{{Short description|1997 video game}} {{Infobox video game | title = Panzer Bandit | image = PanzerBandit frontcover.jpg | developer = Fill-in-Cafe | publisher = Banpresto | producer = {{ubl|Masaya Konya|Akira Kanatani}} | designer = {{ubl|Shōji Yamanaka|Masatoshi Imaizumi|Yoshitsune Izuna}} | composer = Kenta Watanabe | released = {{vgrelease|JP|August 7, 1997}} | platforms = PlayStation | genre = Beat 'em up | modes = Single-player, multiplayer }} {{nihongo foot|'''''Panzer Bandit'''''|パンツァーバンディット|Pantsā Banditto|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} is a video game developed by Fill-in-Cafe and published by Banpresto for the PlayStation in 1997 and for PlayStation Network in 2011, exclusively in Japan.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.jp.playstation.com/software/title/slps00899.html|title=パンツァーバンディット|work=PlayStation Official Site Software Catalog|publisher=Sony Interactive Entertainment|date=2020|access-date=2020-11-29|language=ja|archive-date=2020-11-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129213048/https://www.jp.playstation.com/software/title/slps00899.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Gamer">{{cite web|url=https://www.gamer.ne.jp/game/1000010134/|title=パンツァーバンディットの最新ニュースやレビュー|work=Gamer|publisher=ixll Co., Ltd.|date=2020|access-date=2020-11-29|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129223311/https://www.gamer.ne.jp/game/1000010134/|archive-date=2020-11-29|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Gameplay== thumb|left|Gameplay screenshot ''Panzer Bandit'' is a side-scrolling beat 'em up game that uses the same engine used in ''Mad Stalker: Full Metal Forth'', also for the PlayStation. There is a total of 12 characters, including the four story characters and the eight unlockable bosses.<ref name="PBFSG">{{cite book|title=パンツァーバンディット 最終攻略読本|publisher=Japan Mix|date=1 September 1997|pages=1–127|language=ja|isbn=978-4883214099}}</ref> The game is controlled with two attack buttons (strong and weak) and the directional pad for moving left, right, crouching, and jumping.<ref name="HyperPS31">{{cite magazine|url=https://cdn-ak.f.st-hatena.com/images/fotolife/M/MULTi88/20200831/20200831025403.jpg|title=パンツァーバンディット|magazine=HYPER PlayStation|issue=31|publisher=Sony Magazines|date=June 1997|pages=106–109|lang=ja}}</ref> Shoulder buttons can also be used to change between foreground and background and can be used to activate the character's special attack. An unusual aspect of the game is that if the player stands still during an attack, it is considered a guard. Other features include a combo counter and a guided elemental attack which launches an enemy.
==Plot== In the world of ''Panzer Bandit'', sources have since gone scarce with the reduction in energy that is consistently used by humans. For this, an organization called Arc, led by the evil Prof. Fuarado, seek to manipulate the consumption of preserved energy and ultimately conquer the world with that in possession. For the course of the game, four heroes are required to take the preserved energy before Arc and ultimately, destroy whatever is left of Arc.
==Development== {{Expand section|date=November 2020}} ''Panzer Bandit'' is based on ''Axion'', an unreleased fighting game for the Mega Drive under development by Treasure before being reworked into ''Yu Yu Hakusho Makyō Tōitsusen''.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File%3ABeepMD_JP_1994-07.pdf&page=38|title=Special Report: 幽☆遊☆白書|magazine=Beep! Mega Drive|issue=58|publisher=SoftBank Creative|date=July 1994|pages=35–36|lang=ja}}</ref><ref>{{cite tweet|number=1129333243768057856|user=imaizumi_shi|title=アクシオンの企画を作り直したのがパンツァ―バンディットに。（その前にマッドストーカー２も没った）|date=2019-05-17|access-date=2020-11-29|lang=ja|archive-date=2020-11-29|archive-url=https://archive.today/20201129164251/https://twitter.com/imaizumi_shi/status/1129333243768057856|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The music was composed by Kenta Watanabe.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Manent |first1=Mathieu |title=PlayStation Anthology |date=February 1, 2018 |publisher=Geeks-Line |isbn=979-1093752334 |pages=30–32}}</ref>
==Reception== {{Video game reviews | CP = 87%<ref name="CPlus">{{cite magazine |last=Garnier |first=François |title=Test PlayStation - Panzer Bandit |magazine=Consoles Plus |issue=76 |publisher=M.E.R.7 |date=May 1998 |page=155 |language=fr}}</ref> | Fam = 26/40<ref name="Famitsu">{{cite magazine |title=パンツァーバンディット (PS) |url=https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=4521&redirect=no |magazine=Famitsu |publisher=Kadokawa Corporation |access-date=November 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201120060004/https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=4521&redirect=no |archive-date=November 20, 2020 |language=ja}}</ref> | GameFan = 41/50<ref name="GFan">{{cite magazine |last1=Halverson |first1=Dave |author-link1=Dave Halverson |url=https://archive.org/stream/GamefanVolume5Issue10October1997#page/n143/mode/1up |title=E. Storm's Import Review - Panzer Bandit |magazine=GameFan |volume=5 |issue=10 |publisher=Metropolis Media |date=October 1997 |page=136}}</ref> | rev1 = ''Ação Games'' | rev1Score = 7,5/10<ref name="AçG82">{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/stream/acao_games_50/acao_games_121#page/n8/mode/1up |title=Jógo Rápido: Panzer Bandit (PlayStation) |magazine=Ação Games |issue=121 |publisher=Editora Azul |date=November 1997 |page=9 |lang=pt}}</ref> | rev2 = ''Dengeki PlayStation'' | rev2Score = 90/100, 60/100<ref name="DPS">{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/play-station-vol.