x8 !!!! Shikigami no Shiro 3

(tags game, Xbox 360, shmup, telephone card)

I did succumb to new game purchase. I bought Shikigami no Shiro 3 for the Xbox 360 (式神の城3). I couldn't say no to zettai ryoiki on the telephone card. (A Gamers exclusive). What can I say, I miss playing shmups, and Ikaruga isn't coming out this month. Plus I was disappointed that Shikigami no Shiro 2 wasn't compatible with Xbox 360 . I want to scratch/buzz, man, real hard.

It's pretty fun if I stick with the beginner's character Kuga. Basically with Kuga I don't have to worry about shooting, just dodge and buzz for "x8" multiplier. I haven't credit feeded it but already I unlocked unlimited credits, probably playing it 40+ times already. I'm trying to get past level 3 without continuing. I don't think I will be unlocking the Achievements without continuing though. I keep saying to myself, just credit feed this run because I want to see the story, but then my untainted high score keeps on increasing, so I don't.

I like the character voices this time. I think voice for the shikigami Saya is Ayako Kawasumi (川澄綾子), excellent. I also like the enemy Yukari Horiguchi "version 2" which I think is Ryoko Shintani (新谷良子). She's so off the wall. There's also a randoseru (with a Bubble Bobble character imprinted on it?!) girl that is in a deep voice, but when in high voice sounds just like tsundere voice goddess Rie Kugimiya (釘宮理恵). I'll visit the official page later to get the real clue though.

The character graphics are excellent to my moe eyes, especially Yukari Horiguchi "version 2" china suit. If I press Y at a gallery page, the character says something random that goes with their expression. Nice.

There is a story, but this time the writers want to make it funny by breaking the fourth wall and making everything a gag. It's a change from the first two outings, which is fine by me. When I have tag-team "Dramatic battle", the two characters I pick have a short scenario dialogue just for them. In other words, there are 8 x 7 + 8 == 64 10 x 9 + 10 == 100 different dialogues! It's not very witty, not very serious, but light hearted.

But the Xbox controller is not very fun. I'm playing it by the D-pad. Well, I can almost get past level 3 with it, so it can't all be bad. But this particular controller seems to be iffy when pressing right. I haven't attributed a death to this yet, but it will come. And then the controller throwing will begin. I am somewhat desperate for a joystick or a better D-pad. Ugh, no joysticks available for under 1_0000 yen.

Right now I'm resting my hand because I was gripping the Xbox controller for too long. But I want to continue. No I mean I want to start the game from the beginning, but... ok, you know what I mean.

(edit: There are 10 characters to choose, not just 8.)