When was the last time that a game trailer made you smile? Like, actually smile, to the point that it hurts. That's the only acceptable reaction to this debut trailer for Gungrave: G.O.R.E. at the Future Games Show Powered by AMD, with the series making a return thanks to publisher Prime Matter.
The CGI trailer for Gungrave: G.O.R.E. gives us but a hint of the chaos we can expect to encounter, showing Grave landing in Scumland in a shower of violence. Actually, perhaps that undersells the entrance, showing the returning hero plummeting from the sky in a coffin, only to burst free from it to murder a cavalcade of punkish thugs.
It looks absurd and outrageous, but then we wouldn't want it any other way from Gungrave. The franchise was created by Yasuhiro Nightow back in 2002 – he's the artist behind the Trigun manga series – and the games have always maintained a heavy focus on stylised action and unrelenting action. Gungrave: G.O.R.E. will likely continue this trend when it lands on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC in 2022.
There's still a whole lot for Studio IGGYMOB to show off, of course. And while that expected 2022 release window is still a little ways away, we're eager to see how Gungrave's larger-than-life action translates to the new hardware, and how this dark and beautiful world will look after a couple of years of sitting in the shadows. Expect to see a lot more of this one from Studio IGGYMOB and Prime Matter in the months ahead.
Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter
Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more
Josh West is the Editor-in-Chief of GamesRadar+. He has over 15 years experience in online and print journalism, and holds a BA (Hons) in Journalism and Feature Writing. Prior to starting his current position, Josh has served as GR+'s Features Editor and Deputy Editor of games™ magazine, and has freelanced for numerous publications including 3D Artist, Edge magazine, iCreate, Metal Hammer, Play, Retro Gamer, and SFX. Additionally, he has appeared on the BBC and ITV to provide expert comment, written for Scholastic books, edited a book for Hachette, and worked as the Assistant Producer of the Future Games Show. In his spare time, Josh likes to play bass guitar and video games. Years ago, he was in a few movies and TV shows that you've definitely seen but will never be able to spot him in.