Gravity Rush 2
- January 20, 2017
- SIE Japan Studio
Gravity Rush is solid fun on the PS4 with a really fun protagonist, enjoyable gaming mechanics and a way to become involved in interactive anime... just be wary, the controls can be annoying at times.
In Gravity Rush 2, Kat, the gravity queen, is back to defend the universe from a new threat while searching for answers about her past. With her companion Raven, Kat must master three distinct gravity attack styles and defeat formidable enemies and colossal bosses. This sequel builds on its predecessor, offering a thrilling and visually stunning open-world experience, amplifying the gameplay mechanics and depth of the original game.
Reviews
- Gravity Rush 2 expands on the original with improved gameplay mechanics, new gravity styles, and a larger, more vibrant open world to explore.
- The game features a charming story with well-designed characters, stunning visuals, and a fantastic soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
- The unique gravity-shifting mechanics provide a refreshing and enjoyable gameplay experience, allowing for creative combat and exploration.
- The camera controls can be frustrating, especially during aerial combat and in confined spaces, leading to disorienting gameplay moments.
- Some missions, particularly stealth and fetch quests, can feel repetitive and drawn out, detracting from the overall pacing of the game.
- Despite improvements, the combat system can still feel clunky and lacks depth, making some encounters less engaging.
- story115 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story of the game is conveyed through engaging comic book-inspired cutscenes and a well-structured mission system, with color-coded maps that enhance navigation. Players appreciate the depth of the main character's origin and the charm of the supporting cast, although some side missions can feel repetitive and detract from the main narrative flow. Overall, while the story is captivating and expansive, it suffers from pacing issues and mission design flaws that can hinder the experience.
“Its comic book-inspired cutscenes are a great way to convey its story and characters.”
“The characters have great designs, the world is vast and filled with a sense of wonder, and the story fully fleshes out its main character in her own secret origin.”
“Everything from the world, characters, story, music, art, and aesthetics are captivating.”
“The mission design is atrocious, with very vague directions on where to go for numerous missions.”
“The missions themselves aren't much better, with the worst stealth missions I've ever seen.”
“Quests are repetitive and the main story doesn't flow well.”
- gameplay47 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its unique gravity-shifting mechanics, which provide a refreshing and enjoyable experience, particularly in traversal and combat. While the game introduces new elements and improvements over its predecessor, some players find certain missions and camera controls frustrating. Overall, the gameplay is praised for its fun mechanics and engaging atmosphere, making it a standout title in its genre.
“The gameplay has improved and has added some really badass elements for combat.”
“The core gameplay of changing the direction of gravity to fall instead of flying is unique and fun, and is by far the best part of the experience.”
“Kat's traversal mechanic is still among the most satisfying that the sandbox genre has to offer, and an endearing cast of characters means that you'll actively want to spend time in their world.”
“However, I really think the game falls short in gameplay and doesn't improve on much.”
“The core mechanic this game is based around is barely used.”
“The game is entertaining as an anime experience, but the story is weak and the movements of the gameplay get tiring after a while.”
- music21 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 24 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its fantastic quality and ability to enhance the overall experience, with a standout song featuring lyrics that resonates with players. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack's diversity, ranging from classical to jazz, and its perfect reflection of the game's atmosphere and narrative. Overall, the music is considered a significant contributor to the game's captivating art and gameplay, making it one of the best soundtracks in recent gaming history.
“The music is really good and reflects the situation perfectly.”
“The characters are well-written and likeable, the visuals are gorgeous, and the soundtrack is quite unlike anything I've heard in a game.”
“Fantastic game with an absolutely fantastic soundtrack as well.”
“Or you may find it strange that she would have such a particular song in her head at all while not recalling the song that plays when you make that apple fall from the tree in the first game.”
“Do not forget about that opening song in Gravity Rush 1 when you made that apple fall off that tree.”
“I have the song even though I have no idea what they're saying.”
- graphics18 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning, watercolor-like aesthetic reminiscent of Studio Ghibli and other iconic titles, featuring soft character designs and vibrant environments. Reviewers highlight the captivating visuals and unique art style, which enhance the overall experience and contribute to the game's emotional depth. Overall, the combination of beautiful graphics and engaging gameplay creates a memorable and visually striking experience.
“Characters generally have softer features that are more in line with Studio Ghibli’s art style.”
