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Less Than Stellar Sequel

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 3 / 11
Date: November 09, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I'm not so sure what's with these recent sequels hardly surpassing their original predessesors (DMC2, BR2, Max Payne 2 etc.), but GG:O can also be listed as one of those disappointing sequels that had the potential of becoming a phenomenal title, but was instead rushed.

GG2 supposedly takes place after the first GG game, but hardly feels like a sequel (in terms of gameplay). The game does offer more ingenuity aside from the first GG, however ingenuity alone is not what makes a title, it's how it's acquired/accessed which makes it sufficient. Features such as being able to repel cannons, taking better advantage of the "jump" command, coffin swing (when playing as Grave), and finally, the ability to switch demolition shot styles without having to pause the game and choose if from a separate menu, are a step ahead of the original GG and prove to be useful.

At the same token, GG2 has also lost some of it's aspects from it's original GG which made the first a more enjoyable gaming experience. For starters, your ability to regenerate your shield after receiving damage has supposedly been eliminated (possibly to make the gameplay more challenging) and is now regenerable only after having completed an area or battle, it will be regenerated by a small tad (not constantly like it did in the original, after having finished receiving damage). Also your ability to heal (life) from the demolition shot option has also been eliminated for immediate use. It almost seems as though the developers tried to make the game more challenging and in the process made it more frustrating and not enjoyable.

The voice acting in GG2 is done fairly well (dubbed this time and not subtitled like the original) though at times the dialogue can be very slow and repetitive. There also seems to be too much dialogue in between battles (GG is supposed to be a fast-paced action shooter, not an anime soap opera) and really seems to slow down the action. Mika and Spike (Mika in particular) are very annoying. They'll constantly interrup you while you're in the thick of battle, only to try and give you some advice that you could have figured out on your own. Sure, Mika's advice for the tutorial (very beginning of the game) may have proved useful, but that doesn't mean interrup every thirty seconds of a stage to tell me something that I already know. They tell you absolutely NOTHING that you couldn't have figured out on your own! Stating comments suchs as "Look out!! He's got a Cannon Gun/Rocket Launcher!" Yeah, we see that!!! Since when did the unshakable killing machine Grave need advice in the thick of battle? I guess the developers figured that since Grave doesn't talk, they'd just have some friends entertain him, doing all the talking for him. Bad move.

The music is decent. It borrows heavily from the anime series. The same jazzy sound of GG1 as well. Not much to compain about there.

The camera angles are pretty bad, and trying to adjust the camera so that all can be seen is nearly impossible since it goes into this horrid inverted view that focuses only on the player whenever trying to adjust it. Also, whenever your character gets knocked down, the camera goes into a terrible inverted angle that completely throws you off as to where you were.

Boss battles are very tedious, just your average/typical running around in circles shooting and repelling object thrown or shot at you. Not much debt to it. Very unimagitive and repetitive.

The game does have replay value in the sense that after completing the game, it will give the player access to unlockable hidden features (that's if you're willing to ignore the frustrating gameplay and level design to play through).
To be quite honest, GG2 isn't much fun at all compared to the first title. So, by me giving it three stars, I'm being very merciful. Even for a game that retails for about $15 bucks. I could have easily deducted stars for the poor level design, bad frame rate, and very poor unimagitive bosses, but I'll leave that all to the players to decide. If you like games to which are frustrating enough to make you send your controller across your room in a raging flash, then this will probably suit you well. You play and be the judge.

Testosterone Overdose

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: June 18, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Now let's get this straight. This game is only about action and gun violence. Of course that's about all it's good for. The story's underdeveloped and poorly executed. The effects and action are top notch though. Techincal designs and all are really cool. The sound design sucks though. I mean SUCKS BADLY! It's worth a rent or at least as a good stress reducer.

much better than the first one

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: November 30, 2004
Author: Amazon User

gungrave overdose is a very fun game. the first gungrave was very short and was pretty much a button masher. overdose is longer harder and more engossing than its predessecor. the multiple characters are a nice edition and the story is very very good. the graphics are a bit antiquated and could use some improvment, but if you can get past the blocky characters and bland levels, it quickly becomes a visualy stunning game. Gungrave is a very stylish shooting game that deserves some respect.

gun grave overdose

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: September 02, 2005
Author: Amazon User

4 out of 5 stars. game play good -graphics great-story line interesting.

