By Anthony Swinnich on September 19th, 2008

There’s no shortage of potential in Spirits. Like many of the Treasure-developed games that have come before it, Bangai-O milks an incredible amount of functionality out of the limited amount of buttons available. This is something that worked well when the controllers had two face buttons, so a game like Astro Boy: Omega Factor or Advance Guardian Heroes had a lot of depth hidden in the control scheme. This is something that does not work quite as well when there are two more face buttons added to the mix, and shoulder buttons to boot, in a game that requires lightning-fast reactions. The problem lies not with the game’s potential, but the game’s execution.

There is no difficulty curve in this game. Players who choose to skip the tutorial will simply end up bloody and limping toward it eventually, because they won’t be able to figure out how to play before the game skewers and barbecues them. The controls and play mechanics are unique enough to warrant some hand-holding, and yes, it does teach you which buttons do what, how each type of attack works, how each type of attack can mix with other attacks, and all the other intricate wrinkles involved as well. But even with that knowledge, the game never teaches you when to use anything. The only insight the game offers is through the demo that plays when pressing "B" at the title screen, which isn’t an advertised feature and was found by this reviewer on accident.

Not knowing when to use what attacks is frustrating when most levels will make scrap metal of your mech in several seconds. The amount of control options is simply intimidating and the game never gives you the chance to learn how to play, tutorial be damned. It’s not like Treasure doesn’t know how to ease into a challenge. Astro Boy: Omega Factor ramped up slowly, allowing players to learn the nuances of the combat system as they moved along. Bangai-O Spirits ramps up with the subtlety of a frying pan to the face: level one, you die.

It’s a shame that the game is so inaccessible because there is so much depth in the cart. The levels seem well designed – there’s no mistaking the expert placement and trajectory of the dozens of missiles that head toward you as they begin. Just think: There are over 160 stages, all waiting to blow you to kingdom come! You can even design your own instant-death factories with the game’s robust level editor. Those interested in this title will likely create levels that are nearly impossible to complete, but there is a great deal of irony in the fact that it practically dares you to design levels that might actually be fun to play. That revelation begs the question: Why bother playing if you have to design the good parts yourself?