If you had this game around the PS2 era, you probably have an idea what this game is about, how it plays, and why you bought it. Then again, games aren’t always the same as when we left them years ago. Perspectives change, and what we considered fun then may or may not still be fun now. However, if this was one of the games you happened to overlook during the last gen, then this will be a whole new experience for you.
 

That being said, you can now buy Gungrave: Overdose as a PS2 classic on PSN for 9.99. The game was definitely a blast from the past, but like all games, it had its shortcomings.  As with the case for all anime oriented titles, the target audience is of course, the fans of the anime. With this second installment, the same idea applies. In Gungrave: Overdose, you resume the role as the silent yet deadly, gun toting protagonist named Grave, who has been called upon once again, to fill his enemies with bullet holes from head to toe.

This third person action shooter starts off with basic gameplay and of course a text by text tutorial.  The gameplay itself is far from complex. You’ll find yourself button mashing square and triangle throughout the course of the game. There is a sense of mindless shooting fun in this game, each stage you combat against enemies who may contain guns themselves, swords, cannons, riot shields and even bazookas. Most enemies are dealt with by simply blowing them to smithereens, however, at certain points the player is faced with having to apply a mild level of strategy. As you progress you’ll find enemies coming more in swarms, sometimes bigger and faster, so the aspect of button mashing won’t always ensure victory, boss fight in particular.
 

The pros are that blowing things up is pretty satisfying, and if you like hopping from level to level doing so, you’ll find your share of laughs. The cons of this title however, are in my opinion, frequent.  The camera is a huge issue. It isn’t necessarily automatic, so it doesn’t follow your character very well, and can be frustrating when encountered by several enemies at once. Accompanied by this is the targeting system. Normally, outside of the targeting button, Grave automatically locks on and deals with enemies swiftly.

When faced with several opponents at once, and seeking to destroy the strongest, therein lays the problem. Struggling with both camera and targeting is annoying, and since this is a ps2 game, newcomers picking this up might find the environment dull and simplistic. Upon meeting certain conditions, two other characters can be unlocked, unfortunately gameplay remains the same.
 

If you have ten dollars to blow and you want something to just shoot things in, then go for it. If you were a fan of this game before, and a fan of the anime, you probably will find it more enjoyable then most. Overall, I give the game a 6 out of 10.