Filled with enough action to get the testosterone flowing? You betcha!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: February 21, 2006
Author: Amazon User

It's true. Whether shooting up your enemies with a wide array of ammunition as Beyond the Grave, slicing them to pieces as Kabane, or frying them with living electrical bolts as RocketBilly RedCadillac (yes, that IS his name) this game literally is a blast. To be fair, the graphics and control aren't quite up to par as, say, the Rachet and Clank series, but the darker visuals and deep story will keep you delighted as you play through the game. The environments aren't totally destructable per se, but many of the items scattered within are. And, chances are, those items will explode, injuring your enemies and yourself, if you're too close. The name of the game is keeping your distance (difficult with Kabane and sometimes with Billy), firing to build up your super meter, then letting loose with a devastaing super attack. This is pretty much the gameplay for the entire game, so if you're looking for variety, look elsewhere. The 3 characters feature enough differences in how they play to warrant at least 3 playthroughs of the game which is good, because you get some nifty unlockables for doing so. At $20, this game is a delightful gem to kick back and blow some time on a free afternoon, especially if you're a fan of the first game or television series.

A big improvement

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 8
Date: December 08, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I just got this game, and I'm very impressed by it, especially by the additions. The shield doesn't just slowly increase like in the last game, if you manage to block your enemies attacks right and wait a short moment, it fills all the way back up, allowing you to get right back to the butt kicking. The attacks have also been made more powerful and certain attacks can now be powered up. I also like the addition of new characters, giving the player some variety once they enter the fray, though you do have to play through to the first boss till you can actually use them. The ability to knock back attacks like missles is another interesting addition, plus the fact that there's plenty more of the environment to destroy compared to the first one.

A great sequel to one of my favorite PS2 games!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: November 21, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I first got involved with the Gungrave series by only seeing the second volume of the animation. I was bored by it. Brandon Heat seemed so one dimensional and nothing was really happening. Later I read a review for the first Gungrave PS2 game and immediately decided that I had to check it out. I was more than impressed. The game was fun, the story engaging, and the ending scene wonderful. I decided to give the series another try and ended up loving it.

Gungrave Overdose is the sequel to the first game. Once again Beyond the Grave is called into to action to protect Mika Asagi, the daughter of his former girlfriend and his father-figure mafia boss "Big Daddy." The game centers around Grave's attempt to stop the manufacture of a designer drug called "Seed," whose side effect include mutations of the human genome, instant addiction, and death.

This time, however, Grave is joined by a few others: Juji Kabane (whose last name will be familiar to anyone who has seen the series), a ghost haunted guitar called Rocket Billy Redcadillac (yes that's Rocket Billy Redcadillac), and a boy named Spike who has a mysterious past.

The gameplay is similar to the original PS2 game with some differences. For one, there are two other playable characters that are unlocked when one finishes the game with Grave: Juji and Billy. Each character has a main gun (or guitar) weapon, a demolition shot ability, and a melee attack involving the use of Grave's grave, Juji's gun-sword, and Billy's guitar. Also each character has a shield manuever that will come in handy during the game. Thestory unfolds slightly differently on depending on who you play.

Also similar to the original is the shield protection feature as was seen in the original game. The shield will take a number of hits and will regenerate overtime as long as your character takes no dammage or is not actively firing. If the shield level is reduced to 0, then your life meter starts decreasing. This can partially regenerate too (not a feature of the original game if memory serves) when you fire your demolition shot. (I don't know why one of the previous posters wrote that shield and the life gauge do not regenerate; they do.)

A quick word on your demolition shot. Each of the playable characters has three types: a straight shot, a shot that will cover 360 degrees, and the ability to slow down the enemies. Each one of these shots can rise to three levels and are refilled by the amount of destruction you bring. Firing the demolition shot will refill your shield gauge as well as your life meter and incidently can be a lot of fun to watch.

There are 9 levels in the game that have numerous subparts as well as cinemas to keep you entertained. Also there are some special cameos from characters from the first game and animation. Like the first game, there is a great deal of repetion and button mashing. Unlike the first game, there is a great deal more freedom of movement as compared to Gungrave's more linear type battles. This certainly adds a new level of difficulty to the game. Some boss fights have added complexity and will take more than just shooting at them to sound the nell of their defeat.

Of course there are unlockable features that reveal themselves as you beat the game. A word of advice, according to some FAQs and walkthroughs that I have read, these unlockable features will reveal themselves only if you play the game without using its cheat features. I have thus far found this to be true.

I would not advise this game for the younger kids. The story itself is also not that complex so don't expect Salinger or anything. The game is a lot of fun and has high replay value. So if you want some mindless destruction and characters who know how to win the war on drugs I would get this game. I have found it for insanely cheap prices on-line and in stores like Gamestop and EB games.

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