Silpheed

n/a

Silpheed

System(s): Sega Mega-CD

Publisher: Sega (US, Europe), Game Arts (Japan)

Developer: Game Arts

Supporting companies: Mecano Associates (music, sound), Twofive (audio recording)

Distributor: Tec Toy (BR), Samsung (KR)

Genre: Shooting^[1]^[2]

Number of players: 1

Release	Date	RRP	Code
JP	1993-07-30^[2]	¥8,800 (9,064)8,800e^[3]	T-45054
US	1993-10^[4]^[5]	$49.9949.99^[4]^[6]	4423
EU	1993-09^[7]		4423
DE	1993-10^[8]	DM 99.9599.95^[8]	4423
PT	1993
UK	1993-11^[9]	£49.9949.99^[10]^[11]	4423
AU	1993	$119.95119.95^[12]
BR	199x		063210
KR	199x		GD93013JT

ESRA

Silpheed (シルフィード) is a Sega Mega-CD vertical shoot-'em-up developed by Game Arts. First published in Japan by Game Arts themselves in July 1993, it was later brought to the United States and Europe by Sega in October 1993. A remake of the developer's 1988 NEC PC-8801 shoot-'em-up Silpheed, the game features pre-rendered polygonal backgrounds presented in full-motion video, an updated soundtrack, enhanced colors, and different levels.

Silpheed is the name of the spacecraft that the player controls, likely derived from the famous ballet, La Sylphide. A "sylph" is an air spirit.

Story

Zakalite

In the year 3076, terrorists led by a man named Zakalite hack into the Grayzon System, the mother computer of Earth, granting them control over all the space weaponry of the solar system. They begin attacking colony planets with unmanned fleets. The Earth's only hope is a small fleet outside the computer's reach, which has been provided with a squadron of SA-77 Silpheed dogfighters.

Gameplay

SA-77 Silpheed

Silpheed is a vertically scrolling shooter. It is presented at an oblique camera angle, with enemies and other objects becoming smaller as they move towards the top of the screen. The Silpheed can freely move about the screen with the D-Pad. In each level, the player is tasked with destroying various enemies while avoiding their projectiles. and fire the ship's main weapons, and fires the ship's optional weapon. The backgrounds are pre-rendered full-motion video but can contain collision zones, corresponding to objects such as asteroids and towers, that the player must avoid.

Main weapons have unlimited ammunition, but optional weapons are dependent on energy. Energy is gained by destroying enemies or completing stages and lost by using optional weapons or taking damage. The player gains a new main weapon with every 40,000 points earned. Weapons can be attached to either side of the Silpheed. The player starts the game with no optional weapon but gains one with every 50,000 points earned. After the first stage, the player can choose which weapons to equip before each mission (with the exception of the final mission, which continues with the weapon selections from the prior mission).

The Silpheed has a shield that can withstand six hits. There are items to replenish the shield. When the shield is depleted, the played is warned, "No Shield." If the player is hit again, the player encounters a "Weapon Failure" and can only continue firing on a single weapon. If the player is hit again, the ship suffers an "Engine Failure" and has impaired movement speed. The next hit destroys the Silpheed. The player can continue the game from the title screen if there are still continues remaining.

Weapons

Weapon selection

Main

New main weapons are given every 40,000 points earned. Weapons are gained and equipped separately for each side of the ship.

	Forward Beam
	Shoots beam straight ahead. Initially equipped.
	Wide Beam
	Shoots beam that scans downward 120 degrees from a forward position.
	Phalanx Beam
	Shoots forked beams in V-shape that cover a wider area than the standard beam.
	Auto-Aiming
	Shoots beam that automatically locks on to targets.

Optional

New optional weapons are given every 50,000 points earned. The player cannot choose the same optional weapon for two missions in a row.

	Graviton Bomb
	Explodes in front of the Silpheed in a wide pattern and shields from enemy fire.
	E.M. Defense System
	Surrounds the Silpheed in a barrier that blocks three enemy hits. Changes color from yellow to orange to red as it loses strength.
	Photon Torpedo
	Fires in eight directions simultaneously, automatically tracks targets.
	Anti-Matter Bomb
	Explodes and does area damage.

Items

Power-up items are found in item carriers, which are red diamond-shaped pods. Shoot them open and then fly over the item to collect it.

