Monsters from Japanese myths and folklore (called yokai) come together every year to have a parade on a day called Hyakki Yagyo.  But the Oni monsters were too rowdy so they weren’t invited.  But now they’re mad and causing trouble, so you must stop them in this horizontally scrolling 2D bullet hell shooter.  Twilight Parade: Moonlit Mononoke is available on all current consoles and PC, but reviewed on PS4 here.

The first thing you’ll do is choose one of a group of anime ladies dressed as yokai, in either a regular or swimsuit variant.  I don’t think it matters which one you pick.  Then you play through horizontally scrolling 2D bullet hell stages.  Move around with the L stick and hold down the button to fire.  But keep in mind that when you are shooting, you slow WAY down.  You have shields and hearts, but when all those run out, you lose a life and when all are lost, it’s Game Over.  Luckily you get unlimited continues and can start right where you left off.

The main problem I had with this one is that your character sprite is HUGE!  The makers of this game missed the point of bullet hell shooters in that your hitbox is usually so small so you can avoid the sprays of bullets.  Here I don’t know how you are supposed to dodge them!  Thank goodness for those unlimited continues!  I think die hard bullet hell fans would be better off playing something like Deathsmiles.

Kid Factor:

Twilight Parade: Moonlit Mononoke is rated T for Teen with ESRB descriptors of Blood and Violence.  I didn’t notice any blood.  You just shoot cartoony Japanese monsters that disappear when defeated.  When you get hit, you just fall off the screen.  I’m surprised this didn’t get a descriptor of Suggestive Themes seeing as though you play as scantily clad anime ladies and the bosses are just busty anime women dressed as other yokai monsters.  Reading skill is helpful for the text, but not necessary just to play.  Younger gamers may find it too repetitive and difficult.

Tags: Game Reviews