Viewpoint

From Sega Retro

For the unreleased Sega Saturn version, see Viewpoint (Saturn).

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Viewpoint MDTitleScreen.png

Viewpoint
System(s): Sega Mega Drive
Publisher: American Sammy[1]
Developer:
Original system(s): Neo Geo MVS, Neo Geo AES
Developer(s) of original games: Aicom
Sound driver: SMPS Z80 (banked)
Genre: Shoot-'em-up

















Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
US
T-24096
Videogame Rating Council: GA
Non-Sega versions

Viewpoint is a Sega Mega Drive shoot-'em-up game developed by Nexus Interact[1] and published by Sammy.[1] A port of the titular 1992 Aicom arcade game Viewpoint, it was released exclusively in the United States in November 1994.[2]

The game uses an isometric perspective, similar to Zaxxon. It has an eclectic soundtrack influenced by funk, hip-hop, jazz, and dance music.

Gameplay

The game is an autoscrolling shoot-'em-up that takes place in a series of isometrically projected corridors filled with enemies. The player controls a plane called the Byupo and can move around the screen freely using the D-Pad. The direction of movement is relative to the perspective of the player rather than the ship, so, for example, pressing Up moves up on the screen rather than forward across the field. The play field is somewhat larger than the viewable area and pans over if the player tries to move past the left or right edge of the screen.

The Byupo has a standard weapon that shoots a single shot with B. There is no rapid-fire; instead, holding B charges the weapon for a stronger shot. The charged shot has three levels depending on how long it is charged and can penetrate multiple enemies in a line. If the player collects an Option item, the Byupo is accompanied by two satellite drones that augment its standard weapon with their own shots (though not the charged shot) and protect against some missile attacks. There are also special bombs that can be fired with A or C. There are three different types, and the Byupo can hold as many as three. Bombs are used from left to right, as displayed in the HUD. The player starts the game with a full complement of three bombs, one of each, and can collect more from item pick-ups throughout the stages. If the player already has three bombs and picks up another, the oldest of the existing bombs is replaced.

Like other shoot-'em-ups, stages are linear and involve fending off enemies as they stream in. However, there are relatively fewer enemies than other shooters and the game emphasizes slower-paced segments based around navigating through obstacles. There are hidden warp zones that allow the player to skip the rest of a stage.

The Byupo is destroyed if it is hit by an enemy or by enemy fire, though it is not harmed by touching walls. The player can continue from a predetermined checkpoint if there are extra lives remaining. Extra lives are granted when certain amounts of points are earned (50,000 points initially and then every 30,000 points after that) and can also be found as items. If the player loses a life with no more lives remaining, the game ends, but it can be continued from the start of the stage.

Before starting the game, the player can choose a difficulty level (Easy, Normal, and Hard) and how many lives to start with (3 or 5). The game also has a two-player mode where the players take turns (rather than playing simultaneously) with separate controllers.

Items

Items appear on the play field and can be collected by flying over them. They are sometimes contained in pods that must be destroyed to release them.

Viewpoint, Items.png
Option
Augments the Byupo with two drones that fire simultaneously with the ship's main weapon. Options are invulnerable and can also be used to ram enemies.
Viewpoint, Items.png
Barrier
Surrounds the Byupo in a barrier that protects it from several enemy hits before disappearing.
Viewpoint, Items.png
Bonus
Awards the player with bonus points.
Viewpoint, Items.png
1-Up
Awards the player with an extra life.
Viewpoint, Items.png
Bomb
Bombs contained in pods have a marble-like appearance.

Bombs

Viewpoint, Bombs, Fire.png

Viewpoint, Items.png
Fire Bomb
Creates walls of fire in front of the ship that roll up the screen, destroying enemies and projectiles.

Viewpoint, Bombs, Homing.png

Viewpoint, Items.png
Homing Bomb
Shoots several missiles that home in on targets. This is the only bomb that cannot destroy enemy projectiles.

Viewpoint, Bombs, Shockwave.png

Viewpoint, Items.png
Shockwave Bomb
Creates a circular, nova-like blast that destroys all enemies and projectiles caught in it.

Stages

Viewpoint, Stage 1-1.png

Viewpoint, Stage 1-2.png

Viewpoint, Stage 1-3.png

Viewpoint, Stage 1-4.png

  • Viewpoint, Stage 1-1.png

  • Viewpoint, Stage 1-2.png

  • Viewpoint, Stage 1-3.png

  • Viewpoint, Stage 1-4.png

Stage 1

Viewpoint, Stage 2-1.png

Viewpoint, Stage 2-2.png

Viewpoint, Stage 2-3.png

Viewpoint, Stage 2-4.png

  • Viewpoint, Stage 2-1.png

  • Viewpoint, Stage 2-2.png

  • Viewpoint, Stage 2-3.png

  • Viewpoint, Stage 2-4.png

Stage 2

Viewpoint, Stage 3-1.png

Viewpoint, Stage 3-2.png

Viewpoint, Stage 3-3.png

Viewpoint, Stage 3-4.png

  • Viewpoint, Stage 3-1.png

  • Viewpoint, Stage 3-2.png

  • Viewpoint, Stage 3-3.png

  • Viewpoint, Stage 3-4.png

Stage 3

Viewpoint, Stage 4-1.png

Viewpoint, Stage 4-2.png

Viewpoint, Stage 4-3.png

Viewpoint, Stage 4-4.png

  • Viewpoint, Stage 4-1.png

  • Viewpoint, Stage 4-2.png

  • Viewpoint, Stage 4-3.png

  • Viewpoint, Stage 4-4.png

Stage 4

Viewpoint, Stage 5-1.png

Viewpoint, Stage 5-2.png

Viewpoint, Stage 5-3.png

Viewpoint, Stage 5-4.png

  • Viewpoint, Stage 5-1.png

  • Viewpoint, Stage 5-2.png

  • Viewpoint, Stage 5-3.png

  • Viewpoint, Stage 5-4.png

Stage 5
The player faces the bosses of the previous stages in addition to a new boss, interspersed with sections of fire worms and turrets.

