Azure Striker Gunvolt 2

Azure Striker Gunvolt 2 is, as far as I’m concerned, an improvement on ASG1 in every way. Our impromptu shock therapist Gunvolt returns. With levels better designed to suit his movement he feels much better to play. Much as I enjoy the first game, ASG2 does away with a lot of the plodding the first game struggled with at times. Combat is more engaging and bosses generally have more unique power sets. As much as Gunvolt’s improvements are appreciated, the real star of the show is the newly-playable Copen. Copen takes the dash based movement from the MegaMan X games and turbocharges it. He zips around doing flying kicks and shredding enemies with targeted gunfire and it just feels so good. Shredding a room full of cultists without ever touching the ground, landing and jetting to the next one is a gameplay loop that keeps you in a flow state. Bosses provide Copen with boss weapons as well, meaning each stage provides you with that MegaMan boost of power. I’d say given the power increase this game is broadly easier than the original Gunvolt to finish, but both characters are so satisfying to play that I don’t care. If you enjoyed Gunvolt 1 you will enjoy 2 as well.