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Batsugun (バツグン) is a vertically scrolling shoot 'em up hailing from the now defunct Japanese game...

Batsugun (バツグン) is a vertically scrolling shoot 'em up hailing from the now defunct Japanese game developer Toaplan. It was their final release. Originally developed for the arcade, Batsugun saw two revisions—the first being released in 1993. The latter named Batsugun Special Version was shown at the AOU (Arcade Operators Union) show in Japan but was never released as Toaplan slid into bankruptcy. After Toaplan's bankruptcy the Special Version appeared on the secondhand market. The two revisions were released on the Sega Saturn in 1996 as a single package coded by Toaplan offshoot Gazelle. Heralded by some as the first "manic shooter", Batsugun involved employees who would go on to form and work at Cave and continue to work in this subgenre. Batsugun saw an evolution in the use of complex enemy wave and bullet patterns, and player firepower and hit-box. As is the standard with most arcade shooters, the player controls their ship with a joystick and two buttons. One button (Fire) shoots the main guns, and the other button (Bomb) releases a smart bomb that spreads huge energy balls all around the player's ship. As enemies are destroyed, the player gains experience points that are