Psycho Fox
From Sega Retro
Psycho Fox | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
System(s): Sega Master System | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Publisher: Sega | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Developer: VIC Tokai | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Supporting companies: Aicom (sound) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Distributor: Ecofilmes (PT), Tec Toy (BR), Samsung (KR) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Genre: Action[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number of players: 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Psycho Fox is a Sega Master System game developed by VIC Tokai and published by Sega in 1989. It is a platform game starring Psycho Fox, who must rid the land of an evil god named Madfox Daimyōjin. "Psycho" is meant to mean "psychic," similar to its use in Psychic World. Due to a typo, some European cartridges are labeled as "Psyco Fox."
Psycho Fox is second in a line of similar platformers by VIC Tokai, succeeding the 1988 Famicom release of Kakefu Kimi no Jump Tengoku: Speed Jigoku (released in the West in 1990 as Kid Kool and the Quest for the Seven Wonder Herbs), and preceding the 1990 Sega Mega Drive game, Magical Hat no Buttobi Turbo! Daibouken (which was extensively reworked to become Decap Attack when released in the West).
In Brazil, the game was re-released in 1995 with graphical changes as Sapo Xulé Vs Os Invasores do Brejo.
Contents
Story
Among a group of fox priests who worship the Inari Daimyojin (Fox Deity), an evil fox named Madfox Daimyōjin has infiltrated his way to the highest ranks and taken over the shrine. After seizing power, Madfox corrupted the land and created hordes of creatures. One young fox has been chosen by his people to rid the land of this evil deity.
Gameplay
Psycho Fox is a side-scrolling platform game. The player takes control of Psycho Fox, a fox with the ability to transform himself into other animals. Psycho Fox can be moved around with and or crouch with . He can punch enemies at short range with and jump with . He can punch enemies while moving or in midair but not while crouching. He can also defeat enemies by jumping on them; the first hit stomps the enemy into the ground, but the enemy can recover from this momentarily if not jumped on again. Some enemies must be jumped on several times to be defeated.
The physics of the game have much heavier inertia than most other platformers. Psycho Fox's jump covers very little horizontal distance unless he first builds momentum by running, for instance. Momentum can also affect stopping distance. Acceleration is relatively slow from a complete stop but less onerous from a partial stop. Psycho Fox can skip across water if he is running.
The goal is to make it to the "Round End" sign at the end of each level. The screen does not scroll backward, so the player cannot backtrack, but it does scroll downward after traveling up. Levels are designed with ground paths as well as higher routes on aerial platforms.
Psycho Fox uses a Shinto stick to change into other animals, each of which has its own special ability. He must find a Psycho Stick item to transform; each transformation consumes a stick. There are also other items that Psycho Fox can find to help him on his journey. The PAUSE button brings up a menu that allows the player to choose an item to use. Psycho Fox also has an ally named Bird Fly, who perches on his back like a backpack. Bird Fly can be thrown at enemies with , replacing the punch attack (though Psycho Fox can still punch by hitting again while Bird Fly is deployed). He returns to Psycho Fox like a boomerang after being thrown. Bird Fly can hit multiple enemies when thrown, both on his way out and his way back. Bird Fly leaves for boss fights but returns afterwards.
Psycho Fox loses a life if he takes any damage from enemies or hazards, including falling into water traps. If Psycho Fox is hit while carrying Bird Fly, Bird Fly goes away and the player does not lose a life. The player starts with three lives and can obtain more through eggs and through bonus games. If the player runs out of lives, the game ends, but the player can continue it from the beginning of the current round from the title screen. The player can continue as many times as desired but loses all items in doing so.
Animals
Fox | |
---|---|
The original form of Psycho Fox, which has balanced characteristics. | |
Hippopotamus | |
The hippopotamus is slow and cannot jump very high, but this form can punch through special destructible blocks. | |
Monkey | |
The monkey is slightly slower than the fox but can jump higher than the other creatures. | |
Tiger | |
The tiger is the fastest runner. His jump is lower, but he can jump farther while running. |
Items
Items are contained in eggs or sometimes dropped by defeated enemies. Punch an egg to break it open. Sometimes eggs contain no item or an enemy.
The Psycho Stick, Straw Effigy, and Magic Medicine items are collected in an inventory and not used immediately. The Money Bag item is collected and saved for bonus games. The player can hold a maximum of nine of each item. The PAUSE button opens a menu for selecting and using items.
Egg | |
---|---|
Punch to break open. | |
Psycho Stick | |
Allows Psycho Fox to transform into another animal. | |
Straw Effigy | |
Destroys all enemies on screen when used. | |
Magic Medicine | |
Grants temporarily invincibility. Stars encircle Psycho Fox for the duration of the effect. | |
Money Bag | |
Used as credits for the bonus game. Money Bags are lost if the player loses a life. | |
Extra Life | |
The egg releases an apparition of the current animal, who runs away. The player must catch the apparition to earn an extra life. | |
Bird Fly | |
Summons Bird Fly, who acts as a projectile attack for Psycho Fox and protects him from a hit. |
Stages
Stages consist of three rounds followed by a fight against a Boss Monster.
