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
- Devil Blade Reboot features stunning visuals and an incredible soundtrack, making it a feast for the eyes and ears.
- The game is highly accessible for newcomers to the shmup genre, with multiple difficulty levels and a straightforward scoring system that rewards aggressive play.
- The gameplay is fast-paced and engaging, with a unique 'Berserk' mechanic that encourages players to get up close to enemies for higher scores.
- The game is considered too easy by some players, with many able to complete it on higher difficulties without much prior experience.
- The scoring system lacks depth, leading to concerns that it may be quickly 'solved' by skilled players, diminishing long-term replayability.
- Some players noted that the game is relatively short, with only five stages, which may leave hardcore shmup fans wanting more content.
- music185 mentions
- 65 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its high quality, energetic compositions, and perfect alignment with the gameplay. The soundtrack is described as phenomenal, reminiscent of classic Japanese shmup music, and is considered a key element that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the catchy tunes that remain engaging even after multiple playthroughs, making it a standout feature of the game.
“The music is about as perfect as you could get as well.”
“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 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!”
- gameplay138 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its fast-paced, aggressive mechanics that reward players for getting up close to enemies, utilizing a unique berserk scoring system that emphasizes risk versus reward. Players appreciate the game's tight controls, visually stunning art, and engaging soundtrack, making it accessible for newcomers while still offering depth for veterans. Overall, it stands out as a top-tier shoot 'em up with a perfect blend of nostalgia and modern design elements.
“The gameplay, though simple, rules.”
“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.”
“Top tier shmup with gorgeous presentation packed with action-heavy gameplay and a super fun and simple to understand risk/reward score system which kind of reminds me of Ketsui in the sense that destroying enemies at point blank rewards you with a better score.”
“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 and scoring play and only increases difficulty by restricting resources.”
“I have to say that I'm not the hugest fan of the high risk high reward mechanic that this game offers, but it's getting more and more fun with each run attempting high scores.”
- graphics124 mentions
- 68 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals, vibrant colors, and detailed artwork reminiscent of late Neo-Geo and Sega Saturn titles, enhanced with modern techniques. Reviewers highlight the impressive pixel art and 3D combinations, alongside a strong aesthetic that evokes nostalgia while feeling fresh and immersive. Overall, the visuals are described as phenomenal, contributing significantly to the game's energetic gameplay and memorable experience.
“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 artwork is highly detailed with bright colors and the gameplay paired with the soundtrack is very energetic.”
“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.”
“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.”
- replayability17 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The game boasts high replayability, primarily due to its diverse difficulty levels catering to both newcomers and experts, as well as numerous unlockables that enhance the experience. Players are encouraged to engage in score-chasing and risky gameplay, which adds excitement and motivates repeated playthroughs. However, some reviewers noted a lack of depth in gameplay mechanics that could differentiate skill levels, potentially diminishing long-term replay value for certain players.
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
- story11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The story is described as simple yet effective, providing an engaging experience filled with epic moments and quotable lines. Players embark on a thrilling journey through various missions, battling through airspace and space, culminating in a dramatic confrontation with a mothership and an artificial planet. While some reviewers note a lack of depth, the overall narrative is praised for its excitement and integration with the game's mechanics and visuals.
“Looking forward to ramping up the difficulty but wow what a rush that story mode was.”
“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.”
“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.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players report a strong emotional impact from the game, with some expressing tears of joy upon completion, even on easier difficulty settings. The wholesome graphics contribute to the overall heartfelt experience, enhancing the emotional connection to the game.
“I cried after I beat this on easy mode.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
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 significant 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.”
- character development2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
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 the genre. This attention to character design adds depth and uniqueness to the game's narrative and overall experience.
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users consistently highlight the humor in the game, describing it as "very funny."
