScoreBased on 383 reviews
gameplay45 positive mentions
grinding13 negative mentions
  • Incredible 2D action gameplay with an impressive arsenal of awesome abilities.
  • Two cool heroes with unique campaigns that offer distinct playstyles.
  • Great visuals, audio, and stage design enhance the overall experience.
  • Hard-to-reach enemies are a frequent annoyance while playing as Gunvolt.
  • Repeated boss battles feel tedious and can detract from the enjoyment.
  • The story is lackluster and the dialogue boxes can obscure important gameplay elements.
  • gameplay112 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 certain boss designs. Overall, the game is celebrated for its engaging 2D action platforming, stunning visuals, and a strong emphasis on gameplay over narrative depth.

    • “Both playable characters are a blast to play, with separate awesome gameplay styles and different campaigns.”
    • “Copen's gameplay is just so dang fun, Inti Creates really hit it out of the park with his design.”
    • “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.”
    • “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 'phantasmagoria' is just nonsense, flipping the screen upside down and reversing controls while shooting a thousand projectiles at once.”
    • “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.”
    • “Gunvolt's gameplay is a more shallow version of the games it was inspired by.”
  • story90 mentions

    The story of the game is generally well-received, with many praising its compelling characters and engaging narrative, particularly in the context of the dual campaigns featuring different protagonists. However, some players find the plot convoluted and reliant on anime tropes, leading to mixed opinions about its depth and coherence. Overall, while the story may not be groundbreaking, it is considered a solid continuation of the franchise that enhances the gameplay experience.

    • “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.”
    • “The story itself is very tightly knit, both sides have their own goals and motivations which eventually clash.”
    • “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.”
  • music72 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many praising its energetic and catchy tracks, particularly the vocal pieces that enhance the gameplay experience. While some players found certain tracks to be forgettable or reminiscent of the first game, the overall soundtrack is considered a significant improvement, featuring a variety of styles that cater to fans of pop synth and j-pop. The integration of music into gameplay, such as the dynamic changes when achieving high scores, adds an engaging layer to the experience, making it a highlight for many players.

    • “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.”
    • “I almost felt bad for hitting 1000 kudos in levels due to Joule's song cutting the soundtrack.”
  • graphics14 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their impressive visuals, unique art style, and fantastic level design, contributing to an engaging overall experience. While some players prefer the aesthetics of earlier titles in the series, the current iteration still showcases high-quality artwork and sound design that enhance gameplay. Overall, the visuals are considered a strong point, complementing the game's mechanics and replayability.

    • “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.”
    • “[Incredible 2D action gameplay with an impressive arsenal of awesome abilities, two cool heroes with unique campaigns, great visuals, audio, and stage design].”
    • “Despite this being a more refined product, I find myself preferring the aesthetic of Gunvolt 1 or IX a bit more, but mostly for subjective reasons.”
    • “The graphics feel outdated and lack the polish expected from a modern game.”
    • “The art style doesn't resonate with me, and I find it less appealing compared to previous entries in the series.”
  • grinding13 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while the levels and upgrades are better designed than in previous iterations, the need to farm materials for crafting is seen as tedious and detracts from the overall enjoyment. Many feel that the shift towards combo farming and the grind for crafting materials can be frustrating, although some argue that it's possible to complete the game without engaging deeply with the crafting system. Overall, the grindiness remains a notable downside for many players.

    • “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.”
  • replayability12 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. While some players may find the mission system lacking, many appreciate the variety of content and challenges that enhance the overall experience for both casual and dedicated players. Overall, it is praised for its depth and replay value, making it an engaging choice for repeated playthroughs.

    • “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.”
    • “Fantastic action game, it's even better than the first one, it's filled with content and has a big replay value.”
    • “To continue, some call the mission system bad, but I personally find it fine as it gives some replayability to it.”
    • “- there is replay value with 2 different main characters.”
    • “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.”
  • emotional4 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a sense of exhilaration and freedom, as players experience a fluid and dynamic gameplay style that allows them to effortlessly navigate levels and execute impressive combos. This high-energy approach fosters a feeling of empowerment and joy, as players can disregard traditional level constraints and fully embrace the thrill of movement.

  • humor2 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 top-notch, making every moment enjoyable.”
    • “I love how the witty dialogue keeps me laughing throughout the gameplay.”
  • stability2 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.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

80% average critic score

Buy Azure Striker Gunvolt 2

Play time

1hMedian play time
1hAverage play time
1-1hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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