Bangai-O

The beautiful world of 2D! The tension is getting good! Three cheers for Bangai-O!

Regional Differences#

Japan to Europe/US#

Brightness#

For some reason, the Japanese version is considerably brighter than the international versions.

Japanese	European English

Menu Text#

To do:
More examples.

In the Japanese version, the menus are written a little more... Bangai-Oishly than your average game, but the international menu text is - with only a few exceptions - boringly generic and functional. For example, from the title screen:

Japanese	Translation	European English
勇気ある者だけがスタートボタンを押してもいい	Only the brave may press the start button	Press start to begin.
戦いのドアを開ける	Open the door of battle	Start Game
秘密の園をのぞく	Peek into the garden of secrets	Game Options

Europe to US#

Intro#

The English intro text is almost completely different between the European and US versions of the game. The European version is closer to the Japanese one, whereas the US version was rewritten to incorporate plot details that only appear in the manuals of the other versions.

European English	US
Way off in the distant future at the edge of the universe on the dan star lives a hotblooded young man.	In the distant future, at the edge of the universe, lies the planet Dan Star. Here Riki Makishi works for the People's Police.
Man, don't you have eyes in your thick head? Now there's a dent in the crazy car.	Listen up kid ! The SF Kosmo Gang are setting up operations on Dan Star and there's nothing you can do about it !
What are you talking about? You've obviously not been paying proper attention!	Oh yeah? Well, you'll have to get past the People's Police first!
Hey, shorty! Are you mocking the "SF Kosmogang"?	People's Police? Ha ha ha ! Don't make me laugh !
Ouch! You damned bandits, next time we meet, things won't be so simple.. Father, I'm back.	Ouch. Damn space bandits. Next time we meet you won't get away so easy... Hey Father, I'm home !
Oh; hello Father!	On no! FATHER
Tell me....... Tell me, what does that mean?	Father are you ok? What happened here? Where's Mami?
Brother... Riki, are you?	Brother Riki... is that you? Thank goodness you're home. I was so scared...
Mami, what does all that mean?	Mami, who did this?
Obnoxious men have suddenly... Father....	Space bandits... broke into our house... attacked father... smashed his computer...
Ri-, Rikiii...... Father? Father!	Ri..Riki... Listen to me...
I was not paying attention.... The men finally noticed me as I was hacking But, although I put myself in danger, I had to do it!	The SF Kosmo Gang have invaded Dan Star! They are constructing bases all over the planet to illegally trade space fruit!
To beat the "SF Kosmogang" you must use their own data against them.	They caught me hacking into their computer systems and traced my location back to here...
SF	SF
Kosmo	Kosmo
Gang!?	Gang?!
Wait, Riki, when anger overwhelms you, you cannot win!	Riki! Wait! Come back! Don't be foolish! The SF Kosmo Gang is far too powerful for you to face alone!
So! They've set you a trap here	But don't give up hope, I have something that will help you...
From the embodiment of evil, to the envoy of justice. A magnificent transformation!	I stole blueprints from the SF Kosmo Gang database and used them to create an experimental battle robot!
Your friend is Bangai-o!	Explosion Invincible Bangai-o!
Bangai-o !? The name means nothing.	Bangai-O? What kind of name is that for a battle robot?
Understood, Father! I shall beat the men!	Never mind ! In the name of the People's Police, I will pilot the Bangai-O against the SF Kosmo Gang !
Riki, take me with you!	Riki, take me with you ! I want to help !
Go! Go, Riki and Mami!	Yes. Take Mami. Defeat the SF Kosmo Gang! Save Dan Star!

Continue Screen#

The screen that appears when you continue after a game over was, perhaps inevitably, changed for the US version.

European English	US

Level Names#

All the level names were changed for the US version. Again, the European names are closer to the Japanese originals.

