View source for Deathsmiles II


{{Expand Japanese|デススマイルズII_魔界のメリークリスマス|date=March 2015|topic=vg}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Deathsmiles II
| image = Deathsmiles II arcade flyer.jpg
| developer = [[Cave (company)|Cave]]
| publisher = Cave
| director = [[Junya Inoue]]
| producer = Kenichi Takano
| designer = Atsushi Aburano <br> Akira Wakabayashi <br> Hiroyuki Tanaka <br> Hideki Nomura
| programmer = Takashi Ichimura
| artist = Junya Inoue
| composer = [[Manabu Namiki]] <br> Noriyuki Kamikura <br> Yoshimi Kudo <br> [[Motoi Sakuraba]]
| series = ''[[Deathsmiles]]''
| released = '''Arcade'''{{vgrelease|JP|May 14, 2009}}'''Xbox 360'''{{vgrelease|JP|May 27, 2010|NA|May 17, 2011}}'''PS4, Xbox One, Switch'''{{vgrelease|JP|December 16, 2021}}'''Windows'''{{vgrelease|WW|June 23, 2022}}
| genre = [[Bullet hell]]
| modes = [[Single-player]], [[multiplayer]]
| platforms = {{Unbulleted list|[[Arcade game|Arcade]]|[[Xbox 360]]|[[PlayStation 4]]|[[Xbox One]]|[[Nintendo Switch]]|[[Microsoft Windows]]}}
}}
{{nihongo foot|'''''Deathsmiles II: Makai no Merry Christmas'''''|デススマイルズII 魔界のメリークリスマス}} is a 2009 [[bullet hell]] game by [[Cave (company)|Cave]]. It is the third Cave shoot 'em up to be played using a horizontally-oriented monitor (preceded by ''[[Progear]]'' and the original ''[[Deathsmiles]]''). ''Deathsmiles II'' is also the first [[Cave (company)|CAVE]] arcade game to use polygons instead of their traditional sprites for graphics. A compilation of ''Deathsmiles I'' and ''Deathsmiles II'' was released on [[PlayStation 4]], [[Xbox One]], and [[Nintendo Switch]] in Japan in December 2021 and later for [[Microsoft Windows]] in June 2022.

==Gameplay==
{{Expand section|date=December 2022}}[[File:ARC Deathsmiles II (Deathsmiles II - Makai no Merry Christmas).png|thumb|left|Arcade version screenshot]]
In ''Deathsmiles II'', players control a character armed with a magical weapon, navigating through levels filled with enemies and obstacles. The game features multiple characters to choose from, each with their own unique abilities and playstyle. As players progress through the game, they can collect power-ups and items to enhance their character's abilities and make them more powerful.

''Deathsmiles II'' also features a "Mega Black Label" mode, which is a harder version of the game with different levels and challenges.

==Development and release==
{{expand section|date=March 2015}}
''Deathsmiles IIX'' was ported to the Xbox 360 with additional modes in 2010. It was released both regular and limited editions which included a soundtrack CD. On release week, ''Deathsmiles IIX'' sold 16,112 copies in Japan according to [[Media Create]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/big-in-japan-may-24-30-super-mario-galaxy-2/1100-6264587/ |title=Big in Japan May 24–30: Super Mario Galaxy 2 |date=May 18, 2010 |first=Brendan |last=Sinclair |publisher=[[GameSpot]] |accessdate=September 24, 2016}}</ref> A platinum edition was released in 2011. The unlocalized Japanese release was made available on the US "Games on Demand" store in 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.giantbomb.com/articles/how-deathsmiles-2x-became-xbox-lives-first-unlocal/1100-3260/ |title=How Deathsmiles 2X Became Xbox Live's First Unlocalized Game |date=May 26, 2011 |first=Patrick |last=Klepek |publisher=[[Giant Bomb]] |accessdate=September 24, 2016}}</ref>

==Reception==
{{video game reviews
| Fam = 8/10, 8/10, 7/10, 7/10<ref name="FamitsuReview">{{cite web| last = Gifford| first = Kevin| title = Japan Review Check: Super Mario Galaxy 2, Alan Wake| publisher = [[1UP.com]]| date = May 19, 2010| url =http://www.1up.com/news/japan-review-check-super-mario| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150627005921/http://www.1up.com/news/japan-review-check-super-mario| url-status = dead| archive-date = June 27, 2015| access-date = December 1, 2025}}</ref>}}

The Japanese video game magazine ''[[Famitsu]]'' had one reviewer comment that the "console-original mode" was different enough from the arcade, making it a fresh experience. Another commented that they appreciated the visuals and the new characters introduced.<ref name="FamitsuReview" />

''[[GamesRadar]]'' rated the [[XBLA]] release a 3.5 out of 5 and called ''Deathsmiles 2X'' one of the better shooters available in the Western market.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamesradar.com/deathsmiles-2x-review/ |title=Deathsmiles 2X review |first=Heidi |last=Kemps |date=May 27, 2011 |website=GamesRadar |accessdate=March 27, 2015 |archive-date=April 4, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150404115310/http://www.gamesradar.com/deathsmiles-2x-review/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website}} {{in lang|ja}}

{{CAVE games}}
{{Shmup-videogame-stub}}

[[Category:2009 video games]]
[[Category:Arcade video games]]
[[Category:Cave (company) games]]
[[Category:Christmas video games]]
[[Category:Dark fantasy video games]]
[[Category:Horizontally scrolling shooters]]
[[Category:Nintendo Switch games]]
[[Category:PlayStation 4 games]]
[[Category:Video games scored by Manabu Namiki]]
[[Category:Video games developed in Japan]]
[[Category:Video games featuring female protagonists]]
[[Category:Video games with 2.5D graphics]]
[[Category:Windows games]]
[[Category:Xbox 360 games]]
[[Category:Xbox One games]]
[[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]]

{{Wikipedia attribution|original_title=Deathsmiles II|access_date=2026-03-02}}