Luminous Avenger Ix 2 Hard Mode

[Janeen Bahrke]

The second game in the "Gunvolt Chronicles" series and a direct sequel to Luminous Avenger iX, Luminous Avenger iX 2 once again features Copen as the main protagonist, who returns with new gameplay features.

Similar to its predecessor, Luminous Avenger iX 2 stars Copen as its main player character. However, unlike that game, which simply imported the gameplay of Azure Striker Gunvolt 2 with minor adjustments, LAiX2 radically overhauls and changes Copen's gameplay system.

Copen's armor has changed to automatically switch between two aesthetic "modes" depending on whether he is grounded or performing a bullit dash: the power focused Break-Shift and speed focused Bullit-Shift. Dashing on the ground now results in the rocket powered Recoil Dash, which knocks enemies and objects back and normally does not tag, and results in Copen bouncing backwards (how far back can be adjusted with movement). His laser gun, Divider, has been replaced by a new chain/buzz saw melee weapon known as the Razor Wheel, which can cut enemies in half. Pressing the attack button produces a small buzzsaw which can block physical projectiles, and holding the saw keeps it constantly spinning but massively reduces its damage output. Button mashing after the small saw produces a chainsaw swing from front to slightly overhead (also blocks physical projectiles), and mashing again after the chainsaw produces a large buzzsaw, which can be kept spinning by holding the button. This large saw holds Copen in place and has a long deactivation time, but can immediately be escaped with the ex weapon Whirling Chopper. The large saw is also capable of blocking the energy projectiles of nearly all common enemies in the game, but only a select few attacks from bosses (actually doing this is very impractical). The large buzzsaw can be launched like a yo-yo after purchasing the ability Boomerazor. Tagging an opponent with a bullit dash will cause the Razor Wheel to fire homing buzzsaws, much like Copen's old gun's homing lasers (this doesn't cut enemies in half). Accessing the skill menu will deactivate the tag. Defeating an enemy will trigger an invisible 5 second countdown, during which any additional enemy killed will reward the player with a 30 kudos Quick Razor bonus.

Prevasion and the Flashfield are gone, forcing Copen to block hits with the Razor Wheel instead. The ability Hyper Guard may be purchased and equipped, reducing almost any damage Copen takes to just 1 as long as he remains still. (Exceptions: Autochrome and Ypsilon's Aiming Ray attack)

Bullits have been done away with; performing one bullit dash prior to Overdrive (1000 kudos) will expend it and make an [EMPTY] sign flash in the middle of the screen until Copen lands on the ground, with a beep noise playing at the start and any time the dash button is pressed. Once Overdrive is triggered, bullit dashing is potentially unlimited, but runs on a timer that must be refreshed by colliding with enemies or the ground; failure results in an [EMPTY] state.

Lola also returns to support Copen in battle, her main function being the production of EX Weapons, granting Copen the power to use the abilities of the bosses he defeats. The EX Weapon gained from Rebellio in the previous game, Anchor Nexus, returns as the new default EX Weapon in a nerfed state (slight damage reduction and no longer has mid-dash defensive properties); Stellar Spark is absent. Once the player accumulates over 1000 kudos, Lola appears and triggers Overdrive. Lola also has a chance of triggering "Anthem" once Copen dies, reviving him and buffing his abilities, which also features the return of her "Awakened Mode". It is now possible for Anthem to be triggered by falling into a pit, and if so results in Copen reappearing on nearby ground. New to LAiX2 is Lola's "Healing Mode", allowing Copen to heal himself with no apparent limit, though the ability banks in Kudos upon use.

Copen also has a new offensive special skill, Colossal Maelstrom, being functionally identical to Shred Storm from GV2 and Twin Shredder from iX1, except Lola briefly uses Darkness Mode instead of Awakening. This skill will cut any enemy it finishes in half.

In Normal Mode the standard Gutless/Normal/Fearless kudos system has been done away with in lieu of Lola's Healing Mode serving as the kudos eating penalty; take too much damage, and you will be forced to use it and bank your kudos.

After collecting all emblems in stages, a hidden passageway in the right wall of the last pit of the final stage Hanging Gardens 2 becomes accessible. Entering it will unlock Hard Mode, which can be accessed from the title screen and has its own save files.

