El Viento

For the 2023 aftermarket re-release, see El Viento (Retro-Bit). For the 2024 aftermarket re-release, see El Viento (Columbus Circle).

n/a

NTSC-U
NTSC-J

El Viento

System(s): Sega Mega Drive

Publisher: Wolf Team (Japan), Renovation Products (US)

Developer: Wolf Team

Licensor:

Edia

Sound driver: Wolf Team sound driver

Genre: Action^[1]

Number of players: 1

Release	Date	RRP	Code
JP	1991-09-20^[1]	¥8,5008,500	T-32063
US	1991-11^[2]	$69.9969.99^[3]	49136
US ▼ (Sega Channel)	199x	SUBsub
FR	199x		49136
JP ▼	2016-09-20^[4]	¥880880	TEL2006

El Viento (エル・ヴィエント) is a 1991 action platformer developed by Wolf Team for the Sega Mega Drive and published exclusively in the US and Japan by Renovation Products. The title is Spanish for "The Wind." It is the first game to be released in a loose trilogy completed by Earnest Evans and Anetto Futatabi.

A UK release, set to be distributed by Ubisoft for £44.99 in November 1991, was planned^[5] but cancelled for unknown reasons. However, the Genesis version was officially distributed in France with an extra translated manual.^[6]

Story

The story takes place in New York City during the late 1920s. Mad religious leader Henry intends to awaken the ancient and malevolent god Hastur. He plans to use the sorceress Restiana, who is descended from Hastur, as a sacrifice. He has led Restiana to believe that, rather than be sacrificed as part of the summoning ritual, she will come to possess the power of Hastur.

The Hastur cult is constructing a shrine to the dark god inside the (as yet incomplete) Empire State Building. They have hired the gangster Al Capone (Vincente DeMarcoto in the American localization) to kill the young Peruvian sorceress Annet Myer. Annet is also a descendant of Hastur and the only human capable of defeating him. Annet attempts to stop the cult from resurrecting Hastur.

Gameplay

Annet and Restiana

The game is an action platformer. Annet can move around with and and jump with . She can crouch with . She can perform a crouching dash by pressing + or +, which lets her pass over gaps. She can jump on top of obstacles by holding forward against the obstacle and pressing . Her primary attack is throwing boomerangs with . She has unlimited boomerangs and have multiple out at once. She can throw boomerangs while crouching or jumping. Her boomerangs are thrown horizontally but seek out targets and travel in any direction. They damage enemies and other destructibles when returning to Annet as well.

Annet can use several offensive spells, which are charged by holding and fired by releasing it. The spell is more powerful the longer it is charged. Spells do more damage than her boomerang attacks and have different areas of effect that make them more suited to destroying certain enemies or obstacles. Casting spells expends her magic bar, which rapidly replenishes as long as she is not casting another spell. Annet starts with one spell and acquires four more over the course of the game. Each successive spell consumes more magic points to cast. The player can select a spell by holding ; the game cycles through the spells in order as long as she has enough magic points remaining.

Annet has a health bar, which is diminished as she takes damage from enemies or hazards. It can be replenished by finding items; it is also replenished at the start of each stage. Enemies also have health bars. The game uses the score as an experience gauge for Annet and extends her health and magic bars at certain thresholds. If Annet loses all of her life, the game ends, but it can be continued from the title screen as long as the player has continues remaining.

Each stage has multiple sections, culminating in a boss fight. The story is advanced through cutscenes after each stage. Earnest Evans appears briefly in cutscenes to assist Annet.

Spells

	Fireball
	Shoots a fireball horizontally. Stronger than a boomerang.
	Water Current
	Creates a water snake that moves along the ground.
	Wind Cutter
	Creates a wave with a tall area of effect that travels horizontally.
	Explosion
	Shoots a fireball that explodes and damages enemies in a large area after impact.
	Seeker Charges
	Emits charges from Annet that seek out and destroy enemies automatically.

Items

	Health
	Replenishes a partial amount of health.
	Spell
	Teaches Annet a new spell.

