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❤ Gameplay Overview

The collection features two distinct shoot 'em up (shmup) experiences. Judgement Silversword delivers relentless, vertically-scrolling action, while Cardinal Sins puts a unique spin on the genre with specialized objectives for each of its seven stages.

❤ Judgement Silversword

Players pilot a ship with two firing modes - a focused, long-range shot and a wider, shorter-range spread shot. Mastering the efficient use of these weapons is key to maintaining a high scoring multiplier, as the multiplier drops quickly if you fail to swiftly destroy enemies. The ship also has a limited-use forward shield that can be employed offensively or defensively. Carefully timing the shield's activation is crucial, as improper use will quickly deplete its energy. The game's stages are short but brutally challenging, with complex enemy patterns that require precise positioning and memorization. Progressing through the later levels demands a high degree of skill, as the difficulty ramps up considerably.

❤ Cardinal Sins

Rather than a linear progression, Cardinal Sins divides the experience into seven unique stages, each themed around one of the Seven Deadly Sins. Each stage tasks the player with fulfilling a specific objective, such as maximizing destruction in "Wrath" or hoarding enemy data in "Greed". Earning high scores in these specialized stages is necessary to accrue bonuses for the final boss encounter. This objective-based structure gives Cardinal Sins a strong sense of variety and replayability. Mastering the distinct mechanics of each stage is a significant challenge, but immensely rewarding for dedicated shoot 'em up enthusiasts.

❤ Presentation and Technical Aspects

The pixel art visuals faithfully capture the original Wonderswan titles' retro aesthetic, with crisp sprites and a chiptune-inspired soundtrack. Technically, the PC port runs at a solid 60 frames per second (with 144Hz support) and features responsive controls. One notable addition is the inclusion of Steam achievements, which provide extra incentive for players to hone their skills. The developer has also addressed an earlier omission by adding online leaderboards, allowing shmup aficionados to compete globally for high scores.