Drainus Review (Tanioka)
Delightful little piece. Genuinely kinda shocked it's not a fair bit more popular, for any number of reasons; partly, of course, because it's an aesthetically nifty package, but mainly because Drainus' core trait of projectile / beam absorption (and the way it presents it + develops it with each stage) makes for an experience that just works regardless of your experience (or lack thereof, perhaps) with STGs.
Bearing that in mind; if you've already got a few clears of any sort and on any game under your belt, welcome home—on a blind run, you'll get cozy after the first two or three stages, though be sure to play into the game's upgrade / slotting system liberally; you can swap modules in and out mid-stage, not just in between each, which is extra handy early on. If you're new to the genre, I could not recommend this any more as a sort of relaxed entry / starting point. It may kick your rear for a while, but stick with it!
Story's not a whole lot to write home about—doesn't pack a sort of vague, emotional punch like Ikaruga or Radiant Silvergun do, entries from which it borrows a little (and even directly references, I think? You'll see what I mean when you get there)—but it does tickle my fancy, and it exists in as much a capacity as it has to, so I don't really have any complaints beyond "it's a tad predictable at times."
Music's naturally great, SFX is wonderful and reminiscent of Treasure's finest at times; sprites are a smidgen hard to read when you're actually playing, but it's not downright awful + the game's red & purple color-coding of projectiles alleviates that anyhow.
I do wish it was a bit longer overall, but then again, I'm more than okay with it as-is. It's a smile-inducing romp that never overstays its welcome and rocks over the course of every last minute. Kudos, Ladybug—I can only hope you'd consider a sequel, spiritual or otherwise, at some point down the line.