The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile (Review)

By: Mithrandiel[yasr_multiset setid=2] We were provided a review code by Ska Studios in preparation for this articleI've been spending way too much time in the Metaverse lately. That's right, Persona 5 has effectively consumed every waking hour of my gaming life over the last couple weeks, and I found myself looking for something a bit more fast-paced...I needed an action title to satisfy my gaming need. Luckily for me, Ska Studios, makers of Salt and Sanctuary, unearthed a classic from the Xbox Live Arcade, The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile, and released it on steam just in the last week. A frantic 2D hack n' slash game with a gritty art style and jagged rock and roll soundtrack, it was just what the doctor ordered.

Story

Vampire Smile features two main protagonists: The Dishwasher (shock!), and his stepsister Yuki. The sequel to Dead Samurai, it continues to follow the unfortunate siblings as they pursue their respective nemeses; Yuki seeking revenge against the three men who made her the way she is, and the Dishwasher trying to bring down the mastermind behind the ruin of the world.The plot is told in a series of comic-style cutscenes, quickly establishing a dark and melancholic atmosphere. It's largely straightforward, without too many drastic twists or turns...and that's just fine with me. After all, the real treat is in the gameplay.

Gameplay

Each of the protagonists can swap between two weapons. You can configure which weapons you use in two separate "Loadouts", effectively being able to swap between 4 weapons with lightning speed. While many games offer a weapon-switching mechanic, we all know it can be hard to break away from your tried and true default weapon. Vampire Smile helps to address this by offering up some really interesting weapon options that are more effective against certain types of enemies. Sometimes you need the fast and furious strokes of your blade, other times you might rely on your Cloud Sword to cut through thicker defenses. With a wealth of weapons and styles to choose from, combat never feels stale.In Vampire Smile, you can't expect to dish out the proper level of ass-kicking without a few other additions. Through your blood-soaked adventure you also pick up a number of spells, and can utilize a machine gun as well. The multiple weapons, guns and spells, combined with an interesting dash/dodge mechanic, keeps combat fluid and frantic.You pummel most enemies with a combination of standard attacks, and also have the option to grab and throw with circle. Once an enemy's health is low enough, you can essentially "finish them" with circle or triangle. The same mechanic applies to the numerous bosses and mini-bosses strewn throughout the game as well. The throws and finishers render you invulnerable temporarily, so it further adds to the fervor as you slice, dice, and disembowel your way through hordes of enemies.My main gripe is that sometimes the action gets a bit too frenzied. There's a blurry-cam type effect, which when combined with the general insanity of combat, can result in some confusion as you try to remember where your character is in all the chaos.That aside, Vampire Smile is a blast to play. You can certainly pick it up and go to town mashing buttons, but the reward for skilled players is certainly there as well.

Visuals/Sound

I'm a huge fan of Ska Studios aesthetic; Salt and Sanctuary had a similar vibe in terms of a gray, harsh world...just vastly more difficult. Yuki's nightmare sequences are haunting as well; words scrawled on the wall with blood as a mysterious hooded figure chases you while you can only hobble away at best. Complementing this creepy environment is an often distorted soundtrack derived from metal and rock and roll. An interesting minigame involves you finding an abandoned speaker and jamming out a song by pressing X, O, Square and Triangle to the beat. Sound effects are another big win for Vampire Smile, the clanging of swords, ricocheting of bullets, and sound of bones crunching and bodies breaking all adding to the melodious cacophony of mayhem. Sometimes it's easy to forget what game we're playing because certain genres look and feel the same. Ska Studios has effectively created its own aesthetic, and it is fantastic.

Final Thoughts

Man, I'm glad I got that violence out of my system! Vampire Smile is a real blast to play - straightforward with a fantastic vibe and responsive gameplay. If you're looking for a great action title for less than $10, you can't go wrong with another great title from Ska Studios. Enjoy!