![Death Smiles IIX (Platinum Collection) [Japan Import]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51FwJcOqu+L._SY445_SX342_.jpg)
![Death Smiles IIX (Platinum Collection) [Japan Import]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51FwJcOqu+L._SS75_.jpg)
Deathsmiles IIX (that's Two X, not a reversed roman numeral 12) is the sequel to Deathsmiles, an arcade shmup from developer CAVE. Note that the disc-based released is region locked for Japan; I play it on a Japanese 360. There is a Games on Demand version available for North America, which is download only. I don't have the Games on Demand version, however I've heard it's the same as the retail release.
The gameplay in IIX is similar to the first game. You can shoot left or right, use a lock shot to target enemies in close range, change up hyper attacks to increase firepower, and use bombs to clear the screen. The lock shot works differently in this version, and even allows you to attack enemies in the background.
For the scoring system, there are a lot of changes from the first game. Gone is the cool item-breaking system which encouraged strategic placement, replaced with a simpler point-blanking system. Not that point-blanking is bad (some of my favorite shmups feature it, such as Omega Fighter or Ketsui), it's just less interesting compared to what we had in Deathsmiles 1.
Also related to scoring is suicide bullets. These slow moving bullets with a long tail slowly home in on you, and can be cancelled out for points. This most useful when you've maxed out your multiplier. The problem here is that these suicide bullets are excessively slow and not much of an immediate threat, removing the excitement of mass bullet herding/cancelling found in similar games. Scoring in Deathsmiles IIX just isn't as fun or fulfilling as other CAVE games.
Now, I'm normally not the type of person who puts a lot of emphasis on graphics. Really, I've placed favorable reviews for games like Shooting Love 200X or Radirgy Noa. But in the case of Deathsmiles IIX, the graphics are such a huge step back that it negatively affects my impression of the game. The in-game graphics are rendered in 3D this time, and very bland looking. All of the charm the graphics had in the original Deathsmiles is pretty much gone, leaving a very plain husk behind. Also the character designs used in cut scenes are vastly different and not for the better. Enemy designs have a Christmas theme, which is as strange and hilarious as it sounds.
The 3D graphics also negatively affect the gameplay. In the first Deathsmiles game, enemy borders and danger points were always very clear. Here however, there's a bit of a learning curve to how far you can push into certain objects, because the 3D borders are not always easy to discern.
For fans of Deathsmiles, this sequel offers some new twists and a different look. I can't recommend it as an impulse buy unfortunately, definitely try it first before making a purchase.
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