This game was the most fun out of all the other Gunvolt games for me. The game offers expensive DLC and unlock-able abilities that make the game re-playable for better rankings and time. I love the stage variety and additional hard mode with its difficult and frustrating challenge as if I was reliving the Megaman games all over again. However I think the hard mode should’ve been more of an option and not something forced for the true ending before they added an assist feature. I never look forward to these 10 hour stories, however LAiX’s story and final boss was really good and shows how it’s differentiated from Gunvolt entirely, and iX2 keeps that identity while improving gameplay mechanics and making an interesting story that helps me understand their direction even if it’s not as good as the first game.

Azure Striker Gunvolt, but every time Sean Chiplock breathes, Gunvolt destroys every boss.

Honestly though this game is rad as hell and non-stop fun when going for higher ranks and switching between Kirin and Gunvolt. I’m not too concerned about the time skip and future for the series since I have a lot of trust in Inti for a lot of the games I’ve poured my time into including this one. Truly incredible plat-former with an amazing cast for the english dub and improved sprites and graphics similar to LA iX2.

I’m surprised many didn’t like the beginning of this arc, after the other two. It felt like after the same game engine for five games, it was nice to transition to a more modern 3rd person view with enhanced gameplay mechanics and dungeons. I liked the cast and the world of Erebonia a lot too and the bits in each chapter where the characters have to learn to trust each other and solve their personal issues, something I think the crossbell arc lacked with its characters besides the main four, but even then some of them don’t fully develop until Azure like Randy for example. The games pacing is alright since it’s the first game in the arc. Just like FC, the plot really kicks in until the very end and encourages you to play the next game to see what happens and I jumped straight to cold steel II right after. Rean is a cool character and is distant about his own feelings, but man my only issue is his awful hair style, guy needs a haircut.