GUNVOLT CHRONICLES: LUMINOUS AVENGER IX

GUNVOLT CHRONICLES: LUMINOUS AVENGER IX 

Luminous Avenger Gunvolt IX is the first spin off game of the Gunvolt series that takes place in a parallel universe separate from the mainline games.  

It focuses on Copen going through various stages to defeat the bosses and stop the Sumeragi Group, similar to the mainline games.  

Gameplay is largely recycled from Copen’s Azure Striker Gunvolt 2 with some slight variations. Copen uses his boosters to approach enemies and fire shots at them in order to get Kudos.  Prevasion now consumes two bullets instead of one, making the game somewhat harder. The Guard Counter and Guard Counter EX kudos bonuses have been removed. The ranking system has also changed, with the three kudos settings adding a score bonus at the end of the stage, rather than affecting the score multiplier. A higher score also rewards you with a more colorful and impressive end card.  

You can purchase subroutines that provide Copen with additional attributes such as extra Bullits. It is now possible to buy subroutines mid-level from the pause menu and equip them on the fly without having to return to base. Materials have also been completely scrapped, with subroutines only needing the required amount of credits to be purchased. Not all enemies will spew credits upon defeat, and there is no post-level minigame to earn credits from.  

Copen is once again accompanied by Lola, an A.I helper that allows him to use EX Weapons to replicate the Septima of any Adept he defeats. As with past games, when the kudos count hits 1000, Lola assumes her "Idol Mode", and overrides the stage music with a vocal track. When Copen's HP reaches zero, he can be revived by "Anthem", which also triggers a second form for Lola known as the "Awakened Mode", which also appears during special moves. Another version of Anthem, "Darkness Mode", can be triggered by activating the EX Weapon "Darkness Trigger", which buffs Copen's other EX Weapons and grants him unlimited energy with which to use them with. However, this comes at the cost of draining Copen's HP whenever he isn't locked onto an enemy, forcing the player to constantly attack.  

This time around, Copen only has one skill: Twin Shredder, which is functionally identical to Shred Storm from the previous game, acting as a screen-clearing attack that gradually recharges. However, it is much more dynamic and features several pieces of artwork. This reflects the overall distinct style of the game, which is noticeably flashier and more detailed, with cutscenes using full body shots, result cards being more elaborate the higher your end score is and even Lola cheering the player on mid-battle as they build up a combo streak. The graphics and art are excellent while the music is very good. The story is somewhat average. 

The game is short, and Platforming can get kind of awkward from time to time.  

Overall, it was an alright game.  

It gets 4 out of 5 stars.