Gungrave Overdose is a title that I have sorely missed since selling my original PS2. It is the action-packed sequel to SEGA's critically-panned Gungrave (PS2). There's also an anime series, which may be the source material, or based off of the games - I'm not sure.
Either way, I have a lot to say about this one. This game is pure and simple, balls-to-the-wall FUN. It's a blazingly fast-paced, stylistic, arcade-style third-person shooter where everything in your environment is fully destructible, and your ammo is unlimited.
You play as Grave, an undead gunslinger who sports a mysterious steel coffin chained to his shoulders (which is used as a melee weapon, a shield, and a rocket launcher-type deal for special attacks).
Along with Grave, there are 2 other playable characters, Rocketbilly Redcadillac, who fights with an electric guitar with which he shoots jolts of lightning from, and flaming, masked swordsman, Juji Kabane.
Each level starts off with an order to "KICK THEIR ASS!!" and you are instantly thrown into the fray. From there you travel from area, to area, clearing out all (or most) baddies until you are able to reach the next. It's like an old-school beat 'em up, in that sense. You'll be gunning down villains non-stop in lobbies, meat lockers, rooftops, and just about anywhere else you could ever want to unload multiple full clips... and that's just the first few levels!
Land enough shots in a row, and you'll start gathering
beats which are stored and used to unearth massively damaging special attacks. These work especially great against the numerous bosses that you will encounter along your journey.
In-between the action are often beautifully animated cut-scenes, and RPG-like dialogues between partially animated character avatars that progress the game's story of ridding the streets of a deadly drug called Seed.
The only real flaw of the game that I can think of is that the camera can sometimes be an absolute menace, especially in more confined areas, which can cause an infuriating amount of unwarranted damage from your opponents. This is rare enough though, and definitely doesn't do much to dampen the wild arcade experience that is Gungrave Overdose. For an obscure budget-title on a last gen console, this is one game that surely should not be missed.