Pang and Bang

Three problems with this game: (1) Power-ups are obtained at complete random and only one can be used at a time. Newly-obtained power-ups automatically replace currently-held ones, even if the power-up is weaker or less effective than the one currently held. This becomes an issue in later levels when there are dozens of enemies on screen and a particular power-up or set of power-ups is needed to pass the section. The fireball power-up, for example, is one of the best in the game, yet your odds of getting it to drop are very low. (2) You die in one hit and have to replay a level from the beginning whenever you die; there are no checkpoints. This strikes me as particularly odd, given that the game has a lives system and ways to obtain additional lives. What is the purpose of this if each death sends you back to the start? It only serves to waste the player's time. (3) Level 19 (the second-to-last level) is virtually impossible, due mainly to the previous two problems. You get one weak power-up at the start and have to navigate a very tight playing field where there is not much space to move, and the enemies are very tough. I gave up here; I can't imagine that Level 20 is much better. Not really worth $2 in my opinion.