Ghost Blade HD

So it may not be the most feature-rich bullet-hell shoot’em up out there. And the sheer insanity of the on-screen action can be a bit mystifying at times. But Ghost Blade HD is one hell of a lot of fun that does a great job of reminding you of the uncomplicated nature of the genre’s past without the fuzzy visuals.

Bullet hell shoot-'em-ups can be intimidating to jump into if you're not a diehard player of the genre. Where Ghost Blade HD succeeds most is in finding the delicate balance between offering a level of difficulty that doesn't turn off newcomers, but also challenges seasoned veterans.

Very few game genres remain as enjoyable as a good old shmup. Thankfully, Ghost Blade HD is a challenging and extremely enjoyable shoot 'em up so let's strap on our garter belts and take to the skies.

Welcome to a classic SHMUP you've probably never had a chance to play until now. Pick your femme fatale, hop into the cockpit, and get ready to grind through classic bullet hell gameplay in an all new HD experience. There are five vast stages to dodge, blast, and bomb your way through with some extra features on the side to keep you coming back for more alien crushing action.

Ghost Blade HD has the 90s retrograde down pat, delivering a nostalgic retro shooter that’ll bring you back to that favorite arcade of yours. Enough keeps this from being a must buy, but the price point makes it appealing for anyone looking for a good ol’ time.

With an easy mode, truncated (basically non-existent outside of “defeat the AI called Shira”) story, and a multiplayer option, Ghost Blade HD is a great gateway drug for anyone on the fence about getting back into shmups. It has all the mechanical makings of a great shooter, it just lacks that special spark in a few major areas.

Whilst fifteen minutes may seem an incredibly short time for a game to last these days, most arcade shoot ’em ups are short and barely last half an hour. There’s nothing really new or exciting in Ghost Blade HD, but it’s a solid entry to a genre that is almost non-existent on current consoles.