Gunvolt Chronicles: Luminous Avenger iX

77%
Game Brain Score Based on 505 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Gunvolt Chronicles: Luminous Avenger iX Game Cover
Inti Creates put their best ideas into a blender, and made one of their most satisfying games ever.
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"Gunvolt Chronicles: Luminous Avenger iX" is a fast-paced action-platformer game where players control Copen, a resolute rival of Gunvolt, on his quest for revenge against a mysterious organization. Utilize a variety of weapons, abilities, and a powerful "anti-bullet" shield to fight through frenetic stages and intense boss battles. Experience a thrilling story filled with quirky characters, stunning visuals, and a pulse-pounding soundtrack.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

77%
Audience ScoreBased on 505 reviews
story70 positive mentions
grinding18 negative mentions
  • Incredible gameplay that emphasizes fast-paced action and fluid movement, reminiscent of classic Mega Man titles.
  • The soundtrack is fantastic, featuring catchy J-pop songs that enhance the gaming experience.
  • The game offers a satisfying challenge with well-designed bosses and a rewarding scoring system.
  • The game is relatively short, with a main story that can be completed in just a few hours.
  • Technical issues such as poor fullscreen support and controller compatibility problems detract from the experience.
  • The story is considered shallow and lacks depth compared to previous entries in the series.
  • story183 mentions

    The story of the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its engaging plot twists and character development, particularly for fans of the Gunvolt series, while others criticize it as bland, shallow, or overly reliant on anime tropes. Many reviewers note that the narrative is best appreciated after playing the earlier titles in the series, as it contains callbacks and references that enhance the experience. Overall, while the story has its moments of intrigue and moral complexity, it often feels incomplete or lacking depth, leaving some players wanting more.

    • “Absolutely amazing game, one of my favorites. It brings back Copen and his extremely fast-paced gameplay from Gunvolt 2 while also improving and expanding upon it. The story is honestly really great; I liked the direction it went in and how it continued from Copen's story in Gunvolt 2.”
    • “I just love how the bright visuals and upbeat J-pop is juxtaposed with an extremely dark and depressing story filled with sorrow and pain.”
    • “The story is well written, and each character has a distinct personality!”
    • “The game is barebones; the story is based on an 'if' scenario (the main game story is drastically different).”
    • “To buy this game for the story is another thing, as the main game suffers from a 'not quite finished' story, with plenty of plot holes and writing errors; while the luminous series branches off into a completely 'what if this happened instead' path, both this game and its sequel fail to deliver anything interesting.”
    • “The worst part of the game for me was that I felt no attachment to the story or to any of the cast, including the protagonist.”
  • gameplay179 mentions

    The gameplay of the game is characterized by fast-paced action and a focus on high scores, appealing to both newcomers and veterans of the genre. Players appreciate the streamlined mechanics, ditching crafting for direct upgrades, which enhances the adrenaline-fueled experience. However, some critiques highlight a lack of innovation and a steep difficulty spike, particularly at the final boss, suggesting that while the gameplay is engaging, it may not be suitable for all players.

    • “I do love how they ditched the crafting and collecting mechanics in favor of straight-up upgrades; it definitely plays into the game's dopamine-filled adrenaline, just focus on nothing else but the fast-paced action, keeping that score combo up because it's the only thing that matters.”
    • “Absolutely amazing game, one of my favorites. It brings back Copen and his extremely fast-paced gameplay from Gunvolt 2 while also improving and expanding upon it, and the story is honestly really great. I liked the direction it went in and how it continued from Copen's story in Gunvolt 2.”
    • “The gameplay is absolutely spectacular.”
    • “My issue with this kind of 'old' style gameplay comes with the fact that to achieve high scores, players are forced to memorize things instead of room for creativity; there is one theoretical way to get the highest score, and you must align yourself as close to it as possible.”
    • “I'm sure it is winnable but I gave up because this is not enjoyable anymore and I don't feel like subjecting myself to this flawed gameplay enough to see an ending.”
    • “Still, the game that surrounds the kinetic gameplay is no more advanced than past entries and downright removes gameplay systems for the sake of keeping the player moving.”
  • music82 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its catchy and high-energy soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience. New compositions and multidimensional tracks are highlighted as memorable, while vocal performances, particularly from the character Lola, add to the overall enjoyment. However, some players noted issues with sound settings, making it difficult to balance music and sound effects during gameplay.

