Format: HuCard
Genre: Pinball
Developer: NAXAT Soft
Publisher: NEC

Devil's Crush is a "what's what" of occult themes-- enough madness to make Tipper Gore's head explode into a pulp. There are circles of dancing incantation monks, a fire-spitting dragon, oviduct tunnels that bring the player to secret monster chambers, and even-- in pure "basement virgin" fashion-- a beautiful woman that is revealed to be a hideous lizard monster. The PC Engine's massive number of simultaneous colors brings this fantasy world to life, with richly shaded sprites and table art. Armies of marching demons finish the picture, making the table feel like a fantasy battle ground!

People don't usually associated the PC Engine's sound chip with digital effects, and yet-- here comes Devil's Crush! A ripping, orchestra hit opening leads way into an unrelentingly pulsation of metal riffs, full of insane sampled drums. The melodies lend chilling quantities of mood to the game's treasure-filled castles and dank sacrificial chambers. Sound effects and frequent use of voice samples are likewise brilliant-- both pinball like, yet technically impressive.

Alien Crush-- dense with secrets and rich with charm-- had some of the best ball physics and table design around, except that it was a little too opaque. Enter its sequel, where the ball has been sped up and the physics refined-- and the table, just as intricate as its predecessor's, is more immediately accessible and pointed in its progression map. Put simply: Devil's Crush is perhaps the best playing video pinball game of all time.

This reviewer doesn't give out many perfect scores, but it's tough to imagine how Devil's Crush could possibly be a better game. Its metal soundtrack is expansive and fast; its occult-themed graphics are rich and thematically eye-catching; the ball physics and table design are phenomenal; and there is even save support for high scores, and for those long-running sessions-- when they are long-running: Devil's Crush is brutally difficult, like a "Demon's Souls" of pinball games. A near faultless classic!