“The graphics are amazing and the character developments are much more obvious and you build up a lot of connections along the way.”
“Graphics: it feels like you are running through a watercolor manga.”
“In reference to other games, I can see Jet Set Radio for the cell-shaded graphics and Skies of Arcadia for the floating cities.”
“The graphics are colorful.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional impact of the game is profound, featuring a heartbreaking ending that resonates deeply with players, evoking strong feelings akin to those experienced in other iconic titles. Many users report being moved to tears, highlighting the game's ability to create a lasting emotional connection.
“A heartbreaking ending for a masterpiece series doomed for obscurity.”
“And it's not going to end with her waking up in her home down in the pipe under Auldnoir, but I'll leave you to discover that heart-wrenching conclusion on your own.”
“Plus, it nearly made me cry, and only four other games have done that (Final Fantasy X, Mother, Mother 2, and Mother 3).”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game successfully balances its darker themes with a fun and humorous tone, featuring entertaining moments, particularly with the character Kat. Overall, players appreciate the blend of great gameplay and humor throughout the experience.
“Despite some of the darker themes, the game has a very fun and humorous tone!”
“Great gameplay and some funny moments with Kat!”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in Gravity Rush 2 is praised for its impressive diversity and immersive locations, maintaining the high standards set by its predecessor. Reviewers highlight that the game's atmosphere, alongside its gameplay, soundtrack, and story, contributes significantly to its overall excellence.
“Now that I have covered the light spoilers, let's move on to the game itself. The locations and diversity in atmosphere in Gravity Rush 2 are as amazing as in the first game.”
“This didn't impact my score much because the game itself is a masterpiece in terms of gameplay, atmosphere, soundtrack, and story.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The optimization for the base PS4 version of the game has been criticized, particularly in the transition from Jirga Para Lhao to Hekseville, indicating that Japan Studios did not adequately ensure performance stability.
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Overall, users report minor stability issues, including occasional glitches like characters getting stuck in tight spaces, but these are generally considered manageable and do not significantly detract from the gameplay experience.
“There are a few glitches that can be easily overlooked, such as when your head gets stuck in the roof in tight spots.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly impossible to progress without losing progress.”
“I experienced several instances of lag that disrupted gameplay and made it frustrating to enjoy.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers highlight that the character development is prominently showcased, allowing players to form strong connections with the characters throughout the game.
“The graphics are amazing, and the character development is much more pronounced, allowing you to build strong connections along the way.”
“The depth of character development in this game is incredible; each character feels unique and evolves in meaningful ways throughout the story.”
“I love how the character arcs are intricately woven into the gameplay, making every decision feel impactful and personal.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users note that while the game is playable on PS4, the region-locking of DLC can hinder replayability, as players may not have access to all content based on their region.
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find that while some side missions can become tedious, this grinding aspect does not significantly detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.
“Some of the side missions get a bit tedious, but it doesn't take much away from the overall game.”
“The grinding feels repetitive and can become a chore rather than an enjoyable part of the experience.”
“I found myself spending too much time on grinding, which detracted from the enjoyment of the main storyline.”
Critic Reviews
"An original, inventive world held back by rote mission design"
When Gravity Rush 2 sticks to its strengths, it soars; it’s a shame that its stale mission design and clumsy controls keep it from getting too high off the ground.
60%Gravity Rush 2 Review
Even though the core of Gravity Rush 2 remains largely unchanged, you'll be hard pushed to find a fresher open world title in a sea of Grand Theft Auto and Assassin's Creed clones. Kat's traversal mechanic is still among the most satisfying that the sandbox genre has to offer, and an endearing cast of characters means that you'll actively want to spend time in their world. The combat and mission structure may still be this series' biggest shortcoming, but colourful scenarios mean that you'll stick around long enough to see the sizeable story and its many side-quests through. So, while not everyone will be dazed by what this release has to offer, the sequel should at the very least ensure that existing fans continue singing Kat's chorus.
70%Gravity Rush 2 Review - PS4
Gravity Rush 2 is a bigger, more varied sequel that still doesn’t feel like it takes the leap it could have. The gravity-shifting gimmick is still a big draw, as is the delightful art style, protagonist Kat, and the clever world design, but the there’s a nagging feeling it could have been even better. It’s still a very good game though, and it certainly offers up something a little different in terms of a console exclusive.
75%