The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile

Beautiful and bountifully bloody, The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile is thoroughly enjoyable hack & slash entertainment at its finest, with plenty of crimson-colored co-op craziness to extend the gameplay hours even more.

I have beaten this game four times in two days … and I am still playing it. There's just so much enjoyment to be had in building the perfect character and then showing it off online.

The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile is one of the best Arcade titles of the year so far, and one unlikely to be surpassed by many other releases in 2011. Its mix of pure arcade fun and pitch-perfect difficulty, likably-sinister art direction, complimentary angry-rock soundtrack and wallet-pleasing lifespan make it a must for anyone with a connection to Xbox LIVE. In a word: essential.

The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile is an improvement over an already very good videogame, and for 800MSP this is an absolute no-brainer for anyone who loves games like Bayonetta, God Hand and Devil May Cry. Instead of re-working tried and tested features for the sake of a follow up, everything about the first game has simply been done better. James Silva and SKA Games are now big players in the indie scene, and it is certainly going to be interesting to see what they have to offer next.

Considering the quality of the overall experience, its engaging co-op and its dark, fascinating visuals, The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile proves to be a worthy addition to the XBLA catalogue that few gamers should miss.

It's incredible that this game was made by just one guy. Fans of the beat 'em up genre will love its fun and gory style.

The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile is a more of the same, but when the quality is so high why complain? A videogame to buy with your eyes closed if you love the genre, and gore.

There is good bit of game to get through here for $10. It has a great style, good music and fun combat. It's violent, it's dark and it gives you quite a few reasons to keep returning. There aren't any reasons not to recommend it -- unless of course you're squeamish.

The first Dishwasher game was one of the most action-packed, fast-paced games available on Xbox Live. Its sequel ups the ante in almost every way. The grim style is accompanied by some of the tightest 2D action around. While the challenge and dark subject matter could be a turn-off for some, most players will find a deep and rewarding action title that is more than worth a download.

Overall, Vampire Smile is a major improvement over the first game, which was still pretty good in its own right.

The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile did exactly what it needed to. It took all the visceral fun of the first game and honed it until it gleamed and glinted like the morning sun reflected off a sword blade.

vampire Smile is better than the already great original in every way. If you liked The Dishwasher: Dead Samuraik, you'll love this.

As I stated starting out, you've got to like side-scrolling action games in the first place to enjoy The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile, but if you do you'll love the love. It has so much style and character that you'll thoroughly enjoy your time spent with it.

A toxic treat. [July 2011, p.87]

Though its main campaign may be a little on the short side, Vampire Smile squeezes more clever gameplay detours, edge-of-your-seat encounters, knowing nods to the wider world and hidden goodies than most full price retail releases.

The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile is a big surprise and not just because there's a music game reference out of nowhere or an unexpected nod to ancient text-based adventure games. This is a very nicely put-together package of quality content with plenty to differentiate itself from other XBLA offerings.

Grimly gorgeous and violently entertaining, The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile is one of the finest games released so far this year.

One of the finest games available on Xbox Live Arcade, and a fantastic value for 2D slasher fans.

What you do have here though is a game that doesn't hide what it is. It is pure unadulterated violence and it makes sure you are having fun with it, you come out the other end covered in blood and loving the feeling.

The challenge level in the Dishwasher is nearly pitch-perfect, skillfully walking the fine line between punishment and reward.

A rollickingly gory ride, packing with blood, style and content. If only it built on its foundations, rather than pounding us with the same repetitive gameplay throughout, this would be a must-have.

The story is weird, but the solid mechanics and playful nature of indie games is laced throughout the title and contrasts nicely with the prominent aesthetics of the game. If you can get past the Hot Topic makeup here, you'll find a very rewarding arcade game in Vampire Smile.

Every aspect of this game is a pleasure. You have a campaign mode and you can play lots of arcade levels to compete with friends all over the world. A casual game mustn't always be colorful, sometimes you need just three colors, in this case black, white and bloody red.

A fast, brutal and demanding beat'em up that is Dishwasher: Vampire Smile, proves that taking a few ideas from old games, expanding them and making them look and sound modern can give an excellent result. Basic gameplay mode is accompanied by two more, that provide many hours of fun - either alone or with company (using one console or a network).

The repetitive level design can become mind-numbing in any sort of prolonged session, but the excellent combat is enough to make it worth playing if you're looking for a good character action game.

A brilliantly executed, whirling dervish of a game that all but demands to be ripped open and played to death. Grab your kitty-cat, gas up your chainsaw-arm and sharpen your blades. It's gonna be a bloodbath.

Dishwasher: Vampire Smile has more than enough content for its cost, absolutely amazing gameplay, and some impressive visuals. The plot is completely irrelevant to the experience, but it's certainly not bad. If players want a fast paced action game with a surprising amount of depth, Dishwasher 2 is certainly worth checking out.

Hack and slash lovers shouldn't really miss this little XBLA gem. It's not perfect, but it's defenitely worth a look.

If you're craving a good hack 'n slash beat 'em up you can enjoy with a friend, The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile is one of the best around. Check it out immediately to see if it's your cup of bloodstained tea.

Vampire Smile simply reasserts Ska Studios' placement on the top-tier rung of Xbox Arcade developers. [May 2011, p.80]

Vampire Smile is the product of just one man. Everything, from the slick lo-fi graphics layered with intense lighting effects, to the urgent, industrial music, is by James Silva....Don't be too quick to be jealous.

The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile goes straight for the jugular, rips out the voice box and releases a deafening roar. Why? Because it can, and because it's awesome.

One of the best XBLA games we've seen so far this year, topping the original with bigger levels, more carnage, varied gameplay, a new character, co-op support and a slick presentation. Kudos to you, Mr. Silva, and the good people at Ska Studios for keeping us slicing and dicing.

Vampire Smile is a work with solid and entertaining gameplay, mature content, bloody and gory style, and pure dark energy everywhere. Every aspect of its predecessor has been improved, accompanied by the introduction of a new beautifully disturbed character: a true masterpiece from Ska Studios.

Overall I'm not just impressed with the game as it's presented, but I'm also impressed knowing that one guy did pretty much all of it. That blows me away as I'm sure it will do to you too when you get a true feeling of the style, the story, the over-the-top action and replayability that lies beyond the opening menu.

The standout moments make the monotony that much more worth enduring.

The combat and level design can become repetitive during long sessions and its difficulty may put some people off. But when it plays so well, looks unique, is filled with zest and the fun doubles in co-op, it's ultimately a rewarding and enjoyable experience.

This is a good sequel which will please those who enjoyed the first game, and also those looking for a game of intense action, with a classic bidimensional, but spectacular, style.

A more inclusive and competent game than its already accomplished predecessor, and anyone with a taste for intricate combat and a combo meter will find themselves right at home.

Even with its few faults, this title serves as a shining example of its genre, and I wish game companies would make more of this type of game.

Consistently slick in almost every regard: animation, level design, and combat. Stylish and memorable. [July 2011, p.119]