Devil Engine feels like a game I dug out of my attic. The side-scrolling shooter, which released on PC and Nintendo Switch on February 21, reminds me of the games I played when I was younger. Itâs like busting out R-Type DX or playing that one level of Rocket Knight Adventures if they were also mainlining Ikaruga, and I love it.
I play a lot of games for Kotaku, which doesnât always leave time for the popcorn gaming experiences I love. My Switch has slowly turned into a one-stop location for intense bullet-hell games and twitchy action. Games like Danmaku Unlimited 3, Bleed 2, or even ports like Furi capture the intense, dodgy gameplay that Iâm eager for. Devil Engine is no different, offering side-scrolling shooting thatâs punishing and great to look at.
If youâve played an arcade shooter, youâll be familiar with how Devil Engine works. You fly around the screen blasting baddies and bosses. Thereâs power-ups to find, like spread shots and homing lasers. Devil Engine isnât a game thatâs breaking new ground. Instead, it works with a tried and true formula, creating an honest and devilishly fun homage to whatâs come before.
Itâs been a slow drip for games on the Nintendo Switch for now, and while I eagerly await mech action in Daemon x Machina and slowly work through Hollow Knight, itâs good to have some more blasty-shooty to change the pace. Devil Engine is straightforward, but thatâs what you need sometimes. After all, itâs always good to bomb a floating orb boss into bits with a Macross worthy confetti-blast of missiles.
