Devil's Crush is an Underrated Gem that still Shines Bright
While the gameplay is simple, as the game consists of just one three-tier table, the game's difficulty makes up for its lack of depth and gives the game the versatility needed to be truly enjoyable. However, despite the game's solid difficulty, it's the core gameplay that will force gamers to come back for more. You see, this isn't your normal pinball game.
The table for instance, consists of living things, ranging from sorcerers, demon birds, soldiers and a beautiful queen that ends up turning into something quite different. Throughout the game, you'll start to see things on the table change and that's where most of the fun is had. Seeing the progression of the queen on the second tier is an experience no other pinball game has reproduced since and the game's mini-bosses also add a luster and depth that sometimes make the game feel like something more than your average pinball game.
As a matter of fact, after a few hours with the game, you'll be positive it isn't.
However, the game is far from perfect. For example, the game's graphics and sound aren't on the same level as some of the other games released on the TurboGrafx-16 at the time. While the game does have its own sense of style and the graphics definitely capture the essence of a demonic pinball table, they are still a bit dark and muddy. The game's sound is also slightly mediocre as the same track plays during the game, while another track plays during the mini-boss stages. Nevertheless, the game's sound doesn't particularly take anything away from the solid overall package that is "Devil's Crush."
The game's physics aren't exactly perfect either, as the pinball sometimes has a mind of its own, but considering how old the title is, it's to be expected. During the multi-ball parts of the game, gamers may get frustrated at times at how fast or slow the balls move. Nonetheless, you won't have any problems big enough to take you away from the game.
With that being said, it's hard not to appreciate such a solid game that despite its weaknesses is still fairly enjoyable and challenging. Anyone looking for something different on the Nintendo Wii Virtual Console can do a lot worse than "Devil Crush."
-By Patrick Hickey Jr.