Apex Legends vs DonPachi

Apex Legends is a free-to-play battle royale built around squads of “Legends” with unique abilities, praised for its fast, fluid movement, gunplay, and ping communication system.

DonPachi is a pioneering 1995 vertical scrolling manic shoot-'em-up developed by CAVE Interactive, famously recognized as the title that established the bullet hell sub-genre. Players navigate through intense military-themed woodland environments, battling waves of enemy vehicles and robotic forces while dodging dense patterns of projectiles. At the start of the game, players choose one of three distinct weapon configurations that can be progressively powered up by collecting dropped items. Culminating in an epic showdown against a massive robotic bee final boss, this classic arcade experience has since been brought to modern digital platforms like the PlayStation 3.

• Excellent gunplay and movement
• Free to play
• Great non-verbal comms
• Strong hero design

• Pioneering bullet hell gameplay mechanics
• Engaging weapon upgrade progression system
• Memorable and challenging boss encounters
• Authentic retro arcade atmosphere

• Squad play can frustrate solos
• Grindy cosmetics
• Steep aim skill ceiling

• High difficulty level may frustrate newcomers
• Limited modern quality-of-life additions
• Visuals appear dated by modern standards