Let’s kick of first review with a a game you can take with you wherever you are. Espgaluda 2 was my very first purchase when I got my iPhone 4, since my iPhone 3G couldn’t cut it.  My initial thought was “there is no way you can port something as crazy as a bullet hell shooter to the iPhone, Cave however, was more than happy to prove me wrong. I cannot recommend this game enough, and of all the people I convinced to purchase it, the main selling point I used was “This game is surprisingly playable.”

Espgaluda 2 game play seems to involve around managing “Awakening” a power you obtain by collecting crystals that slows bullets and turns bullets into gold. You pick one of three characters that all have different shot types and different awakening strengths which I am probably not qualified to talk about and really boils down to personal preference. I prefer Asagi because I like spread shot and stronger awakening. Espgaluda 2 also boasts 2 game play modes, Arcade mode which standard Espgaluda, and iPhone mode, which is a new game type that freezes your character in place and allows you to use touch controls to cancel bullets and collect more gems to stay in awakening mode and build you score.

Graphically the game looks GREAT! It doesn’t support the iPhone 4’s retina display but I would almost say it doesn’t have to. When somethings looks this good you can just as easily live without it. The music is also top notch and really sucks you into the game and makes for a really complete experience. Espgaluda 2 also took the extra step of including open feint support which only adds to the experience with achievements and online leader boards. If I had to complain about anything it would be lack of back story in the game. It is the sequel to a game I never got my hands on, and I could be wrong, but I believe some of the characters are changing sex when I select them, and I’m not 100% sure why I need to kill so many people or why why they want me dead. A little back story would go a long away to help me understand the universe. It also seems to have a lot of little techniques and hidden things like secret hidden items (lives) that I will probably ever learn or find… but I guess that’s why my online ranking is stuck at 697, but learning and discovering the little things should be part of the experience.

Gushing aside, This game is a very solid shooter for your iPhone/iPod touch. The price of 8.99 looks a little shocking as a “cell phone game” but in the end you find it not only fair but well worth what you will get out of the title. It gets a shining recommendation in my book as a “must have iPhone game” and it makes me want Dodonpachi Resurrection even more.