Red have adopted a ‘more is more’ philosophy for this sequel – more levels, more enemies, more hidden extras, attempting to provide more value for money. Whilst they should be applauded for addressing criticisms that dogged the first game, the new additions appear hit and miss. The premise remains the same – a simple third person arcade shooter – yet mechanical differences are clear. No longer is Grave a futuristic Django; the sullen cowboy dragging his coffin, his burden, slowly from place to place. Instead, he now shimmies and twists like a ballet dancer with a temper. The game’s pace has been significantly overhauled, with everything, including the game’s hero, moving much quicker than before. All of the moves from the first game return, along with some new upgradeable demolition shots and the ability to use the coffin as a shield. Whilst Grave can’t move when blocking, it’s a vital addition to the melee, buying the player much-needed seconds of breathing space in the thick of battle. Purveyor of awesome firepower he may be, Grave is vastly outnumbered at all times and tactical use of the coffin-shield quickly becomes a must.

It’s arguable that Grave’s upgrade actually has a negative impact. The new streamlined, limber physique feels partly like a concession to players who struggled with Grave’s original incarnation. It was the weightiness of the character that set the sombre tone of the original, and this gravity, along with the hat, has disappeared. The coffin doesn’t feel heavy. Now that Grave can trip the light fantastic, it appears slightly gimmicky, like an oversized novelty backpack, and the inexplicable muting of Grave’s signature weapon sounds from ‘thundering’ to merely ‘loud’ pushes him further towards ‘Generic Action Character X’ territory.

There’s little that’s subtle about Gungrave OD; it’s the gaming equivalent of being hit in the face with a shovel, startling and brutal. The pace is frenetic from the off as lead flies in all directions and vast numbers of similarly tailored bad guys queue up to shoot or be shot. Enemies move quickly, from pistol-toting henchmen to Goliath-sized giants wielding enormous double swords, all have the express intention of sending Grave from whence he came. Longer levels mean more enemies mean higher ‘beat’ counts this time round, as your combo counter frequently clicks over into the hundreds. Virtually everything is destructible in this world, and it’s difficult to not break a smug grin as you put the finishing touches to destroying a laboratory, then strike a vanity pose for artistic merit. There’s an immediacy to the carnage that’s satisfying, albeit on a base level – whilst the game familiarises you with the controls by way of a short introductory level, from the off you’re surrounded my murderous goons, making for an explosive, violent and attention-grabbing start.

Sadly, the ‘new and improved’ Gungrave is not without faults. Levels are longer, but their strict linearity is only thinly veiled. Positioning of destructibles feels slightly haphazard in places, meaning that acquiring high beat counts can be as much due to luck as skill. The graphics excel in the manga-style cut-scenes that showcase beautiful character art, but the washed out grey palette of the in-game artwork seems a poor substitute for the original’s cell shaded styling. Spot effects are good, as bullets and missiles ping and roar with satisfying authority, and the accompanying techno/rock soundtrack is well-suited, if forgettable. Unfortunately, when the screen gets too busy the frame-rate suffers which can be a distraction if you’re gunning for high beat counts.

Gungrave OD peaks and troughs in equal measure – for every section you’re met with new, tougher enemies, you’ll find an accompanying section with waves of faceless cannon fodder. For every boss that requires tactical play there’s another that asks for little more than holding down the fire button. There are some moments of genuine style that up the excitement ante considerably, the boss battle at the top of a hotel being one – a heady mix of attacking and evasion with some bullet-time effects thrown in – but they’re often countered with more laboured sections that tread water in bland territory.

Perhaps the finest addition to the formula comes in the shape of two additional playable characters - Jyuji Kabane armed with a pair of gun/sword hybrids, and the fabulously monikered Rocketbilly Redcadillac, whose electric guitar dispenses blue laser death. Each handles differently to Grave and offers the chance of an altered playing experience – Jyuji’s swords make close-quarter melee fighting a treat as you cut your way through the levels like a hot knife through bad guys, whereas the manic intensity of Rocketbilly’s guitar attacks will have even the most serious players grinning insanely as they become rock star and Angel of Death rolled into one. Although the main game doesn’t change, playing through with these characters is equally, if not more, entertaining than playing through with Grave, and both come as a welcome addition to the Gungrave world.

Much like the first game, Gungrave OD is a solid, if unspectacular, action title and, played in short bursts, provides a healthy and exciting fix for anyone looking to satiate their videogame bloodlust. Despite being bigger and tougher than its predecessor, it won’t take long to see the end, although the two fantastic additional characters and a host of unlockable extras help prolong the experience. If Red had spent more time trimming unnecessary padding than ‘upgrading’ a character that didn’t need it, Gungrave OD could have made for a tighter, more satisfying experience. As it stands, it’s a short-term adrenaline spike that sometimes lags under the weight of its enhancements.