Deathsmiles is a side-scrolling shoot -em-up that went into arcade operation
on October 19th 2007, and was later released on the Japanese Xbox 360 in March
2009. Unlike other shooting games, Deathsmiles is designed with a left/right
shooting mechanic, surrounding you with enemy units and gunfire from both sides
of the screen. The player will need to employ strategy and think about enemy
positioning as your shots may be blocked by obstacles.
Deathsmiles features a selectable difficulty level that allows you to choose
how to proceed through the game, ensuring that newcomers are as welcome as
veterans. Different stories and conversations will appear during both single
player and two-player cooperative play and depends on the character(s)
chosen.
Features:
- Arcade Mode – featuring the same gameplay and accuracy as the original
arcade release
- Xbox 360 Mode – a high resolution version of the arcade game
- Version 1.1 – an original mode for the Xbox 360
- Death Mode – ups the difficulty even further but allows more
opportunities for earning points
- Mega Black Label – an expanded version of the game
- Play with a friend via Xbox LIVE and submit scores to the online ranking
service
- Two alternate endings for each character played, leading to
10 possibilities (including Sakura)
- The story of Deathsmiles unwinds over the course of four chapters
- There are nine stages which players can choose to traverse
Review from Xbox World Magazine
By Alex Dale
"DeathSmiles is a 2D shooter in which hyper-sexualised 13-year-old gothic
lolitas zip around the screen shooting sentient pumpkins and giant
pig's heads.
Errr… (Checks the back of the box.) What country did you say this was from
again? A free CRB check goes to anyone who correctly guessed ‘Japan’.
This cutesy offering comes from Tokyo-based shoot-‘em-up experts Cave, who
have a small but devout following in the west. DeathSmiles isn’t your typical
Cave offering though.
Not only is it that most unfashionable of beasts – a
horizontally-scrolling shooter – but the action is positively sedate compared
to intense ‘bullet hell’ Cave stablemates such as Mushihime-sama and
Espgaluda II.
If you're looking for an accessible ‘in’ into the world of hardcore
Japanese shoot-'em-ups, this is your calling.
DeathSmiles' main contribution to the genre is multi-way fire; your witch can
fire both left and right, and the enemies too can emerge from either side of the
screen.
Although the game always gives you fair warning when and where incoming waves
are coming from, it's still easy to get caught out if you spend too much time
on the edge of the screen.
As such, if you want to trouble the business end of the leaderboards, you'll
find that DeathSmiles tests your spatial skills more than your shooting skills,
particularly as the autofire function slows down your, erm, ‘craft’.
As with all good shooters, there are plenty of subtle nuances that encourage
risk-taking to maximise your score (for instance, beaten foes drop lucrative
‘counter-items’, which force you to get close to your targets so you can
pick them up on the first bounce).
The addition of the premium Black Label content (including a hellish ‘Level
999’ mode, for those who want to see their witch burn at the stake) will
ensure that even the most skilled players are tested.
But buyers beware: the vast majority of you will struggle to see what the
fuss is about…But if you are score crazy, then it goes without saying that
these witches will soon have you under your spell.
The verdict
SCORE 7.7 – Superbly well-realised and balanced shooter that delivers a
cerebral high-score challenge
UPPERS
Beautiful parallax scrolling
Refreshingly challenging
DOWNERS
Totally niche
The fun is in the punishment