Viewpoint, Stage 6-1.png

Viewpoint, Stage 6-2.png

Viewpoint, Stage 6-3.png

Viewpoint, Stage 6-4.png

  • Viewpoint, Stage 6-1.png

  • Viewpoint, Stage 6-2.png

  • Viewpoint, Stage 6-3.png

  • Viewpoint, Stage 6-4.png

Stage 6

History

Legacy

A sequel called Viewpoint 2064 was in development for the Nintendo 64 but never released.[3][4]

An enemy ship resembling the Byupo and having a similar charged shot appears in the isometric shoot-'em-up Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000 for the Sega 32X.[5] It can be taken over and controlled by the player.

The game was included in the Mega Drive Mini 2 in 2022. This is the first official release of the Mega Drive port of the game in Japan and Europe.

Production credits

Original Staff
  • Game Design: Nenko, Morii, Terasaka, Mokichi, Akahoushi, Run
  • Program: S.Kinjo, M.Tani
  • Sound: Sizlla, Masaki Kase, Megumi M.
  • Polygonizer: N.Yamaguchi
  • Graphic: Ashin, H.Takeuchi, Yuri Tomura, Maxma, Miyaki, Ken Katoku, Chirico
  • BG: H.T, K.Nishithuka
  • Special Thanks: Ueno, Nao Yuki, Wakker, Takano, S.Sato, Asc
Genesis Staff
  • Nexus Interact: Emuta, Chikako.K, M.Asakawa, Fukurou, Hyoh.A, Nashi, Kani
  • Genesis Producer: Kiyoshi Fujii
Source:
In-game credits
Viewpoint MD credits.pdf
[6]

Digital manuals

Magazine articles

Main article: Viewpoint/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Logo-pdf.svg
Mega Drive print advert in (US) #1: "July 1994" (1994-07-19)
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Mega Drive print advert in (US) #64: "November 1994" (1994-xx-xx)
also published in:
  • (US) #5: "November 1994" (1994-1x-xx)[7]
  • (US) #65: "December 1994" (1994-xx-xx)[8]
  • (US) #22: "December/January 1994/1995" (1994-xx-xx)[9]
  • (US) #66: "January 1995" (199x-xx-xx)[10]
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Saturn print advert in (US) #77: "December 1995" (1995-xx-xx)
also published in:
  • (US) #11: "Volume III, Issue 1: January 1996" (199x-xx-xx)[11]
Logo-pdf.svg

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
(RU)
60
[12]
(FR) NTSC-U
90
[13]
(IT)
85
[14]
(US) NTSC-U
70
[15]
(US) NTSC-U
84
[16]
(US) NTSC-U
60
[17]
(US) NTSC-U
67
[18]
(FR)
85
[19]
(DE) NTSC-U
54
[20]
(DE) NTSC-U
60
[21]
(US) NTSC-U
50
[22]
(UK) NTSC-U
85
[23]
(RU)
66
[24]
(DE) PAL
70
[25]
Sega Mega Drive
70
Based on
14 reviews

Viewpoint

Mega Drive, US
ViewPoint MD US Box Back.jpgNospine.pngViewPoint MD US Box.jpg
Cover
Viewpoint MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
Viewpoint md us manual.pdf
Manual

Technical information

Main article: Viewpoint/Technical information.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 http://gdri.smspower.org/wiki/index.php/Nexus_Interact
  2. 2.0 2.1 Electronic Gaming Monthly, "September 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 170
  3. Hidden Palace: Viewpoint 2064 (Prototype)
  4. https://lostmediawiki.com/Viewpoint_2064_(found_build_of_unreleased_Nintendo_64_shoot_%27em_up_game;_1999)
  5. File:Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, Byupo.png
  6. File:Viewpoint MD credits.pdf
  7. EGM², "November 1994" (US; 1994-1x-xx), page 83
  8. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "December 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 59
  9. Sega Visions, "December/January 1994/1995" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 107
  10. GamePro, "January 1995" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 37
  11. Tips & Tricks, "Volume III, Issue 1: January 1996" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 20
  12. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 257
  13. Consoles +, "Avril 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 94
  14. Computer + Video Giochi, "Gennaio 1995" (IT; 199x-xx-xx), page 106
  15. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "December 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 42
  16. GameFan, "Volume 2, Issue 12: December 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 26
  17. GamePro, "December 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 126
  18. Game Informer, "January 1995" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 18
  19. Joypad, "Avril 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 88
  20. MAN!AC, "02/95" (DE; 1995-01-11), page 40
  21. Mega Fun, "04/95" (DE; 1995-03-22), page 81
  22. Next Generation, "March 1995" (US; 1995-02-21), page 104
  23. Sega Power, "January 1995" (UK; 1994-11-17), page 72
  24. Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 217
  25. Video Games, "4/95" (DE; 1995-03-22), page 95


Viewpoint

Viewpoint MDTitleScreen.png

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Sega Mega Drive
Prototypes: 1994-07-22