Gravity Rush

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Gravity Rush
Gravity Rush US Cover
North American box art
Developer(s) SCE Japan Studio
(Project Siren)
Publisher(s) Sony Computer Entertainment
Director(s) Keiichiro Toyama
Producer(s) Makato Isomine
Designer(s) Keiichiro Toyama
Artist(s) Yoshiaki Yamaguchi
Writer(s) Naoko Sato
Composer(s) Kohei Tanaka
Platform(s) PlayStation Vita
Release date(s)
Genre(s) Action-adventure, action role-playing, open world
Distribution PlayStation Vita card, download

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 Guraviti Deizu / Jūryoku-teki memai: jōsō e no kikan ni oite, kanojo no nai-uchū ni shōjita setsudō?) is an action-adventure video game developed for the PlayStation Vita.[5] Directed by Keiichiro Toyama and written by Naoko Sato (previously known for the Siren series and the first Silent Hill), the core mechanics of the game is the player's ability to manipulate gravity, allowing unique movements and navigation.[6] The graphics are cel-shaded, which in Toyama's opinion stand out from the western photorealistic trend.[7]

The game started off back in 2008 as a PlayStation 3 project called Gravité,[8][9][10][Note 1] before being eventually transferred to PS Vita. AI and visuals were slightly simplified during the process.[7] However, Gravity Rush director thinks overall Vita suits the game better, because of "its handy and accessible nature" and "the impression of a different world existing beyond the screen" the player gets by tilting the device.[7]

Plot[edit source | edit]

The game is set in the fictitious, floating town of Hekseville. The story begins showing the player character, a girl called Kat, who has lost her memory. She then runs into a mysterious black cat that gives her the power to control gravity. Kat uses this ability in order to protect people from the threat of a gravity storm and the Nevi monsters that have appeared along with it.[11]

Gameplay[edit source | edit]

Player character and three barrels floating in the air. At the center there is a circular sight. In the upper left hand corner there is a green bar. In the upper right hand corner there is a score indicator and a timer.
Gravity Rush screenshot. The player character as well as some objects float. There is a circular sight showing the target position to land.

The gravity-controlling mechanics can be used to fly through the air (by controlling which direction gravity comes from), walk on walls, and thrust devastating gravity kick attacks towards enemies. The player first presses the R button to make the character float, then aims somewhere by tilting the console or moving the right analog stick, and finally presses the R button again to "fall" in that direction until landing on something—be it a wall, a moving ship, the underside of a ledge, or the ground. The tilting movement works thanks to the Vita's gyroscope. Gravity Rush also boasts role-playing game elements, such as leveling up, side quests, optional villains to fight, and a large open world to explore. Throughout the game, Kat acquires new abilities, such as a gravity strike, and the power to lift and throw objects around.[12]

Toyama commented on the influence the game Crackdown had on this evolution-styled gameplay, as he "really liked the aspect of unlocking skills and becoming more powerful, and achieving a higher level of freedom as you become more powerful".[13]

Concept[edit source | edit]

The game was directed by Keiichiro Toyama, previously known for creating survival horror games such as Silent Hill and Siren. He stated in an interview that he conceptualized the idea for Gravity Rush more than ten years before its eventual release, describing it as the first game he wanted to create, pre-dating his work on Silent Hill.[14] He cited Moebius's French comics he read in his youth as an inspiration for the Gravity Rush world,[12][14] referring to one of his comic books that had "images of people floating in space" as an influence.[14] Anime and American comics were both an influence for the characters.[7][12] However, Toyama avoided making his characters "completely Japanese" in order to foster a wider acceptance of them outside of Japan.[13]

Distribution[edit source | edit]

The game is available through both physical and digital distribution in the U.S.[2] and Japan.[1] It was originally thought that Gravity Rush would be download only in Europe, but both physical and digital distribution options were offered at release.[15]

Reception[edit source | edit]

 Reception
Aggregate scores
Aggregator Score
GameRankings 82%
(48 reviews)[16]
Metacritic 83/100
(72 reviews)[17]
Review scores
Publication Score
Edge 8/10[18]
Eurogamer 9/10 (UK)[19]
9/10 (Sweden)[20]
8/10 (Italy)[21] 9/10 (Spain)
Famitsu 38/40[22]
G4 3.5/5[23]
GameSpot 6.5/10
GamesTM 8/10[24]
IGN 7.5/10[25]
Official PlayStation Magazine (UK) 9/10[26]
Official PlayStation Magazine (Australia) 9/10[27]
Play 86%[28]
PSM3 9.3/10[29]
Giant Bomb 3/5 stars[30]
Digital Spy 5/5 stars[31]
Gameblog.fr 5/5 stars[32]
Gamereactor 10/10[33]
Destructoid 6.5/10[34]
Awards
Entity Award
Tokyo Game Show Award[35] Game of the Year

