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.
Reviews
- Incredible visuals and art style that evoke nostalgia for classic shmups, with a modern twist.
- Engaging gameplay with a unique scoring system that rewards aggressive play, making it accessible for beginners while still challenging for veterans.
- Outstanding soundtrack that enhances the overall experience, making each playthrough enjoyable and memorable.
- The game may feel too easy for experienced players, especially on lower difficulty settings, which could limit its appeal to hardcore shmup fans.
- Some players may find the game short, with only five stages, leading to concerns about replayability despite the unlockables.
- The scoring system, while engaging, may lack depth for advanced players, potentially leading to a 'solved' game scenario in the long run.
- music95 mentions
- 66 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its energetic and engaging soundtrack that perfectly complements the gameplay. Described as "incredible," "phenomenal," and "diabolically marvelous," the soundtrack enhances the overall experience, making it a standout feature that keeps players motivated and entertained. Overall, the combination of high-quality music and stunning visuals contributes to a polished and memorable gaming experience.
“The soundtrack is phenomenal, it looks like pure eye candy, it plays like a charm, its difficulty is challenging but incredibly fair and accessible.”
“Everything you could hope for from a shmup -- fast-paced, tons of style, awesome artwork, chunky explosions, and an incredible soundtrack.”
“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 music alone is worth getting this!”
- gameplay70 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay is highly praised for its excellent mechanics, engaging scoring system, and vibrant visuals, making it a standout in the shoot 'em up genre. Players appreciate the balance of risk and reward, particularly through the berserk mechanic that encourages aggressive play. Overall, the game combines tight controls, energetic action, and a captivating soundtrack, resulting in a thrilling and accessible experience for both newcomers and veterans alike.
“The game is visually striking and gameplay is solid.”
“Very enjoyable shmup/stg - art style superbly done, fun gameplay and cool OST.”
“The graphics are cool, the level mechanics are super fun and reflex testing, and the game forces you to focus on the nuances of managing risk vs reward with the berserk system.”
“My only real critique is inferno mode is fun when trying to 1cc, but feels like it drops the ball in scoring gameplay.”
“The highest difficulty mode by removing boosts has less gameplay mechanics for both survival & scoring play and only increases difficulty by restricting resources.”
“Berserk mechanic is... unintuitive.”
- graphics62 mentions
- 68 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals, vibrant colors, and detailed artwork reminiscent of classic 2D titles from the Neo-Geo and Sega Saturn eras, enhanced with modern techniques. Players appreciate the immersive presentation, which combines beautiful pixel art with dynamic effects, creating a high-impact aesthetic that complements the energetic gameplay and soundtrack. Overall, the visuals are described as phenomenal, with many reviewers highlighting their ability to evoke nostalgia while still feeling fresh and innovative.
“The artwork is highly detailed with bright colors, and the gameplay paired with the soundtrack is very energetic.”
“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.”
“Amazing visuals, killer soundtrack, and gameplay that lives up to them.”
“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.”
“I think the scrolling aesthetically is not doing as much as it could be.”
- replayability9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its high replayability, featuring multiple difficulty levels that cater to both newcomers and experienced players, as well as a variety of unlockables that enhance the experience. While some players note a lack of depth in competitive play, the scoring systems and risk-reward mechanics keep the gameplay exciting and encourage repeated play. Overall, it offers a robust replay value that appeals to 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.”
“Also, there are difficulty options for newcomers and experts, and a bunch of unlockables for replayability as well if reaching for a new high score is not enough.”
“Very accessible too with multiple difficulty options, plus there's plenty of unlockables to add replayability (including a retro mode, which is essentially a new game of its own).”
- story6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The story is described as simple yet effective, featuring epic moments and quotable lines that enhance the experience. Players embark on a thrilling journey through various missions, including intense space battles and confrontations with a multi-stage mothership, all complemented by impressive pixel art and engaging mechanics. Overall, while some feel the narrative could be deeper, it successfully delivers an exhilarating story mode.
“It's also extremely quotable and has an awesome story that brings lots of epic moments.”
“Cool mechanics, excellent pixel art, and a cool story...”
“There is not much in terms of story.”
“The story is simple but effective.”
“Looking forward to ramping up the difficulty, but wow, what a rush that story mode was.”
- 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 the overall emotional experience, enhancing the game's ability to resonate with players.
“I cried after I beat this on easy mode.”
“Very wholesome graphics.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % 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.
“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.”
“What sounds simple, you will find has a high ceiling for technical optimization and affects everything.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % 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.”
“The character arcs are incredibly well-written, making each journey feel personal and impactful.”
“I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, with their backstories and motivations unfolding in a way that keeps me engaged.”
“The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the protagonists.”
“I was disappointed by how predictable the character arcs were; they followed the same tired tropes without any real innovation.”
“The lack of meaningful choices in character development left me feeling like my decisions didn't matter at all.”
- 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 keeps the gameplay light-hearted and enjoyable.”
“I love the witty dialogue and the absurd situations that make every playthrough entertaining.”
