"Bangai-O" received positive reviews from game journalists. Many critics compared it to shoot 'em ups and action games of the past, praising its retro gameplay and aesthetics. They also commended the level design for keeping the game interesting throughout. Some reviews, especially those for the Dreamcast version, were more critical of the graphics and believed the game's value was primarily in its nostalgic gameplay. The game received two sequels: "Bangai-O Spirits" (2008) for the Nintendo DS and "Bangai-O HD: Missile Fury" (2011) for the Xbox 360.