    • “Its soundtrack is worth mentioning too since there are new songs composed for this game along with several multidimensional music tracks for levels that will get stuck in your head for days.”
    • “Amazing soundtrack with awesome action.”
    • “The music is polished and I found myself tapping my foot to the beat a lot, and Lola's vocal tracks are really stylish!”
    • “This is an issue present in every Gunvolt game: the lack of sound settings; sometimes you can't hear the songs behind the sound effects and it would be really nice to be able to adjust the volume.”
    • “Poor setting option: there's only full scene, resolution setting, and no volume option in this game which is really annoying because the music is too damn loud.”
    • “As for the soundtrack, I'm no music expert, but J-pop isn't really my thing.”
  • graphics36 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning visuals and vibrant art style, combining high-quality pixel art with some 3D elements for attacks. Reviewers highlight the contrast between the bright, flashy graphics and the darker themes of the story, noting that the overall aesthetic is both engaging and beautifully executed. The smooth gameplay and sharp visuals contribute to a captivating experience for players, particularly those who appreciate pixel art.

    • “Graphically, the game is absolutely gorgeous.”
    • “The graphics will scratch the itch of any pixel art lover, and the gameplay is buttery smooth.”
    • “The game is flashier than anything before it, with higher quality sprites and artwork in higher definition.”
    • “If the art style drew you into this game, try the main series first, and come back as the story will not make much sense at all, but what is worse is that for some unknown reason, they made things much darker and grim than they really need to be in terms of plot; it is depressing.”
    • “I just love how the bright visuals and upbeat J-pop is juxtaposed with an extremely dark and depressing story filled with sorrow and pain.”
    • “Although the graphics are cute and the colors are vivid, the story is awesome with a little dark and bitter moment which is the part I like the most.”
  • replayability22 mentions

    Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, despite being perceived as short, with players enjoying various approaches to levels, speedrunning, score attacks, and item collecting. The tight controls and engaging mechanics contribute to the desire to replay for higher ranks and mastery, making it a worthwhile experience for many. While some players wish for a longer main story, the replay value remains a strong point.

    • “The reason why games like Dark Souls are so great is that while that game also involves memorizing levels and bosses, there are so many approaches you can take within the same level; it has so much more replay value.”
    • “It's got tight controls, great speed, the levels have immense replayability, and the weapons are fun with cool shortcuts.”
    • “I love this game so much, from the great feeling controls to the great story and cool moments near the end of the game. It's a little short but has nice replay value in my opinion.”
    • “I think the game is a bit on the short side and maybe not quite worth the base asking price, but replayability to get higher ranks will definitely increase playtime.”
    • “Edit: I beat the main story in 2 hours, but there is replay value to it: speed running, score attacks, item collecting, etc.”
    • “- The game, as many have mentioned, felt a little too short, but maybe because Gunvolt 2 had so much content, going back to just one playable character makes it seem like it ends really fast. However, since the game's replay value comes in getting a higher rank in every level, it's not that big of a deal.”
  • grinding18 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and less enjoyable, often feeling it detracts from the overall experience. While some appreciate the faster-paced gameplay and the ability to purchase upgrades with in-game currency, many express frustration over the necessity of extensive farming to unlock abilities, leading to a repetitive and unfulfilling grind. Overall, the grinding is seen as a significant drawback that can overshadow the fun elements of the game.

    • “This doesn't sound bad, but it becomes tedious if anything, not fun at all.”
    • “If you want to buy all the abilities, you have to farm a lot, and the most efficient method is quite tedious.”
    • “So short and nothing to do much except grinding.”
  • emotional14 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is driven by the exhilarating challenge of maintaining momentum and executing flawless combos, as players strive to defeat enemies in mid-air without touching the ground. This mechanic fosters a sense of thrill and accomplishment, as successfully chaining attacks not only enhances the gameplay experience but also amplifies the emotional highs of achieving high scores. The design encourages players to embrace a dynamic and fluid playstyle, creating an engaging emotional connection to the game's fast-paced action.

  • character development4 mentions

    Reviews highlight that while Blade is praised for exceptional character design, there is significant criticism regarding the portrayal of female characters, which are described as lacking depth and quality.

    • “Terrible female character designs.”
  • stability2 mentions

    Users have reported stability issues that may require troubleshooting, specifically by creating a file named "gv_config" in the game folder under win/sav. This solution appears to be a common recommendation for addressing stability problems.

  • humor2 mentions

    The humor in the game is noted as a standout feature, providing a lighthearted and entertaining experience, despite the gameplay being familiar and straightforward.

    • “This is a decent Mega Man X style game; nothing new to the genre, but it's pretty funny and overall really easy.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

82% average critic score

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Play time

24hMedian play time
17hAverage play time
4-30hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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