The really weird thing to get used to, though, is the controls. It doesn't use the 360 degree radial controls from the original (it had that, right?). In this one, you use the d-pad to move your guy, and you use one button to shoot (only using one button for both directions, that's the difference, that's what's harder), one button to boost, and either trigger to launch a "bomb" (or maybe I'm just forgetting and that's exactly how the DC version played. I have it downstairs, guess I could stop being lazy and jog my memory).
You should've waited for the US release! Not only is the dialogue hilarious (the characters don't even break the fourth wall in a tongue-in-cheek way, they go outright and proclaim they know they're in a video game -- loved the part when the kids asked the professor, "And oh yeah, what are our names from?" "Well your name is based on some idol-girl show one of the programmers was fascinated with, and your name comes from the president of a company (Masato Maegawa)."), but you probably would've gotten the hang of it better:
Press Y and B at the same time to switch to single weapons, because unless you have the Bat, Sword, or Shield on, then you're using a Mix of the two.
And press L and R at the same time to switch to single EX Attacks (the 'bombs'), unless you have the Freeze weapon and I think something else, those are also a mix.
ANYWAYS
I played through the Tutorial (which was actually called the Story mode in Japan), and wasn't too wowed by it. In fact I've had reservations about this game the whole time, it just didn't look like my kind of game. I played some puzzle levels and then that was it.
Then! A few hours later, I don't know why, I was oddly enchanted to come back and play! So I played the 'Other Stages' and for some reason had a blast -- I think, by containing the story to just the tutorial, Treasure wanted to get that out of the way, so the player can just blow shit up without having to worry about any kind of cohesion, just moving from level to level, playing the game for the levels and the levels only.
It was an
incredibly genius move on Treasure's part to have all the levels there for your choosing; I have contended for quite a while that the perfect handheld games are those that epitomize 'pick up 'n play' -- and not only has Treasure given us access to every level right off the bat so we won't have to slog through the game to get where we want to, but the very nature of this game fits on the handheld so well; some of the levels are only SECONDS long, and when you die, there's no bullshit, just keep pressing buttons and then you're back in the action!
I am going to come out right now and say that Bangai-O Spirits is the very soul of portable gaming and what all handheld titles should aspire to.
Another thing I love is how Treasure made minutes long songs for the Continue screen and Level Complete screen. There is something insanely funny and self-referential that a person would sit thru a 3 minute song after beating a 25 second long level, or dying after only 5 seconds.
As for the actual game itself?
Fun. Pocket-sized levels of challenge, and this game is going to FUCK you in the ASS, so hard,
so very hard. You will die countless times, but you won't get frustrated, because again, the levels are so short and you can get right back in the action so quickly.
There have also been a number of times where I've unleashed an EX attack and the game just kinda froze and seemingly broke (a line ripping through the numbers) as hundreds of missiles flew across the screen.
I loved the levels that were homages to R-Type and Pac Man, too...I'm certain there are more.
In an age where handhelds are getting progressively more powerful and the games getting progressively more complex, Bangai-O Spirits stands alone, and at the same time, on top of the hill.
PS my preferred weapon combination is the Bat/Bounce and then Napalm/Bounce for the EX weapons.
