Bang! Bank! – Polish Western Action on Atari XL/XE

Bang! Bank! is a fast-paced arcade-style shooting game for the Atari XL/XE, developed in Poland by Paweł Kalinowski and released in 1992 by Mirage Software. It is a faithful clone of the classic arcade game Bank Panic, reimagined with a local touch and impressive technical polish for the 8-bit Atari platform.

Gameplay

Set in the Wild West, the player takes on the role of a vigilant bank guard responsible for protecting twelve doors, three of which are visible on screen at any given time. Bandits and civilians alike appear randomly behind these doors. The goal is to eliminate the criminals before they shoot, while carefully avoiding harm to innocent bank customers.

When friendly customers deposit money, the door is marked as "cleared". Once all twelve doors are secured, the player advances to the next level. The game includes several fun twists — some visitors carry surprise packages hidden under hats, which may reveal extra money or dangerous bombs. Later stages add a night mode, dimming visibility and increasing the challenge.

Technical Highlights

• Platform: Atari 8-bit (XL/XE series)
• Release Year: 1992
• Publisher: Mirage Software (Poland)
• Programming & Graphics: Paweł Kalinowski (Our 5oft)
• Music: Jakub Husak

Audio-Visual Style

The graphics are colorful and detailed, with clear animations and expressive character sprites. The music, inspired by classic Wild West banjo tunes, adds to the playful yet tense atmosphere. Although sound effects for shooting are somewhat minimal, the energetic soundtrack keeps the adrenaline high.

Reception

Among Atari enthusiasts, Bang! Bank! is considered one of the better Polish arcade titles of the early '90s. It earned praise for its well-designed gameplay loop, clean graphics, and music. Many players have fond memories of the game's unique humor, responsive controls, and rising difficulty. On Atarimania, the game holds a respectable rating of 7.8/10.

Legacy

In 2021, a fan-made physical edition of Bang! Bank! was released in a retro-style cassette box — a testament to the game’s enduring popularity in the Atari community. It stands as a shining example of how local developers adapted global arcade ideas into creative and enjoyable home computer experiences.

If you’re a fan of western shootouts, reflex-based gameplay, and retro Polish productions, Bang! Bank! is worth a revisit — especially on original hardware or in emulation.