Devil Blade Reboot is a great throwback shmup on Steam

Devil Blade Reboot is a great throwback shmup on Steam

As a seasoned gamer who’s been around since the dawn of the 32-bit era, I can confidently say that stumbling upon a gem like Devil Blade Reboot is a rare and delightful experience. It’s as if someone unearthed a long-lost Japanese Saturn game from the depths of the internet, polished it up, and slapped a modern price tag on it – all without breaking the $200 import barrier.


Finding a game as unique and impressive as “Devil Blade Reboot” is not common. It has the feel of an exclusive Japan-only release for the Sega Saturn, the kind you’d only hear about on online forums in the mid-90s, where gamers would discuss it, save up, and import it for $200 without ever having seen a streamer play it.

“The reboot of ‘Devil Blade’ has a nostalgic vibe reminiscent of 32-bit era games like PlayStation and Saturn. This is because it’s an updated version of the original ‘Devil Blade’, released in 1996, which was developed using 2D game software Dezaemon Plus by Shigatake (also known as Takehiro Shiga), a well-known artist who has worked on games such as ‘Unicorn Overlord’ and ‘Dragon’s Crown’ from Vanillaware.”

The reboot of “Devil Blade” appears to deviate significantly from the aesthetics typically found in Vanillaware games. Instead, it showcases a meticulously hand-painted retro style that pushes the boundaries of pixel art, as claimed by Shigatake. This claim is validated by the game’s visually stunning aspects, which include an abundance of ships to destroy, beautifully detailed backgrounds, and hordes of intense bullet patterns.

Although Devil Blade Reboot boasts intricate graphics and fast-paced gameplay, its core idea is quite simple – “avoid, fire, and obliterate with no unnecessary complications,” according to the developer. However, there’s a twist: it encourages risky play. While you can certainly enjoy it by sticking to these basics, the real fun seems to lie in taking risks.

As a dedicated fan, I’m excited to share my insights about the thrilling scoring system in Devil Blade Reboot – the Berserk System! Essentially, this mechanism rewards you more points when you shoot enemies up close. The closer you get, the higher the multiplier goes, with the maximum reward coming when you’re just a few pixels away from your target (sometimes even on top of them). Keep in mind, though, that getting too close can be risky as enemy ships may retaliate. So, not only do you need to dodge incoming fire, but also recognize patterns to survive and boost your score!

In addition to the basic formula, there are a couple more elements worth noting. Your vessel offers two firing options: a focused shot with reduced movement speed, and a broader spread. Additionally, you can drop bombs to clear the screen, activate a boost to increase points earned from destruction, and engage in explosions. However, what makes Devil Blade Reboot unique is its simplicity and leniency. Unlike other games such as Gradius, there are no power-ups to manage, and an easy mode is available that lets you leisurely obliterate hundreds of enemy ships without much pressure.

For dedicated gamers, there’s an intense “Inferno” setting that strips away your ship’s protective shield and bomb abilities for clearing the screen. In this challenging level, prolonged inactivity without using the Berserk score booster will cause your ship to self-destruct.

Devil Blade Reboot is a great throwback shmup on Steam

I’ve been captivated by the intricate craftsmanship of Shigatake’s work on “Devil Blade Reboot” for nearly a decade now. The game’s ship navigation and enemy firing patterns are not just well-designed, but they keep me on my toes with their masterful twists throughout the five levels. What’s impressive is that this is a 2D game, yet Shigatake manages to play around with perspectives in inventive ways, pulling off some truly clever visual illusions.

As someone who cherishes the thrill of uncovering intricate game mechanics that games like Radiant Silvergun and Ikaruga provided during my initial playthroughs, I highly recommend giving Devil Blade Reboot a try. Priced at an affordable $15.99, it delivers the same captivating Sega Saturn shooter atmosphere without breaking your bank with high import costs.

Devil Blade Reboot is available for Windows PC via Steam. It also plays great on a Steam Deck.

Read More

2024-07-31 18:20

Previous post Kate Garraway reveals her father is ‘stable’ and ‘taking it day by day’ after he was rushed to hospital two weeks ago as she shares ‘very scary’ ordeal
Next post Neve Campbell shares why she rejoined the Scream franchise for Scream VII