Bangai-O Spirits

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Bangai-O Spirits
File:Bangai-o spirits cover.jpg
Developer(s)Treasure Co. Ltd
Publisher(s)Entertainment Software Publishing, D3 Publisher
Designer(s)Yoshiyuki Matsumoto
Platform(s)Nintendo DS
ReleaseJapan March 19, 2008
United States Q2, 2008
Genre(s)"Missile Action"
Mode(s)Single player, Multiplayer

Bangai-O Spirits is an action game for the Nintendo DS, and the sequel to Bangai-O which was released on the Nintendo 64 and Sega Dreamcast.

Like its predecessor, Bangai-O Spirits is a side-scrolling shooting game with free-scrolling levels that extend horizontally and vertically. The player controls a robot with the ability to fly, but is still affected by gravity. He has seven weapons to choose from, and can perform melee attacks using a baseball bat or sword.

The game has 160 levels, and features a level editor to create more. Edited levels can be encoded in a sound that can be recorded with a computer and shared between players. This technology was inspired by the datacasettes used by some older computers, including the Sharp X1 that Matsumoto learned to program on.

Plot

Not much has been revealed about the plot, but it is not connected to the previous title. This could be thought of as a remake rather than a true sequel. The two new pilots are called Masato (boy) and Ruri (girl).

Production

In a rare breach of the company's usual secrecy about future plans, developer Yoshiyuki Matsumoto first hinted at a sequel to Bangai-O in a 2003 interview on Sega's website to promote the game Astro Boy: Omega Factor. When asked what game he would like to create next, he said he would like to "carry out Bakuretsu Muteki Bangai-O's revenge." [1]

Treasure began working on a concept demo before a publisher was involved. Full production followed the completion of their previous handheld release, Bleach DS 2nd. When publisher ESP approached them about a possible collaboration, Bangai-O seemed like a logical fit.[2] On September 11, 2007, Weekly Famitsu announced the game officially, and it was demonstrated at Tokyo Game Show later that month.

Localization

On February 25th, 2008, the game was officially announced for a North American release by D3 Publisher of America[3] and is scheduled for the second quarter of 2008.

Treasure will be handling the localization for the game in-house, and adding features they didn't have time to include in the Japanese release.[4] While specifics are yet unknown, Treasure previously did this with the North American version of Astro Boy: Omega Factor, which featured new enemies, difficulty modes, and refined level layouts, and is generally considered a stronger product than the original Japanese version.

Gameplay

Bangai-O Spirits is similar to the previous title, but with notable differences. A number of gameplay changes have been made since previous titles of the series.

Weapons

The player is able to choose two weapons from a list that includes various missles, mellee weapons, and a defensive shield.

If two missile-type weapons are chosen, their abilities can be added together into a new mixed missle-type weapon.

  • Homing missiles lock on to nearby targets
  • Napalm missiles leave a explosion for a brief second that damages nearby targets
  • Break missiles appear as drills and go through enemy fire without being canceled
  • Rebound missiles bounce off the walls The sword allows the player to 'cut' through enemy fire

Two melee weapons, a first for the series, are also available.

  • The bat can be used to 'return' enemy fire and knockback enemies.
  • The sword can cut through enemy fire while advancing

Also selectable is a new passive defensive ability

  • The shield is a small energy orb near the player that blocks the player that blocks most enemy fire.

EX Weapons

The player is also able to choose two EX weapons from a list of homing, napalm, rebound, break, direction, reflector, and freeze. The use of the EX Attack (called the "All Around attack" in the previous game) unleashes loads of missiles. More missiles will be fired the longer you charge the attack, and the closer the player is to enemy projectiles. The exception is the freeze EX Attack, which "freezes" the screen. The direction EX attack sents all of your attack on a single enemy, while the reflector EX attack reflects all the enemy fire on the screen back. It is also notable that in previous titles, the use of the EX Attack could not be combined. In videos, the player can be seen combining the napalm and rebound EX Attack.

Other Abilities

Also added is the ability for the player to dash. While dashing the player moves forward faster than normal and is able to both damage and travel through enemies and scenery but cannot fire.

A new defensive skill is the ability to knockback enemies and objects. The bat, dash, and reflect EX are the only ways to knockback enemies. Enemies that are knockbacked can knockback other enemies which could cascade into a very large and damaging "wave" of knockbacked enemies.

See also

References

  1. ^ http://web.archive.org/web/20040214033133/sega.jp/community/creators/vol_25/2.html
  2. ^ http://ds.ign.com/articles/854/854747p1.html
  3. ^ http://www.d3publisher.us/PressDetails.asp?ID=74
  4. ^ http://www.1up.com/do/previewPage?cId=3166696&p=39

External links

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