Deathsmiles Vs Deathsmiles II X

[apple arcade]

Just curious, which game does everyone prefer?

When DS came out I wanted so bad to play it. I searched online for a PCB to play stateside with no luck of finding one within driving distance. The moment the 360 port was announced I pre-ordere d the LE without even having a 360 to play it on.

Anyway, fast forward in time. I've been playing and playing DS. I'm loving it until I discover MBL.1.1, which instantly becomes my new favorite and whenever I play DS, I'm usually playing MBL.1.1. Overall I think DS was an awesome package and a great game.

Next, I get my hands on a copy of DSIIX. I'm aware of all the negative reviews, about how arcade mode was a last minute add in and blah blah blah. I don't care, I want to form my own opinion and even know I already want to like the game. I had been preparing by watching a certian replay from a certian other website again and again. Immediatly I try out Lei and while I don't quite get the mechanics the first few play throughs, eventually they start to make sense. It's at this point I realize, I'm having far more fun with DSIIX than I ever had with DS.

MBL.1.1 mode is another story, because I'm not sure which of those I prefer but DSIIX's leaniant system totally blows DS's strict recharge system out of the water in terms of fun. I know DSIIX is pretty easy, but it's not the case on the last stage of a level 3 playthrough.

Anyway, I prefer DSIIX over DS. Which do you prefer and why?

[BulletMagnet]

Sort of a cop-out answer, but I like both pretty equally: the first one looks much nicer and got a better port from the arcades, but the second has a somewhat more "free-form" scoring system, which I tend to prefer, though others might disagree. Each has its faults, but neither should be passed up, IMO.

[Cuilan]

Just curious, which game does everyone prefer?

I agree with pretty much everything you said. I didn't let the negative comments bother me too much though, since they were mostly focused on the aesthetic aspects of the game. I was a big fan of 1.1 mode in the original, and I expected that a sequel would move towards that direction in terms of gameplay. The sequel didn't disappoint in that aspect, and that's what mattered the most.

The way I see it :

Gameplay : 2 > 1

Characters : 2 > 1

Everything Else : 1 > 2

I still love them both though. My two favorite shooters ever.

[8 1/2]

Gotta go with 1 for art style and challenge. Even when playing all the hardest versions of each level, IIX is quite a bit easier than the first game. I'm normally not one to bitch about graphics, but going from the hand-drawn splendor of the first game to something that looks like a first-gen Dreamcast game was hard to swallow. I got over it, and I don't regret buying or playing IIX at all, it's a fun game, but if I had to pick it'd be the first one by far.

[dan76]

I'd pick the first one by a mile. It's one of the few times that a game has exceeded my expectations. After drooling over youtube footage and holding on to an unused J360 for five months waiting, I knew I was on to a winner the second I fired up my first game. It just felt right - solid, well crafted. Amazing graphics and a scoring system that I'm still discovering little tricks to nab extra points in. MBL took the biscuit and improved an almost perfect game for me. I like the harsh reduction if you die - it's like playing the whole game on a knife edge. Haven't played MBL1.1 but I'm looking forward to it on the PAL release.

Deathsmiles 2 is really good, but 3D makes the game feel more loose. I watched a few replays and fairly quickly got the hang of arcade mode, which I still think is the best mode on the disc and a lot of fun to score in. 360 has those blue homing bullets that are key to scoring but i just find them a pain. Plus I'm no fan of 16:9... The problem is the best game isn't in there. i.e arcade mode with the extra characters, levels and graphical polish - though I'd still pick the first one.

[stryc9]

It's funny this should come up as I have just recieved DSIIX about a week ago. Yes we would all prefer 2D graphics, but the 3D is not all THAT bad. Same with the 16:9 - you get used to it until it starts feeling normal. Of course all this would be coffin nails for the game if it didn't play well, but it does. It only takes a few runs to realise the system is superior to the the first game, the suicide bullet mechanic is outstanding, and some of the bosses are hilarious. Not sure what people mean that the first game is harder, even on rank three, as the suicide bullets in DS2X make everything a lot less like a memorizer, although on both I can just about kill the last boss on one credit....
Look, in regards to the 3D, I actually thinks most of it is pretty good, but only as an experiment for Cave. What WOULD get my heckles up is if they decided that ALL their future releases would be presented like this. But I doubt thats going to happen any time soon. Basically if DSIII was going to be 3D again I wouldn't lose any sleep. I really think what puts people off with IIX is the first level (which you can't change). It just looks quite bland, and the music is kinda gay as well. But push on, play the other levels, get used to the scoring etc. and you won't be disappointed, trust me.

PS could you guys clear something up for me. On 360 is there DSI, DSIIX and a third game, Makai no Merry Christmas, or is this just the tagline used on IIX? I swear I have seen another cover somewhere!

[BulletMagnet]

PS could you guys clear something up for me. On 360 is there DSI, DSIIX and a third game, Makai no Merry Christmas, or is this just the tagline used on IIX? I swear I have seen another cover somewhere!

"Makai no Merry Christmas" is the subtitle of DSII, there's no third game (as of yet, anyways).

[stryc9]

So lets get this straight: There is the cover with Windia extending her hand to Supe in the snowy alley (SE), the one with them all on the bed looking provocative with the fireplace and Xmas tree in the background (LE), and I have seen one other, with them sitting on a roundabout or something. You sure there isn't some special edition with limited print run?. Sorry if this sounds nOOb but Iv'e only just bought into the whole DSIIX thing on account of all the negativity arround.

[apple arcade]

that was the pre-release moch up cover.