The game has been received with generally positive reviews, with average aggregate scores of 82% at GameRankings based on 48 reviews and 83 out of 100 on Metacritic based on 72 reviews. The Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu gave the game 10, 9, 9 and 10, adding up to a total of 38 out of 40, making it the magazine's highest-rated PS Vita game.[22] Toyama, when asked what the team reaction was about this, said "We had mixed feelings, actually. We achieved something that's unique and brand new, and we feel that should get good reviews. But at the same time, this game a little niche… so we thought it was interesting that we got such high scores."[13] Eurogamer's Christian Donlan wrote that if "you're drawn to games by the satisfaction offered by their simplest mechanics, Gravity Daze is a total delight."[19] Lee West of Gamereactor commented that "he loves when games surprise him like this - in a positive way". The French site Gameblog.fr stated that a game "as exceptional as this one" is "so rare" that "when one comes, it's impossible not to grab it really tight and press it against our chest."[17][32] 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."[29] Game Revolution called it "The Vita's first must-buy game" due to its innovation, creativity, and art.[36]

On the less positive side, Destructoid's Jim Sterling gave the game 6.5/10, saying that "Gravity Rush has everything it needs to be something great, but it takes all the wrong forks in the road and ends up rather unfulfilling. It's a real shame, too, because you it's so clear how brilliant it truly could have been".[34] Carolyn Petit from GameSpot also gave the game a 6.5/10, praising its unusual and beautiful visuals and innovation in the use of gravity, yet felt the tedious combat kept it from being the success that it could have been.[37]

Gravity Rush was nominated for "Best Handheld Game" at Spike's 10th Annual Video Game Awards.

Sequel[edit source | edit]

In a July 2012 interview with Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu game director Keichiro Toyama expressed interest in developing a sequel to Gravity Rush.[38] After receiving the Tokyo Game Show 2012 Game of the Year award, and receiving congratulations from fans Toyama said, "I'll do my best on the sequel".[38] A sequel has yet to officially be announced by Sony Computer Entertainment.

Legacy[edit source | edit]

Prior to the game's release Kat's costume was given out as a promotion for visitors of the Tokyo Game Show 2011 theatre in PlayStation Home.[39] After the release Kat was added to the Everybody's Golf 6 roster as downloadable content.[40] Kat, Raven, Alias, and Yunica were added as a costume pack for LittleBigPlanet 2, LittleBigPlanet PS Vita, and LittleBigPlanet Karting.[41] Kat is also a playable character in PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale, available as downloadable content.[42]

Notes[edit source | edit]

  1. ^ French word for gravity.

External links[edit source | edit]

References[edit source | edit]

