''Azure Striker Gunvolt'', known as in Japan, is a 2D side-scrolling
action
Action may refer to:
* Action (philosophy), something which is done by a person
* Action principles the heart of fundamental physics
* Action (narrative), a literary mode
* Action fiction, a type of genre fiction
* Action game, a genre of video gam ...
-
platform game
A platformer (also called a platform game, and sometimes a jump 'n' run game) is a subgenre of action game in which the core objective is to move the player character between points in an environment. Platform games are characterized by levels wi ...
developed and published by
Inti Creates
is a Japanese video game development company. Formed by ex-Capcom staff in May 1996, they are best known for developing games in the '' Mega Man'' series, namely the '' Mega Man Zero'' series and its follow-ups ''Mega Man ZX'' and '' Mega Man ZX ...
. It was first released for
Nintendo 3DS
The is a foldable dual-screen handheld game console produced by Nintendo. Announced in March 2010 as the successor to the Nintendo DS, the console was released originally on February 26, 2011 and went through various revisions in its lifetime, ...
via
eShop
The is a digital distribution service for the Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo Switch 2, and formerly available via the Nintendo Network for the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS. Launched in June 2011 on the Nintendo 3DS, the Nintendo eShop served as t ...
in August 2014. Ports of the game were released for
Windows
Windows is a Product lining, product line of Proprietary software, proprietary graphical user interface, graphical operating systems developed and marketed by Microsoft. It is grouped into families and subfamilies that cater to particular sec ...
in 2015, for
Nintendo Switch
The is a video game console developed by Nintendo and released worldwide in most regions on March 3, 2017. Released in the middle of the Eighth generation of video game consoles, eighth generation of home consoles, the Switch succeeded the ...
in 2017, for
PlayStation 4
The PlayStation 4 (PS4) is a home video game console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Announced as the successor to the PlayStation 3 in February 2013, it was launched on November 15, 2013, in North America, November 29, 2013, in ...
in 2020, and for
Xbox One
The Xbox One is a home video game console developed by Microsoft. Announced in May 2013, it is the successor to Xbox 360 and the third console in the Xbox#Consoles, Xbox series. It was first released in North America, parts of Europe, Austra ...
and
Xbox Series X/S
The Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S are the fourth generation of consoles in the Xbox series, succeeding the previous generation's Xbox One. Released on November 10, 2020, the higher-end Xbox Series X and lower-end Xbox Series S are part o ...
in 2022. In addition to utilizing gameplay similar to ''
Mega Man Zero
is an action game, action-platformer, platform game series in Capcom's ''Mega Man'' video game franchise. It was developed by Inti Creates, with Co-Producer Keiji Inafune and Director Yoshinori Kawano. The series consists of four games that were ...
'', ''Azure Striker Gunvolt'' also introduced new gameplay elements such as Gunvolt's ability to "tag" enemies and target many at once, adding an additional layer of complexity to the genre.
Set in a futuristic world in which beings known as “adepts” coexist with humanity, the game follows a powerful adept named Gunvolt, who upon following a botched assassin attempt, leaves the organization that he works for to become a freelance agent. Across the game, Gunvolt attempts to use his adept powers to dismantle the Sumeragi Group, a peace-keeping cooperation who in turn, is secretly responsible for abusing countless adepts.
''
Mighty Gunvolt'', a crossover with ''
Mighty No. 9
is a 2016 action platform video game developed by Comcept, in conjunction with Inti Creates, and published by Deep Silver. The game was crowdfunded through Kickstarter and incorporated heavy input from the public. ''Mighty No. 9'' closely res ...
'' and ''
Gal Gun
, stylized as ''Gal★Gun'', is a 2011 rail shooter game developed by Inti Creates and published by Alchemist (company), Alchemist. The game takes place in a fictional academy in Japan, where the player takes the role of a male student, Tenzou Mot ...
'', was released on the same day as ''Azure Striker Gunvolt''. It was followed by a sequel, ''Mighty Gunvolt Burst'', in 2017. A direct sequel, ''
Azure Striker Gunvolt 2
''Azure Striker Gunvolt 2'', known as ''Armed Blue: Gunvolt Sou'' (ガンヴォルト爪) in Japan, is a 2D side-scrolling action-platform video game developed and published by Inti Creates for the Nintendo 3DS. The sequel to ''Azure Striker Gunv ...