Level	European English	US
1	The burning star of Dan. Time to get going.	The planet Dan Star. Your mission begins here.
2	The star of love. Clenched fists	Cyber Command Center. Hi-tech carnage!
3	The good star Dan No panic	Moon Base Alpha. Defeat the Robot Armada.
4	The space cemetery Exploding fruit store	The Space Cemetery. Plenty of fruit for the picking!
5	The green milky way Our great entrance	Milky Way Station. All CORE bosses are harmless!
6	A base on the way Devils eating stars	Base under construction! Warning: men at work!
7	Only forwards from now on! Like brand new cars	Moon Base Beta.Different shots penetrate different barriers!
8	Attack! Cave base	The Hollow Asteroid. Attack!
9	Danger! Explosives store	The Explosion Store. Shopping with a bang!
10	The wind bride! Avoid the bombs.	The Bomb Maze. Avoid the deadly explosions!
11	One-way street? Surely it cannot be	Desert Outpost. A one way street?
12	A lack of orientation leads to death	The Gun Star. A blast from the past.
13	Running undaunted by death The opponent is the fuse	Racing the fuse! Hurry or you'll get stuck!
14	Destruction impossible? A primitive trap?	The Nebula Fortress. Mission Impossible?
15	A lunar darkness A mysterious evening	Lunar Eclipse. Duel in a mine field.
16	More haste, less speed! Do men do such a thing?	Think first, shoot later. Or face the consequences!
17	Force your way in! The hole in hell	Perimeter Lasers. Force your way in!
18	The terrible laser burns Riki's flesh	The Laser Drome. Watch out, they burn!
19	Wart hell Free path selection	Non-stop Destruction. Free path selection!
20	Stopping prohibited! Somewhat more courage	Burning Heaven. Stopping prohibited.
21	Restricted love	The Cage. Watch out!
22	The robot factory We are no danger	The Robot Factory. You are not alone!
23	Melancholy-the night in which it rains aircraft	It's raining robots! Did you bring your umbrella?
24	Confused love	The Robot Maze. Claustrophobopolis!
25	That is impossible! That is not permitted!	Shadow Battle. The Dark Reflection.
26	Riki in the vice! Stomach pains?	The Vice. Caution: Falling Objects.
27	Mami in the vice! Ah, so painful!	The maze of many dangers. Feel the pain!
28	Father in the vice! No fish rolls!	Galactic Duel. Forbidden Love!
29	Bangai-O in the vice He runs with salad oil	Robot Hunt! Destroy every last one!
30	Be fruitful and multiply!	Fruit Sale! Bangai-O under fire!
31	That is not possible!	Run the Guantlet! Don't give up!
32	Friend or foe? A puzzling figure	Buried Alive! Dig or die!
33	Great! The last period of office for the president	Familiy duel. Just roll with it!
34	That is impossible!	Dangerous Descent. Take the plunge!
35	The young detective Satoshi	Chamber of Horrors. Death in small spaces!
36	The insatiable Giana-Hochland	The Danger Room. Domestic dispute!
37	Clone of a gene A problem of logic	Defensive Perimiter. A tight fit.
38	Exclusive report! The actress X	The SF Kosmo Battleship. Take the fight to them!
39	For those that have the desire! We shall assist you!	Red Planet. Motherly Love.
40	The last time	Blockade. Don't let 'em stop you now!
41	The charming commando 2 1992 Italy	Stockade. Almost there...
42	Science at 60 years Of age	Ground Zero. Go Bangai-O Go!
43	Papa, come again soon Michiko Takashi	The Last Great War. Finish the SK Kosmo Gang!
44	May God protect you, Bangai-O!	The Final Challenge. Good luck - you'll need it!

Between European Languages#

On the French and German stage select screen, each of the game's levels is referred to as a "level of hell": in German, Das ist der 1. Höllenlevel and in French, Le 1ième niveau infernal (for Level 1). This is carried over from the Japanese version, which uses ここは地獄の1丁目, "This is District 1 of hell". However, in English (both in the European and US versions), the reference to hell is omitted.
Almost all of the character names are different in French, such as Riki and Mami being Gavroche and Jade.

To do:
List all the French name changes.

Level Select#

Enter your initials as three of the camera-wielding... creature... things (as seen on the continue screen) to unlock all levels.

v · t · e The Bangai-O series
Nintendo 64	Bakuretsu Muteki Bangaioh
Dreamcast	Bangai-O
Nintendo DS	Bangai-O Spirits