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Stylish, mindless, short, fun.

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 9 / 10
Date: September 29, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Gungrave's character designs were done by the guy behind Trigun, and it shows. The pseudo-futuristic Western style mixed with an undead main character definitely works well, and Beyond the Grave (yes, that's your character's name) strikes an imposing profile, with his own coffin slung from chains wrapped around his arms.

If Gungrave is anything, it's stylish. From heavily stylized CG cel-shaded cutscenes, to the... logo at the beginning of each level (I kid you not - though this will probably be hit by the censors), everything in Gungrave oozes 1.) style and 2.) a sense that you must shoot everything on screen.

The controls are a little strange - Beyond the Grave walks at a snail's pace. You can make him move faster by running, or by clicking down on the stick, but his basic movement is *extremely* slow. This is again, probably a stylistic choice, as BtG isn't supposed to be a super-fast action hero - he's Death incarnate, and it would seem Death is content to take his time.

The graphics are, again, heavily stylized, and textures on everything retain a look like they were stripped out of an anime. There's a lot of explosions, some neat effects, and a bit of slowdown.

The biggest problem in this game is that there simply isn't much to do. As satisfying as it is to mow down enemy after enemy, it gets tiring after a few hours - either fortunately, or unfortunately, the game as a whole only lasts about this long. While the combo system and unlocking demolition shots gives it some semblance of replay value, the game itself isn't really complex enough to warrant playing it over and over. As fun as it is, just be warned, it's short.

So, if you're looking to blow off some steam, and destroy everything in sight, Gungrave's certainly an option to consider. Just be wary that the experience is brief, but intense.

Get it right.

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: July 20, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Ok let me clear this up, the gungrave anime came out AFTER Gungrave the PS2 game. The gungrave anime tells the story of Brandon Heat (Beyond the Grave), his dealings in the syndicate Millenion, how he was killed, and the deal with his "best friend" Harry, the current boss of Millenion. The show also explains everything about the orcmen and the technology used to bring the dead back to life, "Necro-rise". The show takes place before the game untill episode 17.

I would recommend watching the show first (DVD volume 1 is out in america right now, but its available through fansub if you can find it.), and then playing the game.

A "must play game," but must own?

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 4 / 5
Date: October 03, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Forget what you've read about being about to beat this one blindfolded, it's just not true. In addition to offering the most frentic anti-hero action this side of DMC, Gungrave's massively sprawling levels will certainly require your full attention span, all 6 of them that is. Yep, there's the rub folks. Gungrave is awesome, no doubt, but is there enough to warrant a purchase?Featuring outstanding cel-shaded graphics and character designs by the folks behind the hit anime series "Trigun," Gungrave certainly doesn't lack personality. In fact, the whole game is presented like an anime, with an entertaining albeit disposible plot unfolding via slick cutscenes, all of which are in japanese and subtitled in english! Gameplay wise Gungrave could be called shallow. Essentially shoot everything on screen using your impossibly large twin pistols, "Cerberos." There is a little depth here, a decent combo system, unlockable special attacks, a shield system, but chances are you will hardly notice with all the insane violence on screen. In fact, the action can get so intense the game will at times suffer slight slowdown, but in all fairness this effect will probably help your gameplay more than hinder it.So what we have is an arcade game that falls into all of the arcade game trappings, it's graphically superb but too short and not extremely difficult. However, as my rating implies, its charming characters and music should entertain. Don't write this one off! For anime fans, a must own title, for everyone else, at least rent this one. After all, sometimes you just need a game where all you do is blow stuff up!

A great rental but very short

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: July 06, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Gungrave comes to us from the great animators of the Trigun anime series. Unfortunately, while the cut scenes are great, you only get 6 levels and a few hours of gameplay.

I love the Trigun series, so I had high hopes for this arcade button-masher that used the Trigun animator, Yasuhiro Naito, to design the characters and draw the cut scenes. And yes, you definitely can get the Trigun feel in this game.

You are a zombie in black and red, carrying around your coffin. Just like Wolfwood, your coffin is a weapon that you can launch rockets out of and swing around like a battle axe. You shuffle through each level, firing unlimited rounds with repeated button hammering and occasionally launching a special missile.

The game claims to have a "fully destructable environment", which had me expecting a Red Faction level of coolness. Unfortunately, they really only meant you could blow up boxes and furniture, which has been a staple of gaming since the days of Doom.

There's a nice "Go Here!" set of arrows always leading you forward, but it's only a few hours until you get to the end of Level 6 and the game is over. You could replay the levels over and over to try for a top score in each one, but there just isn't much fun challenge in it.

Recommended as a rental for anime fans, but only die hard Trigun enthusiasts will want to buy this one.

If you are awesome, then Gungrave is awesome

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 6
Date: October 06, 2003
Author: Amazon User

This has got to be the most underrated videogame I've ever had the pleasure of playing. I spit on those who deem it shallow and didn't play it hard and deeply enough to catch a glimpse of its true greatness. They just laid waste to everything in the game and thought that was it. I've watched alot of Hong Kong action movies, and I would love nothing more than to do all the cool stuff Chow-Yun fat does. In Gungrave, if I try hard enough, then all of that really cool stuff is possible. The great part is that doing all of it nets really huge points. So basically I'm being awarded for being a total badass in the game and having loads of fun. Unlike most other games, Gungrave is only fun if you make it fun. If you are limited, then Gungrave is limited. Already I can tell that most people who played this game are limited. I pity you, Magnolia fans!!!!!! Go back to your bathtubs filled with rose petals and stay away from this awesome game!!!!!!