'', was released in 2016. A spin-off centered on character Copen, ''Gunvolt Chronicles: Luminous Avenger iX'', was released in 2019 and received its own sequel, ''Gunvolt Chronicles: Luminous Avenger iX 2'', in 2022. The latest installment, ''Azure Striker Gunvolt 3'', was released for Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4,
PlayStation 5
The PlayStation 5 (PS5) is a home video game console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It was announced as the successor to the PlayStation 4 in April 2019, was launched on November 12, 2020, in Australia, Japan, New Zealand, North ...
and PC in 2022.
Gameplay
Like the ''
Mega Man
''Mega Man'' (known as in Japan) is a video game franchise developed and published by Capcom, featuring the Mega Man (character), protagonist of the same name. The Mega Man (1987 video game), original game was released for the Nintendo Enter ...
'' series, namely the
original series
Original programming (also called originals or original programs, and subcategorized as "original series", "original movies", "original documentaries" and "original specials") is a term used for in-house television, film or web series productions ...
, ''
Mega Man X
is a series of Action game, action-platformer, platform games released by Capcom. It is a sub-series of the ''Mega Man'' franchise previously developed by the same group, with Keiji Inafune acting as one of the main staff members. The Mega Man ...
'', ''
Mega Man Zero
is an action game, action-platformer, platform game series in Capcom's ''Mega Man'' video game franchise. It was developed by Inti Creates, with Co-Producer Keiji Inafune and Director Yoshinori Kawano. The series consists of four games that were ...
'' and ''
Mega Man ZX
''Mega Man ZX'' is a 2006 action-platform game developed by Inti Creates and published by Capcom for the Nintendo DS. It was released on July 6, 2006 in Japan, September 12, 2006 in North America, June 20, 2007 in Australia, and June 22, 2007 i ...
'', ''Azure Striker Gunvolt'' is a
side-scrolling
A side-scrolling video game (alternatively side-scroller) is a video game viewed from a side-view camera angle where the screen follows the player as they move left or right. The jump from single-screen or flip-screen graphics to scrolling grap ...
action
Action may refer to:
* Action (philosophy), something which is done by a person
* Action principles the heart of fundamental physics
* Action (narrative), a literary mode
* Action fiction, a type of genre fiction
* Action game, a genre of video gam ...
platform game
A platformer (also called a platform game, and sometimes a jump 'n' run game) is a subgenre of action game in which the core objective is to move the player character between points in an environment. Platform games are characterized by levels wi ...
. The player controls the eponymous Gunvolt, who is able to jump, dash, and utilize a gun with special bullets that "tag" their targets, which grants a homing effect to Gunvolt's electric fields. Hitting an enemy with multiple tags will guide more of Gunvolt's electricity towards that enemy, increasing damage. The player's actions are limited by an energy bar, which depletes when using the electrical field, using additional movement abilities such as double-jumping or air dashing, or being hit by enemies. Whenever the energy bar is depleted, Gunvolt will enter an "Overheat" state and will be unable to use his septimal powers or defend himself until it refills.
Gameplay focuses heavily on the player's technique and skill in moving through stages. While finishing a stage is relatively easy, the game provides a ranking system as well as several optional challenges. The game introduces a "chain" system in which the player's score is constantly increased so long as the player avoids being hit by enemies, with special actions such as defeating an enemy in the air or defeating multiple enemies at one time providing an additional bonus. The game uses an item-forging and equipping system, the former of which is instrumental in achieving the game's true ending.
Additionally, Gunvolt has access to several super move-like skills called Offensive Skills, which allow him to perform powerful attacks or heal himself. Each of the game's bosses also have their own Offensive Skills, which are triggered when their health bar drops below a certain level, or in the case of Elise, one of the bosses, when one of her halves is killed before the other. Speaking to Joule in Gunvolt's apartment in between stages also increases the chance of being brought back to life by Lumen when he dies in a stage, which gives Gunvolt unlimited Septimal energy, but at the cost of a higher stage ranking. Gunvolt can also
level-up when he gains a certain amount of experience from defeating certain enemies.