-52-1997-8-15-29/page/n127/mode/1up|title=電撃PSソフトレビュー The Deeper Part 2: クロックタワー 〜The First Fear〜|magazine=Dengeki PlayStation|volume=52|publisher=MediaWorks|date=August 15–29, 1997|page=122|language=ja}}</ref> }} Initial reviews for ''Panzer Bandit'' were positive.<ref name="AçG82"/> ''Consoles +'' favorably compared its gameplay to Capcom's ''Final Fight'' games, enjoying its action-filled gameplay and sense of humor. Though they felt the stages were too short and its multiplayer mode became unnecessarily chaotic, they felt these issues were surpassed by the game's overall quality.<ref name="CPlus"/> These sentiments were mirrored by ''Superjuegos'', which also enjoyed the variety of its characters. The magazine also praised the game for sticking out from Banpresto's other titles, such as its anime licenses and ''Super Robot Wars'' series.<ref name="Juegos">{{cite news |last=Fernandez |first=Lázaro |title=Made in Japan - Panzer Bandit |url=https://archive.org/details/Superjuegos_066/page/n15/mode/2up |access-date=November 20, 2020 |agency=Superjuegos |issue=66 |publisher=Grupo Zeta |date=October 1997 |page=16 |language=es}}</ref> Multiple critics pointed out similarities between ''Panzer Bandit'' and Treasure's ''Guardian Heroes'' (1996);<ref name="CPlus"/><ref name="Famitsu"/><ref name="Juegos"/> ''GameFan'' believed Banpresto's offering was different enough to make it stand out, and showed enthusiasm towards its combat and enemy juggling mechanics.<ref name="GFan"/>
Retrospective reception for ''Panzer Bandit'' has also been positive. In 2014, ''Push Square'' described it as being a "stunning" game, saying that the game was an example of demonstration of graphical two-dimensional capabilities for the original PlayStation. They felt the game wasn't as well-designed as ''Guardian Heroes'', but its controls and combat sequences made it an enjoyable game in its own right.<ref name="PSquare">{{cite web |last1=Brunskill |first1=Kerry |title=Matters of Import: Battling with Beautiful PSone Brawler Panzer Bandit |url=https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2014/01/matters_of_import_battling_with_beautiful_psone_brawler_panzer_bandit |website=Push Square |publisher=Gamer Network |access-date=November 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190916120600/http://www.pushsquare.com/news/2014/01/matters_of_import_battling_with_beautiful_psone_brawler_panzer_bandit |archive-date=September 16, 2019 |date=January 10, 2014}}</ref> ''Hardcore Gaming 101'' in 2019 wrote that ''Panzer Bandit'' was a far better follow-up to ''Guardian Heroes'' than the official sequel, ''Guardian Heroes 2'' (2004), for Game Boy Advance. The site liked its RPG-inspired mechanics and gameplay, though they claimed its repetitiveness and lack of additional content prevented it from being as polished as Treasure's game.<ref name="HG101">{{cite web |last1=Kalata |first1=Kurt |title=Panzer Bandit |url=http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/panzer-bandit/ |website=Hardcore Gaming 101 |access-date=November 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226004701/http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/panzer-bandit/ |archive-date=February 26, 2020 |date=October 12, 2019}}</ref> ''Retro Gamer'' said ''Panzer Bandit'' made for "the spitting image" of ''Guardian Heroes'', and worth the time of its players.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Campbell |first=Stuart |date=January 23, 2020 |title=Panzer Bandit |url=https://www.pressreader.com/uk/retro-gamer/20200123/282793538359014 |magazine=Retro Gamer |issue=203 |publisher=Future Publishing |access-date=November 20, 2020}}</ref>
==Notes== {{notelist}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Portal|1990s|Japan|Video games}} * [http://www.gamefaqs.com/ps/573343-panzer-bandit ''Panzer Bandit''] at GameFAQs * [http://www.mobygames.com/game/playstation/panzer-bandit ''Panzer Bandit''] at MobyGames
Category:1997 video games Category:Banpresto games Category:Cooperative video games Category:Fill-in-Cafe games Category:Japan-exclusive video games Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games Category:PlayStation (console) games Category:PlayStation Network games Category:Science fiction video games Category:Side-scrolling beat 'em ups Category:Video games about ninja Category:Video games developed in Japan Category:Video games featuring female protagonists