Castle of Shikigami
- June 15, 2017
- Alfa System
Slightly above average or simply inoffensive. Fans of the genre should enjoy them a bit, but a fair few will be left unfulfilled.
Get on Steam"Castle of Shikigami" is a vertical scrolling shoot-em-up game where players control characters with unique abilities to fight against supernatural enemies. Set in a modern-day Japan with mythical elements, players must unravel the mysteries behind the Castle of Shikigami while surviving an onslaught of hostile forces. The game features multiple endings based on player performance and story progression, adding replayability value.
PC
Windows
Xbox
Reviews
- The game features a unique scoring system that rewards grazing, adding depth and strategy to gameplay.
- Each character has distinct playstyles and abilities, providing variety and encouraging experimentation.
- The boss designs are impressive and add drama to the gameplay, with themed enemies that enhance stage character.
- The graphics are often criticized as ugly and outdated, with repetitive backgrounds and poor visual presentation.
- Gameplay can feel clunky and slow, with some patterns being frustratingly difficult to navigate due to unclear hitboxes.
- Audio issues, including glitches and a lackluster soundtrack, detract from the overall experience.
- gameplay10 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay features a mix of solid foundational mechanics and dated elements, with character movement being notably slow, which can lead to frustration when navigating challenging patterns. While the scoring system is straightforward and well-received, the hitboxes can feel inconsistent, complicating the grazing mechanic that is central to the experience. Each of the six characters offers unique gameplay styles, encouraging players to experiment for a more comprehensive experience.
“Evo mode is a remix of the game where the characters and scoring mechanics stay unchanged, but the enemy waves and boss patterns are all different.”
“The gameplay is dated, of course, but each of the six characters are wildly different from each other.”
“Variety comes mainly from the different shot types and mechanics of the individual characters.”
“The character movement is incredibly slow; it's so slow that it becomes a flaw of the game. For some characters, you won't be able to navigate certain patterns because they require faster movement or prior anticipation. This leads to frustration, as you'll likely die repeatedly during your initial playthroughs due to new patterns that are difficult to manage.”
“Screen filled with slow-moving bullets gameplay.”
“Hitboxes feel a bit wonky; it's not always clear just how close your character actually is to a particular projectile or enemy. This is unfortunate since grazing is a key mechanic in the game.”
- graphics9 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players noting outdated and unattractive backgrounds reminiscent of early 3D titles from the Saturn and PS1 era. While the visuals may not impress at first glance, they are considered fitting for the game's gritty aesthetic, and some users appreciate the nostalgic charm. Overall, the graphics are deemed acceptable for a classic shmup, complementing the gameplay experience despite their rough edges.
“I'd also like to defend the graphics a bit.”
“Castle of Shikigami's sprites are peculiar to begin with because they look like sprites based on 3D models a la Donkey Kong Country, but I stand by the idea that they are perfect for the grimy, edgy aesthetic the game is going for.”
“Graphics look better compared to MAME.”
“This game didn't make the best first impression on me - there are some ugly background graphics, seemingly incomprehensible hitboxes, and the arrange mode being paid DLC - but I'm glad I stuck with it.”
“The gameplay feels about as rough as the graphical presentation.”
“This is pretty old school, from those Saturn/PS1 days where shmups were trying to make a transition into 2.5D or 3D-ish graphics.”
- music9 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 22 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it uninspiring and generic, lacking emotional depth and creativity. While some appreciate the solid integration of music in the gameplay, others report issues such as audio glitches and subpar sound effects that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a significant weakness, failing to enhance the game's atmosphere.
“Unusual enemies and awesome music.”
“Solid, classic shmup with acceptable visuals and good music.”
“The music is also a big factor.”
“I only played through half the game or so, but I've noticed the music is very uninspiring, generic, and barely does the basic job; the patterns aren't well designed, everything feels primitive about the patterns in this game. There's no emotion or deeper feeling in it; it's just a spam of bullets in different ways.”
“The soundtrack leaves much to be desired, and I was frequently getting audio glitches where the audio would cut to an ear-splittingly high-pitched shriek for several seconds during boss or mid-boss fights.”
“The ear-destroying sound effects on bosses and the boring soundtrack are, in fact, part of the game.”
- story7 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The story of the game is often criticized for its juvenile tone, likened to the angst of a frustrated teenager, which detracts from the overall experience. While some players may find the narrative appealing, especially those interested in shmups with a storyline, many choose to skip it in favor of the gameplay. The quality of translations varies across the series, with some entries offering better narratives than others, impacting the player's engagement with the story.
“If you’re someone with an interest in shmups with a story, this might be appealing.”
“If you haven't played this game before and you like danmaku style shooters, or you just want a version with a translated story, then it is probably worth your time to check it out.”
“Where bosses are raving madmen in one story, they'll be calm and composed in another.”
“The story reads like it was written by an angsty 14-year-old who is mad that his mom took his anime collection away.”
“This game has a story, but I skipped through it, so I can’t say much about its quality.”
“Shiki 1 was released as Mobile Light Force 2 on the PS2 with no story, Shikigami 2 basically had a Google Translate story, and Shiki 3... well, we lucked out; its translation was fantastic.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game offers strong replayability due to its diverse characters, each with unique playstyles that encourage players to explore different strategies and experiences. This variety helps maintain freshness and engagement throughout multiple playthroughs.
“The fact that each character plays differently gives the game a good amount of replay value.”
“Plenty of replayability and distinct playstyles to keep things fresh.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game is mixed; while it runs stably on Windows 10 without performance issues, some players experience significant stuttering, particularly in challenging stages, which can hinder gameplay and frustrate those aiming for high achievements.
“The game is very stable with no performance issues on Windows 10 thus far.”
“The optimization is impressive, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end systems.”
“I appreciate how well the game runs; it maintains a consistent frame rate without any noticeable drops.”
“5-2 had some really bad stuttering when I played it, and given that it is the hardest stage in the game, it will probably frustrate anyone going for a 1CC.”
“Game is very stable with no performance issues on Windows 10 thus far.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users report significant stability issues, particularly with audio, experiencing frequent glitches that result in jarring high-pitched shrieks during critical gameplay moments like boss fights. This detracts from the overall experience and highlights a need for improvements in sound stability.
“The soundtrack leaves much to be desired, and I frequently experienced audio glitches where the sound would cut to an ear-splittingly high-pitched shriek for several seconds during boss or mid-boss fights.”