	Bonus 1
	Awards the player up to 5,000 points.
	Bonus 2
	Awards the player between 5,000 and 10,000 points.
	1 Repair
	Restores 1 segment of the shield gauge.
	2 Repair
	Restores 2 segments of the shield gauge.
	3 Repair
	Restores 3 segments of the shield gauge.
	All Repair
	Fully replenishes the shields.
	Option Energy Up
	Boosts the energy of the optional weapon.
	Destroy
	Destroys all enemies on screen.
	Invincible
	Grants the Silpheed temporary invulnerability.

Stages

	Stage 1

	Stage 2

	Stage 3

	Stage 4

	Stage 5

	Stage 6

	Stage 7

	Stage 8

	Stage 9

	Stage 10

	Stage 11

	Stage 12

History

Development

During development, the game's Western release was known under the working title of Silpheed VR.^[13]^[14]

As the game is constantly streaming full-motion video data from the disc, it is reliant on an optimally-functioning Sega Mega-CD, particularly in regards to its CD drive. With many original units approaching 30 years of age, games which use streaming can begin to encounter read errors; Silpheed remains one of the more notable and critically-acclaimed games to use full-motion video streaming technology, and any read errors are generally remedied by a maintenance of the CD drive hardware.

Legacy

The game was included in all versions of the Mega Drive Mini 2 in 2022.

A sequel was released, Silpheed: The Lost Planet, for the PlayStation 2 in 2000. It was developed by Game Arts alongside Treasure.

A 3D space combat simulator game titled Project Sylpheed was released by Square Enix in 2006 for the Xbox 360. It is considered a spiritual successor to the Silpheed games. In 2012, a game called Silpheed Alternative: Menace from Beyond the Stars was developed by Game Arts for Android, which is also considered a spiritual successor. Like Project Sylpheed, it is a fully three-dimensional game.

Production credits

Director: Takeshi Miyaji
Executive Producer: Youichi Miyaji, Mitsuhiro Mazda, Toshiyuki Uchida
Main Programmer: Kenichi Hamada
Polygon Character: Takahiro Okano
Background CG Producer: Takeshi Miyaji, Takahiro Okano, Hidenobu Takahashi, Kenichi Hamada, Akio Matsuda
Graphics: Hidenobu Takahashi, Masahiko Koyama
Demoproduce / Visual Director: IKUSABUNE, Toshio Akashi
Background Mechanic Design / 3D Modeling / Visual Director: Wataru Yanagawa
Silpheed Mechanical Design: Kouichiro Yonemura
Mapping Data Producer: Kazuyuki Ohhata
Technical Adviser: Masakuni Mitshuhashi
Music Compose / Sound Effects: Ari Kamijo, Kenichi Kunishima, Tomoyuki Shimada, Kazuya Takahashi, Akio Matsuda
Music: Mecano Associates, Fumihito Kasatani, Mariko Satou, Youko Sonoda, Mamoru Ishimoda, Takahiro Nishi
Recording: Two Five, Isao Mizoguchi, Noriyuki Iwadare
Art Work: Mariko Uemura
Manual Editor: Masayuki Shimada
Package Art: Jun Suemi
Marketing: Toshiyuki Uchida, Masayuki Shimada, Akira Kashiwagi
Sales: Rika Honma, Yumi Sugaya
Special Thanks: NASA, Astronomical Society Of Japan

Source:

In-game credits (JP)^[15]

Digital manuals

Mega Drive Mini 2 US manual
Mega Drive Mini 2 EU manual
Mega Drive Mini 2 JP manual

Magazine articles

Main article: Silpheed/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Main article: Silpheed/Promotional material.

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

Aktueller Software Markt (DE)

92

^[16]

Beep! MegaDrive (JP)

NTSC-J

85

^[17]

Consoles + (FR)

93

^[18]

Computer & Video Games (UK)

85

^[19]

Computer & Video Games (UK)

88

^[20]

Edge (UK)

70

^[21]

Electronic Gaming Monthly (US)

NTSC-U

75

^[22]

Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)

90

^[23]

Famitsu (JP)

NTSC-J

78

^[24]

GameFan (US)

NTSC-U

98

^[25]

Game Power (IT)

NTSC

92

^[26]

GamePro (US)

NTSC-U

78

^[4]

Gamers (DE)

67

^[27]

Game Informer (US)

NTSC-U

83

^[28]

Hippon Super (JP)

NTSC-J

75

^[29]

Hyper (AU)

85

^[30]

Joypad (FR)

NTSC-J

96

^[31]

Joypad (HU)

83

^[32]

MAN!AC (DE)

80

^[33]

Mega (UK)

NTSC-J

89

^[34]

Mega Action (UK)

NTSC-J

89

^[35]

