You control the Stinger Wolf and have a mate called Bongo who is a robot. No, I’m not making this up.
The Arcade Archives series of retro arcade classics for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 has a new entry this week. Stinger, first released in 1983 from Seibu Denshi (now Seibu Kaihatsu). It’s a side-scrolling shooter that appears to be pretty accomplished graphically, but I have to confess never coming across this game before.
Interestingly, the original had a vertically-oriented screen, but was a side-scroller. A turn-based two-player game, it was also commonly installed in table arcade units.
Here’s the official synopsis:
“STINGER” is shooter released by SEIBU KAIHATSU in 1983.
Take control of the “STINGER WOLF” and head to the center of an enemy base where evil life forms roam.
In an emergency, you can call on the friendly robot “BONGO” to automatically destroy the enemy.
A look at Stinger
Here’s the Stinger trailer from the record-breaking Arcade Archives:
I didn’t expect to find an enemy-seeking emergency robot called Bongo in any video game, if I’m honest, least of all one from Japan.
On reflection, perhaps I was wrong; 1980s Japanese culture is one of the most diverse and interesting, after all. Just look at how it influenced the west, not just through digital technology, but via TV shows and toys, not to mention art. A robot called “Bongo” seems positively normal in comparison.
I think you’ll agree that Stinger looks interesting enough to consider the small Arcade Archives cover price. If the game itself isn’t enough, the Arcade Archives — as you may know — offer various enhancements. This includes save states, altering game difficulty, and tweaking display settings.
There’s also the international high score table.
Stinger is out now, and you can learn more about it on the Arcade Archives website.
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Christian Cawley is a writer and editor who covers consumer electronics, IT, and entertainment media. He has written for publications such as Computer Weekly, Linux Format, MakeUseOf.com, and Tech Radar.
He also produces podcasts, has a cigar box guitar, and of course, loves retro gaming.