Difference between revisions of "Prime / Microcosm"
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==Story== | ==Story== | ||
| + | ===''Prime''=== | ||
Prime is the superhero form of Kevin Green, a fifteen-year-old boy. His parents had trouble conceiving a child and turned to a government program for assistance. The government put his mother through experiments related to his research to create a super soldier. This gave Kevin the power to transform into the physical form of a super-powered adult but with his adolescent mind unchanged. | Prime is the superhero form of Kevin Green, a fifteen-year-old boy. His parents had trouble conceiving a child and turned to a government program for assistance. The government put his mother through experiments related to his research to create a super soldier. This gave Kevin the power to transform into the physical form of a super-powered adult but with his adolescent mind unchanged. | ||
Kevin's teenage crush, Kelly Cantrell, has gone missing, so he sets out to find her. | Kevin's teenage crush, Kelly Cantrell, has gone missing, so he sets out to find her. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===''Microcosm''=== | ||
| + | {{mainArticle|Microcosm#Story}} | ||
==Gameplay== | ==Gameplay== | ||
| + | ===''Prime''=== | ||
{{ScreenThumb|Ultraverse Prime, Cutscene.png|width=200|Cutscene}} | {{ScreenThumb|Ultraverse Prime, Cutscene.png|width=200|Cutscene}} | ||
The game is a single-player beat-'em-up. Prime moves with {{left}} and {{right}} and jumps with {{B}}. He moves backwards and forwards in the plane with {{up}} and {{down}}. He punches with {{A}} and kicks with {{C}}. Each attack combos into a stronger attack when pressed repeatedly. He can attack while jumping. He can grab opponents by holding {{A}} when near them and then pummel them while holding them or throw them. He can grab two enemies at once and bash their heads together. By finding Stars, Prime can use his Big Burst ability with {{A}}+{{B}}+{{C}}, where he flies into the air and explodes with energy. This damages all enemies on screen and also stuns enemies as well as Prime for a short time. | The game is a single-player beat-'em-up. Prime moves with {{left}} and {{right}} and jumps with {{B}}. He moves backwards and forwards in the plane with {{up}} and {{down}}. He punches with {{A}} and kicks with {{C}}. Each attack combos into a stronger attack when pressed repeatedly. He can attack while jumping. He can grab opponents by holding {{A}} when near them and then pummel them while holding them or throw them. He can grab two enemies at once and bash their heads together. By finding Stars, Prime can use his Big Burst ability with {{A}}+{{B}}+{{C}}, where he flies into the air and explodes with energy. This damages all enemies on screen and also stuns enemies as well as Prime for a short time. | ||
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Prime's life is indicated by a health bar at the top of the screen. When he loses all of his health, he loses a life. An extra life can be obtained by collecting all of the "EXTRA BONUS" letters throughout the game. If the player runs out of lives, the game ends. Opponents occasionally drop healing items when they are defeated. | Prime's life is indicated by a health bar at the top of the screen. When he loses all of his health, he loses a life. An extra life can be obtained by collecting all of the "EXTRA BONUS" letters throughout the game. If the player runs out of lives, the game ends. Opponents occasionally drop healing items when they are defeated. | ||
| − | ===Items=== | + | ====Items==== |
{{InfoTable|imagewidths=50| | {{InfoTable|imagewidths=50| | ||
{{InfoRow | {{InfoRow | ||
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}} | }} | ||
| − | ===Acts=== | + | ====Acts==== |
Each Act contains three Scenes, the last of which contains a boss encounter. | Each Act contains three Scenes, the last of which contains a boss encounter. | ||
| − | |||
{{InfoTable|imagewidths=320| | {{InfoTable|imagewidths=320| | ||
{{InfoRow | {{InfoRow | ||
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}} | }} | ||
| − | ===Comic viewer=== | + | ====Comic viewer==== |
{{ScreenThumb|Ultraverse Prime, Comic Viewer.png|width=200|Comic viewer}} | {{ScreenThumb|Ultraverse Prime, Comic Viewer.png|width=200|Comic viewer}} | ||
The game includes several issues of the comic book as a bonus. {{A}} zooms out, {{B}} zooms in, and {{C}} turns to the next page. {{Start}} selects a comic or exits. | The game includes several issues of the comic book as a bonus. {{A}} zooms out, {{B}} zooms in, and {{C}} turns to the next page. {{Start}} selects a comic or exits. | ||
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*''Prime'' #12 | *''Prime'' #12 | ||
}} | }} | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===''Microcosm''=== | ||
| + | {{mainArticle|Microcosm#Gameplay}} | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
Revision as of 02:10, 4 July 2024
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| Prime / Microcosm | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| System(s): Sega Mega-CD | ||||||||||
| Publisher: Sony Imagesoft | ||||||||||
| Developer: Malibu Interactive (Prime), Psygnosis (Microcosm) | ||||||||||
| Licensor: Malibu Comics | ||||||||||
| Genre: Compilation | ||||||||||
| Number of players: 1 | ||||||||||
|
Prime / Microcosm is a Sega Mega-CD compilation featuring Malibu Interactive's Prime and Psygnosis' Microcosm on two separate discs, published exclusively in the United States by Sony Imagesoft in December 1994. This article only covers Prime; for information relating to the latter game, see Microcosm.
Prime, also known as Ultraverse Prime, is a side-scrolling beat-'em-up developed by Malibu Interactive. Based upon the Malibu Comics superhero of the same name, it was developed by Malibu Interactive and sold under their Ultraverse brand. Originally intended for a individual release on both the Mega Drive[1] and Mega-CD[2], it was ultimately only included in this compilation.
