HonestGamers Review // Deathsmiles

Gary Hartley Writes: So, let's talk about game modes. As well as a perfectly emulated version of the original Arcade port, there's also a remastered Normal mode and a devious 1.1 edition. Then, those three modes return in Mega Black Label form, which includes the new playable character and reshuffled enemy patterns. These things make a lot of difference, too. Playing the game in Arcade presents the purest version, but Normal is more or less the same game with souped up graphics and a better resolution. Its base mechanics are deceptively simple; there are only three buttons to pick from – one shoots left, one shoots right and the other drops the obligatory screen-clearing bomb. You can muddle your way through the game with just that knowledge, but it won't provide you with the big scores some of us need to boost our egos. To do that, you need to pick your shots more carefully. Pressing the attack button on its own grants a small smattering of weak, fast shots, while holding it down produces a constant stream of aggression. What you use to explode enemies governs what kind of score-enhancing pick-up they produce. Weaker foes should be felled with weaker shots. Larger foes should be smashed with mighty streams.