Grand Cross Renovation

About

Grand Cross Renovation is a single player arcade shooter game. It was developed by ES4 / Eternal Sphere 4 and was released on January 20, 2022. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

Slash through enemies with the Sun Blade, the most powerful weapon in Shmup's history! Overwhelm hordes of enemies with flashy on-screen effects in this super-aggressive vertical scrolling shump!

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

+18

Skip User Reviews

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 77 reviews

gameplay9 positive mentions

story2 negative mentions

Visually stunning with a unique and chaotic aesthetic that creates an exhilarating experience.
Engaging risk/reward mechanics that encourage aggressive play and scoring strategies.
Great soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere and excitement of the gameplay.

The game is relatively easy, lacking challenge for experienced shmup players, making it less appealing for those seeking difficulty.
Technical issues such as crashes, graphical glitches, and poor menu design detract from the overall experience.
Lack of clear explanations for scoring systems and gameplay mechanics can leave players feeling lost.

gameplay
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
68%
8%
The gameplay of the game is characterized by its unique mechanics and visually stunning presentation, offering a fast-paced experience that rewards risk-taking. While many players find the game to be relatively easy, it features a variety of ships with distinct gameplay styles and a depth that emerges through its scoring systems and risk/reward mechanics. However, the lack of clear guidance on these mechanics can leave players feeling lost initially, and some reviewers suggest waiting for a sale before purchasing due to its overall ease.
- “Great shmup with solid (even sometimes overpowered) mechanics, memorable soundtrack, and interesting visuals.”
- “The gameplay is fun with interesting and unique mechanics.”
- “These mechanics combined with melee kills (with an extremely satisfying zangekill bonus that wouldn't be far off Metal Gear Rising), a shield+life system that offers a risk/reward potential and technical bonuses as well as dozens of reinforcements and seemingly secret enemy formations that can be triggered provides a surprisingly solid depth to what initially seems an extremely easy STG to credit-feed through.”
- “GCR is incredibly easy, and after getting accustomed to the gameplay mechanics, anyone can beat the game in about half an hour with relative ease.”
- “For starters, it explains nothing about all of its scoring systems and their related gameplay mechanics, leaving you on your own to find out what they do and how to trigger them.”
- “Aside from the gameplay basics, which the game teaches you in the prologue, and some hints appearing on the main menu, you need to learn about everything by yourself.”
music
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
25%
15%
The music in this game is widely praised as a standout feature, with many reviewers highlighting its high quality and dynamic nature that enhances the gameplay experience. It evokes nostalgia for classic JRPGs and is considered one of the best soundtracks in the shmup genre, often described as energetic and memorable. However, some players noted that the sound effects can overshadow the music, suggesting a need for better balance to fully appreciate the soundtrack's impact.
- “Great shmup with solid (even sometimes overpowered) mechanics, memorable soundtrack, and interesting visuals.”
- “The enemies will explode in spectacular fashion, you will start beam clashing with powerful enemies and overwhelm them, the whole screen will shake as the result of powerful beings fighting with each other, and this all happens when a top-notch soundtrack is blasting in the background.”
- “Incredible game!...great feel and mechanics...awesome soundtrack, probably best shmup soundtrack since Thunder Force IV or Gaiares.”
- “I would like to see a sequel to this title in the future though, I might enjoy the sequel more if the in-game effects are toned down a little bit. I love how the backgrounds move and try to give depth, but the music was too loud and the lights made it too hard to enjoy it more than I wanted to.”
- “Honestly, I'll be surprised if this game doesn't end up on my list of the best of 2022, even if it's only because of the soundtrack alone.”
- “It also has one of the most exciting soundtracks I've heard, (just make sure you turn the sound effects down so you can hear it!) and I often listen to it outside the game when I need an energy boost while working.”
graphics
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
39%
17%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a distinctively noisy and glitchy aesthetic that evokes nostalgia for PS1-era visuals, creating a unique and memorable style. While some players appreciate the chaotic and flashy design, noting that it enhances the gameplay experience, others point out issues like visual clutter and occasional graphical glitches that can detract from performance. Overall, the visuals are a polarizing aspect, with some finding them overwhelming yet stylish, while others criticize their execution and clarity.
