The second North American release in this series of uniquely Japanese vertical scrolling shooters, Castle of Shikigami III continues its predecessors' fast-paced, anime-infused gameplay. Players navigate characters directly -- there are no vehicles -- and each of the ten warriors comes with special weapons and abilities. The "tension bonus system" rewards gamers who get as close to the enemy as possible, and each character produces a different set of dialogue, which, through the course of the five levels, results in 55 different story combinations. Two gamers can team up to in the co-op mode, or one player can engage in the faux co-op "dramatic change mode" that lets shmuppers switch between two characters on the fly.
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