Devil Blade Reboot

HISTORY

Devil Blade Reboot (デビルブレイドリブート) is a shmup by SHIGATAKE GAMES created with STGBuilder and released on May 23 2024.

The game is a remake of SHIGATAKE`s original work made on Dezaemon PLUS.

For replay videos, visit the Video Index.

Gameplay Overview

Devil Blade Reboot is a simple, accessible, and frantic shmup with a focus on point-blanking for scoring. There are five stages with mid bosses and a boss at the end of each, plus the final boss.

The player has 2 shot types that can be switched on the fly: wide and narrow. The narrow shot also slows down the player's movement.

Unlike many shmups, including the original Devil Blade, there are no shot strength powerups.

There`s two types of assist ships, one that drops bomb capsules, and another one that drops blue capsule that contain shields. The capsules they drop can be destroyed with a shot, dropping their powerups. If blue capsules are destroyed with shield equipped, they drop crystals for bonus points.

Controls

Button 1: Shot

Button 2: Bomb/Boost

Button 3: Change shot type

Scoring

Scoring consists of enemy killing proximity which can grant multiplier, as the closer the player is to an enemy upon its death the higher the point multiplier. Multipliers are increased by entering Berserk mode.

After midbosses and bosses are defeated their score will be shown in the log with a percentage modifier. The higher the percentage of shots are max multiplier will increase the total score a boss or midboss can give. This means that maintaining point blank during the entire encounter is very important for scoring.

Berserk mode has a timer, and if it expires, it has to reach 100% again to reactivate the Berserk.

If the player holds down the bomb button, a bomb can be spent to activate Boost. Boost increases the Berserk percentage gain by five times while it is active.

Normal multipliers: x1, x2, x3, x4.

Berserk multipliers: x5, x10, x15, x20

Blue crystals grant 2,000 pts each, which increases to 10,000 pts while in Berserk.

Extends frequency:

Easy: 2,000,000 pts every.

Normal 3,000,000 pts every.

Hard: 6,000,000 pts every.

Inferno: 8,000,000 pts every.

After a stage is cleared, the values go like this:

No-Miss bonus: 100000 pts.

Shot down bonus: Varies depending on percentage

Boost bonus: Varies depending on percentage

After that, the total bonus is formed and adds up to the player`s score. The stage score bonus is also formed as well. Coins are also granted.

Rank

Rank is very simple with Berserk seeming to be the only aspect that influences rank. Enemies have more attacks and higher health while in Berserk.

Difficulties

Easy: For first time shmup players. The player starts with a shield, and automatically bombs when the player takes damage. Bombing restores shield, and Boost mode acts as a shield as well.

Normal: Suitable for beginner and advanced players. Bombing restores shield, and Boost mode acts as a shield as well.

Hard: For players who seek challenge. Bombing does not restore shield.

Inferno: Devilish difficulty. Disables bombing and shield items. Both assist planes drop blue capsules that always grant blue crystals. Rank is always maxed out, and death occurs if Berserk Mode remains inactive for too long.

Modes

The game offers 2 modes:

Reboot: The remade version of Devil Blade, with new scenes, graphics and voice acting.

Reboot Boss Rush: A mode exclusive to Reboot mode. Allows the player to fight only the bosses.

Retro: Features the original game while keeping the enemy proximity multiplier system. (The mode has to be purchased on unlock menu. Price of mode is listed on unlock section).

Shot weapons

Widespread vulcan.

Narrow shots. Slow movement while firing.

Items

Unlock menu

The game`s shop. Coins are gathered by completing stages.

List of unlockables:

Continues: Increases the credits. The amount is increased per mode. (Price increases on each purchase).

Gallery: Unlocks extra images. (Total of 43 images. Price increases on each purchase).

Wallpaper: Extra wallpapers. (Price increases on each purchase).

Sound (Retro): Sound test of Retro BGM (Total of 15 tracks. Price increases on each purchase).

Sound (Reboot): Sound test of Reboot BGM (Total of 15 tracks. Price increases on each purchase).

Stage select: Able to choose a stage freely. (Cost: 100 coins).

Music type: Able to play with Retro BGM on Reboot mode (Cost: 200 coins).

Retro mode: Play the original game (Cost: 300 coins).

Secret Illust: Extra wallpapers unlocked after purchasing everything in the gallery. (Cost: 80 coins)

Trivia

There´s a enemy pattern that resembles R-Type´s Lvl.3 Counter-Air Laser.

The game was initially known as Devil Blade Prototype, which started development on 2017. A demo came out with that title before it was changed on the final release.

References & Contributors

Contributors:

Images, some unlocks costs and most info provided byJSAV2006STG(ABC)

Rank info and additional Inferno difficulty info provided by (Jaimers):

STORY

Dive into an immersive pseudo-3D experience that pushes the limits of pixel art.

With a perfect fusion of background music and evolving stage design,

you can experience a feeling only possible in a Shmup!

Simply "dodge, shoot, and destroy" without any extra baggage.

Devil Blade Reboot strictly follows a strict design concept that pursues

catharsis of shmups to the extreme.