Novastorm

From Sega Retro

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Novastorm title.png

Novastorm
System(s): Sega Mega-CD
Publisher: Sony Electronic Publishing (Europe), Psygnosis (US)
Developer:
Genre: Shooting

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega-CD
US 		$49.9949.99[2] T-113025
Videogame Rating Council: MA-13
Sega Mega-CD
EU 		T-113065-50
ELSPA: 3+ OK
Sega Mega-CD
UK 		£39.9939.99[3] T-113065-50
ELSPA: 3+ OK
Non-Sega versions

Novastorm is shooting game developed by Psygnosis and released for a number of platforms including the Sega Mega-CD. It is a rail shooter reliant on full-motion video and pre-rendered imagery, similar to the developer's earlier effort Microcosm.

During development, it was known as Scavenger IV[5]. In 1995 a similar, but enhanced and extended Novastorm game was released for the PlayStation with entirely new FMVs.

Story

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 a conquest of silicon against flesh. The player takes control of the Scavenger IV squadron, which has a mission to destroy the deadly Scarab X forces, in the last hope for the human race.

Gameplay

The game is a rail shooter that plays similarly to Space Harrier. The player takes control of the Scavenger IV spacecraft and moves it along the horizontal and vertical axes with the D-pad, but it follows a set path through the stages over a full-motion video background. The player must shoot down enemy spacecraft and avoid hitting terrain elements. Each stage ends with a boss encounter.

The ship fires its main weapon with C, which is fast but initially relatively weak. Its strength is indicated by a meter in the HUD, and it can be upgraded by collecting items. The ship is also equipped with a more powerful plasma cannon, which is charged by holding B and fired by releasing B. Charging the plasma cannon increases a separate meter under the weapon strength meter, which flashes white when it is full. Finally, the ship can release smart energy waves that attack all enemies on screen with A. Energy waves are limited in supply, but the other weapons have unlimited ammunition.

The ship has a shield energy meter the top of the screen that depletes as it takes damage from enemies or from colliding with terrain. The ship explodes if it runs out of energy, costing the player a life. If the player has an extra life remaining, the player is given a new ship (with a complement of three energy waves) and the stage continues. Additionally, boss fights are timed; the game warns the player with an "ALERT" message when time is almost up. If time runs out, the player loses a life and must restart the stage. The game ends if the player runs out of lives. The player is rewarded with extra lives at certain points thresholds.

Items

The player is occasionally presented with a choice of one of three items after destroying an enemy.

Novastorm, Items.png
 Single Shot
The starting weapon. A single stream of fire.
Novastorm, Items.png
 Double Shot
Two parallel streams of fire.
Novastorm, Items.png
 Triple Shot
Three parallel streams of fire.
Novastorm, Items.png
 Spread Shot
Three streams of fire with a wide spread.
Novastorm, Items.png
 Cross Shot
A double helix spread pattern that covers a larger area both vertically and horizontally.
Novastorm, Items.png
 Split Shot
A wide spread of more powerful fire.
Novastorm, Items.png
 Orbiters
Temporarily orbits the ship with two robotic drones that protect it and augment its fire.
Novastorm, Items.png
 Wingmen
Temporarily equips the ship with two unmanned wingships that follow it and fire homing missiles.
Novastorm, Items.png
 Drones
Temporarily follows the ship with two drones that protect it and provide support fire.
Novastorm, Items.png
 Shield
Temporarily surrounds the ship in a shield that renders it invulnerable.
Novastorm, Items.png
 XtraSmart
Gives the player another smart energy wave.
Novastorm, Items.png
 XtraLife
Gives the player an extra life.
Novastorm, Items.png
 Full Energy
Fully restores the ship's shields.
Novastorm, Items.png
 Increase Energy
Partially restores the ship's shields.
Novastorm, Items.png
 Increase Weapon Strength
Increases the ship's main weapon strength by one unit.
Novastorm, Items.png
 Increase Score
Gives the player bonus points.
Novastorm, Items.png
 Random
Chooses a random item effect.

