Crave/Treasure - 2000

Treasure is known for constantly raising the bar on 2D shooters and they've done it again. I proclaim Bangai-o the new Smash TV, but better, and without multiplayer. Really it's not Smash TV at all, however, they are comparable in terms of "stuff" on screen. Smash TV had enemies, players, bullets, and the occasional pile of money. Bangai-o does even better amassing more enemies, way more bullets, the player, debris (of variable size), and space fruit, oh the space fruit. I haven't seen this much space fruit since 'Nam. It is everywhere. Also, the more things you blow up at once, the cooler the fruit: oranges, pineapples, watermelon, the sky is the limit. But I digress.

The game plays like this: You control a small robot, the Bangai-o. You use the D-pad to fly and either the joystick or the buttons to fire. Now, since the Bangai-o is the most powerful weapon ever, period, the evil SF Kosmo Gang wants it. They send about a gillion robots to attack you, so, to fend of all these robots, you must use your homing missiles and "ricochet lasers" (bouncing bullets). But sometimes there are just too many enemies, what do you do? Oh, did I mention that you have scatter bombs (affectionately known as "the big thing"). The big thing is a blast of missiles or bullets proportional to the amount of danger you are in. In layman's terms, if you are surrounded, you fire up to 400 missiles or bullets in all directions destroying anything that even thought about attacking you. That is the real fun. I found it particularly entertaining to get a whole bunch of guys chasing me, and then turn around and nuke them.

Finally, I must point out that the dialogue in this game is probably the best ever. It makes no sense at all but it is hilarious. You can't help but laugh out loud at every conversation.

What I liked: The amount of action on screen. There were always tons of things firing or exploding, creating total chaos. Because of the number of enemies, this game required those often ignored twitch reflexes used in games like Raiden or 1942. The dialogue was really good, too. Actually, it was really bad, but on purpose. Regardless, it was extremely funny. Also, The two types of ammo provided some interesting variation to what could have been a very monotonous game. However, above all, I must not the stage design. It really made the game for me. They could have pumped out 44 backgrounds for the same stage, but they didn't. Even today, I go back and replay some of the more interesting stages.

What I disliked: The controls. But not so much the controls as my inability to use them. They seem to make sense, but I could never get the hang of flying and firing in this game. I tended to focus on shooting only to realize, moments later, that I had run into a wall, or landed.

What to expect: Tons of explosions. Everything explodes in this game. Crates of fruit explode in this game. Oh, yeah, also expect crates of fruit. Why? I don't know. But it's funny.

What not to expect: Multiplayer. Sadly, you fly this one solo. Bangai-o also lacks extras. You get a small cheat menu for winning, but it really just gives you invincibility.

What sets it apart from the genre: The ability to aim independent of movement, a feature rarely seen since SmashTV.

Ratings on:

Controls: 6 - The two control schemes were both good in theory, but a little difficult in practice.

Graphics: 5 - They weren't bad but they sure didn't push the envelope. To their credit, if they had been better, the game would have frozen.

Sound: 5 - Not bad but not good.

Style: 7 - The "blow up everything" premise is not new, neither is the shooter. But somehow Treasure has created a very unique gameplay experience. It must be the fruit.

1st hour: 6 - Having fun but the controls are frustrating.

2nd hour: 8 - Stopped worrying about the controls. I wonder how many explosions I can get.

5th hour: 9 - Oh, I can get 999 explosions.

1st week: 8 - Seventh inning stretch and this game is getting hard.

2nd week: 8 - Beat the game, turned on invincibility, replayed some stages, and went to town on the boss. Did the dreamcast just slow down?

#1 thing I hate about this game: THE LAST STAGE.

He screams a lot

Does anyone not like missles?

Sundu is end-game man