I am an outspoken detractor of the current remaster/remake culture that pervades this generation. I feel that rather than looking to the future, endless remasters and rereleases mire us in the past and stifle innovation. However, I do appreciate that there are many gems from generations of yore that perhaps deserve another spot in the limelight, and that older games may still hold interest for a new generation. In the case of the action-adventure title Gravity Rush, gamers who didn’t own a Vita in 2008 (just about everyone really) now get a chance to experience this game powered by the PS4 in the form of Gravity Rush Remastered. With a fresh lick of paint to its bold cel-shaded visuals, Gravity Rush Remastered stands up quite well on current generation hardware, and despite some pervasive control issues I couldn’t help but enjoy this interesting adventure.
Super Mega Premium Lucky No.1 Acid Space Cat Power Attack!
GR takes place in Hekseville, a crazy city in the clouds which is miraculously supported by a single pillar (known as the world pillar) that seems to stretch endlessly into the depths below. You awaken as a nameless girl with a bad case of amnesia and after making the acquaintance of a cat which appears to have a starry galaxy for fur, you discover you have the ability to manipulate gravity to your whims. Very quickly you become embroiled in Hekseville’s problems, which principally involve shadowy creatures known as the Nevi constantly terrorising its population. While the premise sounds relatively pedestrian, the story has a very Eastern-flavoured quirkiness that rollicks along at a good pace. There are a slew of very interesting and funny characters that kept me engaged in the story, such as the hopeless policeman Syd that rises through the ranks of power within law enforcement purely based on the help he receives from you in liberal doses. It is Syd who gives your character the name Kat and initially he is the only one that seems grateful for what she does to help the people of Hekseville. Kat isn’t the only gravity shifter on the block and the population are wary of them as their presence seems to coincide with the appearance of the Nevi. Kat herself is a thoroughly likeable protagonist and is equal parts vulnerable and fierce. She has an almost childish innocence that is kind of infectious, and despite the fact she struggles to find purpose and acceptance in the city, she is guided by a good heart and what she feels is her duty to use her newfound powers to protect those around her.
Such graceful. So majestic. Wow
Raven: Friend or Foe?
Kat has an almost childish innocence that is kind of infectious, and despite the fact she struggles to find purpose and acceptance in the city, she is guided by a good heart and what she feels is her duty to use her newfound powers to protect those around her.
The gravity powers you have are really what sell this experience, and once you master them the game starts to open up. Your main power includes the ability to more or less fly (although it’s more akin to falling through the sky) as well as defy the conventions of gravity and walk on any surface be it vertical or upside-down. At first the controls and camera are an uncooperative mess, and very often I found myself completely unsure as to which way was up or down, constantly trying to swivel the camera around so I could put things in perspective and direct myself in the air. After a while I managed to tame the camera and gravity controls to a point where I was quite proficient at getting from A to B, and indeed there’s a thrilling sense of freedom you get once you master it. Kat has a unique style as she tumbles through the air and there’s even an odd sort of grace to it. While in general your flight lacks true precision, and occasionally this can lead to frustration and discombobulating camera shenanigans, I never tired of hurtling through Hekseville’s cityscape.
Kat also has some combat abilities such as being able to swiftly home in and kick enemies both on the ground and in the skies, but in general there’s not a whole lot of variation when it comes to fighting Nevi. The combat is relatively enjoyable but you’ll probably find that the Gravity Kick is more or less all you need to take down enemies big and small. The lack of precision to the flight controls can also cause minor frustrations with combat. Any mission that involves using the Stasis Grab/Throw was rendered fairly painful by the fact that objects are ludicrously difficult to pick up unless you’re right on top of them, and the aim once you’ve finally got them in your grasp is about as good as a trainee Stormtrooper. All your abilities can be upgraded by collecting precious gems strewn about the city, but the main source of these is going to be completing the many challenges across the city. If you want to complete everything in GR including challenges, side quests and main story quests you’re looking at around 12-15 hours of gameplay.
Gade’s advanced flashing game is on point
I must go, my planet needs me
Graphically speaking, GR’s cel-shaded visuals and simple, crisp textures work nicely together. Ditching any attempt at a photorealistic style for a simplified anime-inspired aesthetic, the varied environments feel vibrant and visually diverse, and both the enemies and characters are well designed and animated. The game’s relatively simple yet distinct visuals give the game a great sense of identity, and this is likely why the remaster doesn’t look outdated on current-gen hardware. I would have preferred more animated cutscenes, but the comic-book style presentation of the story exposition feels dynamic and interesting nonetheless. The music modulates between sparkly and upbeat to menacing and heavy when you’re in combat scenarios, and it is clear that the soundtrack draws heavy inspiration from classic JRPGs like the Final Fantasy series. While you might occasionally get the feeling of repetition if you stay in the same area too long (each area has its own unique backing track), it’s never to an obnoxious extent and mostly the soundscape supports the visual action well.
Battlestar Galacticat
Hot, hot, hot!
Final Thoughts
Gravity Rush Remastered is a well-polished port that hopefully resurrects the title from the obscurity of its previous status as a PS Vita exclusive. Probably its most endearing feature is the feeling of freedom that the unique gravity-bending flight provides, however this innovative mode of locomotion comes at the price of controls that can’t quite keep up at times. If you are able to embrace these odd controls as well as the occasionally cumbersome camera you’ll find an interesting game with an eccentric and engaging story to tell that’s filled with memorable characters and fun moments.
Reviewed on PS4
- Project Siren / Bluepoint Games
- Sony Computer Entertainment
- PS4
- March 2, 2016