Mega Force (FR)

92

^[36]

Mega Fun (DE)

NTSC-J

73

^[37]

Mega Power (UK)

PAL

50

^[38]

MegaTech (UK)

NTSC

94

^[39]

Mean Machines Sega (UK)

NTSC-J

90

^[40]

Player One (FR)

93

^[41]

Power Play (DE)

70

^[42]

Sega Magazin (DE)

81

^[43]

Sega Magazine (UK)

PAL

85

^[10]

Sega Power (UK)

NTSC-J

83

^[44]

Sega Pro (UK)

NTSC-J

69

^[45]

Sega Zone (UK)

NTSC-J

90

^[46]

Sega Force Mega (UK)

NTSC-J

73

^[47]

Sega Force (SE)

87

^[48]

Sega Saturn Magazine (JP)

NTSC-J

89

^[49]

Sonic the Comic (UK)

PAL

85

^[50]

Todo Sega (ES)

92

^[51]

Video Games (DE)

PAL

72

^[52]

VideoGames (US)

NTSC-U

90

^[6]

	83
Based on 40 reviews

Silpheed

Mega-CD, JP
Cover
Spinecard Disc Manual

Mega-CD, US
Cover
Disc Manual

Mega-CD, EU
Cover
Spinecard Disc Manual

Mega-CD, FR (Blister pack)
Cover

Mega-CD, PT

Mega-CD, BR
Cover
Manual

Mega-CD, KR
Cover

Technical information

Main article: Silpheed/Technical information.

References

NEC Retro has more information related to Silpheed

Silpheed

Books: Silpheed Koushiki Technical Guide Book (1993)

Demos: Silpheed Hibaihin (1993)

[:File:Silpheed_MCD_JP_Box_Back.jpg_p-1] File:Silpheed MCD JP Box Back.jpg

[https:.2F.2Fweb.archive.org.2Fweb.2F20190610175627.2Fhttps:.2F.2Fsega.jp.2Ffb.2Fsegahard.2Fmcd.2Fsoft_licensee.html-2] 2.0 ^2.1 https://sega.jp/fb/segahard/mcd/soft_licensee.html (Wayback Machine: 2019-06-10 17:56)

[:File:BeepMD_JP_1993-07.pdf_p10-3] Beep! MegaDrive, "July 1993" (JP; 1993-06-08), page 10

[:File:GamePro_US_053.pdf_p105-4] 4.0 ^4.1 ^4.2 GamePro, "December 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 105

[https:.2F.2Fgroups.google.com.2Fg.2Frec.games.video.sega.2Fc.2Fvroem-0-Ouc.2Fm.2FNoa_wp3NF1sJ-5] ttps://groups.google.com/g/rec.games.video.sega/c/vroem-0-Ouc/m/Noa_wp3NF1sJ

[:File:VideoGames_US_59.pdf_p68-6] 6.0 ^6.1 VideoGames, "December 1993" (US; 1993-1x-xx), page 68

[:File:MegaPower_UK_02.pdf_p51-7] Mega Power, "September 1993" (UK; 1993-08-19), page 51

[:File:SegaMagazin_DE_01.pdf_p21-8] 8.0 ^8.1 Sega Magazin, "September/Oktober 1993" (DE; 1993-09-01), page 21

[:File:SegaPro_UK_25.pdf_p31-9] Sega Pro, "November 1993" (UK; 1993-10-14), page 31

[:File:SegaMagazine_UK_01.pdf_p102-10] 10.0 ^10.1 Sega Magazine, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-12-10), page 102

[:File:CVG_UK_161.pdf_p21-11] Computer & Video Games, "April 1995" (UK; 1995-03-15), page 21

[:File:Megazone_AU_35.pdf_p29-12] Megazone, "January 1994" (AU; 1993-12-29), page 29

[:File:EGM_US_044.pdf_p121-13] Electronic Gaming Monthly, "March 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 121

[:File:GamePro_US_045.pdf_p122-14] GamePro, "April 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 122

[:File:Silpheed_MCD_JP_SSCredits.pdf_p-15] File:Silpheed MCD JP SSCredits.pdf

[:File:ASM_DE_1994-03.pdf_p104-16] Aktueller Software Markt, "März 1994" (DE; 1994-02-07), page 104

[:File:BeepMD_JP_1993-09.pdf_p22-17] Beep! MegaDrive, "September 1993" (JP; 1993-08-07), page 22

