Post by Melissa Foxworthy on Dec 19, 2007 13:18:27 GMT -5
Gungrave
The first entry in this series follows the story of Brandon "Beyond the Grave" Heat (or just "Grave") as he exacts revenge against the criminal organization he once helped to lead. He is also charged with protecting a young girl, Mika, who is being targeted by this group. Flashbacks appear at different points in the game to give insight into Brandon and the events that lead him to becoming Grave.
The game opens with the young girl dragging an oversized attaché case toward a warehouse with difficulty. "Bloody" Harry Macdowell has just carried out a coup against Big Daddy, the leader of the Millennion organization, and his daughter Mika needs to find someone that can protect her and stop Harry's mad plans. The occupants of this warehouse include a kindly looking old doctor, and a man with a notable scar on his face. Mika arrives, and the man with the scar claims the contents of the case: two massive handguns. That man is revealed to be the game's title character Grave, and now that he is armed he can start his mission.
Gungrave first approaches its stages as a series of missions issued by Dr. T, first to gather information on the current makeup of Millennion from a low-level street gang, and next destroying a research facility that creates Harry's undead soldiers. In the third stage, while attempting to pump information from an informant, Grave comes into contact with the leadership of the Millenion organization -- once friends and allies that he now faces as enemies. Each have used the research Harry supported to give themselves inhumane powers. From here on, Grave is hounded by each member as he makes his way to Harry's tower at the heart of the city.
As the player progresses the game uses anime cutscenes to reflect on the history of young Brandon and Harry, gradually bringing the pair's back story into focus. Close friends, the two had both become lieutenants in the Millennion organization, working directly under Big Daddy, the group's leader. Brandon shared a bond with Big Daddy and some flashbacks show the two sharing more of a father-son relationship. Brandon even let Big Daddy marry the woman he loved so that she could find a better life, but the two remained close. Not content with the power he had been given Harry asked Brandon to help him kill Big Daddy so that he could take over. When Brandon refused Harry shot his friend in the left eye, killing him. Fifteen years later, Harry carried out his coup. His actions as leader inspired Dr. T to revive Brandon who was the only person capable of stopping Harry. Dr. T's connection to all of this is not made clear, but he often makes comments that indicate some connection to Brandon's former life.
Grave picks apart the leadership of Millennion to make his way to Harry. At the top of the tower that Harry uses as a headquarters, it is revealed that Big Daddy still lives in the form of a twisted monster. Harry forces Grave to fight his creation, and following the final battle, Harry accepts his defeat graciously and allows his friend to kill him.
With Harry defeated, Mika's protection becomes Grave's only concern, and the two ride off into the sunset together.
Gungrave (the anime)
The first half of the series (if one doesn’t count the first episode) explores the relationship of a young Brandon Heat and Harry MacDowell, twenty-five years before the start of the original game. The primary story follows the pair of small-time criminals entering the big-league, a syndicate known as Millennion. The group emphasizes loyalty among its members, but Brandon and Harry’s strong relationship is disrupted by Harry’s lust for power and his desire to get to the top with his friend so he can accomplish his goal: To get what he wants, when he wants. Secondary to the main story is the relationship between Brandon and his love interest, Maria. It reveals why Brandon and Maria's relation did not go any further, because Brandon felt so ashamed of the things he had to do to get close to the woman he loved. He worked as a sweeper for Millennion, and due to this, Brandon felt that he could not be worthy of her love, because he had sinned too greatly in his profession as an assassin. With that and the realization that Big Daddy, the leader of Millennion, was also in love with her (as much as a Father loves a daughter), Brandon ends up letting her go so she could lead a normal life away from the violence of the Mafia.
In these early episodes, Brandon struggles to decide who is more important to him: his true love, the Millennion organization, or his best friend. The first half also introduces the reasons behind the death and resurrection of Brandon Heat, a product of the necrolyzation technique developed by Dr. T. This technique was discovered when a rival gang, The Lightnings, get an ex-soldier named Blood War to join the group with his men to start a war against Millennion. Blood War and the Lightning's leader, Cannon Vulcan, die in the end, but not before Harry and Lee find out about their use of the necrolyzation process. Harry continues this research under his own initiative, funneling money secretly to Dr. T's research group in order to develop a powerful undead army, which he ultimately uses to control the entire city.
