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[CO_Andy]

According to critics there's a very steep learning curve... so is it worth the effort?

 

[rollingstart]

YES

its fun, just the controls suck

 

[Karma Kramer]

ehh... It was okay.

 

[Son of Godzilla]

Not at all.

In addition to the shitty controls, it's a shitty game. WHEE 10 MINUTES TO FIND ONE HIDING BUG WHILE I SPASM IN MIDAIR.

 

[White Man]

Whether you love it or hate it, it's hard not to admit that the game is a total mess. I say give it a shot. It's cheap, and after you play it, you'll want a version of it done right.

 

[RumFore]

Its ok. And the controlls you would be surprised is not as terrible as it first seemed. Now alot of games kind of control like it.

 

[White Man]

Its ok. And the controlls you would be surprised is not as terrible as it first seemed. Now alot of games kind of control like it.

I can't think of any game that uses the horrible thumbstick clicks the way GunValk does. That was the killer for the control scheme. An hour of playing would make my thumbs feel like the joints had been pounded by bricks.

 

[Big Shirtless Ron]

yes. it's the most satisfying game i've played in years. the music is not bad either.

 

[qcf x2]

I played it for about 10 min and absolutely hated it. And I was still a Sega fanboy then.

 

[Barry Lightning]

overhyped, albeit very pretty

 

[rollingstart]

Whether you love it or hate it, it's hard not to admit that the game is a total mess. I say give it a shot. It's cheap, and after you play it, you'll want a version of it done right.

yeah, wasnt the reason for the crap controls because it was based around a dreamcast controller?

 

[slidewinder]

The controls and mechanics rock, and are really the game's saving graces; it's the production values (the same enemies grossly overused, lame level design, far too little variety in textures) that drag the game down at all.

Gunvalkyrie is basically the Xbox's (PS2) Shinobi. People who can't come to grips with GV's stick-clicking (or Shinobi's dash-Tate system) are going to justifiably hate it, since what's left is so underwhelming and repetitive-seeming. If you "get" the game, though, you're going to love it.

yeah, wasnt the reason for the crap controls because it was based around a dreamcast controller?

It was originally designed to be played with a DC controller in one hand and a lightgun in the other. I wouldn't "blame" the realized game's controls on that, though, as they are very well thought out, even if not eminently accessible.

 

[purg3]

I loved it, after I got the controls down. It was very gratifying to boost through an entire level and decimate everything in my path. It did get somewhat repetitive, but I still enjoyed it quite a bit. It's dirt cheap, so you really can't lose.

 

[PowerSmell]

yeah, wasnt the reason for the crap controls because it was based around a dreamcast controller?

Why would that make the controls bad?
The reason that the controls are that way is because the game was originally designed on the DC to be played with a lightgun and controller at the same time. Hmmm, I wonder wiich console supports a similar setup?

 

[Kevtones]

I didn't mind the controls but the game was absolute trash. Horrible design.

 

[thatbox]

OP: Yes.

 

[Dice]

If you are a badass: Yes.
If you are a pansy: No.

 

[Prince of Space]

Played the game all the way through to the end, and would never wish that fate on anyone.

PASS

 

[imastalker co.]

under $20 sure.

the controls take a while to get down, but once you do, everything is butter. it also offers great flight unlike any game out there. the action feels like classic sega action.

 

[∀ Narayan]

If you are a badass: Yes.
If you are a pansy: No.

This.

Whether you love it or hate it, it's hard not to admit that the game is a total mess. I say give it a shot. It's cheap, and after you play it, you'll want a version of it done right.

As much as I love GUNVALKYRIE, it's too bad that this factor stands out, no matter what. After you break-in what this game has to offer, you're going to want a whole lot more, and you're going to want it with a lot more polish and presentation.

It would be nice to get a remake, or -- hell, even a sequel. But I don't think the chances of that happening are very high.

 

[Barnolde]

Yes!

Very satisfying once you get the controls down, looks great, high learning curve is worth it, unless you're a wimp. It's a great game from Smilebit (no match for JSRF or PDO though) and it's dirt cheap, you could easily find it for under $10.

 

[Catchpenny]

Wasn't worth playing five years ago, let alone now. Avoid.

 

[PowerSmell]

This.

As much as I love GUNVALKYRIE, it's too bad that this factor stands out, no matter what. After you break-in what this game has to offer, you're going to want a whole lot more, and you're going to want it with a lot more polish and presentation.

It would be nice to get a remake, or -- hell, even a sequel. But I don't think the chances of that happening are very high.

I thought the idea they had for the original version was pretty cool. With the Wii's pointer + Nunchuck setup, I think it would be the best system for a GV sequel if they ever made one.

 

[misterdonut]

I hated this game, but I did like that one level where you're flying through some weird rock area while some alien scientist dude keeps babbling in Japanese or something. I think that level was so hard I just gave up on the whole thing though.

 

[op_ivy]

yes. just watch the running demo from the attract screen, and practice and play like that. fun times to be had and awesome bosses

 

[starchild excalibur]

If you're craving gamer e-cred: Yes.
If you are a pansy: No.

fixed

The game had potential I even got mostly used to the controls after a while, but the final straw was when I had to play with the second character who's controls sucked more than I thought was possible.

 

[Tain]

I got around the controls, yeah, but holy hell did the level design suck in spots. Enough for me to shelve it for a few years.

