Deathsmiles

Deathsmiles brings gothic shooting action to the PC courtesy of developer Cave, and save for a few niggles, it's an all-around excellent 2D shooter.

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Deathsmiles is a horror shooter game set in the mystical kingdom of Gilverado, where players combat overwhelming demonic creatures as one of four powerful witches. The game features multi- and single-player modes, with phenomenal game mechanics, excellent visuals, and great music. Arcade mode includes multiple paths, difficulties, and secrets for a challenging experience.

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Reviews

77%

Audience ScoreBased on 216 reviews

gameplay21 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

Deathsmiles is a highly accessible bullet hell shooter, making it beginner-friendly while still offering depth for experienced players.
The game features a unique gothic horror theme with charming character designs, engaging gameplay, and a fantastic soundtrack.
Players can choose their difficulty level for each stage, allowing for a customizable experience that caters to various skill levels.

The character designs and ages can give off uncomfortable vibes, which may deter some players.
The game suffers from occasional performance issues, such as slowdowns and screen tearing, which can affect gameplay.
Some players find the story and dialogue to be lacking or overly silly, detracting from the overall experience.

gameplay
53 mentions
40 % positive mentions
55 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its beginner-friendly approach while offering a modular difficulty system that caters to both newcomers and seasoned players. Players appreciate the dynamic mechanics, intricate scoring systems, and the variety of characters and modes, which enhance replayability and engagement. However, some find certain mechanics overly complex or gimmicky, and the graphics may feel dated, but the overall experience remains solid and enjoyable, especially for bullet-hell enthusiasts.
- “The gameplay is fantastic yet easy enough for someone who isn't great.”
- “The bullet patterns are really fun, the enemy designs are creative, scoring mechanics are fun and it lets you choose the difficulty for each stage.”
- “Wonderful and addictive gameplay, excellent design, and very unique bosses.”
- “You need to learn mechanics that had literally no relevancy before it, and this is just for that one level.”
- “This wouldn't be that terrible if the mechanics you have to learn were fun and interesting, but the fact is you have to learn how to cancel out suicide bullets with 8-way reversed directional movement when the bullets are completely analogue, and it is not fun to even practice.”
- “Some gameplay modes have problems with authentic slowdown.”
music
43 mentions
65 % positive mentions
28 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to enhance the atmosphere and gameplay, with many reviewers highlighting its memorable and diverse soundtracks that fit the game's gothic themes. Players describe the soundtrack as "banger" and "killer," often recommending it as a standout feature worth experiencing, even outside of the game itself. While a few critiques mention the music as merely decent, the overwhelming consensus is that the soundtrack significantly contributes to the game's overall appeal and replayability.
- “Great gameplay and music with a really cool style.”
- “The scenario pairs with a brilliant soundtrack that fuses orchestral Hollywood monster composition with rock and electronic energy, filling the player with equal drive and dread.”
- “The music is a blast, the controls are tight, and the gameplay has tons of depth.”
- “The pixel art is exceptional, music is boring (turn it off) and the game itself is rewarding enough for both beginners and accomplished players.”
- “Music - really didn't feel like the soundtrack was that fantastic, decent, but not praiseworthy.”
- “What an amazing bullet-hell game, never played it on Xbox but this version is simply amazing for a game in this style, the overall graphics with 3D models looks a bit old as expected but the gameplay is in the classic challenging Touhou way, the gothic themes fit really well with the world and the OST!”
graphics
36 mentions
42 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the beautiful art style, gothic themes, and high-resolution visuals that enhance the overall experience. However, some players note that the 3D models appear dated compared to the 2D sprite work, and the game can be demanding on hardware, occasionally leading to performance issues. Overall, while the graphics may not be cutting-edge, they effectively complement the gameplay and atmosphere, making it a visually appealing title for fans of the genre.
- “The graphics are gorgeous, the gameplay is great, and it allows for any level of difficulty you want, from credit-feeding just to see the story to 'how is a human being supposed to beat this?'.”
- “Beautiful presentation, graphics, and audio.”
- “It's pretty computer heavy and sometimes slows down even my gaming laptop, especially when more bullets are onscreen, but it is so worth some lag for the beautiful art style, perfect soundtrack, and nostalgic feel!”
- “I wish the graphics weren't so bad.”
- “Graphics do the job, yet for some reason the characters are 3D models that have aged far worse than the 2D sprite work.”
- “Post 'bullet hell' this has never been more true, as graphics have been borderline abstracted to hitbox pixels and bright blue and pink bullet patterns.”
story
34 mentions
21 % positive mentions
71 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as solid and engaging, featuring intertwining plot threads across five characters and offering multiple endings, including a secret one. While some players appreciate the depth and charm of the characters, others find the narrative simplistic or overshadowed by gameplay, with mixed feelings about the gothic themes and character designs. Overall, the story provides a unique backdrop that enhances the gameplay experience, though it may not appeal to everyone.
