The mechanics of the game are simple to grasp – one button to fire, one button to use cards and one button to summon a magic circle. This barrier slows down certain incoming enemy shots, making them easier to traverse. It also turns said bullets into gold coins provided the enemy whose shots have been captured is killed while it is still active. As well as providing a monetary reward to the player, this is the main scoring mechanic of the game and so mastering it is essential for those who wish to post a high score to the leaderboards or best their own personal high score. The cards are used in place of smartbombs and can be purchased using gold coins (picked up as the player defeats enemies) in a shop which appears throughout each level, Fantasy Zone style. These cards are very useful and indeed necessary during some of the more difficult sections. They include some which raise your magic (read: amount of time you can have the magic circle active) or overall health, one which envelopes the player in a bubble, protecting them from damage for a short period of time and the rest take the form of a variety of different shots which are each useful in various situations. The cards are a nice addition and provide some strategy in place of the standard bomb button. For example, the card which allows the player to fire from behind as well as straight ahead is useful during certain segments where the player is attacked from behind. Cards which will be of best use to the player are highlighted during each visit to the shop.
Upon booting the game, the sheer amount of content flies in the face of the games meagre 800 Microsoft Points cost.
Single Player mode is the best to jump into in order to get a quick feel for the game. Comprising six stages with boss battles, it allows the player to select their character and immediately start playing. In contrast to the anime character designs, this mode really reflects the games roots as a doujin shooter with a very high standard difficulty. It may not be a game developed by renowned shmup legends Cave but the later stages plunge the player into the very depths of bullet hell.
As well as Single Player there is also a Story mode featuring eight playable characters and fully voiced dialogue (available in both English and Japanese to please fans on both sides of the dub/sub debate). Taking the player though a light hearted, whimsical tale of gathering shards and defeating rivals to save the day, this mode is also a lot easier than the afore mentioned Single Player which is of benefit to players who would like to play through each characters story before trying for high scores and a higher level of challenge.
In addition there is the option to play the game cooperatively either locally or online as well as to view replays and leaderboards.
When compared as a basic package to other shooters which have come to the Xbox360 in retail only form costing upwards of £50, the value on offer is again highlighted. With each characters story taking around 45 minutes to complete, plus the incentive for gaining high scores or clearing the game with one credit, this is a game which has the potential to keep shooter fans busy for quite a while.
Pros:
Huge amount of content for an affordable XBLA game.
Mechanics are easy to understand.
Fleshed out story mode.
Cons:
Anime style isn't for everyone.
Shmup veterans may bemoan the lack of complex Cave-style scoring hooks.
Standard difficulty may put some players off.
Score: 7/10