Wikipedia

Azure Striker Gunvolt 3

Azure Striker Gunvolt 3[a] is a 2022 action-platformer developed and published by Inti Creates. It is the third main game in the Gunvolt series, and chronologically set after Azure Striker Gunvolt 2. It was initially released on 28 July 2022 for the Nintendo Switch, with ports for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S releasing separately throughout the year. Set in the near-future resided by humans with superpowers, the story concerns Kirin, a battle priestess on her mission to stop a new threat with aids from Gunvolt, the previous protagonist of the series.

Azure Striker Gunvolt 3
Cover art depicting Kirin (bottom), along with Gunvolt (top middle) and Lumen (top right)
DeveloperInti Creates
PublisherInti Creates
Directors
  • Yoshihisa Tsuda
  • Hiroki Miyazawa
ProducerTakuya Aizu
Programmers
  • Hironori Ikeda
  • Yuji Murata
Artists
  • Munehiro Araki
  • Yusuke Ootsu
Writers
  • Nobuo Yoshimoto
  • Hiroki Miyazawa
Composers
Platforms
ReleaseNintendo Switch
  • WW: 28 July 2022
Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
  • WW: 2 August 2022
Windows
  • WW: 13 October 2022
PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
  • WW: 15 December 2022
GenresAction, platform
ModeSingle-player

The game was included in Azure Striker Gunvolt Trilogy Enhanced, a 2025 compilation that contains Azure Striker Gunvolt and Gunvolt 2. It was released for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Windows.

Gameplay

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Azure Striker Gunvolt 3 is a side-scrolling action platformer. The game features two playable characters, Kirin and Gunvolt. The player controls Kirin by default, but Gunvolt can tag in for her temporarily.[1][2] Similar to Copen in Azure Striker Gunvolt 2, Kirin uses a close-range weapon, and she can throw talismans on her enemies to "mark" them and make them vulnerable to her katana.[1]

Development and release

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Azure Striker Gunvolt 3 was directed by Yoshihisa Tsuda. Keiji Inafune, the CCO of Level-5 Comcept, returned as action supervisor.[3] Hiroki Miyazawa, director of the Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon series, assisted the project as action director. The game featured an English cast for the first time in series history.[4] Voice actors include Sean Chiplock, Kelly Baskin, Ryan Colt Levy, and Diana Garnet.[5]

Inti Creates announced Azure Striker Gunvolt 3 on 27 June 2020 during the BitSummit online event. The game was originally announced for the Nintendo Switch, and the new character Kirin was revealed.[3][6] The demo first became publicly playable at the Digital Game Xpo on 29 November.[7]

Azure Striker Gunvolt 3 was launched for Nintendo Switch on 28 July 2022.[8] The Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One ports were released on 2 August.[9] It was ported to Windows on 13 October, and PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 on 15 December.[10][11]

Free content updates were provided monthly from August to December 2022, adding new playable characters, bosses, and game modes.[12] The update was concluded with an additional story content, "Epilogue ATEMS".[11]

Reception

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Azure Striker Gunvolt 3 received "generally favorable" reviews according to review aggregator Metacritic.[13] 83% of the critics recommended the game according to OpenCritic.[14]

Future

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In 2023, Inti Creates CEO Takuya Aizu said the developer would take a break from the series after Gunvolt 3.[18] In March 2025, the developer announced Azure Striker Gunvolt Trilogy Enhanced, an updated compilation of the three Azure Striker Gunvolt main games with enhancements and bonus content.[19][20] It was released on 24 July for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Windows.[20]

Notes

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  1. ↑ Japanese: 蒼き雷霆（アームドブルー）ガンヴォルト鎖環（ギブス）, Hepburn: Amudo Burū Ganvoruto Gibusu

References

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  1. 1 2 3 Vogel, Mitch (28 July 2022). "Azure Striker Gunvolt 3 Review (Switch eShop)". Nintendo Life. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  2. 1 2 Carter, Chris (27 July 2022). "Review: Azure Striker Gunvolt 3". Destructoid. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  3. 1 2 Doolan, Liam (27 June 2020). "Inti Creates Announces Azure Striker Gunvolt 3 For Nintendo Switch". Nintendo Life. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
  4. ↑ Doolan, Liam (5 March 2021). "Inti Creates Is Bringing Azure Striker Gunvolt 3 To Switch In 2022". Nintendo Life. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
  5. ↑ Moyse, Chris (18 May 2022). "Azure Striker Gunvolt 3 To Be Shown To The Public For The First Time Next Month". Destructoid. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
  6. ↑ Romano, Sal (27 June 2020). "Azure Striker Gunvolt 3 announced for Switch". Gematsu. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
  7. ↑ Doolan, Liam (25 October 2020). "Azure Striker Gunvolt 3 To Be Shown To The Public For The First Time Next Month". Nintendo Life. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
  8. ↑ Romano, Sal (31 March 2022). "Azure Striker Gunvolt 3 launches July 28". Gematsu. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
  9. ↑ Romano, Sal (29 June 2022). "Azure Striker Gunvolt trilogy coming to Xbox Series, Xbox One". Gematsu. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
  10. ↑ Romano, Sal (5 October 2022). "Azure Striker Gunvolt 3 for PC launches October 13". Gematsu. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
  11. 1 2 Romano, Sal (1 September 2022). "Azure Striker Gunvolt 3 coming to PS5, PS4 on December 15 alongside 'Epilogue ATEMS' update". Gematsu. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
  12. ↑ Carter, Chris (25 August 2022). "Azure Striker Gunvolt 3 is already getting free DLC, including a Gunvolt-only mode". Destructoid. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
  13. 1 2 "Azure Striker Gunvolt 3 critic reviews - Metacritic (Nintendo Switch)". Metacritic. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  14. 1 2 "Azure Striker Gunvolt 3 Reviews - OpenCritic". OpenCritic. 28 July 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  15. ↑ Romano, Sal (20 July 2022). "Famitsu Review Scores: Issue 1755". Gematsu. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
  16. ↑ Rudek, Jordan (27 July 2022). "Azure Striker Gunvolt 3 (Switch) Review". Nintendo World Report. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  17. ↑ Oxford, David. "Lightning Strikes Thrice - Azure Striker Gunvolt 3". NF Magazine. No. 61. NF Publishing. pp. 18
    19. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  18. ↑ Doolan, Liam (11 May 2023). "Inti Creates' Gunvolt Series "Has Come To A Close For Now"". Nintendo Life. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
  19. ↑ Romano, Sal (11 March 2022). "Azure Striker Gunvolt Trilogy Enhanced announced for PS5, Switch". Gematsu. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
  20. 1 2 Bukacek, Jacob (10 July 2025). "Azure Striker Gunvolt Trilogy Enhanced Comes to PC, PS5, Switch July 24". Hardcore Gamer. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
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