Japanese developer CAVE's latest shoot-em-up Akai Katana hits stores this Tuesday, May 15 courtesy of Rising Star Games' newly-opened US branch. Bullet hell shmups like Akai Katana are notoroiously difficult, filling the screen with hundreds of enemy bullets at once. Rising Star knows this and has considerately created an orientation trailer, explaining just how the gameplay works. It won't make your reflexes any faster, but at least you'll know how to use the ship's various attacks and Phantom mode transformation before you play.
Akai Katana is a side-scrolling shmup with 2 player local co-op. It takes place in a fictional Japanese steampunk setting. Players select from multiple characters who can switch between human and ship form (Phantom mode) as they dare to take on the armies of an evil emperor. The game packs five long stages, three game modes, and plenty of replay value... Also, lots of punishment, as every true bullet hell fan craves.
Akai Katana launches May 15 on Xbox 360. We'll have a full co-op review soon.