I’m a huge fan of Treasure and their games. Hell, any company that can pump out classics like Gunstar Heroes, Radiant Silvergun, and Gradius V deserves my cash no matter what they do. But with Bangai-O Spirits, I’m just not feelin’ it. Yet everywhere I look the game is getting rave reviews. What am I missing?
In the spirit of full disclosure, I should probably mention that I never got into the Dreamcast version either. I enjoyed bits of it, but the controls seemed odd and there was something about the game I just didn’t “get”. Nevertheless, I was able to squeeze some enjoyment out of it despite never having a grasp on exactly what the hell it was I was doing. Spirits, while kinda/sorta a remake of the original, is more puzzle game than action/shooter, plopping the player into levels and asking them to find the right combination of weapons to make it through. The problem is that nine times out of ten it becomes more trial-and-error than skill-based play. You choose your weapons before entering the level, and if you haven’t chosen the correct weapons beforehand you’ll face a “Game Over” screen in – no kidding – under five seconds. You’ll then be sent back to the stage selection screen and forced to try another combination of weapons. It’s punishing, unforgiving, and extremely frustrating.
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