Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Castle of Shikigami III picks up where its predecessors left off, offering a tight and responsive vertical-scrolling shooter experience that veterans of the series will feel right at home with. You choose from ten distinct characters—ranging from nimble fighters to heavy-hitting gunships—each boasting unique special weapons and abilities. This variety ensures that each run feels fresh, as you learn the strengths and weaknesses of your chosen pilot or craft.

The game’s five stages are divided into two chapters apiece, giving you a satisfying mid-level checkpoint before you face off against the colossal, visually striking bosses. The tension bonus system rewards you for skating the edge of danger, racking up extra points as you weave between enemy fire and get up close to hostile units. This risk-and-reward mechanic adds depth beyond simple shot dodging, encouraging skilled players to refine their movement and positioning.

Castle of Shikigami III also introduces a mid-flight aircraft-switch mechanic in single-player mode, enabling you to swap between two chosen crafts on the fly for added strategic flair. If you’d rather team up, the co-op mode lets two players tackle stages together, coordinating special attacks and tension bonuses in real time. Whether you prefer solo runs or tandem assaults on the screen, the gameplay loop stays engaging from start to finish.

Graphics

Visually, Castle of Shikigami III strikes a balance between classic 2D sprite work and lush, modernized backgrounds. Each stage bursts with detailed scenery—from neon-lit cityscapes to alien-infested wastelands—and the color palettes shift dynamically as you progress, keeping your eyes glued to the screen. The frame rate remains rock-solid even when bullet patterns fill the air, a testament to the developers’ optimization.

The character and enemy sprites retain the series’ signature anime-inspired design, with smooth animations that showcase weapon fire, evasive rolls, and special weapon effects. Bosses stand out not only for their size but also for their creativity, sporting rotating limbs, energy shields, and multi-phase attacks that feel like mini spectacles. Explosion effects are punchy without ever becoming distracting, complementing the fast-paced combat.

Castle of Shikigami III also features a gallery mode where you can unlock artwork, character portraits, and stage backgrounds. This extra content serves as a rewarding sidebar for completionists, and the stills themselves highlight the game’s attention to detail. If you enjoy pixel art and high-intensity effects, this title delivers a visually satisfying shooter experience.

Story

While shooters rarely win awards for narrative depth, Castle of Shikigami III manages to weave in a surprising amount of lore through its fifty-five possible story elements. Each character’s campaign offers unique dialogue exchanges and mission goals, so replaying stages with different pilots reveals hidden plot threads and motivations. The branching scenarios encourage multiple playthroughs to see the story from every angle.

The overarching plot builds on the sci-fi foundations laid by earlier entries in the Shikigami series: rogue AI experiments, supernatural anomalies, and covert conspiracies all make appearances. Though individual cutscenes are brief, they’re delivered with enough flair—complete with voice samples and dynamic portraits—to keep you invested in your chosen character’s journey. You get a sense of camaraderie or rivalry depending on how you pair up in co-op mode.

Even if narrative isn’t your primary draw, the story elements and unlockable dialogue lend texture to the relentless bullet hell. The tension bonus ties into the plot by emphasizing how your characters flirt with danger in high-stakes missions. All told, the story doesn’t overshadow the action but complements it, giving context to the carnage unfolding on screen.

Overall Experience

Castle of Shikigami III succeeds as both a faithful continuation of a beloved shoot ’em up series and as an accessible entry point for newcomers. Its combination of ten playable characters, five richly designed stages, and mechanics like mid-flight aircraft switching and the tension bonus system make for an addictive gameplay loop. Whether you’re chasing high scores or simply blasting through co-op stages with a friend, the core experience never loses its spark.

The game’s presentation is polished from start to finish. Stable performance, striking background art, and varied enemy designs ensure that each level feels distinct. The gallery mode and awardable story elements add extras for completionists, while the boss battles deliver peak spectacle and test your reflexes at every turn.

In an era where many shooters churn out rote experiences, Castle of Shikigami III stands out by blending inventive mechanics with classic bullet-hell intensity. It’s a must-have for fans of the genre and a rewarding challenge for anyone seeking an action-packed test of skill. If you’re looking to dive into a shooter with depth, diversity, and visual flair, this title will keep you coming back for more.

Retro Replay Score

6.6/10