Nintendo Brings Bullet Hell To DSiWare

By Spencer . August 28, 2009 . 11:40am

Arika, the developer that released Ketsui: Death Label on the Nintendo DS, is working with Nintendo on a downloadable DSiWare shoot ‘em up. Aa Mujou Setsuna is exactly what it sounds like — a ruthless moment.

 

 

The game has two types of ships. Type A (left) has a wide shot and a bomb attack that hits everything on the screen, but drains a third of your special gauge. Type B’s basic shot is slightly tighter than A. The real difference is the ship’s special move, a piercing laser and a bullet absorbing barrier. Absorbed bullets turn into point cubes, which you can pick up. Nintendo posted a movie that demonstrates the system.

 

Similar to medals in Raiden Fighters cubes “level up” if you leave them on the screen. They start out as a purple block and turn goldenrod at level eight.

 

Players will have a chance to upload their high scores and replays over Nintendo Wi-Fi. For 500 DSiWare points ($5) you’re getting a lot of bang for your buck. Aa Mujou Setsuna (loosely translated as A Ruthless Moment) arrives on DSiWare in Japan on September 2. A North American release has not been announced, but the game has English menus… and someone developing the game has a thing for aquatic life.