Stages

	Stage 1

	Stage 2

	Stage 3

	Stage 4

	Stage 5

	Stage 6

	Stage 7

	Stage 8

Production credits

Produced by: Masaaki Uno
Directed by: Hiroyuki Kayano
Executive producer: Masahiro Akishino
Main programmer: Small Tarō
Story written by: Chishio Otsuyama
Main character designed by: Kazutoshi Yamane
Music composed by: Motoi Sakuraba
Graphic designed by: Masayuki Matsushima, Kiyoka Tajima, Yuji Ushijima, Tomonobu Kizuki
Music supported by: Ryota Furuya
Graphic supported by: Yama Chan
Cooperation by: Chikaaki Tokuhiro, Jun Hoyano
Assistant programmer: Hiroshi Izumino
Business works: Kimito Iijima, Taba Chan
Special thanks to: Kazuyuki Fukushima
All players and all characters
All produced by Wolf Team

Source:

In-game credits^[7]

Digital manuals

Project EGG manual

Magazine articles

Main article: El Viento/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Print advert in Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #30: "January 1992" (199x-xx-xx)

Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1991-07: "July 1991" (1991-06-08)

Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1991-08: "August 1991" (1991-07-08)

Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1991-09: "September 1991" (1991-08-08)
also published in:

Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1991-10: "October 1991" (1991-09-07)^[8]

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)

60

^[9]

ACE (UK)

52

^[10]

Beep! MegaDrive (JP)

NTSC-J

65

^[11]

Consoles + (FR)

82

^[12]

Console XS (UK)

NTSC-J

90

^[13]

Electronic Gaming Monthly (US)

NTSC-U

78

^[14]

Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1 (RU)

50

^[15]

Famitsu (JP)

NTSC-J

55

^[16]

GamePro (US)

NTSC-U

92

^[3]

Games-X (UK)

60

^[17]

Hippon Super (JP)

NTSC-J

60

^[18]

Joypad (FR)

NTSC-J

93

^[19]

Joystick (FR)

NTSC-J

93

^[20]

Mega Drive Fan (JP)

NTSC-J

67

^[21]

MegaTech (UK)

80

^[22]

Mean Machines Sega (UK)

80

^[23]

Play Time (DE)

67

^[24]

Power Play (DE)

66

^[25]

Sega Pro (UK)

PAL

89

^[5]

Sega Pro (UK)

89

^[26]

Sega Pro (UK)

88

^[27]

Sega Saturn Magazine (JP)

NTSC-J

74

^[28]

Tricks 16 bit (RU)

66

^[29]

Video Games (DE)

67

^[30]

	73
Based on 24 reviews

El Viento

Mega Drive, JP
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, FR
Cover
Cart

Technical information

Main article: El Viento/Technical information.

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software_l.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-07-02 23:21)
↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "October 1991" (US; 1991-xx-xx), page 100
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 GamePro, "February 1992" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 58
↑ https://www.amusement-center.com/project/egg/game/?product_id=1370
↑ ^5.0 ^5.1 Sega Pro, "November 1991" (UK; 1991-xx-xx), page 56
↑ https://www.guardiana.net/MDG-Database/Mega%20Drive/El%20Viento (Wayback Machine: 2021-04-11 18:36)
↑ File:El Viento MD credits.pdf
↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "October 1991" (JP; 1991-09-07), page 4
↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 71
↑ ACE, "November 1991" (UK; 1991-10-08), page 93
↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "October 1991" (JP; 1991-09-07), page 34
↑ Consoles +, "Novembre 1991" (FR; 1991-11-07), page 46
↑ Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 129
↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "November 1991" (US; 1991-1x-xx), page 24
↑ Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 311
↑ Famitsu, "1991-09-27" (JP; 1991-09-13), page 39
↑ Games-X, "26th September-2nd October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-26), page 35
↑ Hippon Super, "October 1991" (JP; 1991-09-04), page 90
↑ Joypad, "Novembre 1991" (FR; 1991-10-1x), page 40
↑ Joystick, "Novembre 1991" (FR; 1991-1x-xx), page 144
↑ Mega Drive Fan, "December 1991" (JP; 1991-11-08), page 91
↑ MegaTech, "Xmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-06), page 77
↑ Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 138
↑ Play Time, "2/92" (DE; 1992-01-08), page 95
↑ Power Play, "1/92" (DE; 1991-12-11), page 178
↑ Sega Pro, "December 1991" (UK; 1991-11-21), page 55
↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 65
↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 85
↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 14
↑ Video Games, "4/91" (DE; 1991-12-06), page 29

