Only in 2008 could a sequel to one of the most obscure Sega Dreamcast games be released on the world’s most popular handheld game system, the Nintendo DS.

Thank heaven for niche publisher D3 who wrested Bangai-O Spirits, the recently released sequel to the 2001 two-dimensional shooter, out of Japan with its weirdness fully intact.

The sprite-based visuals don’t push the DS’s graphics capabilities, but its other features will astound you. As the studio behind such classics as Gradius V, Gunstar Heroes and Ikaruga, the game’s developer Treasure is highly revered in hardcore gaming circles because it knows a thing or two about pushing video game systems to their limits.

Once again, the Nintendo DS shows it is capable of more tricks than developers ever thought possible beyond its simple touch screen. The game’s most innovative feature is Sound Load, a revolutionary data transfer http://www.d3publisher.us technology system that uses sound to move data between DS systems.

The scripted action takes place over 160 levels, and if you ever get bored with those, the level editor makes it easy to edit existing stages or generate new ones that you can share.

If you were lucky enough to play the first game, you’ll definitely notice changes in the core game play. Whereas the previous installment focused solely on shooting, players have access to new moves in the sequel such as dash and melee attacks that let you damage enemies without firing a single blast.

Hey, what other game can you name where mech robots fill the screen with tiny bullets while collecting fruit and whacking their foes with baseball bats? At $29.99 MSRP, Bangai-O Spirits is guaranteed to give DS owners the most bangs for their bucks.