batsugun

Batsugun is a 1993 science fiction vertically scrolling "bullet hell" arcade video game originally developed and published by Toaplan in Japan and published in Europe by Taito, as well as in Korea by Unite Trading.

The last shoot 'em up created by Toaplan, the title takes place on a distant Earth-like planet where a global takeover operative led by king Renoselva A. Gladebaran VII is set into motion, as players assume the role from one of the six fighter pilots conforming the Skull Hornets squadron taking control of submersible jets in a last-ditch effort to overthrow the invading military force from the planet.

Its gameplay mainly consists of shooting mixed with role-playing game-esque elements using a main two-button configuration.

Headed by Fire Shark designer Tataka Yuko, Batsugun was created by most of the same team that previously worked on several projects at Toaplan and who would later go on to join one of its offshoots after the company declared bankruptcy in 1994 to continue working in the bullet hell sub-genre.

Though first launched for the arcades, the game was later ported to the Sega Saturn by Gazelle and published exclusively in Japan by Banpresto on 25 October 1996, featuring various changes and additions compared with the original version.

Batsugun garnered positive reception from during its initial release in arcades but was later met with mixed critical reception on the Saturn as an import title. Nevertheless, the game garnered awards from Gamest magazine. It has been heralded by many as the first manic shooter due to its evolution of various gameplay features in the shoot 'em up genre and as an inspiration for other similar titles.

As of 2019, the rights to the project are owned by Tatsujin, a company founded in 2017 by former Toaplan member Yuge Masahiro and now-affiliate of Japanese arcade manufacturer exA-Arcadia alongside many other Toaplan IPs.