The second half of the series picks up thirteen years after Brandon's death, when he is revived by Dr. T to protect Maria's daughter, Mika, and exact revenge on the Millennion Organization for the murder of his friends. By this time, Harry has taken over and ruthlessly expanded the criminal empire to all corners of the world, fulfilling his dreams of power. This portion of the story follows the plot of the original game and expands on characters and events, while fleshing out relationships in more detail. We see Brandon opening up slowly to Mika, and Mika falling in love with Brandon, entreating him to leave his past behind him and Millenion so they can live together in peace. He, however, ultimately refuses and faces his former friend Harry in a final battle. Although they are now enemies, Brandon still holds deep affection for Harry and reveals why he did not kill the other when he had the chance: Brandon still believed in his best friend, even unto his death. In the end, Harry and Brandon make amends and decide to end each other's lives instead of being killed by Millenion's agents.
Gungrave Overdose
3 years later, Mika awakens Grave just in time; she nearly dies if not for him. Seed is back, and a new Sindicate is in town. Mika has a new friend with her; Spike. He developed a Seed Seeker, and with it, Mika and Grave hunt down places that deal in Seed. They quickly meet up with Rocket Billy RedCadillac, an ex superstar and a ghost, and Juji Kabane, an ex soldier and a Deadman/Seed hybrid.
As their quest unfolds, they learn that the true enemy is the favored son of the Corsione family, who's pulling all the strings. His name is Garino Creale Cosione.
And with him is the only one who can control Cerberus' Center Head; Fangoram.
Juji and Billy also learn a startling truth: Mika has been giving her blood to Grave, which was why she was having dizzy spells.
Garino ends up turning his father into an Orgman to stop Grave. After the plane crashes and Grave deals with the Orgman, he finds that Mika had nearly died, and that Spike had given her Seed.
They travel, following Spike's locater, to find themselves face to face with two definite truths: Spike was Garino's clone, and Seed was actually manufactured from a spaceship that was from another world. Garino kills his clone, which enrages Grave and the others. After a fight in which all three deal a killing blow, Garino gives them an antidote to the Seed, which could cure the quickly failing Mika.
The Counter Seed works, and the ending is of Mika saying goodbye to Juji and Billy. She had made a grave for Spike next to that of her mother, and having Grave in the hospital seat, she drives the van onward.
The first entry in this series follows the story of Brandon "Beyond the Grave" Heat (or just "Grave") as he exacts revenge against the criminal organization he once helped to lead. He is also charged with protecting a young girl, Mika, who is being targeted by this group. Flashbacks appear at different points in the game to give insight into Brandon and the events that lead him to becoming Grave.
The game opens with the young girl dragging an oversized attaché case toward a warehouse with difficulty. "Bloody" Harry Macdowell has just carried out a coup against Big Daddy, the leader of the Millennion organization, and his daughter Mika needs to find someone that can protect her and stop Harry's mad plans. The occupants of this warehouse include a kindly looking old doctor, and a man with a notable scar on his face. Mika arrives, and the man with the scar claims the contents of the case: two massive handguns. That man is revealed to be the game's title character Grave, and now that he is armed he can start his mission.
Gungrave first approaches its stages as a series of missions issued by Dr. T, first to gather information on the current makeup of Millennion from a low-level street gang, and next destroying a research facility that creates Harry's undead soldiers. In the third stage, while attempting to pump information from an informant, Grave comes into contact with the leadership of the Millenion organization -- once friends and allies that he now faces as enemies. Each have used the research Harry supported to give themselves inhumane powers. From here on, Grave is hounded by each member as he makes his way to Harry's tower at the heart of the city.
As the player progresses the game uses anime cutscenes to reflect on the history of young Brandon and Harry, gradually bringing the pair's back story into focus. Close friends, the two had both become lieutenants in the Millennion organization, working directly under Big Daddy, the group's leader. Brandon shared a bond with Big Daddy and some flashbacks show the two sharing more of a father-son relationship. Brandon even let Big Daddy marry the woman he loved so that she could find a better life, but the two remained close. Not content with the power he had been given Harry asked Brandon to help him kill Big Daddy so that he could take over. When Brandon refused Harry shot his friend in the left eye, killing him. Fifteen years later, Harry carried out his coup. His actions as leader inspired Dr. T to revive Brandon who was the only person capable of stopping Harry. Dr. T's connection to all of this is not made clear, but he often makes comments that indicate some connection to Brandon's former life.
