Devil Engine Image
Metascore
72

Mixed or average reviews - based on 5 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 9 Ratings

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  • Summary: Devil Engine is a high octane, classic styled side scrolling shoot-em-up heavily influenced by the best in the genre from the 32-bit era, featuring a variety of incredible locations, hand drawn pixel art, and a blood-pumping soundtrack that brings the dark future to life.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 5
  3. Negative: 1 out of 5
  1. 80
    Shoot-’em-up fans need to have this game on their radar. It’s a beautiful trip through bullet hell before a date with the Devil Engine.
  2. Feb 25, 2019
    80
    It seems almost customary to include the phrase 'Not for everyone' in any review of a niche genre game, and while that certainly applies to Devil Engine, it has at least been designed in a way that encourages even the weakest players to keep trying and learn from their mistakes. The drip-feed of content is an effective incentive to pick yourself up and have just one more go, and although it is at times brutally difficult – even when compared to other tricky 2D shooters – it has the depth and variety to maintain your interest, and when you're at a competent level it's a heck of a lot of fun. The lack of online leaderboards goes against it, but if you're a fan of this style of game – and you're crying out for a title in the Thunder Force vein – then Devil Engine is well worth a look.
  3. Feb 24, 2019
    77
    This is a good shoot ‘em up and a great choice for fans of the genre. It takes some inspiration from Thunder Force, although it falls a little bit short to become its spiritual successor.
  4. Mar 10, 2019
    75
    Devil Engine is a challenging shoot'em up that will delight fans of the genre. Although it has some aspects that can be improved, it is entertaining and addictive. In addition, its different game modes and its large amount of content make it an interesting proposal.
  5. Mar 29, 2019
    40
    Altogether, Devil Engine is an intriguing STG that's held back by rough fundamentals. Given enough tuning, it could turn out to be welcome entry in any fan's library. There's plenty of content, and the two playable ships are impressively realized. However, the weak arsenal is a constant nuisance. Attempting to destroy massive bosses or even moderately-sized foes with a pea shooter isn't fun. There are options for quickly eliminating adversity, but getting past their constant waves of fire is also an ordeal. Simply put, it feels like this is trying too hard to break its players.
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  1. Feb 28, 2019
    With a deep love of classics such as Thunder Force, Gradius and Darius, this horizontal shmup goes well beyond a simple cover version. [Eurogamer Recommended]
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 3
  2. Negative: 1 out of 3
  1. Mar 4, 2019
    8
    Simply put, Devil Engine could best be described as a "Classic 90's Shoot'em up with 2019's tight controls, whipped with a ton of extras".Simply put, Devil Engine could best be described as a "Classic 90's Shoot'em up with 2019's tight controls, whipped with a ton of extras".

    The core gameplay system is really good and seems to be paying tribute to classic games such as Gate of Thunder, Aero Fighters and Thunder Force. Just like those old school shmups, the player must learn and memorize enemy patterns in order to succeed. But Devil Engine is helping the player in many ways, offering extra options almost each time you play, through a cumulative score system.

    The more you play, the more options you unlock and that's exactly why this game is so addictive and fun. You can unlock new types of ships, new skins, new bullet types, dimming the background, changing the screen's look, new levels and much more.

    And the game is just plain fun and gorgeous. Mechanics are quite simple and the whole game offers a quite a good challenge while offering all the help needed to succeed via all the gameplay options unlocked run after run.

    And if you like late 80's/mid 90's electro-hard rock music, you're in for a real treat! the music is right down fantastic! All tracks are quite good and sound like a mix of Lords of Thunder and Soldner-X's tunes.

    The only small negative points we could come with were that we felt like it would have been great to get some more diversity with the weapons and that some of the bosses are just plain insane. On Hard level, some of them are just plain stupid. Even after playing the game like 30 times, we could find any tactic or pattern to go with to be able to destroy them without getting killed like 10 times in a row...

    All in all, Dangen Entertainment proposes a really nice and polished old school shoot'em up, one that will definitely be enjoyed by any fan of the genre for sure. We highly recommend the game.
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  2. Apr 16, 2023
    7
    There's something not right about this game. The pixel work is quite gorgeous, but everything else is mid. There are too difficulty levels,There's something not right about this game. The pixel work is quite gorgeous, but everything else is mid. There are too difficulty levels, very easy and very hard, and the game calls you a **** whenever you pick easy because apparently this is 2006 and edginess sells games. It's just, there's nothing to say about this game beyond art direction. The gameplay is mid, the upgrade system is mid, music mid, there's just nothing to talk about. It's like a shmup designed by AI. Play anything else. Expand
  3. Mar 7, 2019
    4
    Poorly balanced. Truthfully, it's just not fun. It's no thunder force IV and there's much better shooters on the system. Wait for a deep sale.