HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

''Ghoul Panic'' is a 1999
light gun shooter Light-gun shooter, also called light-gun game or simply gun game, is a Shooter game, shooter video game video game genres, genre in which the primary design element is to simulate a shooting gallery (carnival game), shooting gallery by having ...
video game A video game or computer game is an electronic game that involves interaction with a user interface or input device (such as a joystick, game controller, controller, computer keyboard, keyboard, or motion sensing device) to generate visual fe ...
developed by
Raizing stylized as 8ing, is a Japanese video game developer and publisher. It was formerly known as It is known for its shoot 'em ups and its licensed fighting games. History Raizing and Eighting were formed in part by former staff of Compile, t ...
and published by
Namco was a Japanese multinational video game and entertainment company founded in 1955. It operated video arcades and amusement parks globally, and produced video games, films, toys, and arcade cabinets. Namco was one of the most influential c ...
for arcades. A version for the
PlayStation is a video gaming brand owned and produced by Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE), a division of Japanese conglomerate Sony. Its flagship products consists of a series of home video game consoles produced under the brand; it also consists ...
was released in 2000. Players used lightguns to complete a series of minigames, done by firing at on-screen targets. In these minigames there is an objective that must be fulfilled before the time runs out to progress such as shooting a certain amount of enemies or protecting small, yellow cats from projectiles. It ran on the
Namco System 12 The is a 32-bit arcade system board developed jointly by Namco and Sony Computer Entertainment. Released in 1994, the System 11 is based on a prototype of the PlayStation, Sony's first home video game console, using a 512 KB operating system ...
arcade hardware. The game was directed by Raizing composer
Manabu Namiki is a Japanese video game composer who is primarily known for his work in shoot 'em up games. He has worked at game companies such as Allumer, NMK, Raizing and M2. In October 2002, Namiki, Hitoshi Sakimoto, and Masaharu Iwata founded the m ...
and produced by Raizing artist Shinsuke Yamakawa, whose previous works include ''
Battle Garegga is a vertically scrolling shoot'em up arcade game developed by Eighting, Raizing and published by Eighting in 1996. It was later ported to the Sega Saturn in 1998, and an updated version, ''Battle Garegga Rev.2016'' was released in 2016. It was ...
'' and '' 1944: The Loop Master'', with music composed by Masahiro Fukuzawa and Jin Watanabe. It is heavily inspired by Namco's ''
Point Blank Point-blank range is any distance over which a certain firearm or gun can hit a target without the need to elevate the barrel to compensate for bullet drop, i.e. the gun can be pointed horizontally at the target. For targets beyond-blank range ...
'' series of games, with a focus on thrill and adventure. Yamakawa recalls the game being in development when Raizing's development staff had dramatically increased in number. ''Ghoul Panic'' was liked by critics for its gameplay, graphics and multiplayer features, although its lack of additions to the traditional gameplay of lightgun shooters was the subject of criticism.


Gameplay

''Ghoul Panic'' is a light gun shooting video game, often compared to the ''Point Blank'' series which also runs on the same arcade hardware. Players use lightguns attached to the arcade cabinet to fire at enemies in a series of minigames. These minigames feature a quota that must be fulfilled before the time limit ends, such as shooting a certain number of enemies or protecting small, yellow cats from projectiles. Completing minigames will allow the player to progress, while losing will cause the player to lose a life; losing all lives will result in a
Game Over "Game over" is a message in video games which informs the player that their play session has ended, usually because the player has reached a loss condition. It also sometimes appears at the successful completion of a session, especially in ga ...
. A life will also be lost if the player shoots the yellow cats or "bomb ghosts". The game is divided into three different stages, each featuring eight minigames to play that become gradually harder as it progresses. Finishing all the minigames in a stage will have the player face off against a boss, including: Frankie, a
Frankenstein's monster Frankenstein's monster, commonly referred to as Frankenstein, is a fictional character that first appeared in Mary Shelley's 1818 novel '' Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus'' as its main antagonist. Shelley's title compares the monster's ...
that will toss projectiles at the player; Vladie, a vampire that launches a barrage of deadly bats; Witchina, a witch that attacks with her spell-casting broomstick; and Mama Mia, a massive dragon-like monster that hurls fireballs.


