Deathsmiles 「デススマイルズ」was initially released for the Xbox 360 in Japan on April 23th 2009. In North America the game was released on June 29th 2010 by Aksys Games and in Europe on February 18th 2011 by Rising Star Games.

In the initial Japanese release two new game modes was introduced: Xbox 360 mode and Ver 1.1 mode. The Mega Black Label mode was initially made available for the Japanese market as DLC and later included in the Platinum release.

Hori produced a Deathsmiles arcade controller for the Xbox 360 which was released as an Amazon Japan excusive.

The North American and European releases both contain the full set of game modes as the Japanese Platinum Edition.

In the Ver 1.1 mode players can independently control familiars. Lock shot and powerup shot are located on different buttons.

Other changes include:

  • Item counter gets powered when it reaches 100.
  • Item score limit is increased to 99999 points.
  • In boss battle, counter bullets are fired during power up mode.
  • When stage difficulty is set to 2 or above, counter bullets are fired during power up mode.
  • When stage difficulty is set to 3, death mode is automatically triggered.
  • When attacking a boss with auto lock shot, item counter increases.
  • Extra lives are granted at 30 million and 1 billion points.

The Xbox 360 mode includes following changes:

  • Redone non-background graphics except for the EXTRA (valley) and FINAL (castle) stages, all stages have selectable difficulties of 1 and 2, and can be re-selected per stage.

Regular Edition (Japan)

  • Release date: 04/23/09
  • Original price: 7,140 円
  • Publisher: CAVE
  • Catalog no: AWD-00001
  • Rating: CERO B
  • Voice pack DLC card (pre order only)
  • Seems to have been available both with and without the soundtrack disc

Limited Edition (Japan)

  • Release date: 04/23/09
  • Original price: 9,240 円
  • Publisher: CAVE
  • Catalog no: AWB-00002
  • Rating: CERO B
  • Special packaging
  • Arrange album (soundtrack)
  • Voice pack DLC card
  • Release date: 04/08/10
  • Original price: 7,140 円
  • Publisher: CAVE
  • Catalog no: AWD-00004
  • Rating: CERO B
  • Contains the Mega Black Label versions of the game

Regular Edition (North America)

  • Release date: 09/28/10
  • Publisher: Rising Star Games
  • Rating: ESRB Teen

Limited Edition (North America)

  • Release date: 06/29/10
  • Publisher: Rising Star Games
  • Rating: ESRB Teen
  • Limited Edition box
  • Soundtrack
  • Faceplate

Deluxe Edition (Europe)

  • Release date: 02/18/11
  • Publisher: Rising Star Games
  • Catalog no: 53227
  • Rating: PEGI 12

Thank you’s

We’d like to thank Cyd, Konata, Monouchi, Anton and Thomas for contributing pictures.