- “The graphics are reminiscent of PSX1 days.”
- “This is an excellent game with great music, solid controls, and great graphics.”
- “The graphic is busy and chaotic but never feels too distracting; it's easy for me to see which part of the spectacle are enemies, which part are bullets, and which part are just background, even though your screen is filled with explosions.”
- “The game's graphics are reminiscent of PS1 days.”
- “There are some graphical glitches though where boss parts can become white rectangles.”
- “Some improvements performance-wise could be done as of this writing: visual glitches and limited graphics options are some of the issues I have right now.”
story
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
40%
40%
The story is described as an engaging sci-fi narrative that takes players on a high-speed journey through the solar system, featuring epic battles and significant collateral damage. It evokes a sense of grandeur reminiscent of classic shmup titles, with a blend of mystical elements and a powerful ship at its center, making it enjoyable enough for players to revisit despite some reservations about the scoring system.
- “The premise kind of reminds me of Skiter Stein's Altynex trilogy, where you have this diegetically super powerful ship in this epic, vague sci-fi story full of mystical technobabble.”
- “You’ll be flying by stages faster than light as the story sees you fighting through the solar system, destroying planets as collateral damage, while fighting ships that can eclipse the sun.”
- “In the end, I really liked the game; it feels like the last episode of a giant sci-fi story, and if you played a lot of shmups, this title can certainly push your boundaries even further.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
Overall, the game's stability is generally good, particularly on the Steam Deck, but users have reported some performance issues, including visual glitches and limited graphics options. A recent patch has addressed some of these glitches, although certain graphical issues, such as boss parts appearing as white rectangles, persist.
- “The game runs smoothly on the Steam Deck.”
- “I haven't experienced any crashes or bugs during my playthrough.”
- “The performance is consistently stable, making for an enjoyable gaming experience.”
- “Some performance improvements could be made as of this writing: visual glitches and limited graphics options are some of the issues I have right now.”
- “There are some graphical glitches where boss parts can become white rectangles.”
- “Quick edit: coincidentally, the devs have just released a patch addressing some visual glitches and modifying the name system.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
Recent updates have significantly improved the game's performance, graphics, and overall experience, making it a more polished title. However, some users still report ongoing visual glitches and limited graphics options, indicating that further optimization may be needed. Overall, the game is now in a better state for new players to enjoy.
- “Update July 2024: The game has received further updates that improved performance, graphics, stage flow, and overall cinematography.”
- “The game's gotten a few updates in these months that have improved performance and actually refined some mechanics, so now is a good time to give it a shot.”
- “Some performance improvements could be noted as of this writing: visual glitches and limited graphics options are some of the issues I have right now.”
- “The game's gotten a few updates in these months that have improved performance and actually refined some mechanics and adjusted a few other things, so now is a good time to give it a shot.”
- “Update July 2024: the game has received further updates that improved performance, graphics, stage flow, and overall cinematography.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
50%
The game is considered fun and replayable, especially for fans of the shmup genre, though some players feel it lacks significant replay value. While it may not offer extensive replayability, it provides a memorable and engaging experience during its playtime.
- “Overpriced but very fun and replayable, like all shmups.”
- “This game may not be particularly replayable, but it lent me a single unforgettable 50 minutes of wall-to-wall excitement, and I loved holding a controller through it.”
- “This game may not be particularly replayable, but it lent me a single unforgettable 50 minutes of wall-to-wall deus ex machina nonsense, and I loved holding a controller through it.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted through its unique approach to boss introductions, where the contrast between straightforward announcements and the absurdity of the situation creates a comedic effect. Players find the lack of guidance amusing, as it emphasizes the challenge ahead in a tongue-in-cheek manner.
- “The radiant Silvergun approach to boss entries is extra funny because, whereas the attitude for gains came with notes of a sort—pointers as to how to approach a boss, in a sense—Grand Cross simply tells you which boss you're encountering and then proceeds to, presumably from Nexalts' point of view, state that this is not enough.”