Gravity Rush 2 Review: A dizzying and intoxicating adventure in the skies
4 /
5 stars
Gravity Rush 2
IT'S hard to do something truly unique and original in video games.
SONY
Gravity Rush 2 is like being part of a classic anime
In an industry which has lasted for decades, many blockbuster titles invariably build on or refine what has gone before – not straying too far from the beaten path.
But Gravity Rush 2 is that rare breed – a game that dares to go against the grain and create something that feels fresh and different to anything else out there.
A sequel to a PlayStation Vita gem, the latest high-profile release from Sony's Japan Studio puts you in the shoes of the charming and bubbly heroine Kat – a 'gravity queen' who has the ability to alter physics.
Her superhero-like powers means she can fly through the skies, levitate mid-air and run up and down buildings – even turning the axis an island spins on so she can slide quickly through its streets.
It's a dizzying ability to get to grips with and is aided by the Dual Shock 4's motion sensors – helping you move Kat through the air intuitively by shifting the controller around.
It's a daring idea to base a whole game around – and for the most part it succeeds.
Flying from island to island in the beautifully realised airborne city of Jirga Para Lhao is an absolute joy – and those moments when you have to freefall to chase after something or land is always a rush.
But at times the sheer amount of things you have to stay in control of all becomes too much – most notably in combat.
Managing Kat's fast-paced gravity bending abilities, the fiddly manual camera, and trying to figure out where airborne enemies are in relation to you is a weight that is easy to crumble underneath.
But these frustrating moments are the exception not the rule and nine times out of 10 everything somehow falls into place.
As a central protagonist, Kat is a complete breathe of fresh air – a relentlessly upbeat heroine who always sees the glass half full.
No matter what strife or challenges she faces during her adventures battling the monstrous Nevi creatures or the morally bankrupt Garrison soldiers who help oppress the poor, she always looks for a silver lining.
It's fitting that such a relentlessly bright and positive character has such a gorgeous and vibrant world at her fingertips.
It's not an exaggeration to say if you randomly pick any moment in Gravity Rush 2's 40 hour long campaign you'll be left jaw-dropped.
PS4 Exclusive Games in 2017 and Beyond
Tue, January 3, 2017
PS4 fans are in for a treat in 2017, with exclusive games that include The Last of Us 2, Gran Turismo Sport, Horizon Zero Dawn and more.
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The Last of Us 2 PS4 exclusive
The cel-shaded graphics are on par to a piece of animation artists have spent months working on – it's like the PS4 is painting the world's quickest brushstrokes in front of your very eyes to deliver something truly sumptuous looking.
Jumping into Gravity Rush 2 is like being part of a classic anime or playing a role in a timeless Studio Ghibli masterpiece.
The delightful characters, the gorgeous visuals and the giddying gravity bending mechanics all combine to make a game that feels truly special.
Following on from the success of last year's Final Fantasy 15 and the upcoming Resident Evil 7, it shows that – after a long period playing second fiddle to Western developers – Japanese games are enjoying a remarkable resurgence.
The land of the rising sun is back with a bang. And their latest effort has brought another memorable exclusive that adds to the PS4's already enviable catalogue of titles.
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