DEVIL BLADE REBOOT (SHIGATAKE GAMES) - coming to Steam

[PC Engine Fan X!]

This game is pretty dope so far! The aesthetic reminds me hard of a mid-budget dos game from 1995, which I LOVE, but it's also getting me killed due to lack of visual clarity. Then again, I also have trouble with most shmups where enemies drop loads of scoring medals and such (Progear is my limit for this), so I'm not sure I can really ding it too hard for that since it's probably my visual processing speed at fault.

The lack of even a rudimentary scanline filter option KILLS MY SOUL. Anyone got an easy solution?

Hard mode seems about right for difficulty, made it to stage 3 my first run. I'm mostly grinding it out to unlock the retro version, which is actually more interesting to me than the main offering (which makes the lack of scanlines all the more dire). Hopefully it doesn't let me down!

Definitely recommended, and it's a steal at this price. Get on it!

The only solution to add a scanline option with Devil Blade Reboot is to buy an external HD SLG add-on device (Scan Line Generator) off of https://www.amazon.com as a temporary one. Still better than not having it implemented from within DBR. Shigatake would have to release a patch to include scanline filters sometime in the nearby future to further improve DBR. There's still room for improvements with DBR as it's not "set in stone" in regards to enhancing the overall experience of what DBR, ultimately, has to offer.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[linko9]

There are multiple tools out there for adding scanlines to any game, though I've never used one myself. Here's one that came up with a quick google:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sONjJ8Fq7yY

Might give it a shot, let us know if you find one that's better than the rest.

[Lemnear]

Reboot? I've never seen this game before...please don't tell me it's only on PC...
I would play more games if they came out where I could buy them (I'm looking at you Earthion and GunStream)...

[FunktionJCB]

please don't tell me it's only on PC...
I would play more games if they came out where I could buy them

PC gamers like myself would tell you we would play more games (like the M2 titles and the Hamster Arcade Archives) if they came out where we could buy them...

The difference here is that, like usual, I'm sure Devil Blade Reboot will see a release on consoles in the future, while M2 and Hamster will continue to skip PC.

[spmbx]

please don't tell me it's only on PC...
I would play more games if they came out where I could buy them

PC gamers like myself would tell you we would play more games (like the M2 titles and the Hamster Arcade Archives) if they came out where we could buy them...

The difference here is that, like usual, I'm sure Devil Blade Reboot will see a release on consoles in the future, while M2 and Hamster will continue to skip PC.

It's a one man operation and I don't see any console export option in the tool he used so i wouldn't hold my breath. I would be happy to be proven wrong, its an excellent game that i wouldnt mind double-dipping for switch

[Bassa-Bassa]

I myself would love to have him making a new game instead of freaking ports, what about that.

[shmuppy-puppy]

with the very high popularity of this title I believe somebody might be interested in porting the game to other platforms.
unlike the m2 classics (cave) where licensing fees might be higher, this indie game could be cheaper to license.
so, i believe it will probably happen sooner or later.

[beer gas canister]

This game is pretty dope so far! The aesthetic reminds me hard of a mid-budget dos game from 1995, which I LOVE, but it's also getting me killed due to lack of visual clarity. Then again, I also have trouble with most shmups where enemies drop loads of scoring medals and such (Progear is my limit for this), so I'm not sure I can really ding it too hard for that since it's probably my visual processing speed at fault.

The lack of even a rudimentary scanline filter option KILLS MY SOUL. Anyone got an easy solution?

Hard mode seems about right for difficulty, made it to stage 3 my first run. I'm mostly grinding it out to unlock the retro version, which is actually more interesting to me than the main offering (which makes the lack of scanlines all the more dire). Hopefully it doesn't let me down!

Definitely recommended, and it's a steal at this price. Get on it!

Reshade can do this. I set it up on Gunvein and it looks awesome.

https://www.reddit.com/r/ReShade/commen ... le_preset/

[qmish]

please don't tell me it's only on PC...
I would play more games if they came out where I could buy them

PC gamers like myself would tell you we would play more games (like the M2 titles and the Hamster Arcade Archives) if they came out where we could buy them...

