Ok, so I've logged about five hours on Chain Blaster. I can give some more impressions.
First off, it is very good. You play one single loop with five levels per loop. So 1-1, 1-2 etc. Each loop gets progressively harder. I'd say the second loop is where it starts to get interesting with bullets and gameplay. The loops are a bit lengthy, probably taking about 15 minutes to go through. Currently I've made it to the third loop.
First loop is kinda your tutorial in the sense that it is easy to learn about the chaining and it is fairly easy to chain-all it. Chains don't carry over to the mid bosses (at the end of each sub-stage and can be one or two depending how you did).
The game is a bit more about restraint so you wind up not using the proper shot and only the chain shot going for the perfect placement. The chain meter drops fairly quickly so often you have to avoid shooting enemies as they first appear on the screen. You are constantly monitoring the chain meter. I'm starting to get the rhythm though and do not need to look at it so often.
There is also an overdrive button. This slows everything down so that you can navigate some tough spaces and not loose your chain. This is very handy on the big main boss (a spinning wheel with lasers a la Gradius V).
Your actual chain shot is replenished up to three levels via bubbles that appear when you clear a row of enemies. They bubble get sucked in by proximity. You essentially have three chain shots till you run dry but bubbles are constantly refilling it.
You can get hit as much as you want as long as you have at least one section of the Extend meter filled (maxes at three). You don't lose your chain by getting hit.
Graphics are good, with some decent 3D. I always play my 3DS games with 3D on. Music is your typical techno, with the boss music being the standout. It is just fun to take him out piece by piece as the music swells.
Leaderboards are very well-implemented. Currently about 650 people. I've made my way up to 120. Simple to check, just go online and upload your leaderboard and you can see the highest ten and then hit left trigger and you can see where you stand. The bottom screen also shows your top score, max chain, and cumulative chains for that run. Not sure how friends factor in as I don't have any on my J-3DS.
Also, worth noting is that there is an additional unlockable ship for "expert" play. This ship moves faster and has a brake mapped to the left trigger to slow down and presumably navigate through thick bullet patterns. It also forgoes the single shot button and just offers the chain shot. Overdrive is also included with the expert ship.
Oh yeah, lots of charming engrish. Things like "rank-in" and "chain break" are nice. It is a female voice.
Altogether a very good game, especially for the seven bucks. I'd highly recommend it when it come to NA or EU.
. I was extremely addicted to dimahoo and progear at the shmupsmeet.
