GunGrave OverDose (PlayStation 2)

by Playstation

Product Features

• 1 Player
• Analog Control
• Vibration Function

Product Details

• ASIN: B0006GR4I4
• Item Weight: 8 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #38,888 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)

Product Description

Developed by Red Entertainment, Gungrave O.D. takes the carnage-based formula of the original, adds more characters and some new abilities to the mix. Expanding on its predecessor, it throws you in a cel-shaded world of exaggerated firefights and near delirious action sequences. In addition to franchise hero Grave, there are two additional fighters to choose from: Rocketbilly Redcadillac and Juji Kabane, who meet up with Grave at the beginning of the game. With the exception of the very first training battle, all three characters have the same set of missions to go through and deliver a different experience. The title features 12 different stages as well as in-game cheats that are unlocked through successive and prolific gameplay. Features the work of anime artists Yasuhiro Nightow (Trigun) and Kosuke Fujishima (Sakura Wars) and a soundtrack composed by Tsuneo Imahori (Trigun, Hajime No Ippo).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A big improvement, December 8, 2004

By 

Brian Barron - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: GunGrave OverDose (PlayStation 2) (Video Game)

I just got this game, and I'm very impressed by it, especially by the additions. The shield doesn't just slowly increase like in the last game, if you manage to block your enemies attacks right and wait a short moment, it fills all the way back up, allowing you to get right back to the butt kicking. The attacks have also been made more powerful and certain attacks can now be powered up. I also like the addition of new characters, giving the player some variety once they enter the fray, though you do have to play through to the first boss till you can actually use them. The ability to knock back attacks like missles is another interesting addition, plus the fact that there's plenty more of the environment to destroy compared to the first one.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars much better than the first one, November 29, 2004

By 

Eric C. Avinger "Zatoeric" (seattle, washington United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: GunGrave OverDose (PlayStation 2) (Video Game)

gungrave overdose is a very fun game. the first gungrave was very short and was pretty much a button masher. overdose is longer harder and more engossing than its predessecor. the multiple characters are a nice edition and the story is very very good. the graphics are a bit antiquated and could use some improvment, but if you can get past the blocky characters and bland levels, it quickly becomes a visualy stunning game. Gungrave is a very stylish shooting game that deserves some respect.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great sequel to one of my favorite PS2 games!, November 20, 2006

By 

Prasad K. Cherian - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: GunGrave OverDose (PlayStation 2) (Video Game)

I first got involved with the Gungrave series by only seeing the second volume of the animation. I was bored by it. Brandon Heat seemed so one dimensional and nothing was really happening. Later I read a review for the first Gungrave PS2 game and immediately decided that I had to check it out. I was more than impressed. The game was fun, the story engaging, and the ending scene wonderful. I decided to give the series another try and ended up loving it.

Gungrave Overdose is the sequel to the first game. Once again Beyond the Grave is called into to action to protect Mika Asagi, the daughter of his former girlfriend and his father-figure mafia boss "Big Daddy." The game centers around Grave's attempt to stop the manufacture of a designer drug called "Seed," whose side effect include mutations of the human genome, instant addiction, and death.

This time, however, Grave is joined by a few others: Juji Kabane (whose last name will be familiar to anyone who has seen the series), a ghost haunted guitar called Rocket Billy Redcadillac (yes that's Rocket Billy Redcadillac), and a boy named Spike who has a mysterious past.

The gameplay is similar to the original PS2 game with some differences. For one, there are two other playable characters that are unlocked when one finishes the game with Grave: Juji and Billy. Each character has a main gun (or guitar) weapon, a demolition shot ability, and a melee attack involving the use of Grave's grave, Juji's gun-sword, and Billy's guitar. Also each character has a shield manuever that will come in handy during the game. Thestory unfolds slightly differently on depending on who you play.

Also similar to the original is the shield protection feature as was seen in the original game. The shield will take a number of hits and will regenerate overtime as long as your character takes no dammage or is not actively firing. If the shield level is reduced to 0, then your life meter starts decreasing. This can partially regenerate too (not a feature of the original game if memory serves) when you fire your demolition shot. (I don't know why one of the previous posters wrote that shield and the life gauge do not regenerate; they do.)

A quick word on your demolition shot. Each of the playable characters has three types: a straight shot, a shot that will cover 360 degrees, and the ability to slow down the enemies. Each one of these shots can rise to three levels and are refilled by the amount of destruction you bring. Firing the demolition shot will refill your shield gauge as well as your life meter and incidently can be a lot of fun to watch.

There are 9 levels in the game that have numerous subparts as well as cinemas to keep you entertained. Also there are some special cameos from characters from the first game and animation. Like the first game, there is a great deal of repetion and button mashing. Unlike the first game, there is a great deal more freedom of movement as compared to Gungrave's more linear type battles. This certainly adds a new level of difficulty to the game. Some boss fights have added complexity and will take more than just shooting at them to sound the nell of their defeat.

Of course there are unlockable features that reveal themselves as you beat the game. A word of advice, according to some FAQs and walkthroughs that I have read, these unlockable features will reveal themselves only if you play the game without using its cheat features. I have thus far found this to be true.

I would not advise this game for the younger kids. The story itself is also not that complex so don't expect Salinger or anything. The game is a lot of fun and has high replay value. So if you want some mindless destruction and characters who know how to win the war on drugs I would get this game. I have found it for insanely cheap prices on-line and in stores like Gamestop and EB games.