El Viento
	Main page \| Comparisons \| Maps \| Hidden content \| Magazine articles \| Reception \| Region coding \| Technical information \| Bootlegs No results

Annet Myer & Earnest Evans games for Sega systems
El Viento (1991) \| Earnest Evans (1991) \| Anetto Futatabi (1993)

[https:.2F.2Fweb.archive.org.2Fweb.2F20200702232146.2Fhttps:.2F.2Fsega.jp.2Fhistory.2Fhard.2Fmegadrive.2Fsoftware_l.html-1] 1.0 ^1.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software_l.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-07-02 23:21)

[:File:EGM_US_027.pdf_p100-2] Electronic Gaming Monthly, "October 1991" (US; 1991-xx-xx), page 100

[:File:GamePro_US_031.pdf_p58-3] 3.0 ^3.1 GamePro, "February 1992" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 58

[4] ttps://www.amusement-center.com/project/egg/game/?product_id=1370

[:File:SegaPro_UK_01.pdf_p56-5] 5.0 ^5.1 Sega Pro, "November 1991" (UK; 1991-xx-xx), page 56

[https:.2F.2Fweb.archive.org.2Fweb.2F20210411183621.2Fhttps:.2F.2Fwww.guardiana.net.2FMDG-Database.2FMega.2520Drive.2FEl.2520Viento-6] ttps://www.guardiana.net/MDG-Database/Mega%20Drive/El%20Viento (Wayback Machine: 2021-04-11 18:36)

[:File:El_Viento_MD_credits.pdf_p-7] File:El Viento MD credits.pdf

[:File:BeepMD_JP_1991-10.pdf_p4-8] Beep! MegaDrive, "October 1991" (JP; 1991-09-07), page 4

[9] 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 71

[:File:ACE_UK_50.pdf_p93-10] ACE, "November 1991" (UK; 1991-10-08), page 93

[:File:BeepMD_JP_1991-10.pdf_p34-11] Beep! MegaDrive, "October 1991" (JP; 1991-09-07), page 34

[:File:ConsolesPlus_FR_003.pdf_p46-12] Consoles +, "Novembre 1991" (FR; 1991-11-07), page 46

[:File:Console_XS_UK_01.pdf_p129-13] Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 129

[:File:EGM_US_028.pdf_p24-14] Electronic Gaming Monthly, "November 1991" (US; 1991-1x-xx), page 24

[15] Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 311

[:File:Famitsu_JP_0145.pdf_p39-16] Famitsu, "1991-09-27" (JP; 1991-09-13), page 39

[:File:GamesX_UK_23.pdf_p35-17] Games-X, "26th September-2nd October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-26), page 35

[18] Hippon Super, "October 1991" (JP; 1991-09-04), page 90

[:File:Joypad_FR_002.pdf_p40-19] Joypad, "Novembre 1991" (FR; 1991-10-1x), page 40

[:File:Joystick_FR_021.pdf_p144-20] Joystick, "Novembre 1991" (FR; 1991-1x-xx), page 144

[:File:Mdfan_JP_1991-12.pdf_p91-21] Mega Drive Fan, "December 1991" (JP; 1991-11-08), page 91

[:File:MegaTech_UK_01.pdf_p77-22] MegaTech, "Xmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-06), page 77

[:File:MeanMachinesSega01UK.pdf_p138-23] Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 138

[:File:PlayTime_DE_1992-02.pdf_p95-24] Play Time, "2/92" (DE; 1992-01-08), page 95

[25] Power Play, "1/92" (DE; 1991-12-11), page 178

[:File:SegaPro_UK_02.pdf_p55-26] Sega Pro, "December 1991" (UK; 1991-11-21), page 55

[:File:SegaPro_UK_18.pdf_p65-27] Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 65

[:File:SSM_JP_19950901_1995-09.pdf_p85-28] Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 85

[29] Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 14

[:File:VideoGames_DE_1991-04.pdf_p29-30] Video Games, "4/91" (DE; 1991-12-06), page 29

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El Viento

From Sega Retro

Contents

Story

Gameplay

Spells

Items

Stages

Production credits

Digital manuals

Magazine articles

Promotional material

Physical scans

Technical information

References