DEVIL BLADE REBOOT
- May 23, 2024
- SHIGATAKE GAMES
Get on Steam"Devil Blade Reboot" is a 2021 remake of the 1996 Japanese indie shmup, now available in English. Experience an immersive pseudo-3D pixel art world with a frenzied soundtrack and evolving stages. Dodge, shoot, and destroy enemies for high scores, with closer shots granting higher multipliers. The Berserk System rewards risky play, making for a challenging and thrilling shoot 'em up experience.
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Reviews
- Incredible visuals and soundtrack that evoke a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic 90s shmups.
- Accessible gameplay with a unique scoring system that rewards aggressive play, making it enjoyable for both newcomers and veterans.
- Generous difficulty options and unlockables, including a retro mode, enhance replayability and cater to a wide range of skill levels.
- The game may feel too easy for experienced players, especially on normal difficulty, which could limit its appeal to hardcore shmup fans.
- Some players may find the scoring system too simplistic, potentially leading to a lack of depth in competitive play.
- The game is relatively short, with only five levels, which might leave some players wanting more content.
- music102 mentions
- 68 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with many reviewers praising its high quality and energetic compositions that enhance the gameplay experience. Descriptions include terms like "godlike," "banging," and "phenomenal," highlighting its ability to keep players engaged even after multiple playthroughs. The soundtrack is noted for its catchy hooks and fitting rhythm, making it a standout feature that complements the game's vibrant visuals and fast-paced action.
“The soundtrack rocks and every level has a really cool hook that makes it such a rush to play.”
“The music is about as perfect as you could get as well.”
“Everything you could hope for from a shmup -- fast-paced, tons of style, awesome artwork, chunky explosions, and an incredible soundtrack.”
“The soundtrack by Hasu rips, and even after hours of hearing the same tracks, I never got tired of them.”
“Part of this may be due to the soundtrack, which is really, really well done.”
“The music alone is worth getting this!”
- gameplay83 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its fast-paced, aggressive mechanics that encourage players to engage closely with enemies for higher scores, utilizing a unique berserk system. While the game is visually stunning and features a straightforward scoring system, it remains accessible for newcomers, offering a balance of simplicity and depth. Overall, it combines tight controls, engaging mechanics, and a vibrant aesthetic, making it a standout title in the shoot 'em up genre.
“Incredible sound and visuals, fast-paced gameplay that encourages risky maneuvers, great patterns, and thoughtful encounter design.”
“The gameplay involves the berserk system which gives you more score depending on how close to enemies you are when hitting them.”
“Very polished, it's a pure adrenaline rush, with interesting score mechanics that reward aggressive play, and players that take the risk to get up and close to the enemies.”
“The gameplay is very simple, with just one major mechanic. The game's difficulty is quite low for the genre (I'm not exactly good at shmups and I managed to get 1cc on the first try). The game is too orchestrated; it's simply too easy to learn how to play and there's little room for innovation in the game, points that aren't necessarily negative, especially for beginners.”
“The highest difficulty mode removes boosts, resulting in fewer gameplay mechanics for both survival and scoring play, and only increases difficulty by restricting resources.”
“Gameplay focuses more on quickly killing waves of enemies rather than dodging intricate patterns and streaming like in a lot of bullet hells.”
- graphics69 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning HD pixel art, vibrant colors, and detailed artwork reminiscent of 90s retro aesthetics, particularly from the Sega Saturn and Neo-Geo eras. Players appreciate the combination of beautiful visuals with energetic gameplay and an impressive soundtrack, creating an immersive experience that enhances the overall enjoyment of the shmup genre. The game's visual presentation is noted for its high production values, clever use of 2.5D aesthetics, and engaging boss designs, making it a standout title in its category.
“With a look that can be called very beautiful HD pixel art, the game impresses with its visuals, and the sound direction is also very good.”
“The visuals are some of the best I've ever seen in the genre, with memorable stages, awesome looking enemies, huge multi-phase bosses, and just enough flashy effects to give everything a lot of added flair (but not so much that it obscures the action).”
