Deathsmiles I + II (NSW)

CAVE's gothic bullet-hell darlings finally got the physical Switch treatment, and it's exactly as unhinged as you'd hope. Deathsmiles I + II for Nintendo Switch brings both entries in this beloved horizontally scrolling shoot-'em-up series onto a single cartridge, courtesy of Strictly Limited Games. Limited to just 2,800 individually numbered copies worldwide, this is the kind of release that disappears from shelves and never comes back.

For the uninitiated, Deathsmiles sends you hurtling through Gilverado as one of four playable angels, blasting demons, man-eating plants, giant cattle, and yes, a demonic Santa Claus. The sequel doubles down with two additional characters and a shift to polygonal visuals while keeping the chaos dialed to eleven. Between the two games you're looking at nine different game modes, including Mega Black Label and the IIX Arrange variants, plus the "Gothic wa Mahou Otome" DLC baked right onto the cart.

CAVE is the undisputed heavyweight of the bullet-hell genre. Mushihimesama, DoDonPachi, Espgaluda, the list reads like a hall of fame. Having their work preserved on physical media with a proper manual feels like the kind of reverence these games deserve. The two-player local co-op means you can drag a friend into the bullet curtains with you, which is really the best way to experience the genre.

This release sits at a sweet intersection of craftsmanship and scarcity. 2,800 copies for a CAVE title on Switch is nothing. If your shelf has room for one more shmup, this is the one that fills it and makes everything around it look better.