Kotaku
A happy day for fans of the Dreamcast classic Bangai-O, as D3Publisher of America and lovable, cuddly Japanese developer Treasure announce the DS version of the game for North American release later this year. Combining two of Treasure's greatest strengths - puzzle games and shooters - the original Bangai-O was one of the developer's most definitive titles. The DS version features local wireless co-op gameplay for 1-4 players, a powerful level editor, and probably the neatest feature of all - level transfer using sound. The level editor saves files as sound, which can then be transmitted to other DS systems via the built-in microphone, or save them on a PC for upload and sharing via the internet. Players can even use this Sound Load feature to transfer gameplay footage, which means someone needs to come up with a flash app that translates the sound files and set up a website ASAP. Bangai-O Spirits should be hitting US shores sometime in Q2 2008.
D3Publisher of America and Renowned Japanese Developer TREASURE Bring Nintendo DS Game Bangai-O Spirits to North American MarketsNew Sound Load Technology Allows Data Transfer Via Sound Files for the First Time Ever on Nintendo DS Handheld Systems
LOS ANGELES—(BUSINESS WIRE)—A jewel of a game will cross the Pacific and delight gamers as Bangai-O Spirits was confirmed today for the North American market by D3Publisher of America, Inc., a publisher and developer of interactive entertainment software. Bangai-O Spirits is a compelling blend of twitch-fest shooter and puzzler genres, seasoned with strategic and tactical elements. Developed in the eccentric, much-loved style of TREASURE Co., Ltd., it is a re-imagination of their '90s cult classic game Bangai-O, perfected for the Nintendo DS™ handheld system. Bangai-O Spirits will incorporate a powerful level editor tool, as well as revolutionary new technology known as Sound Load that allows gamers to transfer data among DS systems via sound files—a first for DS handheld systems. The game is scheduled for release in the second quarter of 2008.
"It is an honor to bring a ground-breaking game by a respected developer like TREASURE to North American game enthusiasts," said Yoji Takenaka, chief operating officer, D3PA. "Bangai-O Spirits contains many key elements that define a truly enjoyable videogame—the innovation in both technology and gameplay make this a must-have title for everyone who owns a DS system."
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. More details about this unique feature will be forthcoming soon.
Bangai-O Spirits for Nintendo DS is developed by TREASURE Co., Ltd. and is currently rated "RP" (Rating Pending) by the ESRB.
Comments
The sound transfer is neat, but the DS has both bluetooth and wifi... why do it this way? Also I would rather have this game as a download on a console ala IkarugaHD. But then again I guess the 360 and PS3 together don't have the numbers that the ds does.
Awesome. I loved Bangai-O on the DC. This sounds like a great project; I hope it does well over here.
I wish they would update Guardian Heroes (was for the Saturn) that game rocked so freaking hardcore and a new gen update would be sweet indeed.
Hey are you guys gonna review Turning Point a 6.0?
Oh, do want!
Too bad I'll probably never beat the final level again. Jesus, that level was a killer. Took me many many many attempts.
@Mahale:
Guardian Heroes was awesome. It really DOES scream for a revamp.
Holy shit this is awesome. I can't wait for this.
@greeble:
DS doesn't have Bluetooth. But, I guess they're doing this just to be different.
@Mahale:
Miss out on Advance Guardian Heroes, eh? Eh, I don't blame you. Not like Ubisoft printed a lot of copies of it. Nor was it that great (it's fun, but pales in comparison to the original, from what I've heard).
@Mahale: Did you miss Guardian Heroes Advance then on GBA?
Wait, is the transfer by sound like a fax? So are my transfered levels going to be blurry and missing pieces?
@ Mahale:
4 player via XBL or PSN+HD= MONEY! I want GH NOW! But, when is Treasure going to do a new game? All these remakes make it seem like they're hurting for cash. That last game they put effort in was Sin and Punishment. I guess Treasure is playing the field.
Don't forget that this originally came out for the N64, although it was plagued with slowdown.
I also wanted a Live download of this game. Imagine how many missles you could fit on screen using the 360's power!
@The BPM Scrolls IV - Knights of the Nine: Ah, no bluetooth. I guess I got confused with their proprietary communication protocol over wifi.
@Mahale: A thousand times yes!
