Novastorm is a rail shootervideo game developed and published by Psygnosis in 1994. A version for the FM-Towns/Marty systems had previously been released under the name Scavenger 4.
The game takes place some time in the distant future. Humans have left earth in several huge arks containing Earth's ecosystem, in search of a new paradise. They have become complacent: everything is controlled by artificial intelligence, while the human race sleeps and dreams of its new home. The computer systems evolve, however, and prophesy of a conquest of silicon against flesh.
The player takes control of the Scavenger 4 squadron, which has a mission to destroy the deadly Scarab-X forces, in the last hope for the human race.
Gameplayedit
The gameplay is similar to many other FMV based games of the time. The player takes control of the Scavenger 4 spacecraft over 4 different environments. Each level ends with a boss fight, which the player must complete to proceed.
During the course of each level, the player gets attacked by groups (of about 2–5) of a particular enemy. Taking out every enemy in a particular group produces a token of bronze, silver or gold. These tokens are used like credits to obtain power-ups; upon picking one up, the power-up bar at the bottom of the screen moves along by differing amounts depending on the colour of the token. The power-ups are of increasing value to the player as the bar progresses. Pressing the select button gives the player the currently available power-up, and returns the bar to the bottom.
Version differencesedit
The version released for the Sega CD has the addition of some 2D sprite mid-level enemies.
The PlayStation version is the only version of the game with full-screen FMV. It features a redesigned, minimalist HUD.
The DOS version released in 1994 in the U.S. features the original version of the soundtrack by Rik Ede with enhancements to the sound effects and voices. The rendering and level layouts are also significantly different from the console versions. Although only on one disc and the FMV is not full-screen, the video encoding and quality are comparable to the 2-disc PlayStation version. A secret level is also accessible by typing TOMATOES at the start of the game. Standard player fire turns to tomatoes and the player is warped to the final stage after the bonus level.
Scary Larry of GamePro gave the Sega CD version a mixed review, saying that the graphics are impressive despite the low resolution and lack of full color, but that the gameplay is overly easy and lacking in intensity, and that the game can easily be finished in a standard two-day rental.[10] He reviewed that the 3DO version suffers the same problem.[11]Electronic Gaming Monthly commented that the FMV is attractive but the gameplay is shallow and unenjoyable. They also criticized the game as being overly similar to Microcosm.[3] A reviewer for Next Generation also found it far too similar to Microcosm, and added that "Microcosm was bad enough, but Novastorm doesn't even have the advantage of a knockout intro ..."[4]
Reviewing the PlayStation version in GamePro, Air Hendrix shared Scary Larry's conclusion that the game has stunning graphics but crude and dull gameplay, though he found it too difficult rather than too easy. He summarized, "Despite the eye-catching fireworks, this game plays like a stale B grade shooter."[12]
Referencesedit
^. June 11, 1998. Archived from the original on June 11, 1998. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
^Gordon Goble (February 1995). "Computer Gaming World - Issue 127" (PDF) (127): 122. Retrieved August 5, 2015. What Happens When Arcade Games And CD-ROMs Meet?{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
novastorm, rail, shooter, video, game, developed, published, psygnosis, 1994, version, towns, marty, systems, previously, been, released, under, name, scavenger, sega, cover, artdeveloper, psygnosispublisher, psygnosisplatform, playstation, towns, sega, cdrele. Novastorm is a rail shooter video game developed and published by Psygnosis in 1994 A version for the FM Towns Marty systems had previously been released under the name Scavenger 4 NovastormSega CD cover artDeveloper s PsygnosisPublisher s PsygnosisPlatform s PlayStation DOS FM Towns 3DO Sega CDReleaseDOSNA 19953DO Interactive MultiplayerJP 7 October 1994NA 1994Sega CDEU November 1994NA 1995PlayStationEU 29 September 1995NA November 2 1995 1 JP 1 March 1996Genre s ActionMode s Single player Contents 1 Plot 2 Gameplay 3 Version differences 4 Reception 5 References 6 External linksPlot editThe game takes place some time in the distant future Humans have left earth in several huge arks containing Earth s ecosystem in search of a new paradise They have become complacent