Gunvolt Chronicles: Luminous Avenger iX

Inti Creates put their best ideas into a blender, and made one of their most satisfying games ever.

Starting at CAD18.89Buy now

"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.

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

90%

Audience ScoreBased on 250 reviews

story35 positive mentions

grinding9 negative mentions

Best gameplay and music in the series, providing a fun and engaging experience.
Fast-paced action with a unique dash mechanic that allows for fluid movement and combat.
Challenging bosses and a rewarding scoring system that encourages replayability.

Technical issues with fullscreen mode and controller support, making it difficult for some players to enjoy.
Short playtime, with the main story taking only a few hours to complete.
Difficulty spikes, particularly with the final boss, which can frustrate players.

story
91 mentions
38 % positive mentions
59 % neutral mentions
2 % negative 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 players note that the narrative is best appreciated after experiencing the previous games in the series, as it contains callbacks and references that enhance the overall experience. Overall, while the story has its moments of intrigue and depth, it often falls short of being exceptional, leaving some players feeling detached from the characters and plot.
- “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 are 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 an 'unfinished' 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.”
gameplay
88 mentions
30 % positive mentions
68 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The gameplay is widely praised for its fast-paced, action-oriented mechanics, particularly highlighting Copen's abilities that enhance movement and combat fluidity. While many enjoy the streamlined upgrade system and the challenge it presents, some critics note a lack of innovation compared to previous titles, with certain mechanics feeling outdated or overly reliant on memorization. Overall, the game offers a solid experience for fans of the genre, though it may not be the best entry point for newcomers due to its difficulty spikes and specific gameplay nuances.
- “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.”
- “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 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.”
music
40 mentions
48 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising the original compositions and catchy tracks that enhance the gameplay experience. Players noted that the soundtrack features a mix of engaging vocal songs and multidimensional music that sticks in your head, contributing to the overall enjoyment of the game. However, some users expressed frustration over the lack of sound settings, which can make it difficult to balance the music with sound effects.
- “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.”
- “It plays alright, the OST and designs are bangers as always, but I feel like it's pretty hard to understand the bosses' patterns, maybe because of the effects.”
- “- 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.”
graphics
18 mentions
33 % positive mentions
67 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received high praise for their stunning visuals and vibrant art style, combining pixel art with 3D elements to create a visually appealing experience. Players appreciate the high-quality sprites and smooth gameplay, noting that the bright aesthetics contrast effectively with the darker themes of the story. Overall, the graphics are described as gorgeous and engaging, appealing to both pixel art enthusiasts and those who enjoy dynamic visuals.
- “Great game, great visuals!”
- “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.”
replayability
11 mentions
45 % positive mentions
45 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
Overall, players find that the game offers significant replayability despite its short length, with various approaches to levels, opportunities for speedrunning, score attacks, and item collecting. The tight controls and engaging mechanics encourage players to revisit the game for higher ranks and different playstyles, making it a worthwhile experience even after completing the main story.
- “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 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 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.”
grinding
9 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative 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 detracts from the overall experience, making it feel like a chore rather than an engaging aspect of the game.
- “This doesn't sound bad, but it becomes tedious if anything, not fun at all.”
- “And this one is more of a money farming than the item farming in the ASG series at the end of each stage.”
- “If you want to buy all the abilities, you have to farm a lot, and the most efficient method is quite tedious.”
emotional
7 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game revolves around the thrill of achieving high scores through skillful gameplay, as players experience a rush from chaining enemy defeats while maintaining momentum in mid-air. This mechanic fosters a sense of exhilaration and satisfaction, as players strive to master the art of continuous movement and precision, enhancing their emotional investment in the game. The challenge of balancing risk and reward adds to the intensity, making each successful chain feel rewarding and impactful.
character development
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highlighted by strong character design for the protagonist, Blade, while criticism is directed towards the poorly executed designs of female characters, suggesting a lack of depth and thoughtfulness in their development.
- “Blade is peak character design.”
- “The character development in this game is incredibly deep and engaging.”
- “I love how each character evolves throughout the story, making their journeys feel personal and impactful.”
- “The female character designs are terrible.”
- “Blade is peak character design.”
stability
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative 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 the developers seem unresponsive.”
humor
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is noted as a standout feature, providing a lighthearted touch that complements its straightforward gameplay, despite not introducing anything innovative to the genre.
- “This is a decent Mega Man X-style game; nothing new to the genre, but it's pretty funny and overall really easy.”