Development and release

''Ghoul Panic'', titled ''Oh! Bakyuuun'' in Japan, was released for arcades in July 1999 in Japan and later that year in North America. It was developed by Eighting/Raizing, and published by
Namco was a Japanese multinational video game and entertainment company founded in 1955. It operated video arcades and amusement parks globally, and produced video games, films, toys, and arcade cabinets. Namco was one of the most influential c ...
. The game was produced by Raizing artist Shinsuke Yamakawa, whose works include ''
Battle Garegga is a vertically scrolling shoot'em up arcade game developed by Eighting, Raizing and published by Eighting in 1996. It was later ported to the Sega Saturn in 1998, and an updated version, ''Battle Garegga Rev.2016'' was released in 2016. It was ...
'' and '' 1944: The Loop Master'', who recalls the game being developed at a time where Eighting/Raizing's staff had grown considerably. The game was directed by
Manabu Namiki is a Japanese video game composer who is primarily known for his work in shoot 'em up games. He has worked at game companies such as Allumer, NMK, Raizing and M2. In October 2002, Namiki, Hitoshi Sakimoto, and Masaharu Iwata founded the m ...
, who primarily worked as a composer at Raizing. As Namiki was busy working on designing the game, the music and sound effects were created by former Namco composer Masahiro Fukuzawa and former Westone composer Jin Watanabe. However, he created the waveform data and also composed additional music for the PlayStation version. It is heavily based on Namco's ''
Point Blank Point-blank range is any distance over which a certain firearm or gun can hit a target without the need to elevate the barrel to compensate for bullet drop, i.e. the gun can be pointed horizontally at the target. For targets beyond-blank range ...
'' series, with a focus on adventure and thrill. A home conversion for the
PlayStation is a video gaming brand owned and produced by Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE), a division of Japanese conglomerate Sony. Its flagship products consists of a series of home video game consoles produced under the brand; it also consists ...
was released in Japan on April 20, 2000, and in Europe later that year. This version was published by
Sony Computer Entertainment Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC (SIE) is an American video game and digital entertainment company that is a major subsidiary of Japanese conglomerate Sony, Sony Group Corporation. It primarily operates the PlayStation brand of video game co ...
and is compatible with the
GunCon The , known as the G-Con in Europe, is a family of gun peripherals designed by Namco for the PlayStation consoles. The original controllers used traditional light gun technology, while newer controllers use LED tracking technology. Background Th ...
peripheral. To promote its release, Namco held an online contest on the game's official website where players could submit their high-scores in return for prizes.


Reception

''Ghoul Panic'' was met with a mostly mixed response from critics. The lack of major additions to the established formula of the light gun shooter genre was the primary source of criticism, with ''Consoles+'' saying that it doesn't add much to the genre compared to games like ''
Time Crisis ''Time Crisis'' is a first-person on-rails light gun shooter series of arcade video games by Namco, introduced in 1995. It is focused on the exploits of a fictional international intelligence agency who assigns its best agents to deal with a ...
''. In a preview for the PlayStation version, ''
IGN ''IGN'' is an American video gaming and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa district and is headed by its former e ...
'' had a similar response, saying that ''Ghoul Panic'' does not add many new additions to the light gun shooter concept. The additional gamemodes added to the PlayStation home conversion were also seen as being mediocre by some. ''Famitsu'' said the RPG Mode was not well-designed, feeling heavily rushed and difficult to control. By contrast, ''Gamers' Republic'' said that ''Ghoul Panic'' made for one of the best light gun shooters on the PlayStation, concluding that it was "bags of fun". Critics agreed that the gameplay of ''Ghoul Panic'' was fun and well-made, with several comparing it favorably to Namco's own ''
Point Blank Point-blank range is any distance over which a certain firearm or gun can hit a target without the need to elevate the barrel to compensate for bullet drop, i.e. the gun can be pointed horizontally at the target. For targets beyond-blank range ...
'' series. Both ''Famitsu'' and ''IGN'' stated that while it wasn't as refined as ''Point Blank'', ''Ghoul Panic'' featured well-designed gameplay and was fun to play. ''Famitsu'' also compared the game's comical horror theme to ''
Golly! Ghost! is a 1991 light gun shooter arcade game developed and published by Namco. Gameplay ''Golly! Ghost!'' is a light gun shooter video game. Its plot involves a group of scientists inventing an energy weapon named the "Zapper" to defeat a band of co ...
''. ''Superjuegos'' said that the accurate aiming of the
GunCon The , known as the G-Con in Europe, is a family of gun peripherals designed by Namco for the PlayStation consoles. The original controllers used traditional light gun technology, while newer controllers use LED tracking technology. Background Th ...
and its replay value made ''Ghoul Panic'' an excellent light gun game for the PlayStation, and one of that fans of ''Point Blank'' should try out. In a 2009 retrospective review, ''
Retro Gamer ''Retro Gamer'' is a British magazine, published worldwide, covering Retrogaming, retro video games. It was the first commercial magazine to be devoted entirely to the subject. Launched in January 2004 as a quarterly publication, ''Retro Gamer'' ...
'' magazine compared ''Ghoul Panic'' favorably to ''Point Blank'' and ''
The House of the Dead ''The House of the Dead'' is a horror-themed light gun shooter video game franchise created by Sega in 1996. Originally released in arcades, it utilizes a light gun on the platform, but can be played with standard controllers on consoles and a ...
'', saying that while it wasn't as refined as ''Point Blank'' or ''Time Crisis'' was a great light gun shooter with fun gameplay and unique level designs. The multiplayer modes were also the subject of praise. ''Retro Gamer'' listed the multiplayer as one of the game's strong points for adding replay value and for being well-designed and fun to play. ''Superjuegos'' also applauded the multiplayer for its replay value and addictive nature.


Notes


References


External links


Official Japanese website
{{Eighting 1990s horror video games 1999 video games Arcade video games Eighting games Light gun games Minigame compilations Multiplayer and single-player video games Namco arcade games Namco games PlayStation (console) games Sony Interactive Entertainment games Video games developed in Japan