Plot
''Azure Striker Gunvolt'' is set during an unspecified date in the near future, in which several people called "adepts" have developed "septimal powers". These powers enable superhuman feats including flight, the use of powerful energy weapons, and manipulation of the elements like fire, water, and electricity. The world is at peace thanks to the efforts of a world-spanning corporation known as the Sumeragi Group. However, the Sumeragi Group is, in reality, controlling and experimenting on adepts. Gunvolt, one of the most powerful adepts, has the ability to create electrical fields and works for an organization known as QUILL, which is seeking to reveal and put a stop to Sumeragi's ulterior motives.
The game opens with Gunvolt assigned on a mission to assassinate an adept named Lumen. He is told that Lumen has the ability to resonate with and control any adepts through her singing, and is considered dangerous. However, Gunvolt discovers that Lumen is the septimal projection of a young girl named Joule, who is a captive of Sumeragi's scientists, and can't bring himself to kill her. He instead rescues her, leading him to amicably defect from QUILL and set out on his own to protect her. He becomes a freelance agent, but still works jobs for QUILL from time to time.
Six months after defecting from QUILL, Gunvolt is offered a freelance assignment by Moniqa, his handler from QUILL, to investigate and take out several agents of the Sumeragi Group. The Sumeragi agents are all adepts as well, but powered by strange Glaives, which house their septimal essences, and are representative of each of the
Seven Deadly Sins
The seven deadly sins (also known as the capital vices or cardinal sins) function as a grouping of major vices within the teachings of Christianity. In the standard list, the seven deadly sins according to the Catholic Church are pride, greed ...
. The first agent, Merak, is a
lazy, unenthusiastic adept with the power to bend space for use in his attacks. The second, Jota, is a
prideful agent with the power to manipulate light. The third, Viper, is
loud, brash, and violent, has control over fire, and harbors a jealous rage against Gunvolt for Joule. The fourth, Carerra, uses magnetic fists and waves to
draw his enemies close before destroying them with a powerful pulsewave. The fifth, Elise, is a split personality adept: her meek, timid side and her brash, assertive side are at
constant odds, but her ability to raise the dead allows for even adepts to come back from defeat. The sixth, Stratos, is a drug-addicted adept with an
insatiable hunger for the very drug that keeps what little of his sanity remains in check, and has control over
swarms of insects. The seventh, the
carnal
In psychology, libido (; ) is psychic drive or energy, usually conceived of as sexual in nature, but sometimes conceived of as including other forms of desire. The term ''libido'' was originally developed by Sigmund Freud, the pioneering origin ...
Zonda, attacks and wounds Zeno, one of Gunvolt's friends from QUILL, but is seemingly killed by a human warrior named Copen, who harbors a major hatred for adepts and carries a gun capable of firing bullets that can suppress their powers. Copen warns Gunvolt that they are not on the same side, and after a brief skirmish, retreats.
After defeating the Sumeragi agents, Gunvolt's apartment is invaded, and Joule is kidnapped by a resurrected Merak. Gunvolt gives chase, destroying Merak for good, and rides a space elevator to a Sumeragi orbiting platform. Along the way, he encounters the resurrected Stratos, Jota, and Viper and fights them all to the death, before finding that Elise herself had a hidden feral and wild third personality; responsible for the resurrection of the agents. This third personality is killed by Copen, and Gunvolt is forced to fight and subdue him. Gunvolt finally encounters the leadership of Sumeragi, a young psychic adept named Nova. He uses Lumen in combat against Gunvolt, before summoning Joule and three Glaives into himself to transform into a monstrous beast. Gunvolt manages to kill Nova and escape with Joule. In the initial ending, Gunvolt runs into Asimov, his father figure and the leader of QUILL, who offers Gunvolt and Joule new places in QUILL, and reveals an ulterior motive: with Sumeragi in shambles, Asimov wishes to use Lumen, along with the Sumeragi satellite, to wipe out the human race as payback for suppression of adepts. Gunvolt refuses his offer, telling Asimov that he is no better than Sumeragi was, and Asimov responds by shooting him through the heart using Copen's gun (implying that he defeated Copen to steal it from him), before turning the gun on Joule and shooting her as well, leaving them both for dead.
