Space Manbow

Space Manbow
Cover art
Developer(s)	Konami
Publisher(s)	Konami
Composer(s)	Tsuyoshi Sekito Michiru Yamane Yuji Takenouchi
Platform(s)	MSX, Mobile Phones, Virtual Console
Release date(s)	MSX JP December 21, 1989 Mobile Phones JP September 1, 2006 Virtual Console JP November 24, 2009 (Wii) JP February 19, 2014 (Wii U)
Genre(s)	Shoot 'em up
Mode(s)	Single-player
Distribution	ROM Cartridge

Space Manbow is a shoot 'em up video game developed and published by Konami for the MSX2 and MSX2+ in 1989. It was later re-released for the Mobile Phones on September 1, 2006, Virtual Console service on November 24, 2009 for the Wii^[1] and on February 19, 2014 for the Wii U. It has never been released outside of Japan.

Gameplay

In the game, the player pilots a starship shaped like a mambo fish.^[2] There are only two weapon types. However, your ship is helped by two stationary "options" similar to those found in the Gradius series. The "options" are able to shift so that they alternatively fire in three directions: forward, backward, and towards the top/bottom of the screen.

In other media

The ship from Space Manbow inspired the "Mambo" and "Samba" characters in Konami's Parodius series, which parodies other Konami shoot 'em ups. The characters first appeared in Gokujō Parodius!, in later Sexy Parodius and Gokuraku Parodius in Pachislot.

In the anime Best Student Council, Space Manbow makes a cameo appearance in episode 14.

The Nintendo DS game Ganbare Goemon: Tōkai Dōchū Ōedo Tengu ri Kaeshi no Maki contains an unlockable Space Manbow minigame with identical graphics but enhanced music.^[2] This unlockable version only contains the first level of the game.^[2]

In 2007, Bart van Velzen released an unofficial sequel, Manbow 2, for MSX2.^[3]

Space Manbow has some similarities to Thunder Cross (and Thunder Cross II - both from Konami as well), which makes Space Manbow considered by some as a Thunder Cross sequel, released only to MSX2 computers.

References