What Deathsmiles is
Deathsmiles is a horizontally scrolling bullet-hell shoot-'em-up from CAVE, the studio behind Mushihimesama, DoDonPachi, and Espgaluda. You play as one of five Angels defending the magical land of Gilverado from an invasion by Hell itself. The enemies are ghosts, demons, man-eating plants, and even giant cattle, all wrapped in a gothic horror theme that still keeps a cute anime edge. The screen fills with bullets, so reading patterns and staying calm is the whole game.
Playing together with friends
Deathsmiles supports two-player local cooperative play, so you and a friend can pick an angel and banish the forces of Hell together. Each angel comes with her own faithful familiar, which gives you a distinct way to handle the swarm. Steam also lists Remote Play Together, so a friend can join over a connection instead of sitting next to you. The game runs through six different game modes, including Mega Black Label mode, and the nonlinear progression lets you freely choose your path and difficulty across a variety of macabre stages.
Before you start
Expect a challenge. The Counter system rewards aggressive play with powerful payoffs, but it punishes mistakes just as hard, so learn when to push and when to back off. Pick your angel and familiar to match your style, then decide how you want to route through the stages since the difficulty and path are yours to set. The soundtrack carries the arcade mood, and the gothic setting keeps the tone spooky rather than grim. Bring patience, coordinate with your partner, and clear the invasion one stage at a time.