Gunvalkyrie Review
Gunvalkyrie is almost a good game, and it won't be surprising to see some people looking past the game's problems and having some fun with it.
Gunvalkyrie is the latest Xbox title from Smilebit, the Sega subsidiary responsible for the Jet Set Radio series. The game puts you in the role of two jetpack-toting warriors with large cannons, but most of the game is focused less on blasting enemies and more on platform jumping and figuring out how to get around the game's unforgiving terrain. While it all could have worked out nicely and been a solid action game, the game's touchy and occasionally awkward control pushes the game past the "nice, firm challenge" stage and up into the "frustrating trial-and-error" difficulty level.
The game takes place in the year 1906--and it has jetpacks and laser cannons and interplanetary travel. What, didn't they teach you about the early 20th century jetpacks and space travel back in elementary school? All kidding aside, the game takes place in an alternate past, where the passing of Halley's Comet and the harnessing of the comet's energy led to all sorts of scientific discoveries. The force behind these discoveries is Dr. Hebble Gate. All is going well until the doctor disappears and one of the empire's colonized planets goes silent. Turns out that the planet, known as Tir na Nog, has been overrun by gaming's most overused enemies: giant alien insects. The Gunvalkyrie organization sends two of its agents to Tir na Nog to investigate and stop the bug threat. This is, as they say, where you come in.
The game progresses in a linear fashion. While you are occasionally given a choice of which level to tackle next, you will eventually have to visit each level in a tier to progress. Each level has its own objectives, which range from simply getting to the end of a level to timed missions that charge you with the task of removing every enemy from the environment. With only a couple of exceptions, you're given a choice of character at the beginning of each level. Kelly is small and agile. Her weapons aren't the most powerful in the world, but she can dash out of the way of incoming fire much faster than Saburouta, who has a more limited selection of weapons but does more damage with each hit. In between levels, you are given a bit of text to read, and this progresses the storyline and the ability to purchase power-ups. Money is earned by completing levels--the better you do on a level, the more money you earn. You can purchase upgrades for your weapons, enhanced shielding, and the like. The most coveted purchase is more fuel for your jetpack, which lets you fly higher and at greater distances, but these items are so pricey that you'd really have to pinch pennies throughout the game to afford them.
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- TeamXbox 3.8 / 5
- IGN 9 / 10
- VideoGamer 7 / 10
- Thunderbolt 8 / 10
- Eurogamer 4 / 10
- Game Rankings 76 / 100
- TechTV 4 / 5
- Final-Level 4 / 5
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