KICK SOME ASS!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: January 16, 2004
Author: Amazon User

being a proud owner of the playstation 2 like sooo many other people, i thought GG was another obscure SEGA game. but like so many "obscure" games produced by SEGA, (GUN VALKYRE,GUN GRIFFON,VIRTUAL ON MARZ,JET SET RADIO.ETC.) they often are fun with good replay value. the same goes for GUN GRAVE.
This character who was designed by the guy that produced the popular TRIGGUN anime is a hybrid of the CROW meets DEATHLOK (A classic marvel comic series from the 70's and up.)
but somewhat much cooler. GG is an assassin who takes revenge on a high tech syndicate who's boss is Harry Mcdowell, who was Brandon's (GUNGRAVE'S Namesake) former best friend and his killer
The game is somewhat repetitive, ( then again most shooters are.)as you blast,shoot and dodge your way through an onslaught of gangsters,hitmen and some of the weirdest boss battles ever.
i.e. bear walken who transforms into a giant rolling arm that packs a mean punch. the cel shaded graphics gives the impression that i'm playing an interactive FRANK MILLER comicbook. your character can also swing his coffin like a club as well as fire bazooka like rounds kinda like the robert rodrigeuz movie desperado. (remember the rocket laucher/guitar?).there's a "finishing move" for each of the bosses when using the coffin's demolition shot.GG regardless of it's "flaws"
is a great way to spend 2 hours on a sunday afternoon.can't wait for the sequel; GUNGRAVE OVERDOSE!

PS There's also a anime series based on GUNGRAVE which is pretty good. look for it sometime in 2004.

Misunderstood and underrated by most

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: March 13, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Most people don't understand that this game is to pay homage to one of the greatest anime series to date. It is based after an anime of the same name, Gungrave. Grave, or Beyond the Grave is a character that was once known as Brandon Heat. A "sweeper" for the largest mafia syndicate in his city. He and his friend Harry McDowel rose through the ranks of the mafia at extreme rates due to their individual skills in what they did best. Harry was a cunning businessman and Brandon was a silent assassin. During the story, Harry betrays Brandon, kills him and pins his death as being a traitor killed for his own betrayal. Underground scientists give way to a new science called Necro-Rise which brings the dead back to life with extreme, almost invincible powers. Brandon, now Grave sets out to avenge his death and kill those who sent him to hell.

Overall the game is ok, but being a huge fan of this series, it pays homage to the anime perfectly and is a must buy for people who have actually seen it. Long live Brandon's True Grave power.

Shoot em up gangsta

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: May 16, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Where to start... hmm.. This game is very two sided. the Cell shading, anime FMV's, and overall concept of the game is quite spectacular. It's a shame the game takes about 2 hours to beat, and there is very little variation between the six stages.. Yes i said six stages.. You would think that a...game [at this price] would have more then six...stages!! oh well. The idea behind Gungrave is you are this undead gangsta named Grave who is seeking revenge on some bad guys for some unknown reason. the story unfolds as the game goes on, yet lacks any serious clarity. Every level is very much alike. Grave runs throughout the levels blasting up baddies with his guns and uses a coffin to help slash up enemies and fire some devastator shots and what not. The boss sequences are the only part of this game that shows variation, but there are only 4 or 5 bosses throughout the game. Gungrave is incredibly easy to beat, until the last two bosses which become extremely difficult. Bottom line.. I recommend this game to anyone who is a fan of anime, because the anime sequences are rather breath-taking, which is something the gameplay definatly lacks. I wouldn't recommend purchasing it, which is the mistake i made. Instead try renting it first to see if it floats your boat. I gave it 3 stars because it has some really cool aspects and some really trite aspects, in fact this game gets extremely hackneyed within the first 5 minutes. :(

"Unlimited Ammo. Because Reloading Takes Too Long"

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: March 21, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I've been waiting for this game. I have always been watching Trigun and Gungrave. This game is the best. Though only six levels the content makes up for it. You unlock anime movies and over 70 action figures. The basic concept here is that your a duel wield hand gun zombie with a coffin that shoots rockets and kill things. Most of the levels do have destructible things. Like trash for instance. There are also special weapons needed to be obtained. Including some Nightmarish Boss Battles and diposable enemies. This is mainly an arcade type game. Replay the levels if you like and try to get the high score. With only about four hours of gameplay this is a decent game with some dramatic movie-quality cut-sceens, and the main character looks nice. Rated Mature, and is brought to you by SEGA for the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system. Now is the time to exact your deadly revenge with precision and grace.

Just Shoot Everything

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 4 / 10
Date: August 26, 2002
Author: Amazon User

I played the Gungrave demo three or four times during a recent trip to Japan, and here are my impressions (bear in mind I only played through the first level):

The Good:
1 Really nice anime cut scenes.
2 Decent graphics.
3 Cool-looking moves.
4 There's just something fun about shooting EVERYTHING you can see.
5 If a John Woo made a game, this would be it.

The Bad:
1 You basically only need one button to play this game.
2 Difficulty is sort of non-existant, at least on the first level. It might get harder as it goes along, but given how many moves you have, it probably won't get any better.
3 As much fun as shooting everything and everybody is, it gets old. Fast. Though honestly the game probably isn't long enough for you to get REALLY sick of it.

The Ugly
1 In some ways, I consider myself lucky to have only played the first level. I don't know how well pressing "shoot" over and over and over again would hold up. It's to jump sideways while blasting away, or watch Grave spin around for no reason as he fires his guns, but if you've seen it once, you've seen it as much as you need to.
2 The game has some slow-down, especially when you fire the rocket launcher.

The Advice
1 If you played Devil May Cry, you'll be used to the pace of this game. Think DMC without any combos, missions, swords, challenging enemies, or classy background graphics. Throw in an anime cut scene or two and you have Gungrave. I really liked that the ads for it said "Get Ready To Genocide!" but uh... this one's a rental for sure. See the cool moves, beat it, return it.

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