I'm just wondering, because I played throught the first 3 stages on normal and thought it was really easy. And the fourth time I started a level was the first one on divine "The hardest unlocked" and finished it first try "don't get me wrong, it was challenging". So I ask, does the dificulty scale with the story or will it just be about the same throughout?

Well on the quick look there was two extra difficulty modes you could unlock, hardcore mode and another one (I forget). Divine looked pretty damn hard to me but not on the level of a treasure game.

@TobbRobb: It gets harder. I'm not really used to bullet hell games anymore and it still didn't take me that long to finish the story mode. For me "divine" is already pretty hard, starting at the 2nd level.. I finished the first one on the first divine try, too, but haven't beaten the 2nd one yet. 

 It's a great game, but I need a break. ;)

Divine is quite solid on the later levels, but Judgement is just insane.

I think that second level is harder on higher difficulties than Badlands or New Madrid... It's got absolutely nothing on the final level though.

The game really isn't challenging in the normal mode, right? You get NINE lives per level, you can still make mistakes and beat a level.

Gauntlet mode? Dear Christ. Nine lives for a whole set of five levels on Legendary, Divine, or (god help you, literally) Judgement, this game's a whole different sack of beans.

Also, it's not just about getting to the end, right? You're trying to score-attack too...

I just beat the last level on Legendary. I'm looking forward to beating this game on Judgement. I just have to beat it on Divine. The game is definitely getting harder. But man, it is so great!

I feel like I'm getting better at bullet hell games. Maybe this will finally get me to finish Ikaruga.

That's one thing I really like about Jamestown; it feels like it's not kicking your ass, but it really is.

I'll be honest, the only roadblock for me was Divine Croatia. And even then, I got my strategy down for dealing with everything and it got that much easier. It helps that I've attempted to score attack the other few shmups I have played (Viper Phase One, Ikaruga, Imperishable Night, CRS88) so the biggest difficulty with Judgement is getting all the score attacking stuff down properly.

Don't forget the challenge mode too which (for me at least) is incredibly... um, challenging. I've just got The Luge challenge left to do before I can unlock the 5th set of challenge levels and it's bloody tough. Two bosses at once, actual bullet hell. :D

Yeah I realise there is a lot of replayability and sidestuff to be had, ^^ just wondered because the main game seemed easy. So far i've beaten all levels except 2 and 5 on divine and finished a bunch of challenges. I still think it is pretty easy, haven't played a bullet hell shooter in years and still managed most of the harder runs first try. The gauntlet seems like the best challenge, looking forward to it.

Judgement is where it gets real. I haven't beat the first level yet on that difficulty. Also I'm a challenge away from unlocking the fifth set as well.

Challenge modes help you improve as a player. The game isn't meant to be a "can't see this game if you suck" challenge. That's what Gauntlet is for.