Stages

Callinhor, The Lava Planet

Novastorm, Stage 1-1.png

Novastorm, Stage 1-2.png

Novastorm, Stage 1-3.png

  • Novastorm, Stage 1-1.png

  • Novastorm, Stage 1-2.png

  • Novastorm, Stage 1-3.png

Stage 1

Novastorm, Stage 2-1.png

Novastorm, Stage 2-2.png

Novastorm, Stage 2-3.png

  • Novastorm, Stage 2-1.png

  • Novastorm, Stage 2-2.png

  • Novastorm, Stage 2-3.png

Stage 2

Novastorm, Stage 3-1.png

Novastorm, Stage 3-2.png

Novastorm, Stage 3-3.png

  • Novastorm, Stage 3-1.png

  • Novastorm, Stage 3-2.png

  • Novastorm, Stage 3-3.png

Stage 3

Novastorm, Stage 4-1.png

Novastorm, Stage 4-2.png

Novastorm, Stage 4-3.png

Novastorm, Stage 4-4.png

  • Novastorm, Stage 4-1.png

  • Novastorm, Stage 4-2.png

  • Novastorm, Stage 4-3.png

  • Novastorm, Stage 4-4.png

Stage 4

Kallum Koll, The Desert Planet

Novastorm, Stage 5-1.png

Novastorm, Stage 5-2.png

  • Novastorm, Stage 5-1.png

  • Novastorm, Stage 5-2.png

Stage 1

Novastorm, Stage 6-1.png

Novastorm, Stage 6-2.png

  • Novastorm, Stage 6-1.png

  • Novastorm, Stage 6-2.png

Stage 2

Novastorm, Stage 7-1.png

Novastorm, Stage 7-2.png

Novastorm, Stage 7-3.png

  • Novastorm, Stage 7-1.png

  • Novastorm, Stage 7-2.png

  • Novastorm, Stage 7-3.png

Stage 3

Novastorm, Stage 8-1.png

Novastorm, Stage 8-2.png

  • Novastorm, Stage 8-1.png

  • Novastorm, Stage 8-2.png

Stage 4

Quiggin, The Ice Planet

Novastorm, Stage 9-1.png

Novastorm, Stage 9-2.png

  • Novastorm, Stage 9-1.png

  • Novastorm, Stage 9-2.png

Stage 1

Novastorm, Stage 10-1.png

Novastorm, Stage 10-2.png

Novastorm, Stage 10-3.png

  • Novastorm, Stage 10-1.png

  • Novastorm, Stage 10-2.png

  • Novastorm, Stage 10-3.png

Stage 2

Novastorm, Stage 11-1.png

Novastorm, Stage 11-2.png

  • Novastorm, Stage 11-1.png

  • Novastorm, Stage 11-2.png

Stage 3

Novastorm, Stage 12-1.png

Novastorm, Stage 12-2.png

Novastorm, Stage 12-3.png

  • Novastorm, Stage 12-1.png

  • Novastorm, Stage 12-2.png

  • Novastorm, Stage 12-3.png

Stage 4

Space Cruiser Scarab X

Novastorm, Stage 13-1.png

Novastorm, Stage 13-2.png

  • Novastorm, Stage 13-1.png

  • Novastorm, Stage 13-2.png

Stage 1

Novastorm, Stage 14-1.png

Novastorm, Stage 14-2.png

Novastorm, Stage 14-3.png

  • Novastorm, Stage 14-1.png

  • Novastorm, Stage 14-2.png

  • Novastorm, Stage 14-3.png

Stage 2

Novastorm, Stage 15-1.png

Novastorm, Stage 15-2.png

  • Novastorm, Stage 15-1.png

  • Novastorm, Stage 15-2.png

Stage 3

Novastorm, Stage 16-1.png

Novastorm, Stage 16-2.png

  • Novastorm, Stage 16-1.png

  • Novastorm, Stage 16-2.png

Stage 4

Novastorm, Stage 17-1.png

Novastorm, Stage 17-2.png

Novastorm, Stage 17-3.png

  • Novastorm, Stage 17-1.png

  • Novastorm, Stage 17-2.png

  • Novastorm, Stage 17-3.png

Stage 5

Production credits

  • Managing Director of Development: Ian Hetherington
  • Director of Software Development: John White
  • Lead Programmer: Zafar Qamar
  • Programmer: Paul Frewin, Mark Hula
  • Game Director: Paul Hilton
  • Artist: Jerry Oldrieve, Chris Brown
  • Producer: Kenny Everett
  • Music and Sound: Rik Ede, Chris Nicholls, Paul Franklin, Colin Dempsey, Keith Roberts Jim Bowers, Digby Rogers, Rogan Macdonald, Nikki Bridgman Frank Kitson, Eric Noteboom, Nicky Carus-Westcott
  • Original Artwork: Andrew Howes
  • Q.A.: Mark Inman, Paul Evason
  • Voice Direction: Philip Morris
  • U.K.D.T.P.: Keith Hopwood
  • U.S. D.T.P.: Lisa George
  • Manual: Mark Tsai, Richard Browne, Jim Drewry
Source:
US manual
Novastorm mcd us manual.pdf
[6]

Magazine articles

Main article: Novastorm/Magazine articles.

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Consoles + (FR)
81
[7]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
78
[2]
Mega Force (FR) PAL
70
[8]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
69
[3]
Player One (FR)
10
[9]
Play Time (DE) PAL
60
[10]
Sega Magazine (UK) PAL
49
[11]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
80
[12]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
72
[13]
VideoGames (US) NTSC-U
80
[14]
Sega Mega-CD
 65
Based on
10 reviews

Novastorm

Mega-CD, US
Novastorm MCD US Box Back.jpgNovastorm MCD US Box Front.jpg
Cover
Novastorm MCD US Disc.jpg
Disc
Novastorm mcd us manual.pdf
Manual
Mega-CD, EU
Novastorm MCD EU Box Back.jpgNovastorm MCD EU Box Front.jpg
Cover
Novastorm MCD EU Disc.jpg
Disc
Novastorm MCD EU Manual.jpg
Manual

Technical information

Main article: Novastorm/Technical information.

References

  1. ↑ https://groups.google.com/g/rec.games.video.sega/c/h_QlDYzQdSQ/m/3BF3GiRqAQIJ
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 GamePro, "March 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 58
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Mean Machines Sega, "January 1995" (UK; 1994-11-30), page 104
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Mega Power, "November 1994" (UK; 1994-10-20), page 16
  5. ↑ Mega Power, "August 1994" (UK; 1994-07-21), page 8
  6. ↑ File:Novastorm mcd us manual.pdf, page 28
  7. ↑ Consoles +, "Février 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 122
  8. ↑ Mega Force, "Février 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 79
  9. ↑ Player One, "Février 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 110
  10. ↑ Play Time, "2/95" (DE; 1995-01-04), page 107
  11. ↑ Sega Magazine, "January 1995" (UK; 1994-12-15), page 91
  12. ↑ Sega Power, "January 1995" (UK; 1994-11-17), page 76
  13. ↑ Sega Pro, "December 1994" (UK; 1994-11-03), page 52
  14. ↑ VideoGames, "March 1995" (US; 1995-02-xx), page 85


Novastorm

Novastorm title.png

Main page | Comparisons | Development | Magazine articles | Reception | Technical information


Sega Mega-CD
Demos: Novastorm (1994)

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