  1. ^ a b "Gravity Daze Official PlayStation JP Website". Sony Computer Entertainment Japan. Retrieved January 31, 2012. 
  2. ^ a b "Gravity Rush Floats to PS Vita on June 12 Official PlayStation US Website". Sony Computer Entertainment America. Retrieved February 29, 2012. 
  3. ^ "Gravity Rush Official PlayStation UK Website". Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. Retrieved January 31, 2012. 
  4. ^ "SCEK, release Gravity Rush on June 20". Ruliweb. May 31, 2012. Retrieved June 9, 2012. 
  5. ^ Keogh, Siobhan (May 25, 2012). "Review: Gravity Rush". PCWorld. New Zealand. Retrieved May 30, 2012. 
  6. ^ Toyad, Jonathan. "E3 2011: Gravity Daze Hands-On Preview". Gamespot.com. Retrieved July 2, 2011. 
  7. ^ a b c d "Interview: Gravity Rush's Keiichiro Toyama". Gematsu.com. 
  8. ^ "【電撃PlayStation】重力的SCEツアーをレポート！ 期待のA・AVG『GRAVITY DAZE』の制作風景を探る!! 読者プレゼントも要チェック！". Dengeki Online. 
  9. ^ "Gravité (Gravity Daze) [PS3 - Prototype]". Unseen64.net. 
  10. ^ "Gravity Rush/Daze 2008 Concept Movie". Andriasang.com. 
  11. ^ "Gravity Rush on PlayStation®Vita. --A talk with Keiichiro Toyama". Sony Computer Entertainment Asia. 
  12. ^ a b c "Keiichiro Toyama on his innovative third-person action game". Future Publishing Limited. 
  13. ^ a b c "The Surprising Origins of Gravity Rush for PS Vita". Sony Computer Entertainment America. 
  14. ^ a b c "Gravity Rush Was Ten Years In The Making". Siliconera.com. 
  15. ^ Maschke, Rebecca. "Gravity Rush Coming To PS Vita As Both Download And Game Card On 13th June". Official EU PlayStation Blog. Retrieved February 29, 2012. 
  16. ^ "Gravity Rush". GameRankings. Retrieved June 13, 2012. 
  17. ^ a b "Gravity Rush (PlayStation Vita)". Metacritic. Retrieved June 13, 2012. 
  18. ^ "Gravity Rush review: Exactly the kind of original game that a fresh-faced system such as Vita needs". Edge (magazine). June 11, 2012. Retrieved June 13, 2012. 
  19. ^ a b Donlan, Christian (February 20, 2012). "Gravity Daze Review". Eurogamer. Retrieved February 20, 2012. 
  20. ^ "Recension: Gravity Rush • Sida • Recensioner • PlayStation Vita • Eurogamer.se" (in Swedish). 2012-05-24. Retrieved 2012-06-13. 
  21. ^ "Gravity Rush - review • Recensioni • PlayStation Vita • Eurogamer.it" (in Itallian). 2012-05-24. Retrieved 2012-06-13. 
  22. ^ a b "Gravity Daze Gets High Marks in Famitsu". Andriasang.com - Japanese Game Database. February 1, 2012. 
  23. ^ Rubens, Alex (2012-06-12). "Gravity Rush Review for PSV". G4. Retrieved 2012-06-12. 
  24. ^ "Gravity Rush review". GamesTM. 16 June 2012. Retrieved June 18, 2012. 
  25. ^ www.ign.com/articles/2012/05/24/gravity-rush-review
  26. ^ "Grtavity Rush PS Vita Review | Official PlayStation Magazine". May 24, 2012. Retrieved May 24, 2012. 
  27. ^ "Gravity Rush". Official PlayStation Magazine (Australia) (69): 77. June 2012. 
  28. ^ "Gravity Rush review". Play (219): 74. June 2012. 
  29. ^ a b "Gravity Rush: Why Vita's killer app will turn your world upside down". PSM3 (May 2012): 112. May 2012. 
  30. ^ Navarro, Alex (2012-06-11). "Gravity Rush Review". Giant Bomb. Retrieved 2012-06-11. 
  31. ^ Mark Langshaw (May 28, 2012). "Gravity Rush Review - Digital Spy". Retrieved May 28, 2012. 
  32. ^ a b "Gravity Rush, le test sur PS Vita". Gameblog.fr. May 26, 2012. Archived from the original on June 13, 2012. Retrieved June 13, 2012. 
  33. ^ West, Lee (2012-05-24). "Gravity Rush". Gamereactor. Archived from the original on 13 June 2012. Retrieved 13 June 2012. 
  34. ^ a b "Review: Gravity Rush -Destructoid". May 24, 2012. Retrieved May 24, 2012. 
  35. ^ 'Gravity Rush' wins Tokyo Game Show award, director hints at sequel , Retrieved on September 30, 2012,
  36. ^ "Vita Gets Its First Must-Buy Game In June". Game Revolution. Retrieved May 26, 2012. 
  37. ^ http://www.gamespot.com/gravity-rush/reviews/gravity-rush-review-6382346/
  38. ^ a b "Japan's Top Creators Discuss the Future of Games". July 24, 2012. Retrieved November 19, 2012. 
  39. ^ "PlayStation Home Item Database". Retrieved November 19, 2012. 
  40. ^ "Kat From Gravity Rush Has Cameo In Hot Shots Golf". August 28, 2012. Retrieved November 19, 2012. 
  41. ^ "Sack it to Me: Gravity Rush Comes to LittleBigPlanet". November 19, 2012. Retrieved November 19, 2012. 
  42. ^ "First PlayStation All-Stars DLC: Kat and Emmett Join the Battle Royale (For Free!)". November 15, 2012. Retrieved November 19, 2012. 
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