 

[Timedog]

If you are a badass: Yes.
If you are a pansy: No.

IAWTP. One of my favorite xbox games. Probably 3rd behind NG and Halo. My mind was blown.

 

[Green Shinobi]

There's no way this would be backwards compatible, is there?

I'd get this and Jet Set Radio Future if they were.

 

[Joseph Merrick]

isn't backwards compatible

 

[Green Shinobi]

isn't backwards compatible

Lame. It seems like Microsoft just completely abandoned that aspect of the 360.

 

[Callo Merlose]

The controls and mechanics rock, and are really the game's saving graces; it's the production values (the same enemies grossly overused, lame level design, far too little variety in textures) that drag the game down at all.

Gunvalkyrie is basically the Xbox's (PS2) Shinobi. People who can't come to grips with GV's stick-clicking (or Shinobi's dash-Tate system) are going to justifiably hate it, since what's left is so underwhelming and repetitive-seeming. If you "get" the game, though, you're going to love it.

I'm just posting in this thread to collect your balls for this absurd affront to Sega! SHINOBI FOREVER.

 

[D3VI0US]

My enjoyment of this surely awesome game, at least that's the impression I got from the opening menu gameplay videos and that it's Smilebit, was ruined by the fact that the controls were inverted rendering it unplayable for me. :.(

 

[Sinatar]

The game is incredibly dull once you get the controls down. Basically you fly around in a box shape constantly and lock onto enemies that pose little threat and very very dull levels. It has a couple of cool boss fights but on the whole the game is pretty lame.

 

[arcader]

yes - this is one of the best XBOX games ever released.

You will wither get into the groove of the controls and love it (hint = you should be playing thru entire stages without hitting the ground) or you wont get the controls and hate it.

 

[D-X]

It's pretty hardcore and can get frustrating. This is one game that definitely hasn't been dumbed down for this generation. Get it if you're a Sega/Smilebit fan and its cheap. Just be prepared to play levels over and over to complete very tough missions.

 

[revolverjgw]

It's a great ''used game'' buy, wouldn't ever be worth full price but a great value for its dirt cheap price. And I love the soundtrack, especially the selection screen theme, which I listen to all the time.

 

[Gattsu25]

it's a decent enough game and you might find it well worth the price at under $20 (personally I would never pay over $15 for the game)

the controls are horrid though, absolutely one of the worst control schemes I've used.

some people love the controls, though...and you just might find that you are one of those few. I own the game and think that if they took some hints from ZoE (especially in mapping the face buttons) the game would have been elevated from a hardcore niche title to just a niche game.

just remember that the game's controls, like scat sex, is just not for everyone.

 

[Eggo]

GV rocked. One of the best games on Xbox. If you have a problem with the controls, I can see why you would be frustrated. The learning curve is not gradual. It starts out difficult, then when you get the controls down, it's a cakewalk but still fun.

 

[Sysgen]

Tis all about combos which boost your firepower. Many do not realize this. The game is fantastic once "you get it".

 

[Sapiens]

Different but good.

Get it (its cheap)

 

[beat]

It was originally designed to be played with a DC controller in one hand and a lightgun in the other. I wouldn't "blame" the realized game's controls on that, though, as they are very well thought out, even if not eminently accessible.

I think they could have substituted the A button (it's not even used!) for the left stick button and avoided most if not all of the stupidity.

Also, it is never appropriate to not allow controls to be (un-)inverted, particularly if inversion is the default.

Despite all that, I didn't mind the game. It's an OK budget title. I don't go back to it because it takes a while to get back into the flow and doing that is hand-cramping because of the left thumbstick button action.

 

[levious]

I think they could have substituted the A button (it's not even used!) for the left stick button and avoided most if not all of the stupidity.

you sort of need left stick and right stick funtionality used at the same time for manuvering.

Definitely agree about the inversion though.

 

[TreeFrog78]

It's worth getting if you're into 'different' games, but I wouldn't personally recommend it.
It really is the level design that lets it down - I think there was only one level that felt like it was approaching the promise the game could have had (it had lots of generators, and hordes of monsters). The level I remember most clearly was a hideous platforming mess, jumping between mushroom-like platforms while crappy little flying things sniped you from miles away.
(Mind you, I haven't played it in years - traded it in within a week of buying it, so my descriptions might be woefully inaccurate )

 

[JCBossman]

The chick on the cover is kinda cute, but I wouldn't let her give me a hand job

 

[Sinatar]

Game would be pretty cool on a 360 pad with the thrusters mapped to the bumpers but the game doesn't even give you the option to remap the controls.

 

[hyp]

worth it in every way possible. love this game!

 

[Brandon F]

Even if you can digest the awkward control scheme, the game is a pretty average shooter with little imaginition. Similar to Crackdown I suppose, you rarely face-off against opposing forces that aren't endless hordes of easilly squished bugs with no apparent AI coding.

The environments are pretty and there is a thrilling satisfaction to maintaining perfect airboosts through the entirety of a 20-minute level, but that is the extent of it.

 

[Haunted]

It's a mediocre game, only the graphics were above average for its time.

Pass.

 

[GhaleonEB]

According to critics there's a very steep learning curve... so is it worth the effort?

Nope. It was one of two games I returned last generation, and the only one before beating. Great visuals, music, art design....terrible, madding controls that make the entire game frustrating and not the least bit fun. My hands HURT after playing it.