Bangai-O

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  • NTSC-J
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Bangai-O
System(s): Sega Dreamcast
Publisher: Entertainment Software Publishing (Japan), Crave Entertainment (US), Swing! Entertainment (Europe)
Developer:
Distributor: Virgin Interactive (Europe)
Peripherals supported: Jump Pack, Dreamcast Modem, Visual Memory Unit
Genre: Shooting[1][2][3]

















Number of players: 1
Official in-game languages:
  • 日本語
  • English
  • Français
  • Deutsch
  • Release Date RRP Code
    Sega Dreamcast
    JP
    ¥5,800 (6,090)5,800e[2] T-38702M
    Sega Rating: All Ages
    Sega Dreamcast
    US
    T-40217N
    ESRB: Everyone
    Sega Dreamcast
    EU
    T-7011D-50
    ELSPA: 3+ OK
    Sega Dreamcast
    DE
    DM 8989[6] T-7011D-50
    USK: 0
    Sega Dreamcast
    FR
    T-7011D-50
    SELL: Tous Publics
    Sega Dreamcast
    UK
    £19.9919.99[5] T-7011D-50
    ELSPA: 3+ OK
    Non-Sega versions

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    Bangai-O, known as Bakuretsu Muteki Bangaioh (爆裂無敵 バンガイオー) in Japan, is a shoot-'em-up video game developed by Treasure for Japanese Nintendo 64 consoles in September 1999. With assistance from Conspiracy Entertainment it was brought to the Sega Dreamcast three months later, where it eventually saw a worldwide release.

    There is also a Collector's Edition of the game that was given out as part of a contest in Japan. Only five copies were ever made making it extremely rare.

    The European version was published by Swing! Entertainment, but it was however released under Virgin Interactive, the European distributor of the game's T-Series code.

    Gameplay

    Bangai-O is a shoot-'em-up game in which the player, piloting a mechanoid, can fly in one of eight directions across the screen shooting a constant stream of projectiles at enemies and obstacles. Taking cues from the "bullet hell" sub-genre of shooters, Bangai-O is populated with sometimes hundreds of enemies which can fire at a rapid pace. The object of the game is to clear the level of enemies within a given time limit.

    The Dreamcast version makes several tweaks over its Nintendo 64 counterpart, changing rules on super moves and adding more content (as well as refining pre-existing assets such as graphics and music).

    History

    Development

    Bangai-O was originally intended to be a remake of the 1985 PC-8801 and Sharp X1 game, Hover Attack, but inevitably became its own independent game. The mechanics in Bangai-O are very similar to those found in Hover Attacks, however the pace of play is a great deal faster and enemies are more plentiful. It also, as expected, offers superior graphics and sound. Vehicles found in Hover Attack are missing in Bangai-O, presumably as their use had been depreciated.

    Legacy

    Despite critical acclaim, limited marketing kept the Dreamcast version of Bangai-O from becoming a huge success in the west. This is particularly noticable in PAL regions, where its late release of March 2001 has made led Bangai-O to retain its value over a decade after going on sale.

    Nevertheless, Bangai-O was followed by the Nintendo DS game Bangai-O Spirits in 2008 and Bangai-O HD: Missile Fury for Xbox Live Arcade in 2011.

    Versions

    Localised names

    Also known as
    Language Localised Name English Translation
    English Bangai-O Bangai-O
    English (US) Bangai-O Bangai-O
    Japanese 爆裂無敵バンガイオー Bakuretsu Muteki Bangaioh

    Magazine articles

    Main article: Bangai-O/Magazine articles.

    Physical scans

    Sega Retro Average 
    Publication Score Source
    {{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
    Based on
    0 review
    Sega Retro Average 
    Publication Version Score
    Computer & Video Games (UK) PAL
    50
    [5]
    Dreamcast Monthly (UK) NTSC-J
    70
    [7]
    Dreamcast Monthly (UK) PAL
    80
    [8]
    Dreamcast: Le Magazine Officiel (FR) PAL
    60
    [9]
    Dreamcast Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
    83
    [10]
    Dreamcast Magazine (UK) NTSC-J
    65
    [11]
    Dreamcast Magazine (UK) PAL
    69
    [12]
    Dorimaga (JP) NTSC-J
    87
    [13]
    Dreamzone (FR) NTSC-J
    91
    [14]
    Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
    75
    [15]
    Fun Generation (DE) NTSC-J
    30
    [16]
    GameFan (US) NTSC-J
    85
    [17]
    GamePro (US) NTSC-U
    65
    [18]
    Gamers' Republic (US) NTSC-J
    100
    [19]
    Gamers' Republic (US) NTSC-U
    100
    [20]
    Joypad (FR) PAL
    50
    [21]
    MAN!AC (DE) PAL
    61
    [22]
    Neo Plus (PL)
    80
    [23]
    Next Generation (US) NTSC-U
    75
    [24]
    Official Dreamcast Magazine (UK) PAL
    70
    [25]
    Playmag (FR) PAL
    70
    [26]
    Sega Magazin (DE) PAL
    31
    [6]
    Strana Igr (RU)
    65
    [27]
    Video Games (DE) PAL
    68
    [28]
    Sega Dreamcast
    70
    Based on
    24 reviews