The difference here is that, like usual, I'm sure Devil Blade Reboot will see a release on consoles in the future, while M2 and Hamster will continue to skip PC.

The curious thing with PC, is that in most cases everybody has it (for work, studying etc.) so "port begging" to it feels much more natural and expected than to, as said above, Switch or PS5 (which only few people, relatively, have). Now, of course, you can argue that nowodays is 2024 and I should be talking such about smartphones instead (and - the horror - there are some people that dont have a computer but have a phone - its not news for me though, I knew such eeeeeh freaks around 2005 as well who were trying to prove to me that Siemens M65 is enough replacement - well that phone was pretty cool though, i wish i had it) but as I'm an outdated guy who hates mobile-focused modern life I'll pretend I didnt hear that, lol. Also if you'd say "okay, most people have PC but its NOT gaming one" i'd reply that eeeeeh unlike those shady AAA releases, most of shmups will run fine on 10 years old hardware.

But then again, I might be very biased as I come from computer-centric (traditionally) country, so whatever.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

If Shigatake wants broader/wider exposure with Devil Blade Reboot, by branching out to dedicated gaming consoles is the next proper step/route to take (unless he wants DBR to remain as an Steam/PC exclusive, he's entitled to that decision as well). The ability to play DBR "on the go" with either a 1st-gen or Oled variant Steam Deck setup (which is awesome btw) is the only option as of right now and that's really something special to play/experience first hand.

There's always the hardcore gaming console crowd that have/own both the Xbox Series S & X, both 1st-gen & Oled Switches, both the PS4 and PS5 consoles as to not miss out on a gaming platform's exclusive AAA game titles found nowhere else (however expensive that may be) -- more power to them. The modern-day video gaming console hobby as it is, isn't exactly cheap either.

Yes, it'd sure be nice to play DBR on a Oled variant Switch setup with it's slimmer and lighter overall footprint compared to the bigger and heftier Steam Deck setup.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Bassa-Bassa]

There's always the hardcore gaming console crowd that have/own both the Xbox Series S & X, both 1st-gen & Oled Switches, both the PS4 and PS5 consoles as to not miss out on a gaming platform's exclusive AAA game titles found nowhere else (however expensive that may be)

Are these people called "hardcore" because they'll still refuse to add a PC to their collections despite knowing that it'll always be the system with the best performance?

[PC Engine Fan X!]

There's always the hardcore gaming console crowd that have/own both the Xbox Series S & X, both 1st-gen & Oled Switches, both the PS4 and PS5 consoles as to not miss out on a gaming platform's exclusive AAA game titles found nowhere else (however expensive that may be)

Are these people called "hardcore" because they'll still refuse to add a PC to their collections despite knowing that it'll always be the system with the best performance?

The well-rounded gamer will have a PC in their overall gaming hardware collection at the very least as to not to be excluded -- far from it.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Daytime Waitress]

please don't tell me it's only on PC...
I would play more games if they came out where I could buy them

PC gamers like myself would tell you we would play more games (like the M2 titles and the Hamster Arcade Archives) if they came out where we could buy them...

The difference here is that, like usual, I'm sure Devil Blade Reboot will see a release on consoles in the future, while M2 and Hamster will continue to skip PC.

It's a one man operation and I don't see any console export option in the tool he used so i wouldn't hold my breath. I would be happy to be proven wrong, its an excellent game that i wouldnt mind double-dipping for switch

Yeah, AFAIK dude would have to rebuild it in something other than STG Builder if he wanted it on another platform, and there'd have to be a fuckhuge groundswell of support to intimate that that would be a financially worthwhile attempt, let alone any kind of payoff.

Speaking of STG Builder's limitations: DBR has one hell of a nice frontend and does its damndest to hide that WinME-looking option interface, but it still lacks a global leaderboard. And so does this board. What's up with that?

