Novastorm

Novastorm
Developer(s)	Psygnosis
Publisher(s)	Sony Electronic Publishing
Engine	Fractal engine
Platform(s)	PlayStation, MS-DOS, FM-Towns, 3DO console, Sega Mega-CD
Release date(s)	1994
Genre(s)	Sci-Fi, Action
Mode(s)	Single-player
Rating(s)	ESRB: E
Media/distribution	CD-ROM

Novastorm is a rail shooter developed by Psygnosis in 1994. A version for the FM-Towns/Marty systems had previously been released under the name Scavenger 4.

Plot summary

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 prophetize 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.

Game play

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 will be 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 powerups; upon picking one up, the powerup bar at the bottom of the screen moves along by differing amounts depending on the colour of the token. The powerups are of increasing value to the player as the bar progresses. Pressing the select button gives the player the currently available powerup, and returns the bar to the bottom.

Sega Mega-CD

The version released for the Mega-CD console differs from the version available for other platforms. Some of the pre-rendered 3D environment from the original are replaced by 2D versions.

Playstation

The only version of the game with full screen FMV, it features a redesigned, minimalistic HUD.

MS-DOS

Considered the best version and an almost entirely different experience; the PC version released in 1994 (US) features the original version of the soundtrack by Rik Ede with additional enhancements to the sound effects and voices. The rendering and level layouts were also significantly different from the console versions. Although only on one disc and the FMV not full-screen, the video encoding and quality is comparable to the 2-disc Playstation version. A secret level was 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.

References

• http://www.psygnosis.org/games/novastorm
• http://www.sega-mega-cd-library.co.uk/Game%20Pages/Novastorm.htm
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xjwI5J5Qy4 - Watch playthrough of the entire PC game on YouTube