However, if Gunvolt is wearing a special pendant Joule made for him, which is made of collectable jewels that are hidden within each stage, this ending will be revealed as a dream and the true ending will occur instead. The true ending sees Gunvolt on the verge of death as in the initial ending, but he is then rescued by Lumen at the last minute. He awakens to find Joule's body, deathly cold and still. Heartbroken, Gunvolt screams in sadness until he hears Lumen's voice, and ultimately realizes that, in an act of love in order to save his life and be with him wherever he goes, Joule forsook her physical form by fusing her mind and personality with Lumen before further fusing herself into Gunvolt's septimal energy, which amplifies Gunvolt's power to its utmost limits. After this revelation, Gunvolt chases down Asimov, running into Carrera along the way. Carrera demands vengeance for his prior defeat, but is killed once and for all by Gunvolt. Continuing onward to the elevator, Gunvolt confronts Asimov, who reveals himself to have the same electrical septimal powers as Gunvolt. With no other choice, Gunvolt fights him to the death. Following this final battle, Asimov warns Gunvolt that he will never be truly free of conflicts in his life, and dies from his wounds. Zeno and Moniqa meet the space elevator as it arrives, only to find Asimov dead and a heartbroken, wounded Gunvolt, who offers no explanation as to what happened before he simply wanders away into the morning light to be alone with Joule.
Development
''Azure Striker Gunvolt'' was developed by
Inti Creates
is a Japanese video game development company. Formed by ex-Capcom staff in May 1996, they are best known for developing games in the '' Mega Man'' series, namely the '' Mega Man Zero'' series and its follow-ups ''Mega Man ZX'' and '' Mega Man ZX ...
, the Japanese video game development company that also created the
''Mega Man Zero'' series, ''
Mega Man ZX
''Mega Man ZX'' is a 2006 action-platform game developed by Inti Creates and published by Capcom for the Nintendo DS. It was released on July 6, 2006 in Japan, September 12, 2006 in North America, June 20, 2007 in Australia, and June 22, 2007 i ...
'', and both ''
Mega Man 9
''Mega Man 9'' is a 2008 action-platform game developed by Capcom and Inti Creates. It is the ninth numbered game in the original ''Mega Man'' series, and the first home console game in the series since '' Mega Man & Bass'' (1998). ''Mega Ma ...
'' and ''
Mega Man 10
''Mega Man 10'' is a 2010 action-platform game developed by Inti Creates and Capcom. It is the tenth main entry of the original ''Mega Man'' series. The game was released as a downloadable title for the console gaming services WiiWare, Pla ...
''. Players who purchased the game upon release received a free download for the spin-off game, ''
Mighty Gunvolt''.
Inti Creates later released an update for the game on March 5, 2015 on the
Nintendo eShop
The is a digital distribution service for the Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo Switch 2, and formerly available via the Nintendo Network for the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS. Launched in June 2011 on the Nintendo 3DS, the Nintendo eShop served ...
. The update fixes typos in the game's dialogue, fixes various glitches, adds the ability to transfer save data from the demo version to the purchased version, adds new features exclusive to the
New Nintendo 3DS
The is a clamshell design dual-screen handheld game console produced by Nintendo, originally released on October 11, 2014 in Japan and rolled out to all major global markets by September 25, 2015. It is the fourth system in the Nintendo 3DS fam ...
, and more new/updated content.
A version for
Windows
Windows is a Product lining, product line of Proprietary software, proprietary graphical user interface, graphical operating systems developed and marketed by Microsoft. It is grouped into families and subfamilies that cater to particular sec ...
was released in August 2015. A physical release, titled ''Azure Striker Gunvolt: Striker Pack'', consisting of both ''Azure Striker Gunvolt'' and its sequel, ''Azure Striker Gunvolt 2'', was released on September 30, 2016 in Japan.