Man I always think about how cool an HD update of Guardian Heroes (with 3 player coop or 6 player battle mode) would be for XBLA.
When did Treasure EVER make a puzzle game? They've always been about straight up action.
@Perdew: Don't worry, this games has lots of shooting too.
@ShinobiFist(PSN-XBL): You didn't think they put effort in to Wario World? Or Ikaruga? Or Gradius V?
I was impressed with all of those.
Stretch Panic is quirky awesomeness & tons of fun, too.
@Nintenboy01: True. I don't know exactly how this game has any puzzle elements. It was pretty much just 1000 missiles & explosions all the time, from what I recall.
I still have the Dreamcast version and play it from time to time. I could never get into Bangai-O, really. Sorry Treasure, but I won't spending money on this.
Gunstar Heroes FTW! love to see a sequel to that gem. anywho, i will def pick this up when it drops
@Do Kesubei: Did you understand that the point was to have as many projectiles approaching your mecha at once?
@baked ham: Ditto for you-- the "puzzle" (or what I think would be better called "strategy") element is the effective use of your opponents' projectiles to counter them.
@Perdew: Treasures games (at least the good ones) do not fit into a straight-up genre. You might call Gunstar Heroes a run and gun game, but there are strategic/puzzle aspects too, like making effective use of the weapon combinations.
@the-hypnotoad: This would be awesome. Guardian Heroes for GBA suuuuuucked.
I don't own a GBA so I never played that remake and from what I'm hearing it wasn't very good.
If you could play online battle mode people would learn to fear my Randy skills :).
Guardian Heroes for GBA didn't suck, it just wasn't as great as it should have been. Neither was Gunstar Heroes Advance but it was closer.
@Mahale: Nicole will *smoke* Randy.
@Karlott:Only way that happens is with her dang shield spam against a wall.
No way to counter that :(
stupid priests and their shields always getting a good mage down.
What the hell? A Sound file transfer? That has got to be cool. I wonder if you can make a random level from your favorite song!
This game was pure awesome on the Dreamcast...I just remember the screen being consistently FULL of missiles.
I'd love to see this on XBLA as well.
@greeble: I wonder if using the sound transfer over everything else helps preserve the portability of that feature in future ports, you can't count on Bluetooth and WiFi always being the same (or the net stack for them being written the same way on other machines), but a speaker and a mic is a pretty low bar to achieve.
Just a thought. I too am eagerly anticipating what kinds of crazy web sites this will spawn ;)
I've never played this Bangai-O-game, but it sure looks awesome. And come on, sound file transfer - well THAT'S what I would call innovative. So, as the trailers etc. are pretty danmaku-ish, could someone explain that what the heck there really happens? : D
Actually, I'm surprised transfer-through-sound hasn't already been done to death.
Think about it.
Using the sound recorder accessory (Windows) the transfer-through-sound feature allows you to record to a file and email it to whoever. A website could be set up explicitly as an archive of these sound files for people to download and play with any media player, thereby transferring the file over a massively more accessible medium than simple wifi.
I have never played Bangai-O before, but Treasure is involved so I will definitely buy it.
@Sabastian_Chadwick_McGirt: Definitely get this.
If this is even half as good as the Dreamcast version was, then I will be very happy. I got it back in the day for almost nothing, and I enjoyed it immensely: fast and furious, but in a manageable and very mad way (the game over screen anyone?).
Heh. I know this is old, but I still love it-
Don't save any levels that sound like "blue"
Haven't played the game, but since this is Treasure we're talking about, this will probably be awesome. Also that sound feature is crazy.
GOD YES!! imagine if treasure had the money that square enix has O_O what would they do??
Not nearly as good as the first Bangai-O unfortunately. The thing I remember about the Dreamcast Bangai-O was the ungodly number of levels. This game fails in comparison, offering only 18 levels in single-player mode. The puzzle mode has more like 100 levels, but I enjoy all the cut-scenes and stupid dialog.
However, the gameplay for Bangai-O Spirits feels awesome, shooting a hundred napalm missiles is extremely satisfying. You can really tell this game stretched the DS's hardware capabilities to the limit. If they would have included the boss battles, hilarious cut scenes, and more action feeling levels like the original, I would have been in DS heaven. But as a non-sequel, this game is pretty good, definitely worth at least trying when it hits stateside.
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