Azure Striker Gunvolt (series)

For the original game in the series, see Azure Striker Gunvolt.For the overall franchise, see Azure Striker Gunvolt (franchise).
Azure Striker Gunvolt, known as Armed Blue: Gunvolt (蒼き雷霆 ガンヴォルト Amudo Burū Gan'voruto) in Japan, also simply known as "The Main Series", is a video game series of action-platformers created and directed by Yoshihisa Tsuda and developed by Inti Creates as the progenitor series of the larger Azure Striker Gunvolt franchise. The first game, Azure Striker Gunvolt, was initially released for the Nintendo 3DS eShop on the 20th of August, 2014 in Japan, before spreading to the rest of the world in the following months. It is Inti Creates' flagship series, and has all of the staff involved in character and boss battle design. As a result, it takes 4 months on average to finalize each boss' actions.Dengeki Online interview with Aizu, Tsuda, and Inafune, part 2 (English translation)
The series takes and builds a similar formula to the "Mega Man Zero" series, which Inti also developed, with a "tagging" mechanic that adds a layer of complexity. The series takes place in the near future of Japan, where a breed of superhumans known as Adepts have emerged. The main protagonist is the titular Gunvolt, a powerful Adept who has the power to control electricity, and the series follows him as he attempts to settle the differences between Humanity and Adepts. As the series goes on, other playable characters are introduced, like Copen, Kirin and ZedΩ.
== Games ==
Game 	Platforms	Release date
Azure Striker Gunvolt蒼き雷霆 ガンヴォルトArmed Blue: Gunvolt 	
*Nintendo 3DS
*Steam
*DMM
*Xbox series	
*Aug 2014 (3DS, JP/NA)
*April 2015 (3DS, EU)
*Aug 2015 (Steam)
*Mar 2017 (DMM)
*Jun 2022 (Xbox)
Azure Striker Gunvolt 2蒼き雷霆ガンヴォルト爪Armed Blue: Gunvolt 2 // Sou 	
*Nintendo 3DS
*Steam
*Xbox	
*Aug 2016 (3DS, JP)
*Sep 2016 (3DS, WW)
*Jun 2020 (Steam)
*Jul 2022 (Xbox series)
Azure Striker Gunvolt 3蒼き雷霆 ガンヴォルト 鎖環Armed Blue: Gunvolt 3 /// Gibs 	
*Nintendo Switch
*Xbox series
*Steam
*Playstation series	
*Jul 2022 (Switch)
*Aug 2022 (Xbox)
*Oct 2022 (Steam)
*Dec 2022 (Playstation)
=== Related ===
Game 	Notes 	Platforms	Release Date
Azure Striker Gunvolt DOS 	Short text game distributed at Inti Create's panel at PAX Prime 2015. Later uploaded to Inti Creates' website. 	
*PC 	
*Aug 2015
Azure Striker Gunvolt: Striker Pack蒼き雷霆ガンヴォルト ストライカーパックArmed Blue Gunvolt: Striker Pack 	Physical bundle of GV1 and GV2 into a single game. Switch and PS4 versions have significant enhancements and all DLC content from GV2 pre-installed.	
*Nintendo 3DS
*Nintendo Switch
*Playstation 4	
*Aug 2016 (3DS)
*Aug 2017 (Switch)
*Apr 2020 (PS4)
GUNVOLT RECORDS CychronicleGUNVOLT RECORDS 	Rhythm game featuring Lumen and Luxia, along with Lola from the iX series. 	
*Nintendo Switch
*Xbox series
*Steam
*Playstation series	
*Feb 2024
==Game Soundtracks and Vocal Albums==
===Official Releases===
Soundtrack 	Notes	Release Date
Armed Blue Gunvolt Official Soundtrack蒼き雷霆ガンヴォルト サウンドトラック 	
*Game soundtrack. (Excludes the three update songs)	
*Oct 2014
Azure Phosphorescence蒼い燐光 	
*Album with full chorus versions of Lumen's original seven songs in GV1.	
*Nov 2014 (JP)
*Aug 2015 (EN)
Armed Blue Gunvolt: Sou Soundtrack蒼き雷霆 ガンヴォルト 爪 サウンドトラック 	
*Game soundtrack, including the 3DS Striker Pack title theme song and Shovel Knight collab boss theme. (Excludes DLC song Stratosphere)	
*Sep 2016
Azure Trance -Into the Blue-夢現の青 -into the blue- 	
*Album with full chorus versions of Lumen's GV2 songs, as well as the 3DS Striker Pack title theme song. (Excludes Stratosphere)	
*Nov 2016
Electro Rotationエレクトロ ローテーション 	
*Album with full chorus versions of Lola's GV2 songs.	
*Mar 2017
Butterfly's Journey 	
*Lumen album with seven original songs, as well as the PS4 Striker Pack title theme.	
*Dec 2020
Akashic Record 	
*Album with full chorus versions of Lumen's GV3 songs.	
*Dec 2022
===Promotional Releases===
Soundtrack 	Notes	Release Date
ARMED BLUE: GUNVOLT Anime BGM Collection & Anime Song Collection蒼き雷霆 ガンヴォルト 劇伴集 & 歌曲集 	
*Anime soundtrack included with the anime Blu-ray release.	
*Sep 2017
Morpho Song Re-collection -2018 Remix- 	
*Lumen album of select remixed songs included with the Armed Blue: Gunvolt Official Complete Works.	
