DEVIL BLADE REBOOT

About

"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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

99%

Audience ScoreBased on 574 reviews

music138 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

Incredible visuals and sound design, making it one of the best retro shmups available.
Accessible gameplay with a generous difficulty curve, making it suitable for both newcomers and veterans.
Engaging scoring system that rewards aggressive play, enhancing replayability and excitement.

The game may feel too easy for experienced players, lacking depth in higher difficulty settings.
Some mechanics, like the shield regeneration, can make the game feel less challenging.
Limited variety in levels and enemies, which may lead to a feeling of repetitiveness over time.

music
204 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
68%
31%
1%
The music in the game has received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with many reviewers praising it as "godlike," "incredible," and "a real banger." The soundtrack is noted for its energetic and engaging composition, perfectly complementing the gameplay and enhancing the overall experience. Players appreciate the variety and quality of the music, often comparing it favorably to classic shmup soundtracks, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “The soundtrack rocks and every level has a really cool hook that makes it such a rush to play.”
- “Incredible presentation, the way the music and the action and the silly boss one-liners coalesce is super hype.”
- “The music is about as perfect as you could get as well.”
- “The music man... the freaking music is diabolically marvelous.”
- “Part of this may be due to the soundtrack which is really, really well done.”
- “The game also has an extremely fitting soundtrack to the action.”
gameplay
166 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
54%
2%
The gameplay is characterized by its fast-paced, aggressive mechanics that encourage players to engage closely with enemies, utilizing a unique berserk system for scoring. While the game is accessible and straightforward, making it suitable for newcomers, it also offers depth for more experienced players through its risk/reward dynamics and varied difficulty modes. Overall, the combination of solid mechanics, stunning visuals, and an engaging soundtrack creates a compelling experience that stands out 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.”
- “It's also kind of weird that on higher difficulties some mechanics get removed, like the regenerating shield whenever you use a bomb - I would much rather just see the bullet patterns get harder and enemies increased.”
- “The highest difficulty mode, by removing boosts, has fewer gameplay mechanics for both survival and scoring play and only increases difficulty by restricting resources.”
graphics
138 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
31%
2%
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its stunning HD pixel art and vibrant colors that evoke nostalgia for 90s gaming aesthetics, particularly reminiscent of the Sega Saturn and Neo-Geo eras. The visuals are described as highly detailed and immersive, complemented by an energetic soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the combination of retro and modern design elements, noting that the graphics not only look fantastic but also contribute significantly to the game's fast-paced and engaging gameplay.
- “With a look that can be called a 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).”
- “The graphics are awesome and do a good job of playing with perspective at times.”
- “I think the scrolling aesthetically is not doing as much as it could be.”
- “The graphics are similar to late Neo-Geo or Sega Saturn 2D games with a few modern-day tricks.”
- “The aesthetics are very much a high-end PS2 era graphical style, sort of like Gradius V.”
replayability
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
61%
17%
The game offers high replayability through various difficulty levels catering to both newcomers and experts, alongside numerous unlockables that enhance the experience. Players are encouraged to engage in score-chasing and risky gameplay, which adds excitement and motivates repeated play. While some reviewers noted a lack of depth in player progression, the overall design fosters long-term interest and accessibility for a wide range of skill levels.
- “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.”
- “Very accessible too with multiple difficulty options, plus there's plenty of unlockables to add replayability.”
story
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
50%
21%
The story is described as simple yet effective, featuring epic moments and quotable lines that enhance the experience. Players embark on a fast-paced journey through various missions, including battles in space and against a multi-stage mothership, all set against a visually appealing war-themed backdrop. Overall, while some feel the narrative lacks depth, it is praised for its engaging mechanics and artistic design.
- “It's also extremely quotable and has an awesome story that brings lots of epic moments.”
- “You start in your force's airspace and fight your way out, heading into space over a couple of missions, going into hyperspace alongside an enemy armada, breaking open a multi-stage mothership boss that is a shmup trope at this point, then descending on the enemy artificial planet to tear the place apart.”
- “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.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report a strong emotional impact from the game, with some expressing tears of joy upon completion, particularly on easier difficulty settings. The wholesome graphics contribute to the overall heartfelt experience.
- “I cried after I beat this on easy mode.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The optimization in this game is highly praised, as it combines intricate level design with fast-paced gameplay, creating a unique experience that demands technical precision. Players note that while the mechanics may seem straightforward, they require a high level of optimization to fully appreciate the game's depth and performance.
- “In today's world where bullet games that focus on performance effects 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.”
- “What sounds simple, you will find has a high ceiling for technical optimization and affects everything.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
Players often find grinding in games to be tedious and unfulfilling, especially when attempting challenging content without prior experience or mastery, leading to feelings of stagnation and boredom.
- “I usually go straight to grinding the hard content, even though I haven't achieved a one-credit clear in any shmup ever. I get bored really fast because I feel like I'm not making any progress.”
- “Grinding feels tedious and unfulfilling, as it often seems like I'm just going through the motions without any real sense of achievement.”
- “The constant need to grind for better gear or levels makes the game feel more like a chore than an enjoyable experience.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The character development in the game is highlighted by the thoughtful design of the final boss, which stands out from the typical use of simplistic geometric shapes often seen in shoot 'em ups. This attention to character design adds depth and uniqueness to the game's narrative and overall experience.
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users consistently highlight the humor in the game, describing it as "very funny." This suggests that the comedic elements are a standout feature, contributing positively to the overall experience.