Buster Bros 5 - PANG: Magical Michael (Nintendo DS)

[gameoverDude]

Pang: Magical Michael gameplay montage

After 10 years without a new Buster Bros., here comes one on the Nintendo DS. Instead of the Buster Bros. characters, this one features Michael the Magician. This is by Mitchell (the original BB series, and Cannon Dancer) and will be published in the EU by Rising Star Games.

The background style does look similar to Mighty Pang, the CPS-II title. For the harpoon attack, Michael shoots out columns of fire- and the quad shot attack is replaced with four fanned-out playing cards. Both screens are used in tandem similar to Contra 4, making this like a Tate game.

I may have to import if this doesn't get a US release.

[Ed Oscuro]

Mitchell, the folks behind the original Pang! too!

Looks like it plays right, which is to say like sticking your head into a nest of bees.

Ughhhly as sin also, which is the one thing that isn't part of the "real" Pang experience.

The point of this is obviously the gameplay, but I never cared for it. This is gonna be a flop.

[Drum]

That is a really unsightly game. Not only are those backgrounds hideous, but they distract you from the action.

No thanks, Mitchell.

[Lordstar]

iiiiiiiitS SHOW TIME!

[gameoverDude]

It still looks like it's got the gameplay nailed down, but hopefully it won't have you moving Tetris pieces around to use as platforms (one minor issue I have with Mighty Pang). I'll admit I like the BB/Super BB art styles better.

Having the original Buster Bros. characters as unlockable players would be nice- though we'll probably see them drawn Mighty Pang style (kind of a cross between Mr. Driller and Charlie Brown, though not quite as cool as the BB1/2 design). I think I'll still take this one- not the best looking BB game, but the first portable one excluding the Pang DS emulator. The graphics I can live with if it plays well.

[linko9]

For some reason I never knew this was a series... I loved Super Buster Brothers on the SNES, but never knew there were any other games in the series. Anyway, that trailer certainly doesn't make me want to buy the game.

[Vexorg]

The voice actor sounds like he's auditioning for a part on Chaos Wars...

[E. Randy Dupre]

I don't think the visual style is too bad, but it's crying out for an option to dim the backdrops, like in the PS1 conversion of Puchi Carat.

[JoshF]

I've seen Java-based Pang clones with better style. Ten years ago.

[Damocles]

Way to show ten seconds of intro then five seconds of gameplay...for five goddamn minutes.

For some reason, the thread title caused me to expect Michael Jackson.

[Ed Oscuro]

For some reason, the thread title caused me to expect Michael Jackson.

Indeed. Mistah J is almost easier on the childhood memories too, I'd expect. Then again, Mitchell never made the prettiest games (Osman being an exception I suppose).

[Ganelon]

On that note, I wished the Pang games had better, jazzier music. I enjoyed the colorful visuals with a nice looking background and the mechanics. But the sugar-sweet tunes in each installment of the series just baffle me.

[boagman]

Way to show ten seconds of intro then five seconds of gameplay...for five goddamn minutes.

You win...you made me laugh and smile, not only with your sarcasm, but your dead-on accuracy.

As someone who really enjoyed Buster Bros. and Super Buster Bros. (as well as Pang 3, but not quite as much...), this game looks absolutely awful, as well as irritating. How can the graphics and sound be *this stinking bad* in 2010, from an established company like Mitchell, doing the work they're known for? I'll say this: based on what's seen in this trailer, I'd be far more apt to play the originals rather than this drivel, because this looks like an atrocity.

[boagman]

On that note, I wished the Pang games had better, jazzier music. I enjoyed the colorful visuals with a nice looking background and the mechanics. But the sugar-sweet tunes in each installment of the series just baffle me.

I'm in the exact opposite corner. I rather like the light, "fluffy", cheery music that's usually there. It seems fitting to me, and especially in the case of the first two titles, the tunes are especially catchy, staying in my brain far longer than I might wish them to. I like the music in this series, at least the majority of what I've heard.

[ROBOTRON]

ARON BOAG.

[gameoverDude]

I've watched some demos of Ocean's Amiga version of Pang on Youtube. Its graphics are like the arcade except for missing some colors, and the sound isn't bad either. Unfortunately it seems to be missing the enemies (ducks, snails, owls, crabs, etc) and the bonus treats that are dropped after you pop enough bubbles. Too bad since the graphics are even better than the Turbo-Grafx CD Buster Brothers (which wins on faithfulness to the arcade gameplay).

[Turrican]

20 may 2014: I celebrated the passing of NDS WFC service by entering the top five world ranking, coop mode (2155700, fifth place). This game has been awesome, truly one of the very best on DS.