Shikhondo: Soul Eater

85%
Game Brain Score Based on 61 reviews
  • music
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Shikhondo: Soul Eater Game Cover
Shikhondo - Soul Eater is a visually unique and very enjoyable shmup. That's really all there needs to be said. It's not as if there's some riveting plot or a fantastic ending to look forward to. In fact, the story is basically non-existent. Perhaps, instead of filling the screen with words, the developer chose to cram in some more bullets. That's fine - wonderful even. There aren't any distractions to keep players from performing their best. If the idea of navigating a sometimes literal maze of death grabs you, then consider giving this a go.
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"Shikhondo: Soul Eater" is a shoot 'em up game with an oriental background and unique stage bosses. Play as a Grim Reaper or girl, seeking out escaped yokai from limbo to reseal them and release the absorbed souls. With three game modes, players are encouraged to play close to enemy bullet hell to increase scores in Soul Collect mode.

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Reviews

85%
Audience ScoreBased on 61 reviews
music20 positive mentions
replayability2 negative mentions
  • The game features stunning visuals and a unique Asian horror aesthetic that enhances the overall experience.
  • Controls are precise and user-friendly, making it accessible for newcomers to the bullet hell genre.
  • The soundtrack is engaging and complements the gameplay, with some memorable boss themes.
  • There are significant technical issues, including a game-breaking movement glitch and long loading times that detract from the experience.
  • The game lacks variety in enemies and levels, leading to repetitive gameplay and a short overall experience.
  • There is minimal story or lore, which may leave players wanting more depth and context to the gameplay.
  • music36 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising the soundtrack as fantastic and well-suited to the game's atmosphere, particularly during boss encounters. However, some players find the music repetitive, especially the dubstep themes, and express a desire for more memorable or culturally relevant compositions. Overall, while the visuals are consistently highlighted as stunning, the music's impact varies from being a standout feature to a more mediocre aspect of the experience.

    • “The OST is shmupfy in a modern fashion, making you feel the danger of traversing through the bullets.”
    • “A pulse-pounding bullet hell game within a beautiful yōkai-themed atmosphere and an outstanding soundtrack that synergizes well with the levels and bosses.”
    • “Beautiful art and a wonderful soundtrack.”
    • “I have mixed feelings on the choice of music and lacking sound effects.”
    • “The boss theme is the same for every boss, which is some repetitive dubstep-style music that wears thin after a while.”
    • “I didn't care much for the music - lots of cheesy dubstep electronic stuff. I would have liked to hear a take on something more traditionally Korean to match the setting.”
  • graphics28 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning art style, detailed backgrounds, and engaging aesthetics, often drawing comparisons to classic Japanese shoot 'em ups. Many reviewers highlight the beautiful visuals and impressive music, although some note minor graphical shortcomings and a desire for improved UI polish. Overall, the game's visuals are considered a standout feature, enhancing the overall experience despite its generic gameplay elements.

    • “Stunning graphics and rocking music.”
    • “The main thing about Shikhondo is its art style; this game is beautiful and the designs are based on the yokai world.”
    • “Classic Japanese shoot 'em up design with stunning art style.”
    • “Controls and mechanics are perfect and it has a visually interesting presentation like others, but the graphics are my main issue.”
    • “Has a few graphical shortcomings, but it doesn't detract from its greatness.”
    • “Menus and UI, while aesthetically pleasing, could do with a little polish.”
  • gameplay28 mentions

    The gameplay is generally praised for its accessibility and straightforward controls, making it easy for both newcomers and veterans of the bullet hell genre to enjoy. Players appreciate the incorporation of familiar mechanics like graze and focus, alongside visually appealing graphics and engaging music. However, some critiques mention a lack of innovation and variation in enemy patterns, suggesting that while the gameplay is solid and entertaining, it may feel somewhat generic compared to other titles in the genre.

