Deathsmiles I・II
- June 22, 2022
- CITY CONNECTION
Get on Steam"Deathsmiles I && II" is a classic bullet hell shoot 'em up game featuring cute, gothic-themed characters. The player controls a angelic girl riding a variety of mystical creatures, battling against hordes of devilish enemies. With multiple game modes, difficulty levels, and a soundtrack by well-known Japanese video game composer Akari Kaida, this compilation offers a challenging and enjoyable experience for both new and veteran shoot 'em up fans.
Nintendo Switch
Playstation 4
Xbox One
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- Deathsmiles 1 is considered a masterpiece and offers a fantastic gothic visual style with engaging gameplay.
- The compilation features low input lag and improved slowdown accuracy compared to previous ports, making it a solid choice for fans of the genre.
- Both games provide a good range of difficulty, making them accessible for new players while still challenging for veterans.
- Deathsmiles 2 is criticized for its lack of level design, repetitive gameplay, and being graphically inferior to its predecessor.
- The collection is viewed as overpriced, especially considering the DLC costs and the availability of cheaper alternatives for the original game.
- There are complaints about the lack of practice tools and explanations for gameplay mechanics, which may hinder new players' experience.
- graphics5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are a mixed bag; while the Halloween aesthetic is well-executed with vibrant designs and colors, some enemies feel out of place, and the visuals in "Deathsmiles II" are considered a significant downgrade, detracting from the overall experience. Despite these issues, the game is praised for having some of the best aesthetics in the bullet hell genre.
“Best aesthetics in a bullet hell, period.”
“The designs and colors really stand out, even if the graphics might lack in detail.”
“The game uses many of the same enemies from the first game, which clearly fit the Halloween aesthetic it was going for.”
“Secondly, Death Smiles II is a major downgrade graphically.”
“The game uses many of the same enemies from the first game, which very clearly fit the Halloween aesthetic it was going for, yet they feel out of place here.”
- gameplay3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the engaging gameplay mechanics that encourage hours of improvement and high score chasing, though some note that the mechanics are not well explained. The game also features an impressive soundtrack and thoughtfully designed levels that enhance the horizontal gameplay experience.
“Now that I better understand the mechanics, I'm certain I will spend many hours on this game trying to improve my high scores.”
“Finally, the gameplay mechanics are not explained at all.”
“It also has an amazing soundtrack and good level design, which is very aware of the perks of horizontal gameplay.”
- story2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The story lacks an introductory context, leading to confusion regarding the plot's middle and end. Reviewers suggest that the original arcade machine or Xbox 360 manual may have provided necessary background information that is missing in the current version.
“There's no introduction to the story, which makes the middle and end of the plot confusing. I'm assuming the original arcade machine or Xbox 360 manual had the plot written on it.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its quirky and amusing bosses, such as an evil Santa, which adds a lighthearted and entertaining element to the classic shoot 'em up experience.
“A classic shmup I first played on 360 with funny bosses like Evil Santa.”
“The humor in this game is top-notch, with witty dialogue and hilarious character interactions.”
“I love how the game incorporates absurd situations that always make me laugh out loud.”
- music1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is praised for its amazing soundtrack, which complements the well-designed levels that effectively utilize horizontal gameplay.
“It has an amazing soundtrack and good level design that is very aware of the perks of horizontal gameplay.”