*Jun 2018
Armed Blue Gunvolt Gibs Sound Track CD蒼き雷霆ガンヴォルト鎖環 サウンドトラック CD 	
*Game soundtrack included with Gunvolt 3 limited editions. Does not contain tracks from updates.	
*Jul 2022
==Fan Discs and Drama CDs==
In addition to games, several Japanese-only fan discs have been released. These feature audio dramas focusing events that happen outside or before the main plot, existing to help flesh out the world and the characters that inhabit it, and come with karaoke versions of the games' songs and some exclusive song releases. Two promotional drama CDs also exist. None have received official translations, but fan translations do exist.
Fan Disc 	Notes	Release Date
Justice Rage義心憤怒 	
*Audio drama focused on Nova, Viper, as well as Jota.
*Includes Eternal Blue, The One, and Sakura Efflorescence and their karaoke versions.	
*Feb 2015
Admiration to Peace平穏への憧憬 	
*Audio drama focused on QUILL and co., particularly Joule.
*Includes Cyanotype, the original song Find Out! ~ Compass of Hope ~, and karaoke versions of most GV1 songs.	
*Mar 2015
Lazy Kingdom怠惰なる王国 	
*Audio drama focused on Merak and Elise.
*Includes live composition medleys of various GV1 tracks, and the release of the Christmas Mode theme.	
*Jan 2016
Armed Blue: Gunvolt蒼き雷霆ガンヴォルト 	
*Audio drama included as a bonus item with the limited edition 3DS Striker Pack. Prequel to GV1 featuring the Sumeragi Group VS Eden, with QUILL having their own plans.	
*Aug 2016
Azure Striker Gunvolt: Short Stories (Drama CD)	
*Audio drama included as a bonus item with the limited edition Switch Striker Pack. Audio adaptation of the three short stories published in Dengeki Nintendo magazine alongside character profiles.	
*Aug 2017
Clockwork Daydream機械仕掛けの儚夢 	
*Audio drama focused on Copen, Lola, Nori, and Mytyl.
*Includes the release of Stratosphere (Joule/Lumen ver.), and the karaoke versions of it and Lola's GV2 songs.	
*Oct 2017
Eden's Party楽園狂騒曲 	
*Audio drama focused on Zonda, Tenjian, Gibril, Desna, and Asroc.
*Includes the release of Tabula Rasa, the karaoke versions of it and Lumen's GV2 songs, and the Steam version Christmas Mode 2016 track.	
*Dec 2017
Spectrum Theater絢爛たる 	
*Audio drama focused on ATEMS.
*Includes the four Luxia songs.	
*Nov 2023
== Other Media ==
===Animation===
A 22-minute OVA known as Azure Striker Gunvolt: The Anime was released on the Nintendo 3DS eShop on February 9th, 2017, animated by LandQ Studios. It is mostly an adaptation of 1st Sumeragi, the opening stage of the first game, however with added scenes and major changes. It features the Japanese cast from the games reprising their roles, but also featured an English dub, a first for the franchise.
It received a Blu-ray release on Sep 28, 2017, which came bundled with the ARMED BLUE: GUNVOLT Anime BGM Collection & Anime Song Collection.
===Literature===
Media 	Notes	Release Date
Azure Striker Gunvolt: Fleeting Memories陽炎のメモリア 	
*Serialized web novel streamed on the Interactive Wave program on Youtube. Later given an official English translation and posted on the Inti Creates English website. The story acts as a prequel to the games, as well as a means of explaining the world, focusing on Lifewave, Dr. Kamizono and the Sumeragi Group. After the early parts it focuses on the characters Rei and Miu.
*On indefinite hiatus and presumed to be cancelled.	
*Aug~Dec 2014
Copen's StoryCUTOUT アキュラ編 	
*Short story depicting the end of Copen and Gunvolt's battle on Firmament from Copen's perspective, and his subsequent encounter with Asimov.	
*Dec 2015~Feb 2016
Joule's StoryCUTOUT シアン編 	
*Short story about Joule trying out Sumeragi's MMORPG September Record.	
*Mar 2016~May 2016
GV and Quinn's StoryCUTOUT GVとオウカ編 	
*Short story depicting the state Gunvolt and Joule were in following the ending of GV1, and delving into the past of Quinn and how Gunvolt met her.	
*Oct 2016
===Setting Materials and Art Books===
Media 	Notes 	Release Date
Dengeki Nintendo Character Profiles 	Series of GV1 and GV2 character profiles covering them and related story subjects. Published with Armed Blue: Gunvolt (manga) and the CUTOUT series.	
*GV1: Aug 2015~Apr 2016
*GV2: Nov 2016~Feb 2018
Armed Blue: Gunvolt Official Complete Works	
*Artbook compiling Dengeki Nintendo content with some extras. Includes development staff interview. 	
*Jun 2018
== Series Sales and Reception ==
On May 22, 2022, CEO Takuya Aizu announced that the combined sales of Azure Striker Gunvolt and Azure Striker Gunvolt 2 had reached 600,000, although it was unspecified whether the Striker Pack was counted among those sales.INDIE Live Expo 2022 DAY2: Inti Creates In December 2023, Aizu announced that the total sales of the series had reached 900,000.INDIE Live Expo Winter 2023 Day 1: Inti Creates
==References==
== Series Navigation ==
Category:Main Series
Category:Series