For the uninitiated, Bangai-O is a 2D multi-directional shooter, placing you in the cockpit of a mech that would probably look huge in other circumstances, but in actuality appears as tiny as a toy on screen. This is because you’ll need all the room you can get when literally hundreds of missiles and bullets fill the screen – although this isn’t your typical bullet-hell shooter where you’re inching through tiny gaps between hailstorms of bullets. The screen scrolls freely along with you in any direction, so you can basically “out run” most bullets and hide behind cover, but it’s in your special attack that Bangai-O sets itself apart.
This episode of Bullet Heaven is so intense, it’s called Missile Heaven. Forget Bullet Hell, this is Missile Hell! Bangai-O HD: Missile Fury for the XBLA will punish you in unimaginable ways… but you’ll keep coming back for more. Just how does this ultra-sadomasochistic game hold up? Watch to find out!
iAX: "Bangai-O HD Missile Fury is a new XBL Arcade title brought to us by our friends over at Treasure. The game continues the acclaimed tradition of brutal/smart gameplay that’s seen in its Nintendo 64, Dreamcast and DS iterations, and it won’t disappoint those who enjoyed it before.
Let’s get one thing straight; this game doesn’t care that you beat Ninja Gaiden on Master Difficulty, it means serious business."
Denkiphile writes: "The digital market’s continuing trend of delivering both great indie games and ambitious yet risky titles. Thanks to this, gamers are able to get their hands on Bangai-O HD Missile Fury, a new iteration in the classic variety shmup. The niche nature of the game made it impossible to be released outside of a digital market. Some may call it masochism, but hardcore gamers and shmup fans are definitely getting their fill with this iteration of Bangai-O."
