Changes: Gravity Rush

Revision as of 22:30, 3 October 2018

Gravity Rush, known in Japan as Gravity Daze (グラヴィティデイズ/重力的眩暈:上層への帰還において彼女の内宇宙に生じた摂動?) is an action role-playing video game developed for the PlayStation Vita, and released as a launch title by Sony Computer Entertainment Japan Studio. It was remastered in 2016 for the PlayStation 4 and it was followed up by Gravity Rush 2, also released exclusively for the PlayStation 4.

Overview

Gravity Rush started off back in 2008 as a PlayStation 3 project called Gravité before being transferred to the PlayStation Vita. Directed by Keiichiro Toyama, previously known for creating the survival horror series Silent Hill and Siren , the core mechanic of the game is the player's ability to manipulate gravity to facilitate their navigation of the levels in the game. The graphics are cel-shaded, which in Toyama's opinion stand out from the western photo-realistic trend. Voice acting is limited, and the characters speak in a language heavily influenced by French.

The game was released physically on PlayStation Vita card and as digital download on the PlayStation Store, and remastered and available for the PlayStation 4 physically and digitally. The remaster was announced alongside its sequel at the Tokyo Game Show in 2015.

Gameplay

Gravity Rush is an action-adventure, open world game that features gameplay revolving around the aspect of controlling gravity. Using the right analog stick or the accelerometer, the player can shift gravity in any direction they want to fall towards. As players progress through Kat's story, they unlock new gravity abilities by leveling up through collecting gems and completing side quests and challenges. There is a large emphasis on using physical attacks and other special abilities to destroy enemies. The game also makes use of the PlayStation Vita's gyroscope, which allows the camera to be controlled by tilting the system during gameplay; touch screen controls are used for the Gravity Slide and finishing moves.

Setting

Gravity Rush takes place in a fantasy world. In this universe, there are several pillars, with the main story focusing on one particular pillar that supports Hekseville, a city of four separate towns: Auldnoir, Pleajeune, Vendecentre and Endestria. The player will also visit the Rift Planes, realms that exist beyond Hekseville. Kat's adventure will also take her to a realm at the bottom of the pillar.

Graphics and Presentation

As mentioned above, director Keiichiro Toyama opted to have the game use a cel-shaded art style to give it a unique appearance. The art style seems to take inspiration from Manga and French comics, as evidenced by the inclusion of comic strips that make up the game's cutscenes. The limited voice acting in favour of text allows for effective storytelling without relying on exposition. As for graphical fidelity, the game runs at 30 frames per second with a screen resolution of 540p due to the hardware limitations of the PS Vita, which also gives the game long loading times.

Reception

Gravity Rush has received generally positive reviews from critics. It has an average ranking of 82% on Game Rankings and has gained an 83 out of 100 on Metacritic. Notable Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu awarded it a 38 out of 40, becoming its highest rated PlayStation Vita game. The UK's PSM3 gave it a 9.3/10, concluding that it "Perfectly balances free-roaming exploration, focused story missions and RPG-style leveling, with sublime handheld controls in Vita's first killer app." Destructoid and Gamespot each gave it 6.5/10 and received a 7.5 from IGN. It received the Tokyo Game Show Game of the Year award in 2012 where Toyama said, "I'll do my best on the sequel."

It was also nominated for the "Best Handheld Game" at Spike's 10th Annual Video Game Awards.

References to Previous Works

On top of Auldnoir's church, players familiar with the Forbidden Siren series may recognize the Mana Cross.
Manhole covers and the clock tower in Vendecentre feature triangular symbols similar to the Seal of Metatron associated with The Order from Silent Hill.
During Kat's first trip to a different plane, a father of a lost boy mentions a strange feeling like they all are just figments of someone's imagination or dream, a theme similar to Silent Hill's alternate dimension born from Alessa Gillespie's suffering.

Sachya (Raven as a child) bares a striking resemblance to the aforementioned Alessa Gillespie.

Appearances in Other Games

The game appears as a collectible in the PlayStation 4 version of Republique. The character Cooper praises the unique gameplay, story and setting, while also mentioning the original Japanese name of the game.
Kat herself makes a few guest appearances in other Sony-published titles, such as PlayStation All Stars Battle Royale, Everybody's Golf 6, Destiny of Spirits, and Ragnarok Odyssey ACE.

