Gungrave G.O.R.E, the third-person shooter from developer Iggymob, launches into Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass next week — we spoke with the studio’s COO to talk about the resurrection of this cult franchise.
We’ve not had a Gungrave game since the PlayStation 2 era, and now we’re only days away from experiencing a brand-new story from this cult franchise. We spoke with Kay Kim, COO of developer Iggymob and general director of Gungrave G.O.R.E about this resurrection and what the studio hopes to achieve when the game launches on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox Game Pass, and PC Game Pass next week.
Gungrave G.O.R.E overview trailer
Gungrave G.O.R.E is a third-person shooter and reboot of the PS2 franchise, which sees the protagonist Grave slaughtering his way through hordes of enemies to stop the distribution of drugs known as Seed. It’s developed by Iggymob and published by Plaion.
“When we look back, we think fans resonated with Nightow-san’s striking character design and Grave’s back story. We still feel there’s something so captivating about playing as an anti-hero searching to exact your revenge on those who wronged you. Combined with the unlimited ammo and unique game system, I think we were able to really capture our fans’ imagination with the blend of cool character tropes and stylish action.”
Starting life on the PS2 with Gungrave in 2002, followed by Gungrave: Overdose in 2004, the series was quick to find an audience, thanks to the over-the-top action it offered and the badassery of Yasuhiro Nightow’s Grave. The series went quiet for a time in the world of video games until 2017, when Iggymob and Blueside developed Gungrave VR, the prequel to Gungrave G.O.R.E (Gunslinger of Resurrection). So why did Iggymob decide to wield the power of necromancy and bring Grave back from the dead? Because the team are fans of the series, of course. “Nostalgia is powerful, especially when we think about the heroes of the past,” Kim said. “We think light-hearted superheroes are great, but we felt a dark and edgier hero was needed — we also wanted to make a game that is simply cool and action-oriented. Grave is a perfect fit for that.”
Technically, Gungrave G.O.R.E is a sequel to Grave’s previous exploits and a continuation of the events that have preceded it, but Iggymob has made a conscious effort to make this entry as welcoming to new players as it is a fully-fledged return to the brutal story hardcore fans have come to love. “The story of Gungrave is quite recognisable, so I don’t think people will have a hard time understanding the story,” Kim told us. “In the main menu, you will find a history section that will remind our old fans and educate new fans about the story of Gungrave since we came back after a long period of resting.”
Originally known as Brandon Heat, Grave was once a part of a mafia gang known as Millenion until he was murdered by his friend. Grave was then resurrected from death’s embrace through a process known as necrolisation, becoming superhuman and invincible in the process. Grave then took down Millenion and now focuses his attention on eradicating a drug known as Seed, a soul-destroying substance created by Millenion that mutates the person affected by it. In Gungrave G.O.R.E, an organisation known as the Raven Clan is mass-producing Seed, and Grave, along with his friends Mika, Quartz and Dr Aso, must now take the fight to the Raven Clan in Hong Kong and a fictional area called Scumland — a pretty apt name for its denizens, we think.
Gungrave G.O.R.E introduces new characters to Grave’s continued adventure, both as companions and enemies. One of the more notable characters is Cheni ‘Quartz’ Angel, a fellow Seed hunter and partner of Grave who has been affected by a mutation known as ‘orgmanisation,’ which has caused some parts of her body to crystalise. “Not only is she a skilled martial artist user, she is also very outgoing and assertive,” Kim said. “She will help Grave on his journey and sometimes use her deadly skillset to fend off enemies. She is also infected with Seed, so she’ll be able to use an arsenal of special skills. I hope she gets a lot of love from the fans.” On the other side of the fence, Grave’s naughty list is made up of four main characters: Ganpo Essex, the overarching leader of the Raven Clan, Yensen the Boostmaster, the leader of Hong Kong’s Raven Clan chapter, Bigwushen, a nightclub showgirl and the leader of the Raven Clan’s Malaysian chapter, and old man Turonty, the leader of Raven Clan’s Singapore chapter.
Alongside the new story and fresh character lineup, Gungrave G.O.R.E has been slightly modernised to incorporate a progression system that adds numerous skills and perks to unlock, but the actual gameplay remains canon. “We wanted to include the mechanics and systems that were loved in the previous iteration of the game into Gungrave G.O.R.E. We focused on implementing a progression system so new action gamers enjoy the game,” Kim said. “Powerful unlimited ammo, Gunkata, and a growth system will be a great mix and it will be entertaining for both new and old fans.” From what we can tell, the core experience remains unchanged from what fans of the series are used to, so expect to be blasting your way through enemies with an impractical style and maximum carnage, much the same as we were on the PlayStation 2. But we’re running on much better hardware now, and it’s afforded Iggymob the opportunity to upgrade the experience. “Thanks to the latest advancements in technology, we’ve been able to render many more enemies, various levels, a new array of skills to master, and much more we’re excited for fans to discover,” Kim explained. “It will be a brand-new experience and we’re ready to showcase the evolved visuals and gameplay.”
Fundamentally, our goal was to make a Gungrave action game anybody could enjoy. We understand being a casual gamer doesn’t mean you always want to play a game that has fruits or SD characters in it. Likewise, we know being an engaged, active, and hardcore gamer doesn’t mean you only enjoy souls-like games only. We want our game to sit somewhere between those worlds so each gamer can enjoy Grave’s journey.
Gungrave G.O.R.E launches on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One on November 22nd and will drop into Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass on the same day. Kim told us that working with Xbox has been a “seamless process,” with the Xbox team even “assisting and communicating” with Iggymob during holiday periods. “I’m grateful to be working with such dedicated people, and if we get a chance in the future, I would like to say thank you in person. “
Before you run off to play Gungrave G.O.R.E next week as either a new or returning player, Iggymob’s Kay Kim has one final message for you: “We are very thankful for all the fans who didn’t forget us, and we would like to welcome new players alike! The road to launch is not always a smooth one, but we have overcome many hurdles along the way. I hope anybody who plays the game feels the catharsis of shooting their way through enemies with gore, style and action!”
Will Gungrave G.O.R.E take its place among some of the best Game Pass games when it launches next week? Well, we’ll have to wait and see, but after being wooed by its action during our Gungrave G.O.R.E hands-on earlier this year, we’re feeling pretty positive about it.
Will you be causing some over-the-top carnage as Grave next week? Drop a comment below and let us know!
