Azure Striker Gunvolt (Inti Creates/Keiji Inafune/3DS eShop)

[hrvl]

Azure Striker Gunvolt, a 2D Action Platformer from Inti Creates (Gal*Gun) and Keiji Inafune (Bugs vs. Tanks), was announced yesterday at BitSummit 2014 in Kyoto, and a playable demo was/is on the floor. Destructoid has an excellent hands-on article that reveals gameplay details and the team headlining the game:

Keiji Inafune is the Executive Producer, and Yoshihisa Tsuda (Mega Man X2, Mega Man 7, 9, 10, and more) is the Game Director. Yoshitaka Hatakeyama (Mega Man 9)is on art, while Takuya Aizu (several Mega Man games, as well as Mighty No. 9) acts as Producer. Finally, Ippo Yamada is over music and sound effects.

Gunvolt promises fast, score-attack focused gameplay featuring a lightning barrier that hits enemies, deflects shots, and allows levitation and floating, as well as a rapid fire Conductor Gun that locks on to enemies (the lightning barrier targets those enemies, and 3 lock-ons can be spread or focused on targets), wall jumps, double jumps, air dashing, special attacks, a pop star, and more. It looks incredible.

The story opens with Gunvolt, a 14-year-old psychic with the rebel group Feather, on a mission to assassinate Lumen, a virtual pop star who turns out to be psychic girl Joule's avatar. Gunvolt hesitates to kill Joule and his destiny is changed forever.

The game is due for release in North America and Japan this summer, with a European release to follow. The price is not set. It will be a 3DS eShop exclusive.

A trailer shows off the story and gameplay. It looks so good.





Additional links:
Famitsu / 4gamer Previews have screenshots and (Japanese) character profiles I haven't seen on English sites
Official Site
Twitter
Watch BitSummit translated live (requires a free Niconico account)

[loempiavreter]

Looks cool, apart from the overtly ANIMU designs.

[thoothan]

Keiji Inafune (Bugs vs. Tanks),

[Allie]

A main character with lightning powers?

I'm all over this.

[nightdreamer]

I'm game for this! I bet the music will be great too!

[vetus]

Screw Mighty No9 (I was never hyped about it anyway). Azure Striker: Gunvolt is the real deal. I'm not even a fan of Megaman series but this game looks so awesome. And instead of hearing "blablabla, hear my plans for my dream game" with no showing any gameplay footages (just some illustrations), here we have a detailed, gameplay trailer that speaks for itself. Also instead of relying on Kickstarted like they did with Mighty No9 and god knows when they are going to finish it, Azure Striker: Gunvolt is going to be released this summer at Japan and America for 3DS (I hope we won't wait much longer at Europe but I'm positive since it's an eShop release).

[alphex]

Mar 7, 2014 20:21:15 GMT -5 vetus said:

Also instead of relying on Kickstarted like they did with Mighty No9

I suppose they still have some leftover cash from that one, though. Some of the stretch goals were rather expensive/far apart for what they actually were and more likely mainly intended to provide initiative to get some more cash.

That being said, this DOES look pretty kickass. Art-wise, it looks like the ZX games, but with a dystopian future setting, which spells A-W-E-S-O-M-E. I guess I'll get a 3/2DS just for these two games then.

[Digitalnametag]

New platformer from the creators of the totally awesome Mega Man Zero series? Sign me up.

[Super Orbus]

Thoughts:

Azure Striker = Blue Bomber?

What kind of self-respecting terrorist organization freedom fighter group calls itself "Feather"?

I was mildly interested until I read "eShop exclusive".

[vetus]

tinycartridge.com/post/82101979081/less-hair-belly-button-for-gunvolt-in-the-u-s#disqus_thread
Copy-paste the comment I made at Tiny Cartidge:

It's one of the few times that I agree and don't mind with certain changes in japanese video games. And you must admit it: the long hair with the braid and the sleek tummy made him more bishounen or girlie-looking in order to appeal to yaoi fangirls. They could at least leave the braid but whatever. Not big deal.

[Snarboo]

But odds are good you'd be mad had this change been done to a girl, right?

[vetus]

Depends on. For example I never gave a shit about the censorship with the female characters in Bravely Default. And you remember all the fuss from pissed-off gamers (mainly weeaboos) about bad Nintendo still censoring games.

[Feynman]

I like the original design better. The braided ponytail looks cool!

Of course, given how many imbecilic comments I've heard about how the changes make the western design "less gay" (ugh) I can understand why they did it, but it's still fucking stupid.

Any wagers about how long it will be before we're back to this shit again:

[TheGunheart]

Apr 9, 2014 3:12:41 GMT -5 Feynman said:

I like the original design better. The braided ponytail looks cool!

The really annoying thing about that is how it affects the sprite and animation. I mean, think of how much work must've gone into animating that to look right...

[nightdreamer]

I like the long haired one better too. Something about it flows better with the outfit, methinks.