@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_4 PlayStation 4] ([[Gravity Rush Remaster|Remastered]])
 |followed by = [[Gravity Rush 2: Another Story: The Ark of Time - Raven's Choice|Another Story: The Ark of Time - Raven's Choice]]
-}}'''''Gravity Rush''''', known in Japan as '''''Gravity Daze''''' (''グラヴィティデイズ/重力的眩暈:上層への帰還において彼女の内宇宙に生じた摂動?'') is an action role-playing video game developed for the PlayStation Vita by Sony Computer Entertainment Japan Studio. It was remastered in 2016 for the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_4 PlayStation 4] and it was followed up by [[Gravity Rush 2|''Gravity Rush 2'']], also released exclusively for the PlayStation 4.
+}}'''''Gravity Rush''''', known in Japan as '''''Gravity Daze''''' (''グラヴィティデイズ/重力的眩暈:上層への帰還において彼女の内宇宙に生じた摂動?'') is an action role-playing video game developed for the PlayStation Vita, and released as a launch title by Sony Computer Entertainment Japan Studio. It was remastered in 2016 for the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_4 PlayStation 4] and it was followed up by [[Gravity Rush 2|''Gravity Rush 2'']], also released exclusively for the PlayStation 4.
 ==Overview==
 ''Gravity Rush'' started off back in 2008 as a PlayStation 3 project called ''Gravité'' before being transferred to the PlayStation Vita. Directed by Keiichiro Toyama, previously known for creating the survival horror series ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silent_Hill Silent Hill]'' and ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siren_(video_game) Siren]'' , the core mechanic of the game is the player's ability to manipulate gravity to facilitate their navigation of the levels in the game. The graphics are cel-shaded, which in Toyama's opinion stand out from the western photo-realistic trend. Voice acting is limited, and the characters speak in a language heavily influenced by French.
-The game was released physically on PlayStation Vita card and as digital download on the PlayStation Store, and remastered and available for the PlayStation 4 physically and digitally.
+The game was released physically on PlayStation Vita card and as digital download on the PlayStation Store, and remastered and available for the PlayStation 4 physically and digitally. The remaster was announced alongside its sequel at the Tokyo Game Show in 2015.
 ==Gameplay==
 ''Gravity Rush'' is an action-adventure, open world game that features gameplay revolving around the aspect of controlling gravity. Using the right analog stick or the accelerometer, the player can shift gravity in any direction they want to fall towards. As players progress through Kat's story, they unlock new gravity abilities by leveling up through collecting gems and completing side quests and challenges. There is a large emphasis on using physical attacks and other special abilities to destroy enemies.
+The game also makes use of the PlayStation Vita's gyroscope, which allows the camera to be controlled by tilting the system during gameplay; touch screen controls are used for the Gravity Slide and finishing moves.
 ==Setting==
-''Gravity Rush'' takes place in a fantasy world. In this universe, there are several pillars, with the main story focusing on one particular pillar that supports [[Hekseville]], a city of four separate [[towns]]: [[Auldnoir]], [[Pleajeune]], [[Vendecentre]] and [[Endestria]]. The player will also visit the [[Rift Planes]], realms that exist beyond Hekseville.
+''Gravity Rush'' takes place in a fantasy world. In this universe, there are several pillars, with the main story focusing on [[World Pillar|one particular pillar]] that supports [[Hekseville]], a city of four separate [[towns]]: [[Auldnoir]], [[Pleajeune]], [[Vendecentre]] and [[Endestria]]. The player will also visit the [[Rift Planes]], realms that exist beyond Hekseville. Kat's adventure will also take her to a realm at the [[Boutoume|bottom]] of the pillar.
+==Graphics and Presentation==
+As mentioned above, director Keiichiro Toyama opted to have the game use a cel-shaded art style to give it a unique appearance. The art style seems to take inspiration from Manga and French comics, as evidenced by the inclusion of comic strips that make up the game's cutscenes. The limited voice acting in favour of text allows for effective storytelling without relying on exposition. As for graphical fidelity, the game runs at 30 frames per second with a screen resolution of 540p due to the hardware limitations of the PS Vita, which also gives the game long loading times.
 ==Reception==
@@ Line 37: / Line 40: @@
 ==Appearances in Other Games==
 * The game appears as a collectible in the PlayStation 4 version of ''Republique''. The character Cooper praises the unique gameplay, story and setting, while also mentioning the original Japanese name of the game.
+* Kat herself makes a few guest appearances in other Sony-published titles, such as ''PlayStation All Stars Battle Royale, Everybody's Golf 6, Destiny of Spirits'', and ''Ragnarok Odyssey ACE''.
 ==Videos==