Bangai-O Spirits - Nintendo DS review chewing videogames Like WarioWare before it, Bangai-O Spirits is an exercise in reducing videogaming’s first principles to a torrent of micro-levels. But where the games differ is in the execution and challenge of their myriad tasks. If WarioWare is an introduction to mainstream videogame convention then Bangai-O Spirits, as you might expect from developer Treasure, is a masterclass in twitch extremism: 160 short, sharp levels based upon the engine, ru
Filed under: ScreensWe're pleased to report that being able to read all of the text on the screen in Bangai-O Spirits does not ruin the hype for us. Obviously. We got by just fine on limited Japanese skill during our GDC playthrough, but we are dying for a chance to explore all the options and menus in full. Our gallery is now rife with delightful English screens. Now you can see which weapons are being displayed onscreen! More importantly, now that screens of the English menus are available,
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Bangai-O
Japanese N64 boxart
Developer(s)
Treasure
Publisher(s)
ESP Swing! Entertainment Media AG Conspiracy Entertainment
Designer(s)
Yoshiyuki Matsumoto
Platform(s)
Nintendo 64, Dreamcast
Release date
September 3, 1999 (N64) December 9, 1999 (DC) October 20, 2000 (DC) March 21, 2001 (DC)
Genre(s)
Shoot 'em up
Mode(s)
Single player
Rating(s)
ESRB: E (Everyone)
Bangai-O in its Dreamcast Western release, or Bakuretsu Muteki Bangaioh (Explosive, Invincible Bangaioh) in the Nintendo 64 and Dreamcast Japanese versions, is a multi-directional shooter video game developed by Treasure. It was first released on the Nintendo 64 only in Japan with a limited 10,000 unit production run. It was converted to the Dreamcast a few months later, and this version was eventually released worldwide; The latter version is much more widely available, and thus better known.
In 2008, a sequel, Bangai-O Spirits was released for Nintendo DS.
Plot
The game has a simple storyline conveyed through intermission screens and (comically poorly translated) dialogue interruptions, with character portraits and captions, triggered by approaching objects in normal play. Two young mecha pilots, Riki (blue hair) and his sister Mami (orange hair) share command of the powerful humanoid-shaped Bangai-O and battle villains from the "Cosmo Gang", guilty of fruit contraband, and lots of gun turrets, bombs and less powerful robots through 44 rather short levels.
Gameplay (Dreamcast)
Bangai-O, the player's mecha, is maneuvered via eight-way directional controls and fires in eight directions, controlled by the controller's four face buttons. There is a life bar and the levels can be retried from the beginning after dying.
Two firing modes are represented as switching between the two pilots (the current one is displayed at all times in a portrait): Riki fires red homing missiles and Mami fires blue lasers that bounce off walls.
There is a special attack that consists of a 360 degree burst of the current shot type (missile or laser). The number of shots fired by the special attack, 40 to 400, depends on how many enemy bullets are on the screen and how close the player is to them while firing. The missile special attack splits between multiple targets; the laser special attack points towards a target after bouncing.
At the beginning of a level two special shots are available; destroying enemies and scenery gives additional uses, up to 5 available shots, and this recharging effect is shown as a meter.
The number of explosions taking place at any given time is shown at the top of the screen and determines how much the special attack meter recharges and what type of fruit is left behind by destroyed enemies. Higher numbers of explosions yield more special energy and more valuable types of fruit. Therefore, the tactic of inviting substantial enemy fire in order to counter with the special attack is key to success at the game.
Nintendo 64 Version
The original version of the game, released only in Japan and limited to 10,000 cartridges, has significant differences to the Dreamcast version.
Utilizes a combo system instead of the explosion meter. After destroying at least 100 enemies in quick succession with a special attack or otherwise, the player gets a combo meter that tracks the number of enemies destroyed. When the combo stops, a portal opens that when touched opens a menu which allows the player to choose to upgrade their firepower, refill their life, take a large point bonus, or gain temporary invincibility. The level of the upgrades, life refill, and point bonus are determined by the size of the combo, invincibility is only given as an option from very large combos.
The special attack is generally less effective. It must be charged (by holding down the button) in order to reach its full potential.
Riki's shots do more damage than Mami's shots. Mami's shots are semi-homing in that they target enemies after bouncing off a wall.
Dreamcast Version
The second version of the game saw release in Japan, Europe, and North America. As a result, it is the version that the title is primarily identified with.
In addition to major graphical and audio improvements, the gameplay was altered significantly.
The explosion counter replaced the combo system, and the "shop" was done away with entirely. Life and Invincibility powerups automatically drop with high explosion counts.
The special attack's strength is based only on the amount and proximity of incoming fire, no charging required. However, the player can only hold up to 5 special attacks at a time instead of the N64 version's 10.
Riki and Mami's shots do the same damage. Mami's shots are lasers instead of missiles, and rebound off walls at fixed angles at all times.
There are additional boss characters, two new enemies (flamethrower and giant egg), a solid life bar, and myriad small changes to the levels (though the layouts remain mostly the same).
The Dreamcast version defaults to the simpler but less flexible "AB" control configuration (one button to shoot in the direction of movement and one to shoot backwards) with the variable "ABXY" configuration (one button to shoot in each direction, with combinations of two buttons for diagonals) as the secondary scheme. The game's documentation notes that the default scheme is inferior, and suggests changing it.
Series
Bangai-O was originally going to be a remake of a Sharp X-1 and PC-8801 game called Hover Attack, instead it was made as an independent game, even though it retains most of the original style.
True sequel Bangai-O Spirits (Bangaioh Tamashii) was released on March 19 in Japan for the Nintendo DS. It will be released in the USA by D3 Publisher of America in the latter half of 2008. It was originally set for to be released in the 2nd quarter of 2008, but has been pushed back to August 12 2008.
