Gungrave G.O.R.E promises to deliver a hardcore and relentless shooting experience like no other! It combines both Eastern and Western design philosophies resulting in a third-person action and shooting game that oozes style. But does it have substance?
Going by the trailer that developer Studio IGGYMOB and publisher Prime Matter dropped recently, we have a pretty good idea of what to expect. And no, the latest entry in the Gungrave series won’t win any awards for depth or originality. But it does bring back the excessive bravado and showiness from the previous titles in the series and cranks it up to 11!
In the overview trailer, we’re introduced to the key protagonist, Grave (Gunslinger of Resurrection), as he unleashes a barrage of bullets from his Cerberus pistols. And as fans of the series should expect, it’s all done in a glorious and over-the-top manner.
Grave can dodge and repel enemy fire but also perform close-range martial arts. And that’s a good thing, as his enemies — the Raven Clan (a drug cartel) — are tough as nails, and some need more than firepower to stop them. But that’s where Death Hauler comes in, the massive coffin chained to Grave. It can unleash powerful visually-impressive attacks that leave multiple enemies devastated.
The action takes place in South-East Asia, in locations such as Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Vietnam, and eventually, Scumland, a mysterious island that rose from the sea. Moreover, all these environments look phenomenal, but that’s not surprising considering that the game’s powered by Unreal Engine 4.
Gungrave G.O.R.E will hit the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X | S, and PC (via Steam) on November 22, 2022.
Exclusive pre-order costumes revealed
Those lucky gamers who pre-order Gungrave G.O.R.E will receive two exclusive costumes. These include Death Ronin Grave, a design by Ikumi Nakamura and O.D. Grave, based on the costume Grave wears in Gungrave: Overdose released on the PlayStation 2 in 2004.
Will Gungrave G.O.R.E impress today’s gamers?
Given that the first two Gungrave entries date back to the PlayStation 2 era, it’s a tough call. There’s much of that incredibly focused and linear game design DNA to be found here, which isn’t necessarily bad. However, modern gamers have become accustomed to open-world design, skill trees, deep stories, and ample customization.
And while Gungrave G.O.R.E promises 12 hours of gameplay and an engaging story, it may not be enough to win over the masses. Then again, Gungrave (initially released in 2002) and Gungrave: Overdose never appealed to the mainstream back in their day but garnered a cult following instead.
Perhaps, Gungrave G.O.R.E will buck the trend, but that remains to be seen. Let’s hope Studio IGGYMOB and Prime Matter will do the series justice and take it to new heights. Stay tuned!