Parents' Guide to Gravity Rush 2

Game PlayStation 4 2017
Gravity Rush 2 Poster Image

Common Sense Media Review

Marc Saltzman By Marc Saltzman , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 14+

Strong female lead returns in soaring action-adventure.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 14+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 16+

Based on 1 parent review

age 11+

Based on 2 kid reviews

What's It About?

Kat is back. In GRAVITY RUSH 2, a new danger has emerged to threaten the fabric of the universe. As the gravity-defying heroine, you'll fly around to unravel this new threat, befriend characters, and take on many varied missions. You'll also fight against evildoers and unlock clues to your ability to soar the unfriendly skies. Along with companions such as Raven (also a gravity "shifter") and her magical cat, Kat will master new flying and combat mechanics and explore a vast open world that's 2.5 times larger than the original game.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 1 ):
Kids say ( 2 ):

Wacky, attractive, and fun are the first three words that come to mind after loading this game that lets you jump, fly, and soar around fantastic worlds. Controlling gravity to propel Kat around makes up much of the gameplay -- especially as you're limited in energy while in the air -- plus there are many dozens of missions to take on (about 20 main objections and 40-odd side quests), various enemies to fight in the air or on the ground, and an interesting story to unravel (highlighted by memorable characters, but you can't skip through many dial sequences). But really, mastering the flying mechanic is what Gravity Rush 2 is all about, and it's a rush indeed. New to this sequel are additional gravity styles to master. Along with the original, there's also Lunar, which lets Kat jump higher and increase her speed, while Jupiter style weighs down Kat, which adds some extra power to her attacks. This is a welcomed addition for gameplay, along with more mission types, ranging from stealthy detective work and treasure hunts to helping friends complete tasks and big boss battles.

Visually, the game is stunning. From its manga-inspired characters and watercolors to huge set pieces, the game is a real looker. Kudos to the art department for bringing this fantasy game to life. While an A-quality game, there are a few issues; they include a steep learning curve while you're mastering controlled flight and some less-than-forgiving camera angles you might struggle with (especially in tighter spaces). The game is in Japanese with English subtitles, which not everyone will like, and as previously mentioned, you can't skip through sometimes painful dialogue screens. But overall, Gravity Rush 2 is a blast. It's a no-brainer for fans of the original, while any action fan on PS4 should get a kick out of this high-flying adventure.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about violence in games. Is the violence in this game acceptable because it's mild compared with other titles these days, or does the cartoonish nature of the gameplay hide the impact of these attacks?

  • Talk about depictions of women. Is it simply part of Japanese anime/manga culture to see women dressed in a sexualized manner? Should we impose our western values on the game developer? Does the characterization of Kat limit her impact as a strong female protagonist?

Game Details

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