Even though the PlayStation Vita just hit Japanese shelves last week, its lineup is quite remarkable for launch hardware, with no shortage of genre diversification. Enter Gravity Rush (otherwise known as Gravity Daze in Japan), a platformer with RPG elements due out later this February. Thanks to a demo that was released on the Japanese PlayStation Store today, we had the chance to dive into this promising adventure from SCE Studio Japan.

The two-part demo is separated by episodes, each designed to highlight a particular gameplay component. For the latter half, comic book-style illustrations with pop-up dialogue serve as an interlude. Visually, the game boasts a cel-shaded appearance. While the colors are more muted in comparison to what you typically see from this style of game, it adds to the charm.

The first phase of the demo introduces the gravity mechanic, set in a lively town basked in sunset. Players assume the role of a girl who has the ability to manipulate  gravity at will. By pressing R, your character will take on a glowing appearance and begin floating midair. If other townsfolk or objects are nearby, they too will be levitated. Once in the air, you can speed up by holding R, which essentially creates a wind gust that propels your character in the facing direction Tap R again to slow down. Want to descend? Hit L. Toggling gravity modes is quick and seamless. That combined with tight controls makes the game feel great. Additionally, the tilt functionality of the PS Vita can be used to rotate the camera in midair, giving precision accuracy at the cost of increased sensitivity.

The gravity mechanics aren’t merely about floating around, though. Setting course for any building while in the air will allow you to walk on it as if you were on land as the game’s camera adapts accordingly.

The town showcased in the demo seemed rather large in scope, akin to what you’d see in JRPGs like Dragon Quest. The initial sequence is set in a plaza surrounded by plenty of small shops and tall buildings. When walking near railings you can see townsfolk walking around lower areas, which adds to the atmosphere. However, many of the buildings could not be entered —  likely a limitation of the demo. Also noteworthy is the fact that environmental surroundings such as boxes and trash cans can be broken. Additionally, ramming into objects  like lightposts and walled concrete can break them or produce visible damage.

The second phase of the demo switches focus over to combat system. Players are pitted against two ominous jellyfish-like figures that spit out red projectiles. To damage them, the basic attack calls for a simple kick. If you press the Square button multiple times in quick succession, your character will perform a combo of sorts. The enemies in this demo are fairly simple to defeat, as a few kicks will down them. They also drop gems once defeated. A few of the enemies have the ability to float in the air, so you’ll  have to attack while jumping or hurling yourself at them when anti-gravity is in effect. Near the end of this phase, players go up against a supersized version of the enemies you faced earlier, complete with tentacle-like arms. The basic strategy is to attack its weakness point, which the game highlights for you.

With its tight controls, charming visuals and interesting premise, Gravity Rush is shaping up to be a title to watch in the Vita’s crowded lineup.  While the demo is fairly short, clocking in at 5-10 minutes depending how fast you run through it, it gives an excellent overview of the core mechanics. Unfortunately, those of you in the US will have to wait until February to try this one out. A grueling wait, we know.

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