In the world of Azure Striker Gunvolt, individuals with special powers are called “psychics”. Normally, psychics possess psychic elements within their bodies that allow them to use their powers. However, the Sumeragi Corporation has taken seven powerful psychics and extracted their psychic elements into sword-shaped devices.
These seven psychics, called “Swordsmen,” serve as Azure Striker Gunvolt’s bosses. Their swords—which can be used remotely to control any unwanted bursts of power—allow them to stay out of trouble and live ordinary lives. However, in cases of emergency, Sumeragi’s monitoring facility gives them access to these swords and they fuse with them, triggering a transformation dubbed “weaponization,” seen below.
Here’s a look at three of these Swordsmen you’ll fight in Azure Striker Gunvolt:
Daytona:
Daytona patrols Sumeragi’s chemical plant complex and possesses the psychic power “Explosion”. Once a notorious gang leader, Daytona fell in love with Lumen’s voice and enlisted as part of Sumeragi’s private army.
He has the ability to compress thermal energy into small spheres called Angry Bombs that explode on impact. He can also enflame his legs and his sword of choice is “Lord of Fire”.
Daytona performs a leg sweep with explosive velocity.
Daytona fires shells in three directions.
Daytona uses wall jumps to climb up a pillar of flames while scattering shells all over the ground to immobilize GV, then performs a drop kick.
Daytona slams GV with an axe kick engulfed in flames.
Daytona performs a sudden direction shift in midair during a Unicorn Drop, then kicks the air to produces a barrage of small energy projectiles.
Daytona’s Special Ability: Daytona fires blazing projectiles across the screen while enjoying a temporary defense boost.
Elise:
Elise was being held prisoner by Sumeragi. She possesses the ultimate psychic power—“Rebirth,” the ability to manipulate the soul into spinning out life for eternity. Sumeragi were attempting to implant Eise’s brain with a more aggressive persona that ended up taking control of her original, weak-willed persona.
Unfortunately, Sumeragi were unable to contain her power, triggering a rampage that levelled the research facility she was being held at. Elise uses the “Living Blade” has her sword of choice, and controls “vipers” that she can shape into daggers. After being thrown, she can make them come back to life as zombies.
Elise wraps her whip around a pole and travels rapidly around the screen.
Elise throws a dagger. If it hits the ground, it turns into a viper that attacks GV.
Elise emits a petrifying gaze. While petrified, GV is unable to move and suffers much greater damage than usual. The effect can be broken by wiggling around the Circle Pad.
Elise’s two personas attack GV together using both whips and daggers.
Elise’s Special Ability: Destroying one of Elise’s personas will cause the other persona to resurrect her.
Stratos:
Stratos is a swordsman that is held prisoner by Sumeragi. Prior to his capture, he was a handsome, popular man, although no trace of this man remains today. Stratos possesses the “Fly” ability and is capable of turning his flesh into fly-shaped particles of energy that can dismantle any matter and incorporate it into his body.
Repeated experimentation on Stratos has caused his powers to become too powerful for even his Sword, “Lizardslayer,” to control. The only thing that keeps him in check is a special drug called S.E.E.D., extracted from the experimental plant ViVid.
Stratos, in fly form, turns into a ball and charges at GV.
Stratos lays eggs in the ground. Flies hatch from the eggs and attack GV at once.
Stratos transforms into a giant mouth that sprouts from the ground and chases GV, repeatedly trying to swallow him whole.
Stratos’ body splits in two and deploys flies against GV. The fly attacks can be blocked with the Lightning Ring Shield, but the two Stratoses will be charging at GV the whole time.
Stratos’ Special Ability: Stratos gathers flies from devices on the right and left sides of the screen to turn into a giant and deliver a single devastating attack. Either Stratos needs to be defeated or the devices need to be destroyed before the transformation is complete.
Azure Striker Gunvolt is in development for the Nintendo 3DS and will be released in North America and Japan this Summer.
