Gunvolt Chronicles: Luminous Avenger iX Reviews
Gunvolt Chronicles: Luminous Avenger iX shows us a different side of Copen that I have been waiting see. It’s through this entire adventure that he makes his marks as a true main protagonist and proves he is just as awesome as Gunvolt.
The game is budget priced at $14.99 at the time of writing, which may still be a bit steep for such a short game. Despite that complaint, Gunvolt Chronicles is just simply a fun game to play, and is very much worth your time. I would recommend playing the baseline Azure Striker Gunvolt games first if you care at all about the world and lore that’s expanded on here, though.
Delivers some of the best momentary action in the series.
I did truly enjoy Luminous Avenger iX, but I can’t help but feel it wasn’t consistently awesome in every regard. The plot left more questions than it answered, and while the combat was definitely a lot of fun, I wanted more of it. Perhaps that’s because the last game had two protagonists instead of just one, but regardless there should have been something more to keep me playing. I managed to beat the entire game in a little over 3 hours, though I spent another 2 and change to try and find a secret ending. While I didn’t succeed in unlocking any new endings, there is still a bit of replay value. Those who like to tinker can unlock a lot of customization options, and truly hardcore fans can try and get an S+ for each stage. There’s also the aforementioned Special Missions, which are basically remixed forms of stages with harder boss fights. For $14.99, you still get an amazing game with Luminous Avenger iX. I just hope that the next adventure does more to explain the setting of this title, as well as to expand on the areas the series already excels.
When it comes to 2D action games, you'd be hard-pressed to find a more satisfying experience than Gunvolt Chronicles: Luminous Avenger iX.
Luminous Avenger iX is the best game in the Gunvolt franchise to date with unique gameplay and a decent content for a game of the same genre and price.
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The game flows well as a result, encouraging you to go back and improve your performance in certain stages. The level design and gameplay mechanics make for a very sharp 8.5 hours.
A curious example of a title being both more refined, but also less good than its predecessor. The action is smoother, better, and overall much more engaging. Purely as a platformer it is great fun, can be picked up cheap, and is only marred by simplistic, one-way levels and its short length. As an entry it is inferior to its predecessor with the removal of various gear, crafting, and challenges, making it a one-trick pony.
If you’re a new player just getting into the franchise, you might be a little lost with the narrative, but you’ll still have a good time with the fast and frenetic gameplay. For a paltry $15, the game’s meager length can be pretty easily forgiven as well.
With its different approach to combat, Luminous Avenger iX turns you into a destructive yet nimble supersoldier. Later boss fights will really whip you into shape, but for the most part, conquering this challenging game counts as an achievement on its own.
Copen was originally featured as a playable character in Azure Striker Gunvolt 2, but being given his own title has made him shine amazingly.
Gunvolt Chronicles: Luminous Avengers iX is a fast-paced but well-designed platformer that keeps up Inti Creates' streak of awesome games.
What we have here is a thoroughly enjoyable and rewarding action platformer which lives up to the quality as expected from the studio. Its minor quibbles do little to tarnish what is a charming game and all-round rewarding experience. The ride does end a little too quickly and veterans of the genre may desire a bit more of a challenge, but on the whole this is a great little game which confirms the studio as being perhaps the best in their field.
Gunvolt Chronicles: Luminous Avenger iX is what comes next in the Azure Striker Gunvolt series and it should be said, it's a very good work at keeping the banner high. With a frantic, high-paced yet simple and accessible gameplay, Luminous Avenger iX brings the best of the series to the Nintendo Switch and will charm the fans of the Gunvolt franchise and its retro inspirations, despite a rather unpolished soundtrack and inconsistent boss fights.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Despite some issues that makes it feel like a step below Azure Striker Gunvolt 2, Luminous Avenger iX is still a worthy inclusion in the Gunvolt Chronicles universe.
By virtue of the second main iteration trumpeting both styles of play (Gunvolt, Copen), I prefer it, but Luminous Avenger distills so much of what made the series pop in the first place that it's also worth investing in. My advice? Try Gunvolt 2 first to see if you like Copen, then go from there.