Chronicles of the Backlog: Gravity Rush Remastered Unveiled – A Gaming Odyssey

As 2024 came to a close, I completed my Metaphor Refantazio playthrough and relished late-night sessions of Marvel Rivals. Unsure of my next gaming adventure, I browsed through my various wish lists and took a moment to reflect. Eventually, I chose Gravity Rush Remastered, a game I had been eager to try for some time. It instantly captured my attention, originally launched on the PlayStation Vita and subsequently adapted for the PlayStation 4 with its remastered version. Almost immediately upon starting, it struck me that I was embracing backlog mode, excited to explore titles I had overlooked.

Engaging with a game that was absent from the usual conversations filled me with joy and intrigue. It was as though the incessant online chatter had quieted for a while. Don’t misunderstand me—I absolutely enjoy discussing video games, without a doubt—but certain online discussions can become overwhelming at times. This sensation motivated me to initiate a series called Tales From The Backlog. The inaugural entry will spotlight the game in question: Gravity Rush Remastered

A Red Apple

Gravity Rush Remastered commences with Kat, the protagonist, awakening in Hekseville, a city suspended in the sky. She is accompanied by an enigmatic feline named Dusty. It is swiftly revealed that Dusty possesses the power to control gravity, enabling Kat to do so as well, which she employs to fight against the enemy menace known as the Nevi. I believe that the narrative is the weakest part of Gravity Rush, and I quickly found my interest waning. The environment often feels stale and uninspired, with side quests primarily consisting of simple fetch missions. Thankfully, other elements of the game enhance the experience and compensate for these flaws.

One of the most striking features of the game, and the first I wish to emphasize, is its artistic design. Due to the outstanding art direction in Gravity Rush Remastered, the game still appears remarkably fresh, despite being adapted for the PlayStation 4 in 2015. The character and environment designs exude a comic book and anime flair, which perfectly aligns with the in-game dialogue displayed on comic panels. This unified aesthetic provides the world with a unique ambiance that integrates flawlessly with the gameplay.

Just A Girl And Her Cat

Throughout the gameplay, it’s essentially Kat and Dusty against the world—or more accurately, striving to save it by eliminating the Nevi. The mechanics of Gravity Rush Remastered possess a rhythm that you’ll rapidly become accustomed to. As you navigate the environment, you’ll gather shards that can be utilized to enhance Kat’s abilities, like reducing cooldowns or amplifying various types of damage. Certain upgrades prove more advantageous than others, such as decreasing gravity drain so you can glide longer before your energy meter depletes. These gems are dispersed throughout the city and can also be discovered in other regions you explore, like Boutoume.

In the gameplay cycle, there is naturally ongoing combat against the Nevi. Kat’s combat capabilities are somewhat restricted, but I found them adequate to keep me interested. However, combat occasionally felt slightly awkward, particularly during moments when Kat was soaring. I often struggled to entirely master the lock-on system, which frequently led me to miss strikes I believed should have landed. Fortunately, the game offers a forgiving auto-save feature, so if those instances resulted in my demise, I didn’t need to replay extensive sections.

Initially, players might perceive controlling Kat while soaring through the air and aiming for new locations as challenging. Nevertheless, give it some time, and I assure you that, soon, it will feel instinctive. My top recommendation is to access the settings and disable motion controls. Just like in the PlayStation Vita version, the game defaults to utilizing motion controls for aiming and several functions. Turning this off will significantly accelerate your improvement.

The First Of Many

Even though I encountered some challenges with Gravity Rush Remastered, such as the combat feeling a bit unwieldy, I still relished the game overall and felt that other components sustained it for my enjoyment until the conclusion. This composition regarding Gravity Rush Remastered signifies the first installment in my backlog series. I envision these articles evolving as I fine-tune my focus and determine what specific elements I want to emphasize in each one. At some point, I plan to experience Gravity Rush 2 and include it in this series. However, the subsequent two installments are already in development, and neither will concentrate on Gravity Rush 2.

Before I conclude, here’s a teaser for Volume 2’s release: “Gotta Go Fast!”