Gravity Rush

Lore & Background

Gravity Rush was conceived by director Keiichiro Toyama prior to his work on Silent Hill and the Siren series. Development began in 2008 for the PlayStation 3 under the title Gravité before moving to the PlayStation Vita. The team overcame technical challenges due to the gameplay and chosen hardware. The world, story and artistic style drew from Japanese and Western comics including the work of French artist Jean Giraud. The music was composed by Kohei Tanaka, who worked on the project from an early stage.

The game follows Kat, an amnesiac who wakes in Hekseville, a floating city around a structure called the World Pillar. Accompanied by a mysterious cat named Dusty, she discovers the ability to manipulate gravity, allowing her to walk on walls and fly. She uses these powers to help the people of Hekseville against the Nevi, monsters spawned from gravity storms, and to uncover the mystery behind her past. The plot involves rival Shifter Raven, the criminal Alias, and a journey inside the World Pillar to a city beneath called Boutoume, where Kat learns of her origins as a powerful being from a higher part of the Pillar.

Gameplay has Kat exploring the open world of Hekseville, completing missions for townsfolk and defeating Nevi. Navigation and combat heavily involve her gravity-altering abilities, which are tied to an energy meter. Combat includes kicking enemies on the ground or using gravity to aim and fall into weak spots. Pick-ups include blue cubes for energy, green crystals for health, and pink crystals as currency. Quests include escorting NPCs, fighting enemies, and making deliveries.

Reader's Guide

Upon release, Gravity Rush received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised the art style and Kat's portrayal, but aspects of gameplay and control issues were criticized. The game had sold 200,000 units by August 2012. A sequel, Gravity Rush 2, was released for the PlayStation 4 in 2017. The game's significance lies in its unique gravity-based mechanics and its artistic direction, which combined influences from Japanese and Western comics, notably the work of French artist Jean Giraud. The protagonist Kat was noted positively by critics. The development history shows a shift from the PlayStation 3 to the PlayStation Vita, with technical challenges overcome by the team. The remaster by Bluepoint Games brought the title to a wider audience on PlayStation 4. The game's legacy includes its cult following and the continuation of the story in a direct sequel.