Gravity Circuit - 2D Jumping Puzzle Game: A Classic-Looking Ulta-Close Combat Type Rockman X

2023-12-25 16:00:47

Score rating: 90 points Clear time: Approximately 4 hours Play status: Clear on normal Play time: Approx. 6 hours Release date: July 14, 2023 Compatible devices: Steam/Switch/PS4/PS5 Play model: Switch Developer: Domesticated Ant Games Publisher: Oizumi Amuzio Genre 2D jumping puzzle game
No spoilers about the genre

Overall review/reputation/impressions

Gravity Circuit is a work that shows great respect for Rockman. It’s not just a mere imitation, it’s also highly original as it specializes in close combat and can use a wealth of skills and enhancements at will. The classic console-style graphics may be a little off-putting, but the tactile, tactile action just like the original is perfect. I also appreciate the fact that it doesn’t have the bad translations that often occur in indie games of this type, and that the dialogue scenes don’t feel out of place at all.

[Comprehensive evaluation]Innovation Usability Visual Sound Play continuity Cost performance

Classic-looking ultra-close combat type Rockman X

Gravity Circuit is a 2D action game heavily influenced by the Rockman series in which you control a robot warrior called “Kai” called Gravity Circuit and fight against a “virus army” that is invading a future world inhabited by intelligent robots. It’s a game.

The following sentence is the manufacturer’s description of this game listed on My Nintendo Store.

Gravity Circuit is a 2D jumping puzzle game that packs flashy action into the classic console world.

From My Nintendo Store

First of all, if I were to paraphrase this description, I would say that you can enjoy the 8-bit style (classic console) graphics and the controls (flashy action) arranged in a Rockman X style.

The next two screenshots are the stage selection screen and the boss appearance scene. The stage is selected from the face graphics of eight bosses lined up, and the selected boss appears with a band-like background effect, a familiar sight from Rockman.

As you can see from these images, this game is made with classic console-style graphics. The dialogue scenes that are inserted from time to time also have a somewhat retro feel, which will bring a sense of nostalgia to those who love classic console games, and conversely to those who have never been exposed to that culture. will feel old-fashioned.

You may be concerned about the lackluster pictures during conversations.

Although this game looks like a classic console, its control system is similar to Rockman X and Rockman Zero, which are still loved today. In other words, this game is a game where you can enjoy the exhilarating feeling of using dashes and wall kicks to move through stages while scattering enemies at high speed, with a classic console-like appearance.

Sara

Of course, the Muji Rockman series is also popular, but unlike the X series and Zero series, it is often not accepted by young people.

And first of all, I would like to say this. If you’re an action gamer who grew up playing the Rockman

Close-range specialized combat involving throwing

The weapon used by the main character of this work, Gravity Circuit, is not the familiar Buster from the Rockman and Rockman X series, nor the Saber from the Zero series. His short range fist is his attack method. To put it simply, it would be best described as “Rockman X, which focuses on hand-to-hand combat.”

The next video is a scene where he is fighting against an enemy. He cheerfully attacks the enemy with a series of blows with his fists, then uses his hook to pull the downed enemy towards him, grabs him, and throws him at another enemy with a shield. The enemy’s shield is shattered, they lose their defense, and are defeated by repeated hits.

In this way, short-range fist attacks are the main focus, so a feature of this work is that there are many scenes of close combat. The feeling of exhilaration and speed is the same as the original, but the throwing techniques from even closer combat than Saber explode with great pleasure, so you’ll feel a mixture of nostalgia and freshness.

Note that the effect of the attack changes depending on the input direction. If you attack while holding up while in the air, it will kick you up, and if you attack while holding down, it will cause a falling attack, so I want to use them differently depending on the situation.

A scene where you kick the weak point of a big mid-boss.

A wide variety of transportation options

This work has a similar feel to Rockman The fixed-distance dash that can be activated by pressing a button has been abolished, and instead you can switch to a quick running mode by holding down the button. This is an easy-to-play change that is optimized for close-quarters combat where sense of distance is important.

You can learn the basic movements in the tutorial.

