Dreamcast

Bangai-O!

Bangai-O offers enough raw, delicious, frenetic gameplay to make it more than worth the effort of hunting it down (as I imagine it's rather rare by now). If you're a fan of shooters, go buy it. You'll thank me; and if you're not...beat up Hero and "borrow" his copy. You might find yourself pleasantly surprised; I know I did.

Developers Treasure have a long and distinguished history in this genre, with classics such as Radiant Silvergun, Guardian Heroes and Sin and punishment in their softography to name but three. Bangai-o can hold its head up and stand proud amongst such distinguished company and deserves to be played by everyone who appreciates a quirkier and defiantly non-mainstream approach to game development.

While so many developers are trying to woo the gaming masses with slick visuals and little more, Treasure has remembered that it’s the gameplay that is what is important and that is what Bangai-O is all about. If your in need of a new 2D shooter, or are just in the mood for an insanely addictive, engrossing game that will eat up countless hours of your life then Bangai-O is definitely a game to check out.

Dreamcast owners craving a genuinely compelling gameplay experience would do well to check out Bangai-O. In an age of thick productions and thin gameplay, Bangai-O really has it where it counts: in truly compelling and addictive gameplay.

While trumped by Treasure's Ikaruga in popularity, Bangai-O remains one of the most innovative and genre-defiant experiences on the Dreamcast. It is a near-impeccable amalgam of concepts favored by some of gaming history's landmark titles, refined and reintroduced to the tune of a suitably bizarre story. It may not be a modern Chakan, nor will it appease graphics whores, but anybody seeking fast and frenzied gameplay will find in it a satisfying fix.

So, if a different company had made this game, say perhaps, a company that didn't know how to make shooter games, we might be able to look at it and say "nice effort, better luck next time". But Treasure, one of the most beloved companies in the world, went from Radiant Silvergun to this? I'd say its worth picking up, so you could say you have all of Treasure's shooters, if nothing else ... even the crappy one.

Your firepower is, in a word, awesome. You can choose between guided or bouncing missiles, and can fire them non-stop. On top of that, your special attack unleashes hundreds of projectiles in all directions - all without any slowdown! Bangai-O has a few anime cut-scenes and plenty of weird Japanese humor. As you play through the various stages, the game automatically saves your place. Bangai-O is a nice change, but it does get repetitive.