Discovering Kamikaze Lassplanes: A Hidden Gem at PAX East 2024

During PAX East 2024, I’m on the lookout for games that I connect with the thought that maybe our readers or viewers would connect with them, too. One look at the Steam store, and you’ll likely get lost in the ever-growing list of titles that typically land on the lower side of quality, so attending events like PAX is a great time to find ones that may get overshadowed.

Kamikaze Lassplanes is a refreshing dive into the shmup genre, blending emotional narratives with high-octane gameplay to deliver a uniquely captivating experience.

With an introduction like that, you may assume that I’m about to talk about some narrative-driven adventure across a coming-of-age quest or something, but no, I’m mostly here to tell you about my experience playing Kamikaze Lassplanes from developer Inky Dreams.

Meet the Lassplanes: Alba Trossé and Hannah Brandenburg’s Aerial Adventure

Kamikaze Lassplanes has quite a bit going for it, but from the moment I started playing, it was clear that this team knows its audience. The game introduces the Lassplanes Alba Trossé and Hannah Brandenburg. Although they have two very different personalities, they must work together to save the kingdom that is under attack.

With its combination of challenging gameplay and deep story elements, Kamikaze Lassplanes sets a new standard for what players can expect from the genre.

The relationship between the characters and the player character grows throughout the game and even opens up story branches to romance scenes. While this may be the draw, there’s also a pretty emotional narrative that unfolds while the girls struggle to become the lethal weapons they are asked to be. This introduces a few key devices that serve to shape the characters…personalities, but on that note, this game is more than just a visual novel.

A Genre Fusion: Shmup Meets Visual Novel in Kamikaze Lassplanes

Kamikaze Lassplanes is also a shmup that lands more on the challenging side of the genre. The developer allowed me to play through one of the more straightforward levels, which was capped off by a boss fight, and I found the attack patterns and enemy waves showed off the variety of enemies and how to utilize the various powerups seen floating around the screen. While some powerups will drift off the screen, others bounce, allowing you to time when to touch them, one of which can cause damage to surrounding enemies, so it only adds to the strategy of battles. Further, Village Battles pop up during stages where the background freezes, and you have to ward off a bomb attack.

Navigating the Skies: Gameplay and Challenge in Kamikaze Lassplanes

Kamikaze Lassplanes masterfully balances the thrill of dodging bullets with the depth of its character development, making every victory both a relief and a delight.

This doesn’t seem like a phoned-in attempt at the genre. I was generally challenged during my time playing, but I was having a good time. I’d say the added rewards of the visual novel CGs make getting through the stages a bit more enticing, but it seems like players are going to need to work for these Lassplanes. However, this may introduce multiple levels of anxiety as you sweat to get through the challenging shmup levels, only to sweat during the story scenes; I’m not sure when players will be able to take a break.

Looking Forward: Anticipations for Kamikaze Lassplanes’ Full Release

Kamikaze Lassplanes has the charm needed to soar off into the sunset with your Lassplane. I’m hoping that the story delivers on its character beats since multiple endings require multiple playthroughs, which relies heavily on the likeability of this cast. Further, I’m curious how many missions and modes will be in the final product, but that just gives me more to look forward to.

Kamikaze Lassplanes is coming to Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam later in 2024.