Balangool

Evil Organization
Full Name	Balangool
Alias	Balangool Empire Barankool or Barancool
Origin	Section Z
Foundation	Unknown
Headquarters	Balangool Space Fortress (mobile)
Commanders	L-Brain
Agents	Leeva Crowd Eye Leago Spiral Guns Missile Drone Metal Eater Mesa Crab Groma Vito Mansa Spratter Kikka Ripper Gush Floating Batari Clone Soldier Kroga Zazuma Balaba Galga Generators
Powers / Skills	Vast and powerful military Extremely sophisticated and advanced technology Mobile fortress that provide very smooth and easy logistics Inside of fortress is very complex labyrinth that could easily be lost Not all enemies are alike (enemie types have their own unique attack methods) Collective conscience
Goals	Conquest of the universe.
Crimes	No information
Type of Villains	Hegemonic Alien Destroyers

Balangool (aka Balangool Empire) is a main alien antagonist in Capcom shmup Section Z.

Story

Arcade

In the year 2XXX, The Balangool empire rampages through space at will and invades one planet after another. The evil hands are finally reaching toward Planet Earth. Akira is a lone astronaut in space. He must penetrate the Balangool Empire's secret base, divided into sections from A to Z. Destroy the artificial living body in the final section Z known as L-BRAIN.

Can he carry out this vital mission?

Famicom/NES

It is now the 21st Century. Mankind's space technology has reached beyond Solar System and has expanded onto Outer Galaxies. Then one day, high-frequency radio and television communications between Planet Earth and the space-exploring Saturn Space Station blasted warnings of approaching invaders, then abruptly ceased.

When Earth dispatched a team of armed investigators to find out the cause of contact loss, all the team found was completely destroyed stations of Saturn and a gargantuan alien space fortress floating above the surface of Saturn. Known only as Balangool, its fortress that destroyed Saturn's colony reaches several miles and miles in length and radius. the power of the fortress alien forces displays defied anything mankind knew: Solar Federation's counterattack after counterattack failed, one solar system after another mankind lost along with their space stations. Eventually, Balangool has passed beyond Mars and reached perimeter of Earth.

Fortunately, all hope is not lost: super computer Sigma of Solar Federation, came up with a scenario. Utilizing Cosmo Protector, a set of special weapons created by the reverse engineering of Balangool technology, an extremely talented space warrior will infiltrate into Balangool Fortress, penetrate deep into section 60 where L-Brain, master control of Balangool, dwells, and destroy it along with Balangool. It was extremely reckless and overly ambitious plan verging on suicide. Understandably nobody in Solar Federation with a right mind volunteered... Until a daring man who has already armed with Cosmo Protector, launches himself into deadly Balangool. His mane is Akira.

Commence operation Section Z.

Akira must maneuver safely through four levels of adventurous battle scenes, penetrating the defenses established by the Space Soldiers of Balangool. You are challenged as you fight through Sections 00 to Section 60 - where L-Brain, Balangool's master control, programs domination of the universe.

Akira's mission: penetrate Section 60, destroy L-Brain Master Control, defeat the evil Space Soliders of Balangool, and save Planet Earth.

L-Brain, master control of Balangool, secured in Section 60 within the Fortress Balangool, headquarter of this brutal enemy force, transmits communications throughout the universe. Balangool Space Soldiers receive instructions from L-Brain while engaged in multiple interplanetary invasions. Their goal is to conquer the universe.

Balangool Captains are stationed at each stage, guarding giant super powered transmitters. Strong, red barriers surround two transmitters found at Stage One. To clear these red barriers Akira must destroy the Enemy Generator supplying power to the barriers. Should he successfully eliminates the generator, proceed to eradicate the Balangool Captain. For only then can Akira proceed to another stages.

But even with destruction of Generators and Captains Akira must still progresses, as he must increase his supply of weapons and energy, for the Balangool Fortress will live on so long L-Brain lives. Without the increasd supplies of weapons and energy, he cannot reach Section 60 to bring L-Brain master control to extinction, heroically saving Planet Earth. Destroy L-Brain and the entire Balangool ceases.

Gallery

Trivia

• Differences between the Arcade version and Famicom/NES version of Section Z
  • Many of Capcom's arcade ports for the Famicom/NES were often two completely different genre of games: Section Z is no exception. The arcade version (Capcom's first in a trio of 'jet pack shooters') features a two-player alternating mode that is missing from the Famicom/NES home version, but lacks the branching level design of the later iteration and is therefore straight horizon scrolling shmup. The arcade version has the player moving in a linear path of 26 sections each named after a letter of the English alphabet (with Section Z being the final stage). Considering that the game had to be played with quarters with the player standing the entire time, it is also significantly shorter.