    Bangai-O

    Dreamcast, JP
    BangaiO DC JP Box Back.pngBangaiO DC JP Box Front.jpg
    Cover
    BangaiO DC JP Disc.png
    Disc
    Bangaio dc jp manual.pdf
    Manual
    Dreamcast, US
    BangaiO DC US Box Back.jpgBangaiO DC US Box Front.jpg
    Cover
    BangaiO DC US Disc.jpg
    Disc
    Bangaio dc us manual.pdf
    Manual
    Bangaio dc us inlay.jpg
    Inlay
    Dreamcast, EU
    Bangaio dc eu backcover.jpgBangaio dc eu frontcover.jpg
    Cover
    Bangaio dc eu disc.jpg
    Disc

    Technical information

    ROM dump status

    System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
    Sega Dreamcast
     ?
    CRC32
    MD5
    SHA-1
    2000-04-14 GD-R Page

    External links

    • Sega of Japan catalogue pages (Japanese): Dreamcast

    References

    1. File:BangaiO DC JP Box Back.png
    2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 http://sega.jp/dc/991028 (Wayback Machine: 2010-10-20 17:35)
    3. https://sega.jp/history/hard/dreamcast/software_l.html#tab01 (Wayback Machine: 2020-02-01 22:57)
    4. http://www.amazon.co.uk:80/exec/obidos/tg/browse/-/300720/ (Wayback Machine: 2002-04-15 10:28)
    5. 5.0 5.1 Computer & Video Games, "February 2001" (UK; 2001-01-17), page 107
    6. 6.0 6.1 Sega Magazin, "November 2000" (DE; 2000-10-02), page 21
    7. Dreamcast Monthly, "March 2000" (UK; 2000-02-17), page 94
    8. Dreamcast Monthly, "December 2000" (UK; 2000-10-26), page 70
    9. Dreamcast: Le Magazine Officiel, "Septembre/Octobre 2000" (FR; 2000-0x-xx), page 72
    10. Dreamcast Magazine, "1999-39 (1999-12-17,24)" (JP; 1999-12-03), page 21
    11. Dreamcast Magazine, "No. 5" (UK; 2000-01-27), page 78
    12. Dreamcast Magazine, "No. 14" (UK; 2000-10-05), page 56
    13. Dorimaga, "2002-18 (2002-10-11)" (JP; 2002-09-27), page 34
    14. Dreamzone, "Février 2000" (FR; 2000-01-xx), page 106
    15. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "March 2001" (US; 2001-02-06), page 113
    16. Fun Generation, "02/2000" (DE; 2000-01-19), page 96
    17. GameFan, "Volume 8, Issue 3: March 2000" (US; 2000-xx-xx), page 13
    18. GamePro, "May 2001" (US; 2001-0x-xx), page 80
    19. Gamers' Republic, "January 2000" (US; 1999-12-19), page 112
    20. Gamers' Republic, "December 2000" (US; 2000-xx-xx), page 87
    21. Joypad, "Septembre 2000" (FR; 2000-xx-xx), page 156
    22. MAN!AC, "12/2000" (DE; 2000-11-02), page 71
    23. Neo Plus, "Maj 2001" (PL; 2001-xx-xx), page 56
    24. Next Generation, "May 2001" (US; 2001-04-17), page 85
    25. Official Dreamcast Magazine, "December 2000" (UK; 2000-11-02), page 86
    26. Playmag, "Octobre 2000" (FR; 2000-xx-xx), page 128
    27. Strana Igr, "Sentyabr 2000 2/2" (RU; 2000-xx-xx), page 18
    28. Video Games, "12/2000" (DE; 2000-11-02), page 123


    Bangai-O

    Bangaio title.png

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    Sega Dreamcast
    Prototypes: 2000-04-14