“A fantastic presentation with a rocking soundtrack and a beautifully dense pixel art style.”
“The graphics are similar to late Neo-Geo or Sega Saturn 2D games with a few modern-day tricks.”
“I think the scrolling aesthetically is not doing as much as it could be.”
“The aesthetics are very much a high-end PS2 era graphical style, sort of like Gradius V.”
- replayability9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game offers high replayability through various difficulty levels catering to both newcomers and experienced players, alongside numerous unlockables that enhance the experience. While some players note a lack of depth in competitive play, the scoring systems and risk-reward mechanics significantly boost excitement and encourage repeated play. Overall, the combination of accessibility and diverse content ensures that players will find plenty of reasons to return.
“For those unfamiliar with these sorts of games, it may seem a little short, but you'll quickly realize the game is built for replayability and will hold your interest for a long time.”
“The game is super replayable too, with difficulty levels for anybody from first-time shmupper to lunatic 1cc fiend, and lots of neat little unlockables, including a port of the original Devil Blade for PS1.”
“It's also extremely accessible to multiple players of various skill levels and contains loads of unlockables for extra replay value.”
“The end result is there is not really any depth or systems that separate a mid-level from a high-level player, and thus the replayability of the game is heavily diminished.”
“None of these issues alone are necessarily game killers, after all, shmups tend to blossom in replayability due to score chasing and playing them over and over to try to top the leaderboards, and point-blanking is a common element in shmups.”
“However, the scoring systems encourage you to play in a much more risky way, which ups the excitement and replay value by a wide margin.”
- story7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The story is described as simple yet effective, featuring epic moments and engaging mechanics that enhance the overall experience. While some users note a lack of depth, the fast-paced narrative and visually appealing art direction contribute to an exciting gameplay journey through various missions and battles. Overall, the story is memorable and quotable, adding to the game's appeal.
“It's also extremely quotable and has an awesome story that brings lots of epic moments.”
“There is not much in terms of story.”
“The story is simple but effective.”
“Bless this fast-paced shooter that has good patterns, nice designs, and a cool orange-ish art direction that goes well with the war-themed story.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players report a strong emotional impact from the game, with some expressing deep feelings such as crying upon completion, even on easier difficulty settings. The wholesome graphics contribute to this emotional experience, enhancing the overall connection to the game's narrative.
“I cried after I beat this on easy mode.”
“Very wholesome graphics.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The optimization in this game is highly praised for its technical depth, offering a unique experience that combines fast-paced gameplay with intricate level design reminiscent of classic bullet games. Players note that while the mechanics may seem straightforward, they require significant skill and optimization to master, enhancing the overall performance and enjoyment.
“In today's world where bullet games that focus on performance are almost cave/touhou-like, the level design of Psikyo and the layout of super fast pace bring us a completely different experience.”
“What sounds simple, you will find has a high ceiling for technical optimization and affects everything.”
“In today's world where bullet games that focus on performance are almost cave/touhou-like, it is based on the level design of Psikyo and the layout of super fast pace, bringing us a completely different experience.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players often find grinding in games to be tedious, especially when they attempt challenging content without sufficient experience, leading to feelings of stagnation and boredom due to a lack of visible progress.
“I usually go straight to grinding the hard levels, even though I haven't completed any shmup ever, and I get bored really fast because I feel like I'm not making any progress.”
“The grinding feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged with the game.”
“I find the grinding aspect tedious and unfulfilling, as it often feels like I'm just going through the motions without any real sense of achievement.”
- character development1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers appreciate the character development in the game, noting that the final boss features a well-thought-out design, contrasting with the typical use of simplistic, abstract forms often seen in the genre. This attention to character design enhances the overall narrative and engagement.
“The final boss has actual character design and isn't just a big, angry geometric shape that so many shmups love to use.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users consistently find the humor in the game to be very effective and entertaining, highlighting its ability to elicit laughter.
“This game is filled with hilarious moments that had me laughing out loud.”
“The humor is clever and well-timed, making every interaction enjoyable.”
“I love how the game uses witty dialogue and absurd situations to keep things lighthearted.”
