Gungrave G.O.R.E Reviews
The ghost of 2000's past.
I had such high hopes for Gungrave G.O.R.E. and it peaked with the intro cutscene, but it all fell apart from the moment the gameplay started. The worst part is I continued to play mostly in hopes it got better, but also because I just wanted to see more cutscenes. In the end through, Gungrave G.O.R.E. just didn’t feel like a game that respected the time of the people playing it, and didn’t respect the fans who returned from the PS2 days.
Gungrave GORE is one of the worst of 2022. It's functional, but supremely awful the whole way through.
I was really looking forward to Gungrave G.O.R.E. While I’m not deeply invested in the series, I enjoyed Gungrave: Overdose on the PlayStation 2 as an entertaingly trashy B-action exprerience. Unfortunately, while I do admire the attempt to give players the power fantasy of playing as a guy so utterly, brutally powerful that he can calmly walk through a bullet ballet, Gungrave G.O.R.E burns its goodwill far too quickly and from there it’s too exhausting to bother with.
Gungrave G.O.R.E promises to shake you to your Gungrave core, but mostly ends up as a Gungrave chore. Before long I was Gungrave bored of the Gungrave lore and my trigger finger was Gungrave sore. Here's hoping they can fix things up if we see a Gungrave four.
The only impressive thing about this game is how it fails miserably on every front. Who was this for, and what was the idea behind it - all those questions will remain unanswered.
It’s been a very long time since I’ve played a truly bad game, and unfortunately, Gungrave G.O.R.E falls into that category. The further I progressed through the game, the less I wanted to play it. That’s not something I’ve found myself feeling in years, and that’s saying something. For as much as I wanted this to succeed, every attempt at grasping for a modicum of decent gameplay was met with the most tedium I’ve met in a game this year. It feels like a game defrosted from 2005, and not in a good way.
I played Gungrave G.O.R.E with zero knowledge of the franchise, and I reckon that is for the better. I would be infinitely more disappointed going into this game as a diehard fan of the series and seeing what a disservice G.O.R.E does to the Gungrave name. It’s astonishing to see Iggymob charging $50 for a low-budget, niche game riddled with unoriginal gameplay, multiple soft-locks, atrocious level design, and laughable voice acting.
It's amazing how this 2022 follow-up ended up being a huge downgrade that didn't learn & improve jack from a pair of its prequels made 20 years ago; that really takes talent. Yasuhiro Nightow's cool-as-heck series deserves better than Gungrave G.O.R.E.
Gungrave G.O.R.E seems 20 years out of date. The gameplay is too restrictive and without ideas, the graphics lag behind current action games, and the story is very chaotic. There aren't many reasons why you should even consider buying the game.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
Gungrave G.O.R.E looks like an uncomplicated and enjoyable arcade-style romp, but it's actually an unrepentantly dull and dated chore that will make you want to cry.
Those looking for more Gungrave or even that nostalgic wave of something similar to it will be most delighted – as I was. It pains me to criticize something that is clearly made with love and adoration, and I hope that Iggymob gets another chance in the future.
If you're someone who heard "a new Gungrave" and got excited, this is a game for you. For what it's worth, it nails that. It genuinely feels like a lost PS2 game, and that's the kind of thing we love. Although, the original game had the benefit of only being around two hours long, while G.O.R.E. clocks in at about 12. However, we can't in good faith recommend someone to spend £45 on this, outside of those with an affinity for the series.
The original Gungrave is one of those PS2 titles that I often admired from afar. As a predominantly Xbox fanboy in my teenage years, my time was mainly spent on the battlefield of Halo: Combat Evolved. So sadly, my experience of Gungrave remained looking at the box art in my local video-game store.
The PS2 series has returned with modernized controls, but old problems. Simple but satisfying gunplay wrapped in a stylish package is marred by a padded runtime, uneven presentation, and poorly done localization. Gungrave G.O.R.E's promising start transforms into a slog to its finish through bullet sponges, bad encounter design, and worse platforming.
Gungrave Gore is repetitive, there’s no question about that, but like most arcade games – racers, sports, shmups – there can be great enjoyment to be had from something so fully of itself. Gungrave is Gungrave, and if you play it, you’ll know exactly what I mean. Whether its simplistic, repetitive nature will appeal for the price you pay is another question. Maybe wait for the inevitable discounts – or just play it on Game Pass.
An unexpected sequel that respects its PS2 origins perhaps too much, stumbling more than necessary in its own ways and manias.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
I can’t remember the last time I played a game that was as linear and repetitive as this, but Gungrave G.O.R.E really takes the boredom cake. Yes, there are some cool mechanics like reflecting rockets and using soldiers as meat shields, but unless you enjoy mindlessly shooting thugs for days, it’s best to steer clear.
Gungrave G.O.R.E should've stayed in the 2000s. Its simplistic design doesn't work in the modern day of video games where similar action titles offer much more than just brutal combat. G.O.R.E lacks depth in almost every single way. Its level design is stuck in the past, visuals are outdated and gameplay just doesn't do enough to make this a title worth your time.
I needed to love Gungrave G.O.R.E. It's exactly my kind of thing as a sequel to two of my favorite "AA" titles from the PS2 era. Full of shooting and over-the-top anime action scenes, this game was penned to be my niche experience of the year. Unfortunately, it lacks the soul of the previous games. Instead, it has been padded out to an unenjoyable slog, where the endearing jank because egregious and the simple yet engaging gameplay is spread that thin it reaches new levels of repetition and annoyance. Fans of Gungrave will find enjoyment here. It just needs to be in small doses. Otherwise, the realization that this is kind of a cheap, soulless cash-in kicks in too quickly and you're left wishing the series hadn't been resurrected.