https://youtu.be/5hpSGDAQt0w
NO MORE COPEN! BOOM
NO MORE XIAO! BOOM
NO MORE WRAPPING UP GV2 PLOTPOINTS! BOOM
NOOOOO MOOOOOORE GUNVOLTTTTT BOOOOOOOM

When Gunvolt 3 first came out, I was extremely disappointed with it as a longtime fan. This is because - and this is near-universally agreed upon among fans - the story here is awful. While iX2 had a largely nothing story, GV3 genuinely tries its best to ruin everything that came before it. It took me a long, long time to warm back up to this game because of how it left a bad taste in my mouth.

But it's now been almost 6 months since Gunvolt 3 first released, and while I still think it drops the ball in the writing department, I can't help but appreciate how Inti finally gave us a Gunvolt game with a dizzying amount of content and incentives to pursue it. Seriously, it's kind of crazy how much there is to do and collect and S++ rank in this game, and this system is miles better than the Challenges present in GV1 and GV2. I also think Kirin is super fun in gameplay (even though iX1 Copen still has my favorite core gameplay loop) and Gunvolt, while not super satisfying to use in the base game, is kind of saved thanks to Azure Striker ranks and D-nizer mode.

Level design is something I'm a little more mixed on. The first half of the game is extremely good, but the second half becomes far too reliant on arc chaining over bottomless pits. Prado, Grazie, and the Sunrise Palace stages ALL have this issue, seriously. I don't mind it that much because the rest of the level design is really smart and reminds me a lot of GV1 design sensibilities, but it could have even better.

I finally sat down and played through Epilogue ATEMS while on a flight, and it more or less has the strengths and weaknesses as the base game: very fun gameplay, very bad story. At the very least, I have to give Inti props for doing a strong free update campaign. The additions of Epilogue ATEMS and the secret bosses you can unlock give the game a sort of "Gunvolt greatest hits" feel, which of course is only amplified by the whole Image Pulse mechanic. I'll also probably replay the main game at some point this year.

Will Tsuda and Tai find a way to save this series' story? I have no idea, but honestly I'm not too sad if we never get a true successor to GV2 story-wise. GV1-GV2-iX1 is such a great trilogy (not chronologically obviously, but in terms of story beats) that I'm willing to let Inti experiment a bit until they've regained their footing.

Ok but seriously what the FUCK is Moebius even doing in this story

Connection terminated.
I'm sorry to interrupt you, Elizabeth.
If you still even remember that name.
But I'm afraid you've been misinformed.
You are not here to receive a gift.
Nor, have you been called here by the individual you assume.
Although, you have indeed been called.
You have all been called here.
Into a labyrinth of sounds and smells, misdirection and misfortune.
A labyrinth with no exit, a maze with no prize.
You don't even realize that you are trapped.
Your lust of blood has driven you in endless circles.
Chasing the cries of children in some unseen chamber.
Always seeming so near, yet somehow out of reach.
But, you will never find them, none of you will.
This is where your story ends.

And to you, my brave volunteer.
Who somehow found this job listing not intended for you.
Although, there was a way out planned for you,
I have a feeling that's not what you want.
I have a feeling that you are right where you want to be.

I am remaining as well. I am nearby.
This place will not be remembered.
And the memory of everything that started this.
Can finally begin to fade away.
As the agony of every tragedy should.
And to you monsters trapped in the corridors.
Be still, and give up your spirits.
They don't belong to you.
For most of you, I believe there is peace and perhaps, warm.
Waiting for you after the smoke clears.
Although, for one of you.
The darkest pit of Hell has opened to swallow you whole.
So, don't keep the Devil waiting, old friend.
My daughter, if you can hear me.
I knew you would return as well.
It's in your nature to protect the innocent.
I'm sorry that on that day.
The day you were shut out and left to die.
No one was there to lift you up in their arms.
The way you lifted others into yours.
And then, what became of you?
I should have known, you wouldn't be content to disappear.
Not my daughter. I couldn't save you then, so let me save you now.
It's time to rest, for you, and for those you have carried in your arms.

This ends.
For all of us.
End communication.