A crying shame given how magical this game is.
I really wish that the popculture zeitgeist/internet in general hadn't ground the word "epic" into meaninglessness, because stage three is properly epic.
You've just narrowly escaped the devastation of your home planet and have exploded the moon, and now you're hunting down mile-long enemy destroyers enroute to their headquarters.
They're slathering you with laser fire and launching every available craft towards you, so you hit warpspeed to try and reach the front of the convoy.
You're absolutely marinating in missile shrapnel the entire way, but eventually obliterate the midbosses and ram on the brakes.
Then the actual boss gets so miffed that these chowderheads can't hit the side of the barn, nukes his own armada, and decides to take you on one-on-one.
He starts the fight with some ghetto R-Type-looking Fruit Loop cannon, then Shredders his way into the background with sprite-scaling missile salvos that would make Afterburner blush.
And the entire time you're both being pounded with music from Konami's Greatest Hits Collection.
And all of this gravitas is achieved with zero cutscenes and like two lines of dialogue.

Craftsmanship is not fucking dead, gentlemen and ladyfolks.

[linko9]

There is a leaderboard, took me a while to find it too. You have to go to the game's community page in steam, then there's a very inconspicuous drop-down menu that will take you to the leaderboards. Never seen another game work that way!

[PC Engine Fan X!]

There is a leaderboard, took me a while to find it too. You have to go to the game's community page in steam, then there's a very inconspicuous drop-down menu that will take you to the leaderboards. Never seen another game work that way!

Thanks for that Devil Blade Reboot leaderboard discovery find, linko9. I would've never guessed to check DBR's community page in Steam to actually find it. Makes me wonder what other hidden accessibility features within DBR awaits with it's ever-growing legion of fans. There's "more than meets the eye" with DBR indeed.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Daytime Waitress]

There is a leaderboard, took me a while to find it too. You have to go to the game's community page in steam, then there's a very inconspicuous drop-down menu that will take you to the leaderboards. Never seen another game work that way!

Thanks very much for the update, linko.
I'm pleased that Shigatake went to the effort of adding that compatibility.
But that thing is looking rough: "We're going to record your global rank, but not show any relative positions outside the top 200. And we're only gonna show them fifteen at a time."
Am I spoilt by Hamster and M2, or does Gabesoft continue to be the gold standard in "collecting vast amounts of data on its users but making actually viewing any of it a goddamned chore"?

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Is it possible to add true online leaderboard support from within DBR's Game Builder engine? I'd imagine that'd take some time to implement/pull off.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[clippa]

Yeah, AFAIK dude would have to rebuild it in something other than STG Builder if he wanted it on another platform

I know Hanaji Games have published a few Shooting Game Builder games on the switch. Mecha Ritz, Dezatopia and Barrage Fantasia. I think HEY ported his games himself.

https://x.com/hey1230/status/1326086610463514625

"I finally submitted the build to HANAJI. SWITCH port I hope it works."

but it says here that Barrage Fantasia was developed by "Hanaji Games GK" so it looks like they might have handled the port in house.

If anyone is clamouring for a switch port, I think they'd be the guys to email or tweet or whatever it is you do nowadays.

Is it possible to add true online leaderboard support from within DBR's Game Builder engine? I'd imagine that'd take some time to implement/pull off.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

Yeah, I think it's a limitation of the engine, they all seem to be like that.

Steam should have a prominent link to a games leaderboards on the store page of each game, I reckon. I usually end up clicking on a games achievements and then getting to the leaderboards through there.

There's a link to the leaderboards for Devil Blade Reboot if you want to bookmark it - https://steamcommunity.com/stats/288244 ... s/13166020

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Yeah, AFAIK dude would have to rebuild it in something other than STG Builder if he wanted it on another platform

I know Hanaji Games have published a few Shooting Game Builder games on the switch. Mecha Ritz, Dezatopia and Barrage Fantasia. I think HEY ported his games himself.

https://x.com/hey1230/status/1326086610463514625

"I finally submitted the build to HANAJI. SWITCH port I hope it works."

but it says here that Barrage Fantasia was developed by "Hanaji Games GK" so it looks like they might have handled the port in house.

If anyone is clamouring for a switch port, I think they'd be the guys to email or tweet or whatever it is you do nowadays.

Is it possible to add true online leaderboard support from within DBR's Game Builder engine? I'd imagine that'd take some time to implement/pull off.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

Yeah, I think it's a limitation of the engine, they all seem to be like that.

