Deathsmiles I + II (PS4)

Two of CAVE's finest bullet-hell shooters on a single PS4 disc, numbered and limited to 1,500 copies. Deathsmiles I + II for PlayStation 4 is a Strictly Limited Games exclusive with manual included. No collector's box, no extras, just the games in their purest physical form.

And what games they are. The original Deathsmiles puts you in the role of one of four angels defending Gilverado from Hell's army across nine game modes of horizontally scrolling bullet-hell perfection. Deathsmiles 2 expands the roster to six characters and shifts to polygonal graphics while maintaining the precise, pattern-driven gameplay CAVE is famous for. Both titles, plus the Mega Black Label Edition and the "Gothic wa Mahou Otome" DLC, are on the disc. It's a comprehensive package from a developer whose name alone moves units in the shmup community.

For PS4 collectors who prefer clean, game-focused releases over elaborate box sets, this is the one. The disc-based PS4 library is becoming increasingly significant as we move deeper into the digital age, and a numbered CAVE release limited to 1,500 copies is the kind of entry that quietly appreciates over time. No wall scrolls competing for wall space, no keychains rattling around in a drawer. Just the definitive physical version of two beloved shooters.

Sometimes the game is the collectible. With Deathsmiles I + II, CAVE's legacy and a tight print run do all the heavy lifting.