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Bangai-O Spirits

EMAIL PRINT ds

8.5 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 38 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 19 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: D3Publisher of America

Developer: Treasure

Genre(s): Shooter, Puzzle

Players: 4

ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older)

Release Date: August 12, 2008

Summary

Bangai-O Spirits provides gamers with addictive shooter gameplay, punishing supermoves and a sensory overload of fireworks onscreen, with strategic and tactical elements and TREASURE’s quirky design style. The game also offers co-op, competitive multiplayer for 1-4 players via local wireless, a powerful level editor tool which allows players to edit in-game levels or create new ones from scratch, and the revolutionary new ability to transfer data among DS systems through sound data transfer technology known as Sound Load. Never before utilized for DS systems, the Sound Load technology in Bangai-O Spirits allows players to transfer level data among DS handheld systems via the use of sound and the DS microphone. This technology works by taking the level data and turning it into a sound file which is output through the host DS speaker. This data is then interpreted through the microphone of the recipient DS, and the level transfer is complete. It is also possible to upload and circulate sound files of level data from Bangai-O Spirits online via the Internet, or to save files to a recording device like a PC or jump drive for transport and distribution, allowing gamers to catalog, share and compare levels online easily with gamers all over the world! Widening the range of play and interaction even further, gamers can also deliver high score and gameplay footage as transferable sound files by using Sound Load. [D3Publisher of America]

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

Eurogamer

Playing Bangai-O Spirits is a pleasure. If I could, I'd play it for every waking moment. [JPN Import]

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n-Revolution Magazine UK

A daring and ambitious shmup, reminding us of our reasons for falling in love with the genre in the first place. [Issue#22, p.70]

Game Revolution

Bangai-O Spirits is one of, if not the most, fully-featured and expansive shmups ever created, but it’s absolutely unmerciful in its brutality.

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Gamers' Temple

Bangai-O Spirits is a great puzzle game, an extreme action game, a worthy notch on Treasure's belt and a discount priced experience with infinite replay.

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Pocket Gamer UK

It may initially appear to be somewhat basic and the pesky language barrier presented by this Japanese import is a shame, but Bangai-O Spirits remains an unmitigated blasting brilliance that every DS fan should indulge in, and one of the strongest DS titles we've encountered so far. [JPN Import]

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GameZone

Bangai-O Spirits is one of the toughest, craziest, most variety-packed titles you’ll ever play.

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NintendoWorldReport

But for those who are intrigued by what Bangai-O Spirits has to offer, there is a deep and rich well of truly unique gaming enjoyment to be tapped here.

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Cynamite

Crazy and varied gameplay. Bangai-O Spirits is a must-have for shooter fans on the Nintendo DS.

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Thunderbolt

Dishing out mass destruction upon legions of enemy robots is a fun and addictive experience. With a nice variety of weapons and abilities, you’ll be able to tweak your mech’s capabilities in plenty of ways.

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Hardcore Gamer Magazine

Overall, Bangai-O is a fantastic shooter, and the sheer customizability of it is amazing. Still, if you like shooters, or puzzles in general, it is worth your time—oh-so-worth it.

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NTSC-uk

It's a gamers' game to be truly savoured - here to show anyone who forgot or missed it the first time, just how ridiculously good it is at what it does.

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Edge Magazine

While certainly being Treasure's most fragmented game, there’s a sense that the lack of narrative, character and even proper framework makes this its most raw, pure and delightful. [June 2008, p.95]

games(TM)

You can tackle the 160, inappropriately named ‘standard levels’ in any order, so Treasure’s glorious design work is immediately on show. [May 2008, p.108]

Pelit (Finland)

Bangai-O Spirits is a hybrid shmup with brains. Tough as nails gameplay with imaginative levels makes for refreshing change amidst today's games that try to cater for everybody. [Sept 2008]

Armchair Empire

In the end, this iteration of Bangai-O is a fast, intense shooter that retains the unique feel that the game has had both on the N64 and Dreamcast, with the difficulty significantly ramped up

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Maxi Consolas (Portugal)

Bangai-O Spirits is one of those bizarre but extremely addictive games that we can always expect from Treasure. The difficulty can sometimes be exasperating, but behind this shoot’em up, that contains a whole lot of genres, there is a unique game for DS. [Oct 2008]

GameShark

This is a must buy for fans of the original Bangai-O, Treasure addicts looking for an excellent, sustained fix, and old-school shooter fans of all breeds.

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Games Master UK

If it clicks with you, you'll never be able to put it down. [Oct 2008, p.82]

GameFocus

While this game is very insane at times with an ‘on and off again’ difficulty which humbled my poor old fingers at the best of times, it is very addictive and fun. The replay value is very high especially with the level editor which is fun and such a great addition. If the overall online Bangai-O DS community supports the level editor this is one game that will be more then worth the price you pay for it.

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NGamer UK

Gives you the freedom to keep the game going indefinitely, if that's your thing. [June 2008, p.60]

Cheat Code Central

The most challenging and rewarding experience currently available for hardcore gamers on the DS!

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IGN

It's a shooter that celebrates shooters. The approach certainly limits the game's audience, but if you're a fan of the genre it should please you to know that Treasure loves it just as much as us and made this game just for us.

