I have always been a fan of shoot em ups as a genre. There is something so simple yet enticing about them, and they have been part of the industry since the early days. Bullet hell shooters took most of the attention in later years, but the genre had some other types of excellent horizontal and vertical shooters. One of the best was the Thunderforce/Lighting Force series that came out on the Genesis/Mega Drive and Saturn, but has sadly not seen any new entries in some time. While that series may be gone, a successor has risen up to take its place in the form of Devil Engine.
Devil Engine is a throwback to those classic side scrolling shooters and done in a style that evokes 32 bit gaming. Not just a successor to the aforementioned Thuderforce, but also to other Saturn classics like Radiant Silvergun, Devil Engine is a challenging game that will punish you and make you like it.
The game takes simplistic ideas and uses them well. A small set of powerups can be used in a variety of ways, but you need to be strategic in how things are done. Targeting your enemies weak spots is essential, but it is not always that easy to do.
Another key to success is building up your score, as that allows you to use your burst ability. The burst ability will allow you to absorb enemy fire, but it will wipe out your score multiplier once its finished. The score multiplier is also key to restocking weapons like bombs, so the burst must be used carefully.
If there is any fault, its that I feel the game starts out awkwardly. Its not a matter of starting out too difficult, this is a successor to some very difficult shooters after all. What I mean is that the pacing of the game takes a little bit of time to feel right. It only takes a few minutes before the game gets really good, but it is something to keep in mind.
I already mentioned the glorious throwback style visuals, but the soundtrack is excellent as well. Devil Engine is a tribute to the classics, but it manages to hold its own as well. It has enough unique ideas and mixing of older ideas to stand out, and presents an excellent challenge for the player. This is one you should definitely check out.
Disclaimer: A review key was provided.