Azure Striker Gunvolt 2

Azure Striker Gunvolt 2 built on the successful first entry and expanded its mechanics with new abilities and a second playable character, Copen, whose playstyle differs significantly from Gunvolt's electric tagging. While Gunvolt remains true to the principle of tagging enemies with a beam and then finishing them with a charged discharge, Copen attacks with direct projectiles and can copy the special abilities of defeated bosses, offering players a different approach to combat and level design and tempting them to revisit the same levels a second time with a different character. The choice of character thus fundamentally changes the pace and tactics the player uses against enemies and bosses alike.

The game preserves the fast, acrobatic platforming sections and intense boss fights that were a key element of the first entry, and adds to them a more developed story continuing on from the events of Azure Striker Gunvolt, along with new enemy factions the player faces. The visuals and music remain in a similar spirit to the previous entry — anime-styled characters combined with energetic electronic and rock music that complements both the brisk pace of the action and the tense moments of boss fights well.

Azure Striker Gunvolt 2 was received as a solid and player-friendly sequel to the acclaimed first entry, one that expanded the gameplay with a second character without abandoning what fans appreciated about the first game. Among players of action platformers on 3DS it maintained a reputation as a quality, thoughtfully designed sequel that develops the series in a meaningful rather than merely cosmetic way, and it offers the second playable character as a fully fledged alternative rather than a minor bonus; together with the first entry it forms one of the platform's strongest action double-packs, one that will especially appeal to players seeking demanding but fairly designed boss fights.