[18] Consoles +, "Octobre 1993" (FR; 1993-xx-xx), page 128

[:File:CVG_UK_143.pdf_p44-19] Computer & Video Games, "October 1993" (UK; 1993-09-15), page 44

[:File:CVG_UK_151.pdf_p109-20] Computer & Video Games, "June 1994" (UK; 1994-05-15), page 109

[:File:Edge_UK_001.pdf_p84-21] Edge, "October 1993" (UK; 1993-08-19), page 84

[:File:EGM_US_051.pdf_p42-22] Electronic Gaming Monthly, "October 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 42

[:File:MeanMachinesEssentialSegaGuide_Book_UK.pdf_p125-23] Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 125

[:File:Famitsu_JP_0242.pdf_p41-24] Famitsu, "1993-08-06" (JP; 1993-07-23), page 41

[:File:GameFan_US_0110.pdf_p14-25] GameFan, "Volume 1, Issue 10: September 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 14

[:File:GamePower_IT_21.pdf_p45-26] Game Power, "Ottobre 1993" (IT; 1993-xx-xx), page 45

[:File:Gamers_DE_1993-06.pdf_p80-27] Gamers, "Oktober/November 1993" (DE; 1993-09-24), page 80

[:File:GameInformer_US_014.pdf_p42-28] Game Informer, "January/February 1994" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 42

[29] Hippon Super, "September 1993" (JP; 1993-08-03), page 46

[:File:Hyper_AU_002.pdf_p58-30] Hyper, "January 1994" (AU; 199x-xx-xx), page 58

[:File:Joypad_FR_023.pdf_p82-31] Joypad, "Septembre 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 82

[32] Joypad, "3/1994" (HU; 1994-xx-xx), page 12

[:File:MAN.21AC_DE_1993-11.pdf_p36-33] MAN!AC, "11/93" (DE; 1993-xx-xx), page 36

[:File:Mega_UK_13.pdf_p28-34] Mega, "October 1993" (UK; 1993-09-16), page 28

[:File:MegaAction_UK_06.pdf_p40-35] Mega Action, "November 1993" (UK; 1993-10-07), page 40

[:File:MegaForce_FR_23.pdf_p84-36] Mega Force, "Décembre 1993" (FR; 1993-12-10), page 84

[:File:MegaFun_DE_1993-10.pdf_p34-37] Mega Fun, "10/93" (DE; 1993-09-22), page 34

[:File:MegaPower_UK_02.pdf_p48-38] Mega Power, "September 1993" (UK; 1993-08-19), page 48

[:File:MegaTech_UK_21.pdf_p58-39] MegaTech, "September 1993" (UK; 1993-08-20), page 58

[:File:MeanMachinesSega12UK.pdf_p51-40] Mean Machines Sega, "October 1993" (UK; 1993-08-28), page 51

[:File:PlayerOne_FR_037.pdf_p102-41] Player One, "Décembre 1993" (FR; 1993-1x-xx), page 102

[:File:PowerPlay_DE_1993-11.pdf_p138-42] Power Play, "11/93" (DE; 1993-10-13), page 138

[:File:SegaMagazin_DE_01.pdf_p20-43] Sega Magazin, "September/Oktober 1993" (DE; 1993-09-01), page 20

[:File:SegaPower_UK_47.pdf_p54-44] Sega Power, "October 1993" (UK; 1993-09-02), page 54

[:File:SegaPro_UK_24.pdf_p46-45] Sega Pro, "October 1993" (UK; 1993-09-09), page 46

[:File:SegaZone_UK_11.pdf_p30-46] Sega Zone, "September 1993" (UK; 1993-08-xx), page 30

[:File:SegaForceMega_UK_05.pdf_p106-47] Sega Force Mega, "November 1993" (UK; 1993-10-14), page 106

[:File:SegaForce_SE_1994_03.pdf_p24-48] Sega Force, "3/94" (SE; 1994-03-29), page 24

[:File:SSM_JP_19950901_1995-09.pdf_p84-49] Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 84

[50] Sonic the Comic, "December 11th 1993" (UK; 1993-12-11), page 11

[:File:TodoSega_ES_08.pdf_p60-51] Todo Sega, "Noviembre 1993" (ES; 1993-1x-xx), page 60

[:File:VideoGames_DE_1993-10.pdf_p112-52] Video Games, "10/93" (DE; 1993-09-29), page 112

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Silpheed

From Sega Retro

Contents

Story

Gameplay

Weapons

Main

Optional

Items

Stages

History

Development

Legacy

Production credits

Digital manuals

Magazine articles

Promotional material

Physical scans

Technical information

References