I've put in a few runs, hit 80% of the achievements, and so I think I'm ready to review.
I disliked the demo, yet felt like there may be a bit more under the hood if I could ever get the whole she-bang for a decent price, and so I waited and waited and waited and waited till it was down to $12.50 for the complete set.
Dramatic DLC adds very little. It being from an acclaimed anime writer, I thought maybe we'd get something memorable like that random chit-chat in Raiden V, but all you get here is cliche anime plot that'll make you wish the characters were discussing Brazilian coffee beans whilst in the middle of Armageddon (Raiden V).
The story chatter is in Japanese dub w/English subs, and the characters converse during battle about stuff I care less about than coffee beans, and there's some odd emo feels they try to launder on you, but it doesn't hit the feelers. Most of the conversation is not worth glancing over in battle to read. The chatter should have been condensed rather than telling me that android girl is getting a tingling feel before Every.Single.Boss. YES. THAT. INCLUDES. MID-STAGE. BOSSES. lol.
So for an extra $4, was it worth it? Well, yes and no. Yes, b/c you get hints of lore, and it gives you an idea of who the bosses are. And No, bc the story sux.
Gameplay: The levels are a bit longer than typical. I enjoyed the change. I didn't time it, but est. 7-10mins per level. There are level hazards and collisions. By your 2nd play-through, they arent too hard to see or dodge. I actually disliked the hazards while playing the demo, but after running a lvl once or twice, I found I again liked the change of pace from doing purely bullet hell.
Formations are aight. They add depth, albeit it is a bit hard to swallow the upgrade system/formation system during ur first hour, but play with it on Easy, observe, and you'll understand the system. You are required to change your formation's formation to increase score thru power-ups and drops, and sometimes a certain formation or ship gives you an advantage so the bit of strategy adds flavor. Spicy!
Several ships to choose from so you get a bit of variety. The more achievements you achieve, the more ships you unlock (or if you get Complete Edition, then you get the Wing Galiber which is a very easy and casual ship to understand).
I wouldn't call this a bullet hell, but in the later difficulties, be prepared for your deaths to occasionally stack 2 or 3 right after another as a new life starts with no upgrades, but has an upgrade ship drop from the top towards you. Unfortunately, you might be dead again by the time the ship descends to you at the bottom of the screen b/c a boss or environmental hazard is blocking you from quickly picking up the upgrade ship. So with ur pew pew shooter, ur just a duck in the water with everyone's guns pointed at you. Yet, the game is forgiving, and even on Platinum Hard, red ships often zoom by in boss fights which if red ship is shot, red ship will drop an upgrade ship so very fair.
Speaking of bosses. They are very boring. 30% are just armored circles, 20% duplicate flying big boss ship with 3 phases, 40% is the same jet fighter (stage 1) that adds a second jet fighter in stage 3?, and adds a 3rd jet fighter ship in stage 5, then evolves to a mech in stage 6, 10% is the 4-phased final boss. So yeah, they are lame and feel like a 1st time indie devs attempt at a game. I wish more effort was put into them. However, given the level length, I almost don't mind the mediocrity that doesn't require much thought.
Achievements: The first 80-90% of achievements are do-able with some effort, however, the no-damage achievements and the Beat 5-7 loops of the game as it increases in difficulty and without losing all your continues (max 10 continues if you earn them), seems almost impossible without max dedication. But I had fun chasing some of the no damage achievements.
Well, that's that. I have enjoyed my time with the game, and I would recommend on sale even tho there are some glaring flaws.
