Gungrave GORE is arguably a waste of the power of the PS5 and Xbox Series X. Some developers are leveraging these systems to achieve photorealism, others are trying to eliminate load times, and what is Iggymob doing? It’s building a gritty action game that looks, sounds, and can be released on the PlayStation 2. I’m not trying to compare like some social media commentator – where are the fingers before making some kind of silly comparison to the sixth generation home console, he pointed out the sparse environment in Pokemon Saga: Arceus .
If publisher Prime Matter told me that Gungrave GORE was recently found after 18 years of dusting in a drawer, made a few tweaks under the hood, and put it out into the world, I’d believe them. So it’s been 18 years since the last full game in the series, 2004’s Gungrave Overdose, was released. Arguably too niche to be considered a PS2-era cult classic, Overdose was praised for its absurd action and unique aesthetic, and criticized for its awkward locks and uneven presentation. Gungrave GORE could (and will) say the same thing.
And we’re pretty clear: I’m not a snob for games of different eras trying to so blatantly exploit nostalgia for action game design. The core ethos of Gungrave GORE is so outdated that it’s hard not to laugh out loud while playing the damn thing. I don’t know if it’s because the Cerberus automatically locks onto the enemy and fires four rounds every time I pull the trigger, I can mash a button to spin the grave on the spot to fire projectiles wildly in all directions, or that one is the big one The industrial metal song to the Slaughter soundtrack repeats the lyrics “time to die; time to kill” on the loop, but there are also good times.
It remains to be seen whether those good times will last for the entire 12-hour experience – I remember the original Gungrave could be done in a few hours, which is more than enough for you to fill it up. Then again, Iggymob is clearly leaning towards carnage with infinite ammo, and keeping a ridiculously high beat count between staging areas is a joy, so maybe Gungrave GORE can keep the party going.
pure carnage
Fall 2022 Preview
Gungrave GORE is part of the GamesRadar+ Fall 2022 Preview, which is exploring all the games you’ll be able to play before the end of the year.
If you came to Gungrave GORE expecting it to play like one of the best PS2 games with a modern design, you’re going to be disappointed. While frame rates were relatively stable in my demo, the game didn’t look like a 2022 product — even by AA visual standards. The environment and character models are a bit flat and washed out, the action is heavy, the levels are linear, and the third-person shootouts and close-range dogfights with transformable EVO coffins can all feel a little finicky.
But it kind of works, in its own little way. Gungrave GORE is fast and loose, and almost every button press unlocks some new way to trigger a bullet tornado and spill unprovoked blood on the screen. It’s outdated, no doubt about it, but in a way I appreciate it. The video game industry has always been fascinated by the past, making it easy for players to be blinded by false promises of nostalgia — something I’m as guilty of as anyone. So Gungrave GORE presents a unique opportunity: what would a new PS2 game look like in 2022? For better or worse, we’ll find out this November.
Gungrave GORE is one of them New games for 2022 You should watch with interest. It will release on PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, and Xbox One on November 22.
