First Impressions
Despite having no prior gaming experience of the first Gravity Rush, its sequel’s flow is relatively easy to follow. A combination of in-game dialogue and a short narrated backstory contribute to this factor, but the game is not just about the story but the gameplay itself.
Prologue
We start off with static sounds sifting through dialogue lines of a miner in a large metal suit and a mining ship as it lowers the miner down on a fenced platform. With the cutscenes giving you a finite grasp of the environment, your first task is to follow a fellow miner deep into the mining site.
Familiar faces are re-introduced via an adrenaline-filled escape from a gravity storm. This section also serves as a tutorial. Panicked dialogue amidst chunks of debris whirling around an ominous violet background is enough to make one miss the first jump. Upon completing the tutorial you can exhale and relax for a while as a comic-like cutscene follows.
Characters
New characters and their distinct personalities introduces an art style similar to a Persona game. Through side quests, casual conversations, and storyline dialogue we gain a better understanding of their behaviour as well as watch them develop throughout the game.
The game introduces several additional characters for you and Kat to get to know. Some of these include a mafia boss-like lady leading a nearly extinct tribe, illegitimate brothers with contrasting personalities, and an adopted settler whose secrets are sealed by amnesia. A mix of new and old characters give the game a pleasant familiarity as well as a sense of mystery.
Gravity User Mode
Another familiar and iconic feature of this game is the Gravity User mode. Giving the player the ability to soar through the sky and suspend objects in mid-air are some of its perks. Its graphics will make you relatively dizzy with your character spinning in various directions, and dashing across geometric landscapes on weird angles. However, Gravity User mode is not all floating and fun, but on the bright side you get some wallpaper-worthy views.
Although it doesn’t help that your gravity manipulation is limited by a circular gauge that depletes within 40+ seconds forcing you to revert back into normal gravity state. Furthermore you can sometimes be sent plummeting down, backwards, or sideways disorienting your sense of direction. This can be especially inconvenient during a battle or when no landing areas are in sight. But with some practice and a few 30 second breaks of squinting you won’t have much of a problem. Plus, there will be a target direction marker and distance gauge to guide you through the skies.
Some other things
The game showcases a wide array of details and elements. You are able to enjoy a bird’s eye view of the scenery while floating around casually. NPCs respond to you running into them or shifting their surrounding gravity. Well-drawn characters are skillfully dubbed in a dialect that seems to be a mashup of French, Japanese, Hindi, and Korean. Soaring through vivid scenery, you are accompanied by suitably themed background music for each game area.
These are a few of Gravity Rush 2’s many features that make for a unique gaming experience.
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