Yacht Club Games
Yacht Club Games, LLC is an American independent video game development studio and publisher based in Los Angeles, California. It was founded in 2011 by former WayForward Technologies director Sean Velasco. The company announced its first title, ...
released it in North America on October 4, 2016.
''Azure Striker Gunvolt: Striker Pack'' was released for
Nintendo Switch
The is a video game console developed by Nintendo and released worldwide in most regions on March 3, 2017. Released in the middle of the Eighth generation of video game consoles, eighth generation of home consoles, the Switch succeeded the ...
in August 2017, and
PlayStation 4
The PlayStation 4 (PS4) is a home video game console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Announced as the successor to the PlayStation 3 in February 2013, it was launched on November 15, 2013, in North America, November 29, 2013, in ...
on April 23, 2020. An update for the eShop release of the first game added in the voiceovers from the Striker Pack and used the newer translation from the Steam release. However, neither of these have made it anywhere else in the world, and Inti Creates has yet to comment on this issue. A standalone port for
Xbox One
The Xbox One is a home video game console developed by Microsoft. Announced in May 2013, it is the successor to Xbox 360 and the third console in the Xbox#Consoles, Xbox series. It was first released in North America, parts of Europe, Austra ...
and
Xbox Series X/S
The Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S are the fourth generation of consoles in the Xbox series, succeeding the previous generation's Xbox One. Released on November 10, 2020, the higher-end Xbox Series X and lower-end Xbox Series S are part o ...
was announced and released on June 29, 2022.
Reception
''Azure Striker Gunvolt'' received "generally favorable" reviews and sold over 90,000 units six months after its release, being praised for its art and gameplay, although it has experienced some criticism of its similarities in plot to the
Mega Man
''Mega Man'' (known as in Japan) is a video game franchise developed and published by Capcom, featuring the Mega Man (character), protagonist of the same name. The Mega Man (1987 video game), original game was released for the Nintendo Enter ...
series.
Inti Creates
is a Japanese video game development company. Formed by ex-Capcom staff in May 1996, they are best known for developing games in the '' Mega Man'' series, namely the '' Mega Man Zero'' series and its follow-ups ''Mega Man ZX'' and '' Mega Man ZX ...
later announced that ''Azure Striker Gunvolt'' had sold 100,000 units by March 2015. In March 2016, Inti Creates announced that ''Azure Striker Gunvolt'' had sold over 150,000 units worldwide and aired a presentation regarding its sequel on April 26, 2016. In May 2016, Inti Creates announced that it had sold 160,000 units worldwide. Inti Creates announced that sales of ''Azure Striker Gunvolt'' have exceeded 180,000 downloads as of May 1, 2017. On September 7, 2017, Inti Creates announced that sales of Azure Striker Gunvolt on 3DS have cleared 250,000 downloads.
Legacy
On February 27, 2015, Inti Creates announced that a sequel was already in development. ''
Azure Striker Gunvolt 2
''Azure Striker Gunvolt 2'', known as ''Armed Blue: Gunvolt Sou'' (ガンヴォルト爪) in Japan, is a 2D side-scrolling action-platform video game developed and published by Inti Creates for the Nintendo 3DS. The sequel to ''Azure Striker Gunv ...
'' was released digitally for
Nintendo eShop
The is a digital distribution service for the Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo Switch 2, and formerly available via the Nintendo Network for the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS. Launched in June 2011 on the Nintendo 3DS, the Nintendo eShop served ...
in August 2016 in Japan, and September 2016 in North America.
It was later ported to multiple platforms. The third main title, ''Azure Striker Gunvolt 3'', was announced in 2020, and was released for
Nintendo Switch
The is a video game console developed by Nintendo and released worldwide in most regions on March 3, 2017. Released in the middle of the Eighth generation of video game consoles, eighth generation of home consoles, the Switch succeeded the ...
on July 28, 2022, for
Xbox One
The Xbox One is a home video game console developed by Microsoft. Announced in May 2013, it is the successor to Xbox 360 and the third console in the Xbox#Consoles, Xbox series. It was first released in North America, parts of Europe, Austra ...
