Summary
- Release Year: 1993
- Genres: Arcade, Shooter
- Platforms: Arcade, Sega Saturn
- Publishers: Banpresto, Taito, Toaplan
Batsugun (1993): Toaplan’s Swan Song and a Manic Shooter Masterpiece
Batsugun is a vertically scrolling shoot ’em up video game created by the now-defunct Japanese game developer Toaplan. The title translates to “exceptional” or “extraordinary”, and the game certainly lives up to its name. Released in arcades in 1993, Batsugun was the final game created by Toaplan before their dissolution, and it has been regarded as a key title in the development of the modern manic shooter.
Gameplay
Batsugun is a classic vertically scrolling shoot ’em up in the vein of Toaplan’s earlier titles such as Twin Cobra and Truxton. The player controls a ship that can fire in eight directions, and must navigate through waves of increasingly difficult enemies while dodging their bullets.
What sets Batsugun apart from other shmups of its era is its manic intensity. The game’s bullet patterns are incredibly dense and complex, and the player’s hitbox is relatively large. This makes for a very challenging and rewarding experience, as the player must constantly be on their toes to avoid being hit.
Graphics and Sound
Batsugun’s graphics are top-notch for its time. The game’s pixel art is vibrant and detailed, and the backgrounds are full of parallax scrolling and other effects. The soundtrack is also excellent, with a mix of catchy electronica and heavy metal tracks that perfectly complement the game’s frantic action.
Legacy
Batsugun was a critical and commercial success upon its release, and it has remained popular with shmup fans in the years since. The game has been ported to a number of home platforms, including the Sega Saturn, PlayStation, and Dreamcast.
Batsugun has also been a major influence on the development of the modern manic shooter. Elements of the game such as the size of the player’s hitbox, the scale of their firepower, and the complexity of enemy bullet patterns have all been adopted by later titles in the sub-genre.
Developers
Batsugun was developed by a team of talented programmers and artists at Toaplan. The game’s director was Masahiro Yuge, who had previously worked on Truxton and Twin Cobra. The lead artist was Junya Inoue, who would go on to work on other successful manic shooters such as DoDonPachi and Ketsui.
Toaplan’s Last Stand
Batsugun was the final game created by Toaplan before the company’s dissolution in 1994. The company had been struggling financially for several years, and the arcade market was becoming increasingly competitive. Batsugun was a critical and commercial success, but it was not enough to save Toaplan from bankruptcy.
Despite its untimely demise, Toaplan’s legacy lives on through its games. Batsugun is regarded as one of the greatest shoot ’em ups of all time, and it continues to be enjoyed by fans around the world.
Conclusion
Batsugun is a masterpiece of the shoot ’em up genre. It is a challenging, rewarding, and visually stunning game that has had a major influence on the development of the modern manic shooter. If you are a fan of shmups, then you owe it to yourself to check out Batsugun.
Additional Information
- Batsugun was originally released in arcades in 1993.
- The game was ported to the Sega Saturn in 1995, the PlayStation in 1996, and the Dreamcast in 2000.
- In 2022, Batsugun was included in the Toaplan Arcade 1 compilation for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
- The game’s soundtrack was composed by Tatsuya Uemura and Masahiro Yuge.
- Batsugun is known for its large hitbox, which makes the game more challenging.
- The game’s bullet patterns are incredibly dense and complex, and require quick reflexes to dodge.
- Batsugun is considered to be one of the greatest shoot ’em ups of all time.
Review Score
8.5/10
Art
Cover Art
Screenshots
