Guwange

Xbox console exclusive

Guwange is 2D vertically scrolling shoot'em up played with a character moving on foot. The game takes place during the Muromachi period in Japan with strong fantasy elements. The shikigami demons possess the people and give them great opportunities, but they die after exactly one year. Three heroes want to get rid of the curse. They must kill the evil deity Guwange, but first they must find five elemental scrolls.

Released: 1999
Platforms: Arcade Legacy Mobile Device Xbox 360
Genres: Arcade Bullet hell Ninja Shooter
Developers: CAVE
Publishers: —
Modes: Co-op Single-player
Perspective: Bird view / Isometric
Themes: Horror Historical
Country: Japan
Age ratings: ESRB T CERO C

About

Guwange (ぐわんげ, Guwange; [ɡɯwaŋɡe]) is a 1999 vertical scrolling shooter developed by Cave and published by Atlus.

›Story

The story of Guwange is set during the Muromachi period of Japan. During this time, increasing numbers of people suffer possession by shikigami. Although the shikigami grant great spiritual powers, the strain inflicted on the host causes them to die exactly one year after possession. However, a legend has sprung up regarding Guwange, the malevolent god trapped in Mt.

e. Hell Gate). If one possessed by a shikigami can gather talismans of the five Chinese elements—wood, fire, earth, metal, water—from five demons serving Guwange, then infiltrate Gokumon and slay Guwange, the shikigami will be destroyed and the one possessed will not suffer a premature death.

Keywords

medieval
shoot 'em up
demon
bullet hell
female protagonist
undead
shared screen
possession
boss fight
explosion
digital distribution
centipede

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

Guwange's gameplay contains elements that are unique or uncommon in the vertically scrolling shooting game genre. The screen will often scroll horizontally or even diagonally, depending on the course the protagonist must take to reach the demon leader. Each character has a limited bomb attack in the form of an energy blast that can be sent in any direction, and will dispel any bullets it touches. Another special attack involves sending the shikigami into the midst of the enemies, with two particular advantages.

First, the shikigami does not have to attack in the same direction as the player is firing, and can even get past obstacles that would otherwise thwart normal shots. If an enemy projectile touches the shikigami, it will change to a pink color and will drastically slow down. If the shot passes the shikigami, it will return to its original color and resume at full speed, but if the bullet is caught in an explosion, it will be cancelled and turned into coins.

Story

The story of Guwange is set during the Muromachi period of Japan. During this time, increasing numbers of people suffer possession by shikigami. Although the shikigami grant great spiritual powers, the strain inflicted on the host causes them to die exactly one year after possession, but a legend has sprung up regarding Guwange, the malevolent god trapped in Mt. e.

Hell Gate). If one possessed by a shikigami can gather talismans of the five Chinese elements—wood, fire, earth, metal, water—from five demons serving Guwange, then infiltrate Gokumon and slay Guwange, the shikigami will be destroyed and the one possessed will not suffer a premature death.

Development

Blue Label

The 'blue label' version of the game was originally a promotional item given to the three highest scoring players at a Cave hosted event. In December 2007 Cave fest, Cave unveiled a special edition of the game, which included increased difficulty in later chapters. The arcade game eventually appeared in cabinet format.