and
Xbox Series X/S
The Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S are the fourth generation of consoles in the Xbox series, succeeding the previous generation's Xbox One. Released on November 10, 2020, the higher-end Xbox Series X and lower-end Xbox Series S are part o ...
on August 2, 2022,
for
Windows
Windows is a Product lining, product line of Proprietary software, proprietary graphical user interface, graphical operating systems developed and marketed by Microsoft. It is grouped into families and subfamilies that cater to particular sec ...
on October 13, 2022, and for
PlayStation 4
The PlayStation 4 (PS4) is a home video game console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Announced as the successor to the PlayStation 3 in February 2013, it was launched on November 15, 2013, in North America, November 29, 2013, in ...
and
PlayStation 5
The PlayStation 5 (PS5) is a home video game console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It was announced as the successor to the PlayStation 4 in April 2019, was launched on November 12, 2020, in Australia, Japan, New Zealand, North ...
on December 15, 2022. A spin-off title focusing on the character Copen, ''Gunvolt Chronicles: Luminous Avenger iX'', was released for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and Windows on September 26, 2019, but was delayed for Xbox One until December 19, 2019. ''Gunvolt Chronicles: Luminous Avenger iX 2'' was released for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and Windows on January 27, 2022. Copen also appeared as a playable
DLC character in the game ''COGEN: Sword of Rewind'' by developer Gemdrops, which released on the same date as ''Luminous Avenger iX 2''.
''
Mighty Gunvolt'', a retro-style shooter featuring characters from ''Gunvolt'' and ''
Mighty No. 9
is a 2016 action platform video game developed by Comcept, in conjunction with Inti Creates, and published by Deep Silver. The game was crowdfunded through Kickstarter and incorporated heavy input from the public. ''Mighty No. 9'' closely res ...
'', was released in 2014, followed by a sequel, ''Mighty Gunvolt Burst'', in 2017. Gunvolt also appears as a playable guest character in several titles, including ''
Runbow
''Runbow'' is a platform racing video game made for the Wii U and later ported to Microsoft Windows, New Nintendo 3DS, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch. ''Runbow'' was developed by Canadian independent video game developer 13AM Games ...
'', ''
Blaster Master Zero
''Blaster Master Zero'' is a 2017 action-adventure platform video game developed and published by Inti Creates for the Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo Switch. The game is the second reboot of Sunsoft's ''Blaster Master'' for the Nintendo Entertainment ...
'', ''
Indie Pogo'', and ''
Blade Strangers''.
Anime adaptation
An
original video anime
, abbreviated as OVA and sometimes as OAV (original animation video), are Japanese animated films and special episodes of a series made specially for release in home video formats without prior showings on television or in theaters, though the ...
adaptation was announced by Inti Creates at the
Anime Expo 2016 convention in
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
on July 3, 2016. The series was directed and produced by Yoshinori Odaka, with animation by LandQ Studios, scripts written by Shigeru Murakoshi, and character designs by Masakazu Sunagawa. It was planned for a 2016 release, but it was delayed to 2017, eventually being released worldwide on the
Nintendo eShop
The is a digital distribution service for the Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo Switch 2, and formerly available via the Nintendo Network for the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS. Launched in June 2011 on the Nintendo 3DS, the Nintendo eShop served ...
on February 9, 2017, along with an English dubbed version.
Peter von Gomm
Peter von Gomm is an American voice actor. He moved to Japan in 1999 and records television commercials, documentaries, video games and more for the Japanese and global market.
Career
Von Gomm worked for the Smithsonian Institution in Washingt ...
did the English dub of the character Copen.
Notes
References
External links
Official websiteAzure Striker Gunvoltat
MobyGames
MobyGames is a commercial website that catalogs information on video game
A video game or computer game is an electronic game that involves interaction with a user interface or input device (such as a joystick, game controller, controlle ...
{{Gunvolt franchise
2014 video games
Indie games
Action games
Nintendo 3DS eShop games
Nintendo Switch games
PlayStation 4 games
Side-scrolling video games
Side-scrolling platformers
Single-player video games
Video games developed in Japan
Video games scored by Ippo Yamada
Windows games
Xbox One games
Xbox Series X and Series S games
Nighthawk Interactive games