The Dishwasher Vampire Smile Review
The Dishwasher Vampire Smile is from Ska Studios and is the follow up to The Dishwasher for the XBOX Live Arcade. In this version of the game you'll get to choose between the Dishwasher and the Prisoner (Yuki). You'll get to take out your revenge utilizing one of these characters for what has truly happened to the world. You'll be running through very mute looking environments that are just begging to be redecorated with those who will fall.
Graphically at first you'll think that there wasn't much to what you see of this platformer, but once you start swinging your weapons you'll see that the environment just needs some redecorating. This game is not shy about bloodshed and a once pristine room will be coated in blood by the time you are done with the enemies that are going to try to take you out. The variety of enemies, all with their hand drawn look, will keep things interesting. The cut scenes between levels which basically comes off as a one panel comic with text bubbles periodically appearing gives you the dark grittiness of your current situation.
Usually I would be slightly depressed over the fact that a game doesn't have voice acting in it, but for this one because of the dialog boxes, and the overall gameplay, I'm able to overlook that fact. The music is hard to describe, I do feel like its a cop out to say it just fits the game, but I think that's the best I'm going to be able to say. Its not some happy go lucky tune, its gritty, and gives almost a hint of desperation.
The controls won't take long to master, though you will find that you won't have the full functionality of your character until a couple of levels in. You'll be swinging a variety of weapons, dashing around the screen, casting magic, shooting, reloading, and playing, from what I can tell, an electric violin or guitar.
There are two slightly different stories that you can play, but both will have you interacting through the same levels and facing off against the same bosses. Your overall mission is to destroy those who have corrupted what is happening in the world, or lack of a world. This game is fast paced, a button masher, and there's even a little bit of strategy that is involved if you want to survive through all the stages. The game almost has this sweet simplicity to it. Even though you are basically hacking and slashing and causing large amounts of damage there's just something about the game that keeps you wanting to see more and do more within the game.
This is a great game by a small studio that needs to be played. There's just something about it that I couldn't get out of my system until I played through both the prisoner and dishwasher choices. I do have to say that I did find some great humor in the Pretty Princess difficulty and the hearts showering the screen. What can I say besides pick this game up and give it a spin on the XBOX Live Arcade. This game gets a 9.2 out of 10.
