REVIEW – In spite of the reserved success of PS Vita in West, nobody forgot Gravity Rush and its heroine Kat, in a video game which married a singular and interesting universe and with a striking concept based on the manipulation of the gravity. Sony didn’t forget her either because of Gravity Rush 2: she’s back on the PlayStation 4 only this time around.
By arriving on PS4, Gravity Rush 2 will attract undoubtedly a new public, a novice one as regards the universe created by studios Project Siren and Japan Sony. Moreover, if you did not play the first opus, you risk being a little embarrassed at the beginning of the adventure because the game considers that you already know the characters. Which just goes to show that the remaster PS4 was not there accidentally.
The world is upside-down again
Having been drawn in by a gravitational anomaly, Kat and Syd find themselves far from Heksevill, penniless, obliged to work for certain Lisa and his band of wandering minors. Although Kat is missing her powers gravity manipulation at the beginning, they will get back gradually during the adventure, with a complete panel of attacks combos and air turns. The main novelty at this level comes from two additional modes of gravity:
The mode Moon is a low gravity which allows Kat to be faster and agiler, in particular in the air. Impeccable for those air chains.
The mode Jupiter is a heavy, very practical gravity in a fight and for the attacks of the zone by striking the ground with full power.
Kat enters a new dimension!
With the normal gravity, similar to that of the first game, it makes three different, exchangeable modes at will. The result? An ultra dynamic gameplay which offers the player multiple possibilities to get rid of enemies or to reach a distant zone quickly. The travels in Gravity Rush 2 are always a pleasure, and the idea of using the functions of teleportation did not even come to my mind in the main city of the game, in spite of its gigantic size. In spite of some vague moments in narrow perimeters and bugs of the camera, it is a true joy. The fights are fascinating, especially in combination with our friend Raven, the opportunity of magnificent air ballets.
“It’s crystal clear that it’s very difficult to get bored in Gravity Rush 2.”
But if we like flying with agile Kat, it is also because the design of Gravity Rush 2 is one of the most successful of the latest years. The city of Jirga Para Zhao pulls its inspiration of South America and with its multiple exotic islands and colored city parts with complex architectures. Districts are separated therein in a vertical way, and the slums are situated under clouds, which showcases in a realistic way the social disparities. This dystopic vision is having its part in the scenario even if we would have liked that this idea is worked up a bit better.
Kat know how to take care of things
The gigantic size of the main city of Gravity Rush 2 is already a beautiful proof of the change of dimension of the franchise, which was already a beautiful change of quality from the PS Vita version to the quality version AAA on the PS4.
The combat phases are accompanied by races, special challenges, phases of infiltration, protection, search or mining missions to get additional talismans with the function of boosting Kat’s skills.
“The design of Gravity Rush 2 is one of the most successful of the latest years.”
In some secondary missions, we can also explore the mining zones, and it will also allow us to find gemstones, which are used as a currency to improve the queen of the gravity, whether speaking of her attacks, her movements or her energy consumption.
It’s crystal clear that it’s very difficult to get bored in Gravity Rush 2, whether during the main game which takes up to 25 hours or during the myriad of secondary content. We can also try to find treasure; using photos took by other players, which is a brilliant idea for those who like exploration.
A true sequel
The last thing, when I say that Gravity Rush 2 had the ingredients of a true AAA, it also feels in the style of the game. Of course, we are not spared from some bugs of collision here and there. But by style, I meant especially the difference between a game which turns only on a single concept and a polished up production.
The story is, in particular, told passages in a French comic book style, which have the advantage to be cheaper to produce than a large-scale kinematics, while still being very effective when to present a whole universe. Gravity Rush 2 is a game full of life, and its particular style is well present in the numerous details which illuminate the city. Even during the outdoor missions, certain landscapes are really magnificent, and except the mining zones which are lacking diversity, we are ceaselessly charmed.
-BadSector-
Pro:
+ A brilliant concept of gravity perfectly mastered
+ A scenario really interesting altogether
+ The real cultural dimension with a rich and beautiful universe
Against:
– Some camera issues here and there in the small spaces
– The mode skid rather clumsy
– Some missions which take a little bit long
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Developer: SIE Japan Studio, Project Siren
Genre: Action-adventure game
Release date: January 18, 2017
Gravity Rush 2
Gameplay - 9.1
Graphics - 8.6
Story - 8.5
Music/Audio - 8.2
Ambiance - 8.8
8.6
EXCELLENT
There is a true dimensional “gravity jump” between Gravity Rush 2 and his predecessor. If the first opus had stood out by its universe and turned out to be a very good game for PS Vita, its continuation perfectly managed to make the jump to PS4 by developing numerous ideas of gameplay additional to become a game richer than we expected. The concept around the manipulation of the gravity is more exhilarating that in the previous game, thanks to the modes The moon and the Jupiter. Still, it’s the whole contents and ingenious design level of the city of Jirga Para Lhao who make of Gravity Rush 2 an inevitable title of the PS4, even if you missed the first opus.