Steam should have a prominent link to a games leaderboards on the store page of each game, I reckon. I usually end up clicking on a games achievements and then getting to the leaderboards through there.

There's a link to the leaderboards for Devil Blade Reboot if you want to bookmark it - https://steamcommunity.com/stats/288244 ... s/13166020

If you look at the Steam port of Shinorubi, it has online leaderboard capability found within the high score screen portion itself (which is rather a special exception in of itself and not the norm to begin with -- this particular feature applies to Shinorubi running on a Steam Deck setup as well which is quite awesome). All of the console ports of Shinorubi don't have online leaderboard capability/support whatsoever -- you'd think that the PS4/PS5 and the Xbox Series S/X ports, at the very least, would have it from the get-go but nope. Why is that so? Is it too hard to implement?

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[linko9]

This is currently the best hard replay I can find:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lm0LqbOXVbM

This run is just over 32m, the runner has improved his score to 36m (3rd on the leaderboards). Looks like Jaimers is grinding out hard mode (currently 2nd), so reckon we can look forward to a hot one droppin in the future; current WR is close to 40m.

As far as boosts go, it surprised me that he never starts out a stage with a boost, always gets berserk naturally, then triggers the first boost soon after. Suicide on every boss (for the 3 bombs), which means any mistakes are really unforgiving; can't really spare a life anywhere, and that would break your multiplier during a stage anyway. I guess the shield system makes it a bit more forgiving than some games.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Shigatake released a 46.2kb patch that updates Devil Blade Reboot to version 1.0.2 as of 6-03-2024.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[m.sniffles.esq]

Just saw that Polygon--of all places--included this on an "awesome indie games of 2024" list

I guess proving placement on such lists aren't completely bought and paid for (just mostly).

[FunktionJCB]

The lack of even a rudimentary scanline filter option KILLS MY SOUL. Anyone got an easy solution?

If you haven't done so, update the game.

From the latest patch notes:
«Added CRT effect function (SB update) *Test function Set by F2 key.»

[PC Engine Fan X!]

The lack of even a rudimentary scanline filter option KILLS MY SOUL. Anyone got an easy solution?

If you haven't done so, update the game.

From the latest patch notes:
«Added CRT effect function (SB update) *Test function Set by F2 key.»

That'd be the latest patch d/l at 142.23kb indeed with Devil Blade Reboot -- it's now at version 1.04 as of 6-11-2024.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Stevas]

If anyone is on steam deck: while the new update didn't appear to include scanlines for the likes of us (boo), my earlier (failed) install of reshade IS now suddenly working (yay!)
Edit: never mind, I'm an idiot, I AM actually seeing the new CRT stuff that came with the update and not my reshade install after all (whatever, SCANLINES!1!!1)

[FunktionJCB]

New update is out, and adds a "Boss-Only" mode, to practice boss fights.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Latest patch with 1mb d/l brings the fw to v1.0.6 with 320 x 240 res in 4:3 mode. How cool is that? About damn time that Shigatake implemented that highly desired/requested option with Devil Blade Reboot -- works like a charm in 4:3 screen aspect ratio mode on a Steam Deck indeed.

Seems like with each new patch, something new is added to further enhance/upgrade DBR to lofty new heights -- wow! We are truly witnessing one of the greatest indy stg titles ever made/released in the 2020s era. DBR really needs an Exa-Arcadia release to give it the proper game center/arcade experience that it is meant to be.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Necronom]

DBR really needs an Exa-Arcadia release to give it the proper game center/arcade experience that it is meant to be.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

Yeah, the updates show that he's still putting his heart and soul into it. I don't agree though that exa is a good option - no game should lock away content from the majority of its players.

[Bassa-Bassa]

He has a point in that it would be the only way to get this game even better tuned as an arcade game, though. I myself prefer seeing good devs like this making new games instead of ports, I'm always saying.

[m.sniffles.esq]

Two months after throwing it in the middle of an awful, advertorial-dumping-ground, 'best-of' list, Polygon covers this again with a full article.

Perhaps someone with a shred of integrity remaining will follow suit...