- “Speaking for story, it has a very solid storyline where plot threads entwine with all 5 of its characters across 11 total endings (two for each character, including one character with a secret ending that must be unlocked in a very novel way).”
- “Even if you aren't a fan of shooters, it's worth a try for the story alone (which isn't gated behind difficulty, so don't worry).”
- “The gist of the story is that someone opened a portal to the realm of demons, and now Gilverado is being overrun; it is your job to save the day.”
- “I don't like the characters and the story gets sillier with each play, but holy shit is everything else great!!”
- “Story - haha...hahaha...story...once upon a time a bad thing was happening and we had to stop it, the end.”
- “Where Deathsmiles really messes up is on the story.”
replayability
6 mentions
33 % positive mentions
17 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability due to its multiple characters, each with unique powers, and various modes that encourage repeated playthroughs. While the main campaign can be completed in about 30 minutes, players can easily invest over 200 hours exploring different character combinations and challenges. The engaging mechanics, beautiful art, and excellent soundtrack further enhance the overall replay value.
- “With four (or five, depending on which version you play) different characters with different powers and familiars, it has a lot of replay value.”
- “Excellent music, lots of replayability, super fun and challenging.”
- “The game itself is pretty short and can be finished in about 30 minutes, but that's per mode and per character, so the replayability is average for these kinds of shooter games.”
- “There is easily 200 hours worth of replayability here.”
- “[Satisfying shooting mechanics, risk-reward nuances add excitement, multiple modes add replay value].”
emotional
4 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players find the characters endearing, particularly Casper, whose quirky personality and unexpected dark ending add emotional depth to the game. While the overall gameplay is enjoyable and accessible, the contrast between heartwarming narratives and surprising twists enhances the emotional experience, making it memorable despite its aging graphics.
- “The characters are really cute, and I loved pretty much all of them, with Casper being my favorite for both gameplay and personality. Her 'go back home' ending was really scary, though; I was not expecting it since I played her story after all the others, which were heartwarming. In the end, it's a good 'Touhou game' that didn't age well in graphics and effects, but it's really enjoyable for both pros in bullet-hell games and newcomers.”
- “The emotional depth of the characters really drew me in, especially how their stories intertwined and affected each other. It made the gameplay feel more meaningful.”
- “I was genuinely moved by the character arcs and the way their struggles were portrayed. It added a layer of emotional investment that I didn't expect from a bullet-hell game.”
stability
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
-100 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Overall, players report a stable gaming experience with minimal glitches during gameplay, particularly with controller support. However, there are some issues with achievements not unlocking consistently, especially when playing offline.
- “The controller support was great, and I ran into virtually no glitches while playing the game.”
- “The game runs smoothly without any crashes, making for a seamless experience.”
- “I appreciate how stable the game is; it rarely lags or freezes, allowing me to fully immerse myself.”
- “Also, for some reason, the achievements seem to be buggy and not always unlocking while playing offline.”
- “The game frequently crashes, making it nearly impossible to progress without losing progress.”
- “I experienced multiple instances of the game freezing, which ruined my overall experience.”
humor
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is noted for its sharp contrast, with terrifying bosses like the buried man juxtaposed against absurdly funny elements, such as a cow. Players find the missions entertaining and engaging, ensuring that boredom is never an issue throughout the gameplay.
- “Some bosses go from terrifying, like the freaking buried man, to downright hilarious, like the cow... a cow!?”
- “The missions are funny; you will never feel bored when you complete this game.”
grinding
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be initially challenging but ultimately tedious, as once they learn the mechanics of each section, the experience becomes repetitive without any variation.
- “It's only difficult until you know how that section works; then it's just tedious because it will never change.”
- “I beat it once with continues and then kept grinding until I beat it with no continues.”
character development
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is generally well-received, but some users express discomfort with the character designs and ages, which evoke unsettling "creeper vibes" despite the absence of any overtly inappropriate content.
atmosphere
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with players noting its challenging bullet hell mechanics complemented by an impressive soundtrack. Many express a desire for the series to continue, highlighting the immersive experience it offers.
- “One of the most challenging bullet hell games I have played, with a great atmosphere and soundtrack. I truly wish the series had continued past 2, which I can't wait to play in the collections coming for consoles and hopefully to Steam too.”