D3Publisher of Europe Ltd (D3PE), a publisher and developer of interactive entertainment software, today announced it is to publish the latest game from renowned Japanese development team Treasure. Entitled Bangai-O Spirits, it will be released for Nintendo DS in August.

Bangai-O Spirits is a compelling blend of fast-paced shooter and puzzler genres, seasoned with strategic and tactical elements. Developed in the eccentric, much-loved style of TREASURE Co., Ltd., it is a DS re-imagination of the Japanese team’s ‘90s cult classic game Bangai-O.

The DS title provides gamers with addictive shooter gameplay, punishing super-moves and a sensory overload of onscreen fireworks, with strategic and tactical elements and TREASURE’s familiar quirky design style. The game also offers competitive multiplayer modes for 1-4 players via local wireless, a powerful level editor tool which allows players to edit in-game levels or create new ones from scratch, and the revolutionary new ability to transfer data among DS systems through sound data transfer technology known as Sound Load —a first for DS handheld systems.

Never before utilized for DS systems, the Sound Load technology in Bangai-O Spirits allows players to transfer level data among DS handheld systems via the use of sound and the DS microphone. The technology works by taking the level data and turning it into a sound file which is output through the host DS speaker. This data is then interpreted through the microphone of the recipient DS, and the level transfer is complete.

It is also possible to upload and circulate sound files of level data from Bangai-O Spirits online via the Internet, or to save files to a recording device like a PC or jump drive for transport and distribution, allowing gamers to catalogue, share and compare levels online easily with gamers all over the world. Widening the range of play and interaction even further, gamers can also deliver high score and gameplay footage as transferable sound files by using Sound Load. More details about this unique feature will be forthcoming soon.

“It is an honour to bring a ground-breaking game by a respected developer like TREASURE to game enthusiasts,” said Yoji Takenaka, chief operating officer, D3PE. “Bangai-O Spirits contains many key elements that define a truly enjoyable videogame—the innovation in both technology and gameplay make this a must-have title for everyone who owns a DS system.”