The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile is the sequel to the 2009 release, The Dishwasher: Dead Samurai. It is currently available on XBox 360 for 800 XBox Live Arcade points. Ska Studios is behind both releases and is well known for other Indie titles including I MAED A GAM3 W1TH Z0MB1ES 1NIT!!!1 .
If Shank, Limbo and Fear were to have an illegitimate love child, the result would be The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile. Combine the gratuitous violence of Shank, the simplistic beauty of Limbo and the psychotic chilling story of Fear and you have an idea of what to expect.
There are two separate solo campaigns available. These run in tandem with one another for a large part of the game.
In one, the player takes on the role of Yuki, the step sister of the protagonist (The Dishwasher) of the original title. The opening sequence harkens back to the first title where The Dishwasher battles Yuki. After being reanimated, she experiences a series of nightmares that give the player an idea of the surreal imagry that is to follow. She must break out of the prison and set out on a quest to take revenge on the three figures of power responsible for her incarceration. These are her three marks on the world: Banker, Judge and General.
For those who have played the original, the player resumes the familiar character of The Dishwasher. He sets off to find and assist Yuki. The player must battle through a sleuth of enemies in a bid to track down Yuki. Upon meeting, the story takes a darker turn which you will have to play to enjoy!
The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile looks great despite an abundance of grey and somewhat simplistic visuals. What it may lack in graphical detail, it more than makes up for in violence and gameplay quality. The game is quick but accessible. For the technically minded, it is possible to string together massive combos that expand beyond the typical, "Mash X". Both characters have the ability to dash, which allows for avoiding attacks, moving through gates, and getting from one enemy to another in the blink of an eye. With such an impressive visual and speed, why would you walk anywhere?
The story part of the game is told through comic strips. The images used are chilling and dark but excellently done and implemented. They don't take all day to scan through, avoid the risk of poor voice acting, and are possible to skip if the player has to come back but has seen it before.
Players have plenty to aim for when playing. There are times when it is better to go against the sign posted route. Exploration often leads to gifted items, powers or minigames. Yuki is a proficient violin player while The Dishwasher is a dazzling guitarist. Here, the characters can bring some colour into the world as fireworks explode as the "concert" reaches a crescendo.
Regardless of how good the player is at hitting buttons in time, the game will not punish as bum notes are not implemented. Players who lose track of the controller layout will simply be rewarded with a lower percentage. And of course, to top it off, the instrument of choice gets slammed into the ground. If Yuki and The Dishwasher weren't trying to exorcise demons, they would be chart toppers.
Each level gives a tally of score, highest combo, time taken and so on. Competitive players may replay levels multiple times to perfect a run. There is also a speedrun difficulty. For those who need variety, there is a co-op storyline along with an arcade mode and the Dish challenge. The latter features an online leaderboard where players can showcase their best run for slicing and dicing waves of enemies. Finally, for those that seek perfection, there is a practice room.
The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile is not for the faint of heart. Battles are fast and frantic. In co-op it can be especially tricky to work out where your own character is on screen. The coloured arrow overhead is helpful but doesn't always stand out enough against the backdrop of spraying blood. Blood splatters on the walls and screen, and executions result in characters being sliced or torn from limb to limb. For those who believe that games are turning people into killers, there is plenty of ammunition as multiple rooms feature screens that flicker between "WAR" and "KILL".
Don't tell Microsoft but The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile is a steal at just 800 points. If you love fast, fluid combat with plenty of over-the-top violence, this is the title that will make your year. Finally, players can feel like a bad ass without actually facing physical harm. Dodge, duck, dive, dip and dodge with the greatest of ease while slicing enemies in two. And if you get bored of that, crack out a violin or guitar solo or two. What's not to love?
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