Grave picks apart the leadership of Millennion to make his way to Harry. At the top of the tower that Harry uses as a headquarters, it is revealed that Big Daddy still lives in the form of a twisted monster. Harry forces Grave to fight his creation, and following the final battle, Harry accepts his defeat graciously and allows his friend to kill him.
With Harry defeated, Mika's protection becomes Grave's only concern, and the two ride off into the sunset together.
Gungrave (the anime)
The first half of the series (if one doesn’t count the first episode) explores the relationship of a young Brandon Heat and Harry MacDowell, twenty-five years before the start of the original game. The primary story follows the pair of small-time criminals entering the big-league, a syndicate known as Millennion. The group emphasizes loyalty among its members, but Brandon and Harry’s strong relationship is disrupted by Harry’s lust for power and his desire to get to the top with his friend so he can accomplish his goal: To get what he wants, when he wants. Secondary to the main story is the relationship between Brandon and his love interest, Maria. It reveals why Brandon and Maria's relation did not go any further, because Brandon felt so ashamed of the things he had to do to get close to the woman he loved. He worked as a sweeper for Millennion, and due to this, Brandon felt that he could not be worthy of her love, because he had sinned too greatly in his profession as an assassin. With that and the realization that Big Daddy, the leader of Millennion, was also in love with her (as much as a Father loves a daughter), Brandon ends up letting her go so she could lead a normal life away from the violence of the Mafia.
In these early episodes, Brandon struggles to decide who is more important to him: his true love, the Millennion organization, or his best friend. The first half also introduces the reasons behind the death and resurrection of Brandon Heat, a product of the necrolyzation technique developed by Dr. T. This technique was discovered when a rival gang, The Lightnings, get an ex-soldier named Blood War to join the group with his men to start a war against Millennion. Blood War and the Lightning's leader, Cannon Vulcan, die in the end, but not before Harry and Lee find out about their use of the necrolyzation process. Harry continues this research under his own initiative, funneling money secretly to Dr. T's research group in order to develop a powerful undead army, which he ultimately uses to control the entire city.
The second half of the series picks up thirteen years after Brandon's death, when he is revived by Dr. T to protect Maria's daughter, Mika, and exact revenge on the Millennion Organization for the murder of his friends. By this time, Harry has taken over and ruthlessly expanded the criminal empire to all corners of the world, fulfilling his dreams of power. This portion of the story follows the plot of the original game and expands on characters and events, while fleshing out relationships in more detail. We see Brandon opening up slowly to Mika, and Mika falling in love with Brandon, entreating him to leave his past behind him and Millenion so they can live together in peace. He, however, ultimately refuses and faces his former friend Harry in a final battle. Although they are now enemies, Brandon still holds deep affection for Harry and reveals why he did not kill the other when he had the chance: Brandon still believed in his best friend, even unto his death. In the end, Harry and Brandon make amends and decide to end each other's lives instead of being killed by Millenion's agents.
Gungrave Overdose
3 years later, Mika awakens Grave just in time; she nearly dies if not for him. Seed is back, and a new Sindicate is in town. Mika has a new friend with her; Spike. He developed a Seed Seeker, and with it, Mika and Grave hunt down places that deal in Seed. They quickly meet up with Rocket Billy RedCadillac, an ex superstar and a ghost, and Juji Kabane, an ex soldier and a Deadman/Seed hybrid.
As their quest unfolds, they learn that the true enemy is the favored son of the Corsione family, who's pulling all the strings. His name is Garino Creale Cosione.
And with him is the only one who can control Cerberus' Center Head; Fangoram.
Juji and Billy also learn a startling truth: Mika has been giving her blood to Grave, which was why she was having dizzy spells.
Garino ends up turning his father into an Orgman to stop Grave. After the plane crashes and Grave deals with the Orgman, he finds that Mika had nearly died, and that Spike had given her Seed.
They travel, following Spike's locater, to find themselves face to face with two definite truths: Spike was Garino's clone, and Seed was actually manufactured from a spaceship that was from another world. Garino kills his clone, which enrages Grave and the others. After a fight in which all three deal a killing blow, Garino gives them an antidote to the Seed, which could cure the quickly failing Mika.
The Counter Seed works, and the ending is of Mika saying goodbye to Juji and Billy. She had made a grave for Spike next to that of her mother, and having Grave in the hospital seat, she drives the van onward.