In Hard Mode, Copen is locked to level 1 (i.e. only 200 HP), has limited lives that when depleted will result in you getting sent back to the stage select screen, far shorter invincibility frames after being hit, all subroutines are disabled, Lola's Healing Mode is disabled, Kudos are lost upon being hit like in the old Fearless setting, bosses have upgraded attack patterns and almost all of them have switched around weaknesses (exception: Kirin). The game's true ending is locked behind completing all Hard Mode story missions.

Version 1.4.0 introduced Assist Mode for Hard Mode, which sets player lives to 200 by default, enables Healing, and activates the ability Medley, which changes the song playing when 2000 kudos, 3000 kudos, etc are reached (can't be turned off). This mode is displayed on all score results screens.

On Steam and hacked consoles it is possible to transfer a Normal Mode's level ups, active abilities, and unlocked missions to Hard Mode by renaming the file. Normal Mode saves are numbered 00 to 09, while Hard Mode saves are numbered 10 to 19. Ex, rename ix2game01 to ix2game11. Please note that this may prevent story progression depending on when it is done.

After the events of Luminous Avenger iX, peace has once more returned to the world, with the Sumeragi Institute now under the benevolent command of Blade. With the world safe, Copen can finally dedicate his time to his main passion, that being scientific research, aided by Lola and Kohaku. One day, a mysterious weapon known as the "Blaster Rifle" appears, made with technology far beyond this world. Intrigued by the possibility of other worlds, Copen continues his research, until one day, an unfamiliar voice calls out, begging for help, and the Blaster Rifle creates a wormhole that sucks in Copen, Lola and Kohaku.

Awakening to a brand new world, the trio find themselves outside a massive building - the Grave Pillar, said to hold all the world's knowledge, guarded by robots known as Workers. With the help of a friendly Worker named Null, Copen and his party advance towards the Pillar - their only hope of getting home...

An energetic combat support robot created by Copen to aid him in battle, capable of copying an Adept's Septima and using it for Copen's benefit, and transforming into an idol to bring him to life through song.

A malfunctioning "fake Copen" Worker made based on Copen's data who aims to defeat him. His fighting style resembles...? Much like the real Copen he collects the abilities of fallen Gravekeepers, and grows in intelligence over time as well. Although Ypsilon serves a similar role to the Gravekeepers, he is technically not one due to having greater privileges within the pillar.

Gravekeeper of the Volcano Block. A fire wielding stoic soldier type, he was created centuries ago and is the oldest of the Gravekeepers. The only Gravekeeper known to have been forced to fight intruding humans, he succumbed to despair over the contradictory nature of his missions and humanity's extinction.

Gravekeeper of the Jungle Block. A self-proclaimed "high-class noble" Worker modeled after bees and wasps, she manipulates wind and flies using propellers. She is the younger sister of Autochrome, and has developed an inferiority complex due to their different weapon and propulsion systems.

Gravekeeper of the Industrial Block. Originally a close combat and high mobility fighter, he developed an obsession with heavy firepower and now fights using a custom tank called the Heavy Basalt. He greatly respects Dacite and refers to him as "Captain", and is eager to fight Copen after his destruction.

Gravekeeper of the Laboratory Block. A Worker who wields laser weapons and flies with jet propulsion. He is a straight-laced and hardworking type, and consequently was entrusted with the tower's extremely destructive optic weapons systems. He is Vespa's older brother, and as sibling units they are potentially capable of incredible teamwork, but this has yet to happen due to Vespa's personality.

Gravekeeper of the Arctic Block. She wields ice and can slow down time at full power. Hail takes things at her own slow pace, and enjoys finding quiet places to sleep. She's nearly as old as Dacite and also fought humans prior to their extinction, but hasn't thought much about it.

Gravekeeper of the Space Block. Based on a ninja, he is the fastest of all Workers and fights with razor boomerangs. The latest in a line of Gravekeepers who have been replaced over time, he is extremely efficient and disciplined.

As part of the promotion of iX2, ten music videos of the game's songs were published, two in live action with Lola's voice actress Mayu Mineda cosplaying as Lola in Healing Mode, and eight in 3D with Lola. In a first for the series, the songs received official English translations of the lyrics as subtitles for the videos.

The Youtube release of the Purification 3D music video, which uniquely features Lola in her Awakened Mode, was censored by having her skin obscured by light. The music video was released uncensored on Niconico.

A Japanese standard and limited edition physical version for Nintendo Switch and Playstation 4 were announced with the game and preorders opened the following day. They are set to be released on the same day as the game.

c80f0f1006