Gunvolt Chronicles: Luminous Avenger iX

91%
Game Brain Score Based on 278 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 high-speed 2D action game where players control Copen, who can lock onto enemies and use his 'Bullit Dash' to fly through stages. By defeating bosses, Copen acquires their unique weapons, each with a weakness to be exploited. The game offers a variety of abilities, making it accessible for players of all skill levels.

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

Reviews

91%
Audience ScoreBased on 278 reviews
story44 positive mentions
grinding9 negative mentions
  • Fast-paced and fluid gameplay that enhances Copen's abilities from previous titles, making it a joy to play.
  • The graphics and art style are visually stunning, with a vibrant aesthetic that pops on newer hardware.
  • The story features intriguing twists and character development, particularly for fans of the Gunvolt series.
  • The game is relatively short, with a main story that can be completed in just a few hours, leading to concerns about replay value.
  • Difficulty spikes, particularly with the final boss, can be frustrating and may deter some players.
  • There are technical issues with controller compatibility and performance on PC, which can hinder the overall experience.
  • story111 mentions

    The story of the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising its engaging twists and character development, particularly for fans of the Gunvolt series, while others criticize it as bland or underwhelming. Many players noted that the narrative is heavily reliant on prior knowledge from earlier games, making it less accessible for newcomers. Overall, while the story features some interesting elements and dark themes, it often feels simplistic or incomplete, with a blend of entertaining moments and typical anime tropes.

    • “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.”
    • “The story here is largely standalone, and to describe its callbacks to the rest of the franchise actually counts as a spoiler because all of this comes up at the end.”
    • “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 an '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.”
  • gameplay107 mentions

    The gameplay in "Luminous Avenger IX" is a refined and fast-paced evolution of Copen's mechanics from "Gunvolt 2," featuring exhilarating air dashing and a focus on high scores through a tagging system. While many players appreciate the streamlined action and engaging mechanics, some criticize the game for its ease and lack of innovation compared to previous entries, particularly noting a significant difficulty spike at the final boss. Overall, the gameplay is praised for its smoothness and addictive nature, making it enjoyable for both newcomers and veterans of the series.

    • “Copen's 'the floor is lava' gameplay from GV2 is back and as fun as ever.”
    • “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.”
    • “Luminous Avenger IX is a dynamic and stylish little romp with a gameplay hook that's still just as addicting and fresh as it was back when Copen made his playable debut.”
    • “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 having 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.”
    • “Some of the boss mechanics are a little mechanically unrefined and over-visually stylized, not being able to dash straight up, and having your air dashes attached to the same resource as your damage mitigation is unnecessary and sloppy.”
  • music42 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its catchy and memorable tracks that enhance the gameplay experience. The original compositions and multidimensional music for various levels are particularly highlighted, with some songs becoming favorites among players. However, there are some concerns regarding sound settings, as players noted difficulty in adjusting volume levels between music and sound effects. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong point of the game, contributing significantly to its enjoyment.

    • “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.”
    • “Great soundtrack, from both Lola's vocal songs and in-game stages.”
    • “The lack of sound settings is an issue present in every Gunvolt game; 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 and resolution settings, and no volume option in this game, which is really annoying because the music is too loud.”
    • “As for the soundtrack, I'm no music expert, but j-pop isn't really my thing.”
  • graphics20 mentions

    The graphics in the game have received widespread acclaim for their vibrant and updated visuals, showcasing a blend of pixel art and 3D elements that enhance the overall aesthetic. Players appreciate the high-quality sprites and artwork, which contribute to a visually stunning experience, while the juxtaposition of bright visuals with a darker narrative adds depth to the game's presentation. Overall, the graphics are described as gorgeous, flashy, and a significant improvement over previous entries in the series.

    • “The graphics feel more updated than Gunvolt 2, but otherwise it's the same Copen gameplay.”
    • “Graphically, the game is absolutely gorgeous.”
    • “The graphics will scratch the itch of any pixel art lover, and the gameplay is buttery smooth.”
    • “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.”
  • replayability12 mentions

    Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, offering various approaches to levels, opportunities for speedrunning, score attacks, and item collecting. While some players feel the game is short, they appreciate the engaging mechanics and the challenge of achieving higher ranks, which enhances the overall playtime and enjoyment. Despite its brevity, the replay value remains a strong point, making it worthwhile for players seeking to revisit the game.

    • “The reason why games like Dark Souls are so great is that while the game involves memorizing levels and bosses, there are so many approaches you can take within the same level, giving it much more replay value.”
    • “It's got tight controls, great speed, the levels have immense replayability, and the weapons are fun with cool shortcuts.”
    • “Lots of replay value if you want to go for high scores, but still a pleasant journey if you just want to play all the levels.”
    • “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 that 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.”
  • grinding9 mentions

    Reviews indicate that grinding in the game is often seen as tedious and unfun, with players expressing frustration over the necessity of farming for upgrades and abilities. While some appreciate the faster-paced gameplay compared to previous titles, the repetitive nature of grinding remains a significant drawback, leading to a sense of monotony and a lack of engaging content. Overall, the grinding aspect detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.

    • “This doesn't sound bad, but it becomes tedious if anything, not fun at all.”
    • “Just a lot of grinding, etc. you know the drill.”
    • “If you want to buy all the abilities, you have to farm a lot, and the most efficient method is quite tedious.”
  • emotional7 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game revolves around the thrill of maintaining momentum and achieving high scores through skillful gameplay. Players experience a sense of exhilaration and satisfaction as they chain together enemy defeats while navigating the environment without touching the ground, creating a dynamic and engaging challenge that fosters a strong connection to the game's mechanics. This emphasis on fluidity and precision evokes feelings of accomplishment and excitement as players strive to master the intricate systems at play.

  • character development3 mentions

    Character development in the game is highlighted by impressive character and boss designs, particularly for the character Blade, though the overall story may feel lacking. However, there is notable criticism regarding the portrayal of female characters, which is described as subpar.

    • “The character design and boss design are genuinely nice, which I give props for.”
    • “The female character designs are terrible.”
    • “Blade is peak character design.”
  • humor2 mentions

    The humor in the game is appreciated for its lightheartedness, with players finding amusement in unexpected moments, such as falling into pits reminiscent of the "Anthem" meme. Overall, while the game doesn't innovate within its genre, its comedic elements contribute positively to the experience.

    • “This is a decent Mega Man X style game; nothing new to the genre, but it's pretty funny and overall really easy.”
    • “Though it's hilarious that I got 'Anthem'd' in the very first stage because I derped out and fell into a pit, which honestly that new igniter remix is kicking.”
  • stability1 mentions

    Users have noted that stability issues can be addressed by troubleshooting through the game folder, specifically by creating a file named gv_config in the win/sav directory.

    • “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable.”
    • “I experience constant lag and stuttering, which ruins the overall experience.”
    • “There are too many bugs that disrupt gameplay and force me to restart.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    Overall, the game generally runs smoothly, though some users have reported occasional crashes, such as one experienced during the second level.

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 2 analyzed playthroughs

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