The next video shows him making full use of Muji Rockman’s sliding and Rockman X’s wall kick to get through the approaching beam zone. I think there are many people who can’t help but smile when they see Muji Rockman and Rockman X using a combination of techniques to overcome the scene in which the ultra-thick beam approaches, which is a classic in Muji Rockman.

Sara

Unlike the original, neither the beam nor the spikes kill you instantly. If you have experience with Muji Rockman, there are many people who have been instantly killed many times and the sound of the beam remains in their ears.

In addition, the hook can be used to grab downed enemies, and by driving it into the ceiling, it can also be used to move like a pendulum. And while hook movement is available, there are changes such as the absence of companions that support movement, similar to Rush from Muji Rockman.

The hook can be expanded and contracted up and down after being hooked.

Speaking of transportation, there will also be a vehicle modeled after the Ride Armor that appears in the Rockman X series. Being able to ride Ride Armor with classic console-style graphics is indescribably impressive. As with the aforementioned Beam Zone, you can feel the respect for Rockman everywhere, so it’s a work that you’ll want to enjoy while also finding the source material.

If you can advance through the stages without destroying the ride armor…

Lots of skills and enhancement options

Learning skills from defeated bosses is synonymous with the Rockman series. This game also has an action called a burst skill that consumes energy to activate, but learning from defeated bosses has been abolished, and instead, you can save up in-game money and purchase it from the shop. . You can equip any four types of acquired skills, and use them without switching by using the combination of direction keys and activation button.

There are four types of burst skills that can be used from the beginning, such as a strong frontal punch and an upward uppercut, and two types of burst skills are added to the shop every time you defeat a boss. In other words, if you defeat all the bosses, a total of 16 types of burst skills will be added, and finally 20 types of burst skills will be available.

In-game money is also used to restore health and energy at intermediate points.

In the original Rockman series, the game starts without any skills, and you learn a total of eight types, one skill for each boss. On the other hand, this game has a total of 20 types, giving players more than double the options. The main attack is melee only, but by activating the burst skill, long-range attacks are also possible, such as sending energy forward or performing a low-power attack on the entire screen.

Also, it’s not just the skills that have many choices; there are 16 types of booster chips, which correspond to the strengthening of parts in Rockman X. This is not obtained by entering a reinforced capsule like in Rockman

There are a total of 16 types of buff effects from booster chips, such as damage reduction from double jumps and stage gimmicks, and you can acquire any of them in any order. Please note that not all buff effects can be activated at the same time, and a maximum of 4 booster chips can be equipped at the same time, so find a combination that suits your play style.

Sara

There is a speed run mode in the game, so after clearing the game, find the best combination of burst skills and booster chips and enjoy the time attack.

Additional lives and EN are hidden within the stage.

Skills and enhancements can be changed freely

This is a Rockman game no matter how far you go, but the big difference from the original is that you can change the customization as much as you like during a battle. As explained in the previous section, there are a total of 20 types of burst skills and a total of 16 types of booster chips, but these can be freely replaced anywhere in the stage, even during boss battles.

Frequent replacement is important. If the stage gimmick is dangerous, you should replace it with one that reduces damage taken.

Even if you encounter a type of boss that you’re not good at, if you buy a lot of booster chips and burst skills in advance, you can find a way out in a short period of time by trying various combinations during the boss battle. This is a nice specification. Furthermore, it is also appreciated that there is no remaining life and you can retry the intermediate points as many times as you like. This will be a huge benefit especially when playing on hard mode.

By the way, since the number of burst skills that can be used is small, it is not possible to adopt a play style like the original Rockman where you hit weak points repeatedly and instantly kill the boss. It’s original and interesting to use a burst skill at the right moment, then follow up with a normal attack, and when the boss activates a burst skill, you have to make decisions such as activating a defense-type burst skill to survive. .

Summary of evaluation points

Gravity Circuit has a great feel as a generic Mega Man If the original series had a chance to release Rockman

As a follower of Rockman, there is 30XX, a roguelike version of Rockman X. The quality of both is good, so if you’re interested, please give it a try.

Strong Points