Contents
Story
Prime
Prime is the superhero form of Kevin Green, a fifteen-year-old boy. His parents had trouble conceiving a child and turned to a government program for assistance. The government put his mother through experiments related to his research to create a super soldier. This gave Kevin the power to transform into the physical form of a super-powered adult but with his adolescent mind unchanged.
Kevin's teenage crush, Kelly Cantrell, has gone missing, so he sets out to find her.
Microcosm
- Main article: Microcosm#Story.
Gameplay
Prime
The game is a single-player beat-'em-up. Prime moves with 
and 
and jumps with 
. He moves backwards and forwards in the plane with 
and 
. He punches with 
and kicks with 
. Each attack combos into a stronger attack when pressed repeatedly. He can attack while jumping. He can grab opponents by holding when near them and then pummel them while holding them or throw them. He can grab two enemies at once and bash their heads together. By finding Stars, Prime can use his Big Burst ability with ++, where he flies into the air and explodes with energy. This damages all enemies on screen and also stuns enemies as well as Prime for a short time.
There are two flying segments. In these segments, Prime flies forward automatically. He can be moved in any direction with the D-Pad, punches with , and kicks with .
Prime's life is indicated by a health bar at the top of the screen. When he loses all of his health, he loses a life. An extra life can be obtained by collecting all of the "EXTRA BONUS" letters throughout the game. If the player runs out of lives, the game ends. Opponents occasionally drop healing items when they are defeated.
Items
| Little Heart | |
|---|---|
| Restores a small amount of health. | |
| Big Heart | |
| Restores a large amount of health. | |
| Star | |
| Gives Prime another use of his Big Burst ability. | |
| Letters | |
| Collect letters throughout the stages to spell "EXTRA BONUS" to gain an extra life. |
Acts
Each Act contains three Scenes, the last of which contains a boss encounter.
| Act 1 | |
|---|---|
| Act 2 | |
| Act 3 | |
| Act 4 | |
| Act 5 | |
Comic viewer
The game includes several issues of the comic book as a bonus. zooms out, zooms in, and turns to the next page. START selects a comic or exits.
- Prime #1
- Prime #2
- Prime #3
- Prime #4
- Prime #5
- Prime #6
- Prime #7
- Break Thru #1
- Break Thru #2
- Prime #8
- Mantra #7
- Prime #9
- Prime #10
- Prime #11
- Prime #12
Microcosm
- Main article: Microcosm#Gameplay.
History
Prime was originally developed as a Mega Drive game[1], scheduled to be published by Sony Imagesoft[2] around late 1994. However, its cartridge release was cancelled for unknown reasons, with the game soon moving to the Mega-CD.[2] While originally intended to be released as an individual disc, this was also cancelled, with Prime only ever appearing in this two-disc compilation.
Another version of the game was in development for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, but also went unreleased.[3]
Legacy
Due to the relative unfamiliarity of the titular Malibu Comics superhero and the company's Ultraverse brand, as well as the obscurity of the game itself, the character's Mega-CD outing is commonly known under the name Ultraverse Prime.
Production credits
Prime
- Programming: Allan Shortt
- Background Art: Simon Butler, Robert Hemphill, Terry Lloyd
- Animations: Jon Eggelton, Neal Sutton, Simon Butler
- Title Art: Jon Eggelton, Bill Harbison
- Music/SFX: Tim Follin, Geoff Follin
- Comic Programming: David Pridmore
- Comic Conversion: Helen Jones
- Video Processing: Tom Higgins
- Testing/QA: Mick Thompson, Tony McColgan
- Management: Ian McGee, Steve Wahid
- Based on a design by: James Higgins, Gerry Jones, Len Strezewski
- Prime Creators: Gerry Jones, Len Strezewski
- Executive Producer: Rich Robinson
- Producer: Nathan Rose
- Assistant Producers: Mark Smith, CJ Connoy
- Testers: Jose Cruz, Andre Leighton, Bruce Cochrane, Tobin Russell, Seth Luisi, Andrew Stein, Kurt Schwengal, Jody Kelsey, CJ Connoy
Magazine articles
- Main article: Prime / Microcosm/Magazine articles.
Physical scans
| Sega Retro Average | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
 |
55 |
|---|---|
| Based on 2 reviews | |
| Mega-CD, US |
|---|
  Cover
|
 Manual  Prime disc  Microcosm disc |
Technical information
- Main article: Prime / Microcosm/Technical information.
ROM dump status
| System | Hash | Size | Build Date | Source | Comments | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
468,948,816 | 1993-12 | CD-ROM (US) | T-93325 (Microcosm) | |||||||||
|
|
418,082,112 | 1994-12 | CD-ROM (US) | T-93325 (Prime) |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sega Force, "Summer 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 18
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Electronic Gaming Monthly, "August 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 159
- ↑ https://snescentral.com/article.php?id=0927
- ↑ File:Ultraverse Prime MCD credits.pdf
- ↑ GamePro, "April 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 53
- ↑ Game Informer, "March 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 42
| Prime / Microcosm | |
|---|---|
|
Main page | Hidden content | Magazine articles | Reception | |
| Malibu Comics games for Sega systems | |
|---|---|
 |
Ex-Mutants (1992) | Dinosaurs for Hire (1993) | Firearm (unreleased) | Prime (unreleased) |
|
Prime (1994) | The Strangers (unreleased) |
 |
The Incredible Hulk: The Pantheon Saga (1997) |