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GameSpot

Bangai-O Spirits is an intense, challenging shooter with terrific tools for creating and sharing your own levels.

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GameDaily

Bangai-O Spirits lacks a story mode, but it makes up for this with over 160 stages of explosive shooting action.

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GameSpy

Although it's certainly not for everyone, Bangai-O Spirits is a well-made and extremely challenging game. It's great to see Treasure revive this title, and it works surprisingly well on the DS.

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Nintendo Power

Bangai-O Spirits is, above all, an excellent community game. [Sept 2008, p.84]

Modojo

It's been awhile since we've had a Nintendo DS game come along and totally kick our ass, but Bangai-O Spirits does it in a very good way.

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Meristation

Treasure gives us exactly that, a treasure. It’s an improved version of the classic Bangai-O, originally released for the N64 and later ported to Sega Dreamcast. More than 200 levels are waiting for a solution, and believe us: this is not especially easy. Take weapons and become the new Bangai-O rider to complete one of the funniest DS games. Indeed, Spirits includes a great level editor.

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Worth Playing

I can't remember a time when I've ever scored a game this high and yet warned the general public to stay away, but I suppose there's a first time for everything, and Bangai-O Spirits seems like the perfect game to cause just such an occasion.

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Official Nintendo Magazine UK

There's loads of new stuff in the DS version. The level editor is brilliant. [Sept 2008, p.98]

Game Informer

Bangai-O Spirits is a revival of an original franchise that blends puzzle solving and action in a way few other games can. An unfair learning curve and some noticeable technical bugs haunt the title, but it’s also filled with varied content.

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1UP

Despite the high challenge level, Bangai-O is most definitely a "pick-up-and-play" experience, but it's best not to try and clear large parts of the game in one sitting -- and you won't, unless you know you're awesome. But even if you're not, you'll come back to it often.

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GamePro

It's obviously aimed squarely at the hardcore DS gamer; and while the intense action and high difficulty will probably turn off the casual crowd, it's a solid shooter for anyone who's looking for a challenge. [Sept 2008, p.84]

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PALGN

Bangai-O Spirits is an entertaining portable shmup title that has plenty of game to offer.

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AtomicGamer

What's the one thing that could hose an otherwise awesome action game? Aside from removing all the weapons, it's bad performance.

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GamingTrend

If you like a little bit of puzzle in your shooter and have a high patience level, then be on the lookout for Bangai-O Spirits.

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Gamer.nl

Bangai-O is a one of a kind videogame. The only game that you can compare it with is the first installment of Bangai-O. And that's equally good as it is bad. Good, because it's totally different then anything else. Bad, because it will be hard for players to get accustomed to the series. In all fairness Bangai-O is a very good game but it gives the player litte chance to ease into the game.

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GameCritics

If Treasure's name wasn't attached to this product, I seriously doubt that it would have ever found a publisher, let alone the warm reception most other review sites have given it.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 8.5 (out of 10) based on 19 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Steven H gave it a1:
It might be good if the controls actually worked. Even they did, they make no sense. Waste of money and time.

Jamie A gave it a10:
Hopefully you have played one of the earlier Bangai-O titles as the difficulty is very high from the start, is a rewarding game with much fun to be found. Is bound to give you an adrenaline rush every time playing. If anything lets this game down it would be the DS's D-pad, it's up to you to get used to it..

Ryan K gave it a10:
No annoying, pointless cutscenes or loading times, lots of missiles and challenge, all other games have become obsolete since I started playing Bangai. Only problem is that Sound Load doesn't really work

uwe poll gave it a10:
I didn't feel the love for this game at first, but it has ended up becoming my favourite on the DS. It is the most spectacular, action-packed game I've played in years, and with the easy-to-use level editor there is potential for endless replayability. Treasure did an excellent job designing a variety of imaginative levels, but some of the user-created levels out there are even better. This is a superb game whichever way you put it, one of the only titles I'd call a must for any DS owner who's not into Nintendogs and the like.

Alex R gave it a10:
Treasure has done it again; they've managed to incorporate their love for 2D arcade influenced work to mesh with their previously established quirkiness of the Bangai-O series. The game is hard, but like those great arcade hits of the past, you want to keep shoving quarters down its throat. If you've played the previous titles, you may or may not appreciate the return of the slowdown due to the surplus of missiles and bullets on-screen. For me, this is what the title's all about; the level of awesomeness represented by the amount of items on-screen completely overwhelms the platform. The game is most likely in limited release, as I picked the only copy in my city. If you're a hardcore arcade fan, Treasure fanatic, or looking for a worthy challenge, I recommend this title. As just said, ONLY if you're ready to get you're ass kicked and get laughed at. (The game actually laughs at you every time you die)

Kyle B gave it a6:
I wanted to like it but found myself giving up shortly after I started playing. This game definitely for a more hard core crowd. I honestly consider myself a hard core gamer and this wasn't even my cup of tea. Also the game has 17 tutorials! 17!

Riki X gave it a10:
An amazing sequel to one of the N64 and Dreamcast's most underrated games. If you're into hardcore shooters or games from Treasure, this is for you.

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Bangai-O Spirits

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