    • “Precise controls with different shot types and focus mechanics.”
    • “Addictive gameplay, interesting graze mechanic, stylish graphics and music, and perfect controls make this a great game for fans and newcomers to the genre.”
    • “The gameplay is forgiving and accessible enough to keep new players from getting frustrated, despite sacrificing some of that raw adrenaline an experienced bullet hell player seeks out.”
    • “That being said, gameplay-wise, Shikhondo is a generic bullet hell game with a graze mechanic that charges a flash bomb.”
    • “Gameplay: it is a fairly standard top-down view shmup.”
    • “Here's hoping the developers issue an update that adds these basic features and improves responsiveness between stages (during gameplay responsiveness is a-ok) but even if it never happens, I found this little gem of a game entertaining and the artwork amazing.”
  • story11 mentions

    The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its minimal plot and character development, with many players expressing a desire for a more substantial narrative and lore. While some appreciate the game's arcade-style focus, they feel that the lack of a story mode and character backstories detracts from the overall experience. There is hope for improvement in future updates or sequels that may introduce a more story-driven approach.

    • “The music's awesome, art is gorgeous, and I would really appreciate backstory on the bosses, as well as the player characters!”
    • “I really want to know the story on all the bosses, especially the last one.”
    • “(Supposedly the sequel will be more story-driven, which is something to look forward to.)”
    • “I do wish there was more variety in characters and more story/lore in the game.”
    • “The lack of story, however, is what makes this game very weak, making great character concepts seem pointless in the end.”
    • “Though beautiful, after about 2 playthroughs (the number of different characters this game allows you to control), this schmup stops feeling very exciting due largely to its total lack of plot explanation and slow sense of speed.”
  • replayability3 mentions

    The game offers moderate replayability through various difficulty levels and alternate modes, including a boss-only challenge and customization options. However, its short playtime of about one hour may limit long-term engagement for some players. Overall, while it has replay value, it may not satisfy those seeking extensive content.

    • “It is short and there are not a ton of different enemies to shoot down, but there are several difficulty levels and two alternate modes to play, so there is enough replay value to be worth playing.”
    • “Sadly it's a bit short and there's not much in the way of replay value.”
    • “Truly this game is a hidden gem, but the game does fall pretty short with maybe one hour to beat the game; however, there is plenty of replayability with the ability to change difficulties, do a boss-only game mode, customize your game (HP, power, etc.), and trying to get the highest score.”
  • stability3 mentions

    Overall, the game demonstrates solid stability with no crashes reported; however, players have noted that loading times between stages can be excessively long and may feel buggy. While the game is not devoid of minor bugs, they do not significantly detract from the overall experience.

    • “The game never crashes or anything, but loading between stages takes too long in a frustrating way.”
    • “The frequent lag during gameplay makes it hard to enjoy the experience.”
    • “I often encounter glitches that disrupt the flow of the game, making it feel unstable.”
  • atmosphere2 mentions

    The game features a captivating yōkai-themed atmosphere complemented by an outstanding soundtrack that enhances the experience during intense bullet hell gameplay. Each stage presents a distinct atmosphere, balancing moments of suspense and relaxation effectively.

    • “A pulse-pounding bullet hell game set in a beautiful yōkai-themed atmosphere, complemented by an outstanding soundtrack that synergizes well with the levels and bosses.”
    • “The atmospheric differences between each stage theme ensure that the game isn't always tense or relaxed, providing a dynamic experience.”
    • “The atmosphere difference between each stage theme makes the game feel inconsistent, lacking a cohesive sense of suspense or relaxation.”
    • “The overall atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, failing to immerse players in the game world.”
    • “Despite the potential for a rich atmosphere, the execution leaves much to be desired, resulting in a lack of emotional engagement.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game is unclear to users, as the lack of language support and insufficient advertising make it difficult for players to understand the game's financial model and in-game purchases.

  • optimization1 mentions

    The game's optimization is criticized for poor performance, largely attributed to its development in Unity.

    • “It's made with Unity, so performance is really bad.”
    • “The game struggles to maintain a stable frame rate, making it frustrating to play.”
    • “There are frequent stutters and long loading times that ruin the experience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

39% average critic score

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