Bandai Namco is returning to the arcade shooting genre with GoldStorm Pirates, a two-player adventure built around pirate battles, motion effects and cooperative play. The game was scheduled to make its Western debut at IAAPA Expo 2024 in Orlando, following its initial rollout in Japan.
To explore the design, cabinet and player features behind the title, RETROCADE spoke with Steve Ignarski, National Sales Manager for Bandai Namco Amusement America, and Josh Hurst, International Sales Manager for Bandai Namco Amusement Europe.
Why Bandai Namco Made GoldStorm Pirates
Bandai Namco has a long history in arcade shooters, including Time Crisis and Deadstorm Pirates. The success of its pirate-themed shooter encouraged the company to investigate what a new adventure could bring to the genre.
GoldStorm Pirates has been developed from that experience, while introducing new gameplay systems intended to appeal to a broader audience. Bandai Namco sees the title fitting naturally into family entertainment centres, where a wide range of players can enjoy different types of arcade attractions.
The pirate setting was also a deliberate choice. Pirate stories remain popular across films, television, console games and other forms of modern entertainment, giving the game a theme with broad appeal across age groups.
A Large, Immersive Cabinet
The cabinet places two players in front of a 75-inch (190cm) HD display. A motion seat moves with the action, while a 5.1 speaker system supplies the soundtrack and battle effects. Air directed towards the players adds another physical sensation as they travel through each stage.
Each player uses a double-handed gun, with the helm wheel from Deadstorm Pirates positioned between the weapons. The wheel is an important part of the cabinet as well as a returning element for fans of Bandai Namco’s earlier pirate shooter.
Five Stages, New Enemies and Pirate Bosses
Although the game takes inspiration from Deadstorm Pirates, Bandai Namco says GoldStorm Pirates was created from the ground up. Familiar ideas are combined with new stages, enemies and strategies that players must learn as they progress.
The first stage, the Sea Battle of the Southern Island, serves as a tutorial. Four more stages follow, including a pirate fortress and a graveyard filled with sunken galleons. Each level sends players against waves of enemies before a major boss encounter, with threats including a giant mutant crustacean and a huge crocodile.
Co-operative Play and Treasure Hunting
Two-player co-operative action remains central to the experience. Players must defeat undead pirates and strange sea creatures while also working together to uncover rewards and survive each stage.
- Combining shots against selected targets can produce valuable rewards.
- Treasure chests open after being hit a required number of times, but players must complete the task before the timer expires.
- The helm wheel can require players to steer away from danger while their partner continues firing.
- Destructible sections of the environment can hide treasure and provide additional reasons to explore.
Gold doubloons collected during battles and exploration have a practical purpose. When a stage is cleared, the treasure restores the players’ life meter, making the search for loot an important part of staying alive rather than a purely optional bonus.
IAAPA Debut and Release Timing
GoldStorm Pirates was set to make its global debut at IAAPA Expo 2024 in Orlando, where it would be shown at booth 1300. Shipping was expected to begin in the first quarter of 2025.
In Japan, cabinets had already begun appearing at some Namco locations, with most other Japanese placements expected during December 2024. IAAPA marked the title’s official introduction to audiences in Western markets.
What GoldStorm Pirates Brings to Arcades
GoldStorm Pirates combines a familiar light-gun format with a large display, motion seating, air effects and a shared steering control. Its five-stage structure, cooperative challenges and treasure mechanics are designed to give players more to do than simply clear enemies.
For operators considering a substantial new attraction, the game sits firmly in the large-format arcade category. Readers comparing different cabinet styles can explore RETROCADE’s arcade machine buying guide or browse the latest arcade machines. More shooting and motion-based attractions can also be compared with the site’s racing arcade range, while maintenance information is available through arcade repairs.
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