Once you beat Devilish, there’s really no reason to pick it up again. Because of the game’s style, there are no multiplayer or online features at all, and all that’s left to do is just to play through the game again.
Devilish is a fine example of a game that could have been so much more than just the Sega Genesis port that it pretty much is. Use of the touch screen on the DS would have made this game ten... no, a hundred times better than just the simple port that it is. Unfortunately, because it doesn’t, this is a game likely headed not from the shelves and into gamers’ hands, but from the shelves to the bargain bins instead. A little bit more work could have really made this title stand out more on the DS. Maybe we’ll see another effort that improves the graphics a bit and uses the touch screen in the future that will live up to its full potential.
At its core, Devilish might seem like just another Breakout clone. One paddle, one ball, loads of helpful power-ups and a ton of stuff to break. But Devilish has a few differences between itself and Breakout that not only add to the game’s fun, but make it more than just a copycat game. However, it’s also a game with a lot of opportunity left to waste, and that’s a pity, because those few differences really aren’t implemented as well as they could be.
In Devilish, the main character, a princess of a far-away land, finds her world invaded by Satan and his army. In the ensuing chaos, her mother dies, and the king escapes with his daughter to safety. Apparently, their mission is to fight back against Satan’s minions and regain control of their land, but how the Breakout-style game play factors into this, I don’t know. I guess they just needed the story to make the title fit.
The original Devilish first appeared on the Sega Genesis, but Starfish decided to update it for the DS. Unfortunately, they decided to leave touch-screen interfacing out of the game, something that could have resulted in a quality gaming experience. Instead, we’re left with just using the directional pad and L and R buttons to move and rotate the paddles.
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