Batsugun

From Sega Retro

n/a

Batsugun title.png

Batsugun
System(s): Sega Saturn
Publisher: Banpresto
Developer:
Licensor: Toaplan
Original system(s): Arcade boards
Developer(s) of original games: Toaplan
Sound driver: SCSP/CD-DA (33 tracks)
Genre: Shooting[1][2]

















Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Saturn
JP
¥5,800 (5,974)5,800e[3] T-20605G
Sega Rating: All Ages
Non-Sega versions

Batsugun (バツグン) is a "bullet hell" shooter developed by Toaplan and Gazelle. After a 1993 arcade release, it was ported to the Sega Saturn and released exclusively in Japan in 1996. The game is considered the pioneer of the bullet hell genre; its designers would move on to form Cave, one of the leading developers in the genre. This port was released as the first of Toaplan legendary series, but this series was never released later.

Gameplay

A is the standard shot, B is for bombs and C is for autofire. There are five stages. The Saturn port adds the ability to play in a horizontal screen orientation.

Player ship has three forms, based on the experience points collected. You power up gradually by collecting P icons and by destroying enemies which grant experience points, an unusual design for a shooting game; dying takes away a certain amount of power but gives you a free P icon. After fully powering up, gathering further experience points adds bombs and restores the ship's hitpoints (Special version only)

The game features many hidden score opportunities, which are sometimes so obscure that they can't be fully understood without external documentation, e.g. when certain parts of the stage 4 boss, Battleship Jupiter, are destroyed, it starts releasing tanks. When there are enough tanks onscreen, they turn red. Destroying these red tanks with a bomb yields a very high score bonus. More scoring opportunities have been added for the special version.

Player

You can choose one of three ships; each ship has a different attack range/frequency. Pilots are different for 1 and 2 player. With the combination of pilots, the dialogue at the stage clearing will change.

Batsugun Saturn JP SSPlayer1A.png

Jeeno
Player 1 Type A (Sky Mirage)

Batsugun Saturn JP SSPlayer1B.png

Beltiana
Player 1 Type B (Dragons Whisper)

Batsugun Saturn JP SSPlayer1C.png

Iceman
Player 1 Type C (Judgment flasher)
This character is said to be based on the game's designer Joker JUN.

Batsugun Saturn JP SSPlayer2A.png

Schneider
Player 2 Type A (Sky Mirage)

Batsugun Saturn JP SSPlayer2B.png

Alteeno
Player 2 Type B (Dragons Whisper)

Batsugun Saturn JP SSPlayer2C.png

Olisis
Player 2 Type C (Judgment flasher)

Stages

Batsugun Saturn JP SSStage1.png

Batsugun Saturn JP SSStage1Boss.png

  • Batsugun Saturn JP SSStage1.png

  • Batsugun Saturn JP SSStage1Boss.png

Stage 1
Boss:
Deep Purple

Batsugun Saturn JP SSStage2.png

Batsugun Saturn JP SSStage2Boss.png

  • Batsugun Saturn JP SSStage2.png

  • Batsugun Saturn JP SSStage2Boss.png

Stage 2
Boss:
Madzella

Batsugun Saturn JP SSStage3.png

Batsugun Saturn JP SSStage3Boss.png

  • Batsugun Saturn JP SSStage3.png

  • Batsugun Saturn JP SSStage3Boss.png

Stage 3
Boss:
Mad Steel Darkness

Batsugun Saturn JP SSStage4.png

Batsugun Saturn JP SSStage4Boss.png

  • Batsugun Saturn JP SSStage4.png

  • Batsugun Saturn JP SSStage4Boss.png

Stage 4
Boss:
Jupiter

Batsugun Saturn JP SSStage5.png

Batsugun Saturn JP SSStage5Boss.png

  • Batsugun Saturn JP SSStage5.png

  • Batsugun Saturn JP SSStage5Boss.png

Stage 5
Boss:
Ground of the Galaxy

Extra features

The Saturn port includes the rare "Special" version of the game, which features modified bombs (covering a larger area), smaller hitboxes for the player ships, allows the player to take an additional hit before being destroyed and loops after clearing the last stage, each loop becoming increasingly difficult. Other extra features are the inclusion of both the original and a rearranged soundtrack.

Tips and tricks

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  • Credit increase: Credit increase up to a nine.
In gameplay, pause game and ABABXAB.

History

Legacy

In 2023, the Saturn version of the game received a re-release by City Connection called Batsugun: Saturn Tribute Boosted for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Steam.[4]

Versions

The Saturn port runs with much less slowdown than the arcade version, making it more difficult.

Production credits

Original Staff
  • Programming: Tsuneki Ikeda, Seiji Iwakura, Satoshi Kohyama
  • Graphic Design: Yuko Tataka, Takeshi Kawamoto, Junya Inoue
  • Music Composer: Yoshitatsu Sakai
Segasaturn Staff
  • Programming: Yoshihiro Matsumoto
  • Special Ver. Support: Hideyuki Murata
  • Music Arranger: Shingo Hirate
  • Package Design: Kenji Teraoka
  • Planner: Koji Ishitani
  • Director: Hiroyuki Fujimoto
Thank You For Your Playing
© Toaplan 1993
© Banpresto 1996
Reprogrammed Game © Gazelle
Source:
In-game credits
Batsugun Saturn JP SSEnding.pdf
[5]

Magazine articles

Main article: Batsugun/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in (JP) #1996-18: "1996-18 (1996-10-25)" (1996-10-11)
Logo-pdf.svg

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
(UK) NTSC-J
70
[6]
(JP) NTSC-J
63
[7]
(FR) NTSC-J
80
[8]
(DE) NTSC-J
50
[9]
(JP) NTSC-J
68
[10]
(JP) NTSC-J
67
[11]
(JP) NTSC-J
73
[12]
(JP) NTSC-J
85
[13]
Sega Saturn
69
Based on
8 reviews

Batsugun

Saturn, JP
Batsugun Saturn JP Box Back.jpgBatsugun Saturn JP Box Front.jpg
Cover
Batsugun Saturn JP Spinecard.jpg
Spinecard
Batsugun Saturn JP Disc.jpg
Disc
BatsugunSaturnJPManual.pdf
Manual
BatsugunSaturnJPCSC.pdf
Reg Card

Technical information

Main article: Batsugun/Technical information.

References


Batsugun

Batsugun title.png

Main page | Comparisons | Magazine articles | Reception | Technical information


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