Gungnir

 PSP
  • Publisher: Atlus
  • Release Date: Jun 12, 2012
Gungnir Image
Metascore
68

Mixed or average reviews - based on 11 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 33 Ratings

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  • Summary: In a land ravaged by disparity where the impoverished must battle for survival, the fate of all is thrust into uncertainty when rebels happen upon custody of a young female noble and a magical spear of immeasurable power falls from the heavens. Now, hunted by incumbent powers desperate toIn a land ravaged by disparity where the impoverished must battle for survival, the fate of all is thrust into uncertainty when rebels happen upon custody of a young female noble and a magical spear of immeasurable power falls from the heavens. Now, hunted by incumbent powers desperate to reclaim the girl and armed with a weapon capable of reshaping the realm, the Resistance must wage war to deliver themselves from the tyranny of their oppressors.

    As original as its narrative, Gungnir's strategy RPG mechanics offer a number of fresh twists on an expertly honed formula. Building upon the traditional action queue of turn-based strategy RPGs, actions in Gungnir all have a numerical wait interval associated with them. Faster actions bear smaller numbers, allowing them to precede slower preexisting attacks. Should the player wish, they may sacrifice tactical points, which afford them more combat options, in order to accelerate actions. This classic balance of risk and reward, a staple of Sting titles, enriches the Gungnir's deep strategic battles and gives the player far more critical decisions to weigh.    … Expand
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 11
  3. Negative: 1 out of 11
  1. RPG Fan
    Aug 13, 2012
    92
    If you're a more casual RPG player, you might want to give Gungnir a pass, but if you are a connoisseur of the SRPG genre, then Gungnir will delight you like few other games will.
  2. Gaming Nexus
    Aug 1, 2012
    85
    Gungnir is a fine addition to the Dept. Heaven series of Sting games. It's got enough content to last a good 30+ hours, and offers an immense challenge that even tactical professionals will have a hard time tackling. Coupled with an intriguing story and Atlus' excellent localization, this game definitely shouldn't be missed by PSP owners.
  3. Playstation: The Official Magazine (US)
    Jun 29, 2012
    80
    Final Fantasy Tactic addicts should almost feel right at home. Almost. [Aug 2012, p.81]
    All this publication's reviews
  4. RPGamer
    May 31, 2012
    70
    Gungnir isn't the most original game out there, but neither is it as bog standard as it first appears. The story is engrossing and the battles skillfully tease the line between challenging and punishing. There's enough going on under the hood to keep arithmeticians happy, without making the game inaccessible to everyone else.
  5. ZTGD
    Jun 22, 2012
    70
    Overall, this game sits somewhere near the middle of the spectrum. While the story comes off a little bland, and the mechanics are maybe too complex for their own good, neither are off-putting.
  6. Cheat Code Central
    Jul 10, 2012
    68
    It'll scratch the itch of hardcore strategy fans, but there's not a ton to miss by skipping it, either.
  7. Game Revolution
    Jun 29, 2012
    40
    Gungnir looks nice, but it's underwhelming. Getting into the fights was easy enough when I decided to ignore the game's extra tactics, and the combat turned out to be engaging enough. But those characters… I've never actually watched paint dry before but it sounds more interesting than actually reading through these characters' plight. Let me summon the demon, let me slay some bad guys, and let me be engaged in a story… don't make me feel like I'm sitting on the sidelines.

See all 11 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 10
  3. Negative: 2 out of 10
  1. BlackRenshai
    Jun 17, 2012
    10
    First impressions: For one, disregard the official 'critic' who wrote that the story does not develop for twelve hours, it develops quiteFirst impressions: For one, disregard the official 'critic' who wrote that the story does not develop for twelve hours, it develops quite fast and with excellent writing within the first hour! All fans of Tactics Ogre, Final Fantasy Tactics and similar games will immediately feel right at home. I've been playing tactical RPGs since Sega's original Shining Force, and this one is on par with any of the aforementioned games in quality of story and emotional attachment you will develop toward that characters. Graphics are excellent, the combat is intuitive, maps are varied and challenging, yet not overly so, unit upgrades and hiring is fun and well thought out though not ground breaking, and the musical score is beautiful and haunting.

    This game is WELL worth the price tag of $29.99. You will NOT regret it!    … Expand
  2. Icantspell
    Apr 10, 2019
    10
    Basically, this is a game with a great deal to offer. You can take a casual approach or really dig in and benefit from the strategy you giveBasically, this is a game with a great deal to offer. You can take a casual approach or really dig in and benefit from the strategy you give your characters. Should appeal to anyone who is already a fan of TRPGs.… Expand
  4. Cyanurea
    Jul 5, 2018
    9
    The most creative turn-based strategy game I have ever played, with one of the grittiest plots I've ever seen in an JRPG, reminiscent ofThe most creative turn-based strategy game I have ever played, with one of the grittiest plots I've ever seen in an JRPG, reminiscent of Apartheid. If you like difficult SRPGs, play this game.… Expand
  5. Valens
    Jul 31, 2012
    7
    Gungnir is a good game with a nice story and some good tactical battles, a shame it's rather short and too simple for its own good, despiteGungnir is a good game with a nice story and some good tactical battles, a shame it's rather short and too simple for its own good, despite Sting's fame for complex battles. Still, it's a nice pick for any strategy fan, even if I think Growlanser is by far stronger, better and deeper than this if you're to buy a new Psp game.… Expand
  6. Nemyue
    Sep 29, 2016
    6
    Awesome initial story, characters and atmosphere.
    But it gets weird after 40% completion or something and there are so many MacGuffins.
    The    Awesome initial story, characters and atmosphere.
    But it gets weird after 40% completion or something and there are so many MacGuffins.
    The game needs at least 1.5 times longer gameplay time to explain things that got ignored.
    the endings are terribly bad. Maybe the develper planned to make sequels but that never happened.
    Don't bother playing it unless you want to try the unique battle system.    … Expand
  7. blakfayt
    Aug 25, 2022
    5
    Can't give the game much higher than "it functions." It's a tactical RPG, the plot is nice and dark, but the mechanics literally kill it. Why,Can't give the game much higher than "it functions." It's a tactical RPG, the plot is nice and dark, but the mechanics literally kill it. Why, tell me why, they decided you can move one unit per player turn, but the game gets to move each of its units independently. It's like playing chess where you get to move one piece as usual, but your opponent can move all of their pieces at once. It's not broken, you can play around it, but that's what it feels like. It feels like rather than coming up with a decent system, sticking to what works, and making something palatable, they went, "Let's make artificial difficulty out the wazoo with how you move your units, come up with a dozen BS systems that make late game weapons nearly useless, oh yeah, and we ran out of budget, so here's a mid-game twist that comes at the end of the game." This is why no one has heard of the Department of Heaven series. This is why Yggdra Union is the most popular game they've put out (because it's the most normal.) If you're a hardcore strategy game fan, this will probably give you all sorts of fun, but for the more casual audience, this game's just drek. It's not even worth pirating.… Expand
  8. Vectus
    Aug 10, 2017
    1
    poor mans final fantasy tactics poor story the game play was lack luster and the art style was bleh to look at. just a generally lack lusterpoor mans final fantasy tactics poor story the game play was lack luster and the art style was bleh to look at. just a generally lack luster srpg especially compared to the greats of old… Expand

See all 10 User Reviews

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Awards & Rankings

3
#3 Best PSP Game of 2012
2
#2 Most Discussed PSP Game of 2012
1
#1 Most Shared PSP Game of 2012