Summary
- Release Year: 2005
- Genres: Shooter
- Platforms: Android, Arcade, iOS, Nintendo Switch
- Publishers: AM1, CAVE Interactive
Espgaluda II (2005)
Espgaluda II is a manic shooter originally released by Cave in the arcades in 2005 as a sequel to Espgaluda. It is known for its intense bullet patterns, colorful graphics, and catchy music. The game was ported to the Xbox 360 in 2012 and to the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita in 2013.
Gameplay
Espgaluda II is a vertical scrolling shoot ’em up in which the player controls a ship that can fire in eight directions. The player must defeat waves of enemies while dodging their bullets. The game features a variety of power-ups that can enhance the player’s ship, such as increased firepower, speed, and invincibility.
One of the unique features of Espgaluda II is its “Black Label” system. When the player’s ship is hit by an enemy bullet, it will enter “Black Label” mode. In this mode, the player’s ship will take less damage and fire more powerful bullets. However, the player’s ship will also move more slowly and be more difficult to control.
Espgaluda II also features a “Hyper” system. When the player collects a certain number of Hyper items, they can unleash a powerful Hyper attack. Hyper attacks can clear the screen of enemies and deal massive damage to bosses.
Story
Espgaluda II takes place in a world that is being invaded by an alien race known as the Pods. The player takes control of one of four ships that are sent to fight back against the Pods and save the world.
Characters
The four playable characters in Espgaluda II are:
- Aine: A young woman who is the pilot of the ship Fairy.
- Hikari: A shrine maiden who is the pilot of the ship Yorigami.
- Natsumi: A tomboyish girl who is the pilot of the ship Mushihimesama.
- Momiji: A kunoichi who is the pilot of the ship Shinobi.
Development
Espgaluda II was developed by Cave, a Japanese video game company that is known for its manic shooters. The game was directed by Tsuneki Ikeda, who also directed the original Espgaluda.
Espgaluda II was developed using Cave’s proprietary “Mushihimesama” game engine. This engine allowed the developers to create the game’s intense bullet patterns and colorful graphics.
Release
Espgaluda II was released in arcades in Japan in 2005. The game was ported to the Xbox 360 in 2012 and to the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita in 2013.
Reception
Espgaluda II was critically acclaimed upon release. The game was praised for its intense bullet patterns, colorful graphics, catchy music, and replayability.
Espgaluda II has been ranked as one of the best manic shooters ever made. In 2010, IGN ranked the game as the 23rd best arcade game of all time.
Legacy
Espgaluda II is considered to be one of the greatest manic shooters ever made. The game’s intense bullet patterns, colorful graphics, catchy music, and replayability have made it a favorite among fans of the genre.
Espgaluda II has also been influential in the development of other manic shooters. The game’s “Black Label” system has been adopted by other games, such as Deathsmiles and DoDonPachi Resurrection.
Conclusion
Espgaluda II is a classic manic shooter that is still enjoyed by fans of the genre today. The game’s intense bullet patterns, colorful graphics, catchy music, and replayability make it a must-play for any fan of shoot ’em ups.
Review Score
9/10
Art
Cover Art
Screenshots
