Azure Striker Gunvolt 2 is one of my favorite games of all time. That game released in 2016. Now six years later plus two spin-off titles, we finally have Azure Striker Gunvolt 3. Does it compare to the 2nd game? Is it as good as i have hoped? Is it a proper follow-up to the second game? Well the anwsers are yes yes and kinda.
As far as the story goes, it feels like a soft-reboot of the series. It doesn't follow up on Gunvolt 2's plot threads, by which i mean the one obscure hard-to-get secret ending because if i'm being pretty honest, the Gunvolt games go fairly standalone story-wise. The plot of this game isn't as good as the second one but it's still decent with a cast of very lovable characters. Kirin is a surprise favorite of mine, since i sort of just expected her to be this stoic heroine but her interactions with Gunvolt and the rest of the cast are filled with really fun banter and in this aspect, this game excels above it's predecessors. Recruiting bosses to form your own Justice League is a neat concept for this type of genre, it doesn't really happen before and allows for even more fun banter. There's also some neat connections to the first and second games towards the end that you would get more out of if you've played them (and honestly, these games aren't that long, you could knock out the trilogy in a weekend).
Gameplay-wise oh yeah babyyyyy this is one of the most fun games i've played in a long time. In fact, the gameplay alone propelled this game into my Masterpiece Club. Kirin is a fusion of Zero and Gunvolt with a tether mechanic and she is the most fun character Inti Creates has ever designed. Everything with her clicks and the stages being built around her Arc Chains give it the best level design in the series and it's great that it's also the most visually appealing game (it's Inti Creates so great spritework is always expected). The stages have excellent replayablity with different difficulties and going for higher scores. There's a gacha system in place which is kinda weird but it does ensure that you'd usually get something new each time you run through a level. But what about Gunvolt, our titular protagonist? Well, in a move i'm sure is controversial, Inti Creates has gone an interesting route: Gunvolt got so powerful he had to be sealed away. As such, his role in the game is essentially being Devil Trigger. But i think it's wrong to say that this isn't a "mainline Gunvolt" game because despite his playable status, he very much has an active role in this game. I can see why some people may be upset that he's not permanently playable but he's an important part of the plot regardless and as such, this does earn the title of "Gunvolt 3".
Although the plot is admittedly a bit weak and you could argue that Gunvolt 2 is the better overall package, the gameplay alone makes this game my favorite game in the series. Welcome to the Masterpiece Club.
As far as the story goes, it feels like a soft-reboot of the series. It doesn't follow up on Gunvolt 2's plot threads, by which i mean the one obscure hard-to-get secret ending because if i'm being pretty honest, the Gunvolt games go fairly standalone story-wise. The plot of this game isn't as good as the second one but it's still decent with a cast of very lovable characters. Kirin is a surprise favorite of mine, since i sort of just expected her to be this stoic heroine but her interactions with Gunvolt and the rest of the cast are filled with really fun banter and in this aspect, this game excels above it's predecessors. Recruiting bosses to form your own Justice League is a neat concept for this type of genre, it doesn't really happen before and allows for even more fun banter. There's also some neat connections to the first and second games towards the end that you would get more out of if you've played them (and honestly, these games aren't that long, you could knock out the trilogy in a weekend).
Gameplay-wise oh yeah babyyyyy this is one of the most fun games i've played in a long time. In fact, the gameplay alone propelled this game into my Masterpiece Club. Kirin is a fusion of Zero and Gunvolt with a tether mechanic and she is the most fun character Inti Creates has ever designed. Everything with her clicks and the stages being built around her Arc Chains give it the best level design in the series and it's great that it's also the most visually appealing game (it's Inti Creates so great spritework is always expected). The stages have excellent replayablity with different difficulties and going for higher scores. There's a gacha system in place which is kinda weird but it does ensure that you'd usually get something new each time you run through a level. But what about Gunvolt, our titular protagonist? Well, in a move i'm sure is controversial, Inti Creates has gone an interesting route: Gunvolt got so powerful he had to be sealed away. As such, his role in the game is essentially being Devil Trigger. But i think it's wrong to say that this isn't a "mainline Gunvolt" game because despite his playable status, he very much has an active role in this game. I can see why some people may be upset that he's not permanently playable but he's an important part of the plot regardless and as such, this does earn the title of "Gunvolt 3".
Although the plot is admittedly a bit weak and you could argue that Gunvolt 2 is the better overall package, the gameplay alone makes this game my favorite game in the series. Welcome to the Masterpiece Club.