Mystical Mountains | |
---|---|
Maps: 1️⃣ | 2️⃣ | 3️⃣ | |
The boss fight is against the Mad Tumber. | |
Skull Land | |
Maps: 1️⃣ | 2️⃣ | 3️⃣ | |
The boss fight is against the Robo Fly. | |
Diabolical Desert | |
Maps: 1️⃣ | 2️⃣ | 3️⃣ | |
The boss fight is against the Doramaru. | |
Wind Zone | |
Maps: 1️⃣ | 2️⃣ | 3️⃣ | |
The boss fight is a rematch against the Robo Fly. | |
Underground Passageway | |
Maps: 1️⃣ | 2️⃣ | 3️⃣ | |
The boss fight is a rematch against the Mad Tumbler. | |
Ice Zone | |
Maps: 1️⃣ | 2️⃣ | 3️⃣ | |
The boss fight is a rematch against the Doramaru. | |
Underground Cavern | |
Maps: 1️⃣ | 2️⃣ | 3️⃣ | |
The boss fight is against the Evil Madfox Daimyōjin. |
Bonus Game
At the end of each round, there is a lottery minigame similar to amidakuji. The player can place multiple Psycho Foxes on five pathways. The number of Psycho Foxes given corresponds to the number of Money Bags found in the round. Multiple Psycho Foxes can be placed on the same pathway. Once they have all been placed, they walk up the path to the end, crossing whenever there is a juncture. The end can contain item prizes or a hole that Psycho Fox falls into for no prize.
If Psycho Fox arrives at a shrine at the end of the path, the numbers on the shrine spin around like a slot machine. The player can press to stop the numbers. The player is then rewarded extra lives corresponding to the number that the shrine stopped on. If multiple foxes land on the shrine, the number is multiplied by the number of foxes (rather than rolling multiple times).
Production credits
- Character Designer: Dark Side Toshi
- Sub-Character Designer: Peetan Yamaguchi
- Programmer: Blushed Machiya, Cheeked Shotaro
- Map Designer: Monkey Naochan
- Data Puncher: Big Nose Ohkawa
- Sound Editor: Mr.Question
- Responsible Person: Big Foot Shijoh
- Director: Professor Toshi
- Producer: The Rich Man
- Produced by: SEGA
Magazine articles
- Main article: Psycho Fox/Magazine articles.
Promotional material
also published in:
- Sega Visions (US) #5: "Summer 1991" (1991-xx-xx)[13]
- Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #27: "October 1991" (1991-xx-xx)[14]
Physical scans
Sega Retro Average | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
83 | |
---|---|
Based on 17 reviews |
Master System, BR (cardboard) |
---|
Master System, BR |
---|
Technical information
ROM dump status
System | Hash | Size | Build Date | Source | Comments | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
✔ |
|
256kB | Cartridge (EU/US) | |||||||||||
? |
|
256kB | EPROM cartridge | Page |
References
- ↑ File:PsychoFox EU cover.jpg
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Electronic Gaming Monthly, "June 1990" (US; 1990-xx-xx), page 18
- ↑ VideoGames & Computer Entertainment, "July 1990" (US; 1990-0x-xx), page 46
- ↑ File:BristolEveningPost UK 1990-01-18 Page 83.jpg
- ↑ ACE, "April 1990" (UK; 1990-03-xx), page 61
- ↑ Computer & Video Games, "March 1990" (UK; 1990-02-16), page 56
- ↑ File:Psycho Fox SMS credits.pdf
- ↑ ACE, "March 1990" (UK; 1990-02-01), page 70
- ↑ ACE, "April 1990" (UK; 1990-03-xx), page 64
- ↑ ACE, "May 1990" (UK; 1990-04-xx), page 12
- ↑ GamePro, "January 1991" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 44
- ↑ GamePro, "March 1991" (US; 1991-xx-xx), page 22
- ↑ Sega Visions, "Summer 1991" (US; 1991-xx-xx), page 10
- ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "October 1991" (US; 1991-xx-xx), page 142
- ↑ Consoles +, "Octobre 1991" (FR; 1991-10-05), page 128-130 (120)
- ↑ ACE, "October 1990" (UK; 1990-09-xx), page 60
- ↑ Aktueller Software Markt, "Oktober 1989" (DE; 1989-08-28), page 64
- ↑ Complete Guide to Consoles, "Volume IV" (UK; 1990-11-xx), page 104
- ↑ The Complete Guide to Sega, "" (UK; 1991-05-xx), page 59
- ↑ Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 143
- ↑ Computer & Video Games, "January 1990" (UK; 1989-12-16), page 121
- ↑ Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 150
- ↑ The Games Machine, "April 1990" (UK; 1990-03-15), page 34
- ↑ Mean Machines, "August 1991" (UK; 1991-07-27), page 76
- ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 135
- ↑ Power Play, "11/89" (DE; 1989-10-09), page 64
- ↑ S: The Sega Magazine, "February 1990" (UK; 1990-01-04), page 4
- ↑ Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 59
- ↑ Sega Pro, "March 1992" (UK; 1992-02-20), page 21
- ↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 72
- ↑ User, "Ávgoustos 1992" (GR; 1992-0x-xx), page 87
Psycho Fox | |
---|---|
Main page | Maps | Hidden content | Magazine articles | Reception
Prototypes: Prototype
|
- 1 player games
- US Master System games
- All US games
- EU Master System games
- All EU games
- PT Master System games
- All PT games
- UK Master System games
- All UK games
- AU Master System games
- All AU games
- BR Master System games
- All BR games
- AE Master System games
- All AE games
- KR Master System games
- All KR games
- Master System games
- 1989 Master System games
- All 1989 games
- Master System action games
- All action games
- All games
- Old-style rating (consolesplus)
- Old-style rating (tilt)
- Update ratings template
- 1 old ratings
- Games with known prototypes
- Old technical information
- Psycho Fox