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 the founder and editor of GamingRetro.co.uk, a website dedicated to classic and retro gaming. With over 20 years of experience writing for technology and gaming publications, he brings considerable expertise and a lifelong passion for interactive entertainment, particularly games from the 8-bit and 16-bit eras.
Christian has written for leading outlets including TechRadar, Computer Weekly, Linux Format, and MakeUseOf, where he also served as Deputy Editor.
When he’s not exploring vintage consoles or retro PCs, Christian enjoys building with LEGO, playing cigar box guitar, and experimenting in the kitchen.
