Gravity Rush is a weird, endearing game that, in several regards, shouldn’t exist… but I’m glad that it does. It’s a game that combines several genres and elements into a unique blend that, under any other circumstances, wouldn’t work as well as they do here. Gravity Rush is equal parts superhero epic, action/adventure manga romp, open-world sandbox, and 3rd-person action game. The resulting final product is a title that can sometimes feel repetitive but sticks the landing overall. It’s a once-in-a-while type of release that reminds you that great games can be produced on a limited budget.
GR: Remastered places you in the role of Kat, a super-powered, gravity-manipulating amnesiac who’s not only fighting to regain her memory but defend the people of Hekseville (a floating city that’s seemingly lost in limbo) from hordes of mystical, gelatinous monsters. Kat’s powers are tied to her pet cat/avatar, and her quest for identity mirrors Hekseville’s fractured state- it’s been literally torn apart at the seams by some terrifying, mysterious force, and it’s your responsibility to put the giant city back together again.
The game has been ported over from the PS Vita, and while it’s a 4-year-old game, the job Bluepoint has done on the conversion is an admirable one. While stiff character animations and several open, empty spaces will give away the game’s actual age and the original platform is was developed on, there’s a lot going on under the hood that makes this a game you have to check out if you never got around to it the first time out.
The best part of Gravity Rush is that it exists and is fun; the phrase “Japanese open-world retro-futuristic fantasy/fairy tale superhero-epic originally designed for a portable platform starring a female protagonist” isn’t a phrase you get to say too often in the world of video game reviews. To boil all of that down into simpler terms, it’s most likely the closest thing that anime fans will ever get to a well-made Sailor Moon game. While not a fan of the seminal anime myself, there were lots of parallels between the two properties that were easily drawn, and I appreciated the effort to craft a modern superhero tale that could be appreciated by a wide audience.
From a technical standpoint, Remastered offers higher textures, runs at 1080p, keeps a consistent 60fps, and is incredibly enjoyable- there’s nothing better than going into anti-grav mode, picking a spot, and listening to surrounding citizens scream as they get caught in your gravity well and come along for the ride. In Gravity Rush, there is no up or down. Once you wrap your head around navigating the world, there’s few experiences like it out there in gaming.
If there’s anything that takes away from the game’s enjoyment, it’s that the narrative never feels fully fleshed-out. You’re given just enough to make sense of the basic plot, but there’s lots left open to interpretation. At times, I was even reminded of Dark Souls’ approach to world-building and storytelling. In terms of game play, while the controls feel even better thanks to the DualShock 4, precision in combat (particularly with bosses), can be an issue at times. For me, these issues were minor, and took very little away from the game as a whole. Gravity Rush: Remastered really is a solid presentation of an already-good game.
There aren’t many games out there like Gravity Rush. It’s unique, fun, and compelling despite its flaws. If nothing else, it lays the groundwork for what will hopefully be an equally impressive sequel. If you’re looking for something different in your open-world games, this might just be the title you’ve been looking for.
