Gunvolt Chronicles: Luminous Avenger iX Critic Reviews

When it comes to 2D action games, you'd be hard-pressed to find a more satisfying experience than Gunvolt Chronicles: Luminous Avenger iX. From its spot-on presentation to its high-octane action, it's a prime example of 2D action done right.

Gunvolt Chronicles: Luminous Avengers iX is a fast-paced but well-designed platformer that keeps up Inti Creates' streak of awesome games.

Gunvolt Chronicles: Luminous Avenger iX was absolutely grand. While the game is somewhat on the shorter side, various gameplay improvements made this one the best in the series. It is clear that the developers focused on swiftness and getting to the cool stuff as soon as possible. The game flows well as a result, encouraging you to go back and improve your performance in certain stages. The level design and gameplay mechanics make for a very sharp 8.5 hours.

A great game, even if the difficulty feels a little lopsided.

Luminous Avenger distills so much of what made the series pop in the first place that it's also worth investing in.

What we have here is a thoroughly enjoyable and rewarding action platformer which lives up to the quality as expected from the studio. Its minor quibbles do little to tarnish what is a charming game and all-round rewarding experience. The ride does end a little too quickly and veterans of the genre may desire a bit more of a challenge, but on the whole this is a great little game which confirms the studio as being perhaps the best in their field.

The series is steadily moving forward with the latest installment being the best yet by keeping the same unique gameplay and improving other aspects of the experience.

Despite some issues that makes it feel like a step below Azure Striker Gunvolt 2, Luminous Avenger iX is still a worthy inclusion in the Gunvolt Chronicles universe.

A curious example of a title being both more refined, but also less good than its predecessor. The action is smoother, better, and overall much more engaging. Purely as a platformer it is great fun, can be picked up cheap, and is only marred by simplistic, one-way levels and its short length. As an entry it is inferior to its predecessor with the removal of various gear, crafting, and challenges, making it a one-trick pony. It's awesome, but it doesn't have the magic the previous one did. Copen, one of the cooler characters in recent history, lacks much of his style that was memorable in previous games. This series is one of the coolest in recent times, and while this does not disappoint, it doesn't live up to how absolutely great it could be.

Gunvolt Chronicles: Luminous Avenger iX follows the footsteps of the Azure Striker Gunvolt series and does so in a very fun and competent way. Thanks to its fluid and simple controls, frantic gameplay and defying bosses, this is a perfect work for those who enjoyed its predecessors and inspirations, even if it has some rough edges when it comes to its boss fights and soundtrack.