Gungrave G.O.R.E
Sequel in the Gungrave series, released in 2022.
Gungrave G.O.R.E, short for Gunslinger of REsurrection, is a third-person shooter released in 2022. It was developed by South Korean studio IGGYMOB and published by Prime Matter. The game follows Beyond the Grave as he battles the Raven Clan, who are distributing a revived drug called Seed that turns people into monsters. Players use dual pistols, a coffin for melee attacks, and special abilities like grabbing enemies as shields. Standing still boosts damage, and chaining kills unlocks new moves. Prior knowledge of the series is not required.
The developers, fans of the original Japanese games, initially struggled to secure funding due to South Korea's mobile game market. Early plans for an open world were scrapped when it didn't suit their vision. Films like *Equilibrium* and *Desperado* served as influences. The game launched on Windows, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Xbox One and X/S on November 22, 2022. A Nintendo Switch version, the Gungrave G.O.R.E Ultimate Enhanced Edition, was announced in September 2023 with over 100 gameplay improvements. Studio IGGYMOB self-published this edition, releasing it in Europe on October 5, 2023, and North America on October 18, 2023. Beep Japan co-published it in Asia on January 11, 2024.
Critical reception was mixed. Reviewers praised its style and combat but noted repetitive enemies, difficulty spikes, and frustrating design choices. Some called it basic and repetitive yet suitable for mindless play, while others felt it resembled a lost PS2 game best left to series fans. One critic described it as fulfilling a fantasy of playing an immortal protagonist in stylish action sequences, but ultimately a terrible game. A remake subtitled *Blood Heat*, built in Unreal Engine 5, was announced for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series consoles.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Gungrave G.O.R.E
- Developer
- Studio IGGYMOB
- Publisher
- Prime Matter · Studio IGGYMOB (NS)
- Composer
- Tetsuya ShibataOthers composers who worked in the soundtrack are Yoshino Aoki, Shoya Kitagawa, Ren Tsukagoshi and Jong-Soo We
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 4
- Platforms
- PlayStation 4 / PlayStation 5 / Windows / Xbox One / Xbox Series X/S / Nintendo Switch
- Released
- PS4, PS5, Windows, XboxWW · November 22, 2022Nintendo SwitchEU · October 4, 2023 · NA · October 18, 2023 · JP · January 11, 2024
- Genre
- Third-person shooter
- Modes
- Single-player
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The game follows Beyond the Grave as he attempts to kill the Raven Clan, who are distributing a drug called Seed that transforms users into monsters. Players shoot enemies with dual pistols, swing a coffin to hit nearby enemies, and use special abilities like grabbing enemies as human shields. Avoiding movement allows extra damage, and additional attacks unlock by killing enemies without pauses. It is not necessary to have played previous games in the series.
Reader's Guide
Gungrave G.O.R.E was developed by South Korean studio Studio IGGYMOB, who were fans of the original Japanese game. They initially struggled to find investors because mobile games were more popular in South Korea. Early designs included an open world element, but this was abandoned. Influences included the films Equilibrium and Desperado. The game received mixed reviews on Metacritic. IGN praised its style and combat but criticized too-similar enemies, difficulty spikes, and frustrating design decisions. Hardcore Gamer called it basic and repetitive but recommended it for players seeking a mindless experience. Push Square said it feels like a lost PS2 game and recommended it only to series fans. Digitally Downloaded found it fulfilled a fantasy of playing an immortal protagonist in stylistic action sequences but called it a terrible game. A Nintendo Switch version titled Gungrave G.O.R.E Ultimate Enhanced Edition, with over 100 changes, was released in 2023, self-published by Studio IGGYMOB. A remake with the subtitle Blood Heat in Unreal Engine 5 was announced for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series consoles.
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