everything is controlled by artificial intelligence while the human race sleeps and dreams of its new home The computer systems evolve however and prophesy of a conquest of silicon against flesh The player takes control of the Scavenger 4 squadron which has a mission to destroy the deadly Scarab X forces in the last hope for the human race Gameplay editThe gameplay is similar to many other FMV based games of the time The player takes control of the Scavenger 4 spacecraft over 4 different environments Each level ends with a boss fight which the player must complete to proceed During the course of each level the player gets attacked by groups of about 2 5 of a particular enemy Taking out every enemy in a particular group produces a token of bronze silver or gold These tokens are used like credits to obtain power ups upon picking one up the power up bar at the bottom of the screen moves along by differing amounts depending on the colour of the token The power ups are of increasing value to the player as the bar progresses Pressing the select button gives the player the currently available power up and returns the bar to the bottom Version differences editThe version released for the Sega CD has the addition of some 2D sprite mid level enemies The PlayStation version is the only version of the game with full screen FMV It features a redesigned minimalist HUD The DOS version released in 1994 in the U S features the original version of the soundtrack by Rik Ede with enhancements to the sound effects and voices The rendering and level layouts are also significantly different from the console versions Although only on one disc and the FMV is not full screen the video encoding and quality are comparable to the 2 disc PlayStation version A secret level is also accessible by typing TOMATOES at the start of the game Standard player fire turns to tomatoes and the player is warped to the final stage after the bonus level Reception editReceptionReview scoresPublicationScoreAllGame nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp PS1 9 Computer Gaming World nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp DOS 2 Electronic Gaming Monthly5 10 3DO 3 Next Generation nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 3DO PS1 4 5 CD Player6 10 3DO 6 6 10 PC 7 7 10 PS1 8 Scary Larry of GamePro gave the Sega CD version a mixed review saying that the graphics are impressive despite the low resolution and lack of full color but that the gameplay is overly easy and lacking in intensity and that the game can easily be finished in a standard two day rental 10 He reviewed that the 3DO version suffers the same problem 11 Electronic Gaming Monthly commented that the FMV is attractive but the gameplay is shallow and unenjoyable They also criticized the game as being overly similar to Microcosm 3 A reviewer for Next Generation also found it far too similar to Microcosm and added that Microcosm was bad enough but Novastorm doesn t even have the advantage of a knockout intro 4 Reviewing the PlayStation version in GamePro Air Hendrix shared Scary Larry s conclusion that the game has stunning graphics but crude and dull gameplay though he found it too difficult rather than too easy He summarized Despite the eye catching fireworks this game plays like a stale B grade shooter 12 References edit Sony PlayStation Available Software sorted by Release Date www vidgames com June 11 1998 Archived from the original on June 11 1998 Retrieved October 4 2023 Gordon Goble February 1995 Computer Gaming World Issue 127 PDF 127 122 Retrieved August 5 2015 What Happens When Arcade Games And CD ROMs Meet a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help a b Review Crew Novastorm Electronic Gaming Monthly No 68 Sendai Publishing March 1995 p 36 a b Novastorm Next Generation No 4 Imagine Media April 1995 p 89 Every PlayStation Game Played Reviewed and Rated Next Generation No 25 Imagine Media January 1997 p 59 Novastorm 3DO Review CD Player in German 28 January 1996 Retrieved April 11 2022 Novastorm PC Review CD Player in German 28 January 1996 Retrieved April 11 2022 Novastorm Playstation Review CD Player in German 28 January 1996 Retrieved April 11 2022 Sackenheim Shawn Novastorm Playstation Review Allgame Archived from the original on November 14 2014 Retrieved April 11 2022 ProReview Novastorm GamePro No 68 IDG March 1995 p 56 ProReview Novastorm GamePro No 69 IDG April 1995 p 90 Novastorm GamePro No 87 IDG December 1995 p 68 External links editNovastorm at MobyGames http www psygnosis org games novastorm http www sega mega cd library co uk Game 20Pages Novastorm htm Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Novastorm amp oldid 1181818066, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
