Difference between revisions of "Vectorman"

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==Production credits==
 
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*'''Special Thanks:''' [[E. Ettore Annunziata]], Smuv Deyoung, [[Clint Dyer]], [[Joe Miller]], [[Scott Rohde]], [[Chris Smith]], Terry Tang
 
*'''Special Thanks:''' [[E. Ettore Annunziata]], Smuv Deyoung, [[Clint Dyer]], [[Joe Miller]], [[Scott Rohde]], [[Chris Smith]], Terry Tang
 
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==Digital manuals==
 
==Digital manuals==

Revision as of 06:14, 12 August 2017

n/a

Vectorman.png

Vectorman
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Virtual Console, Steam
Publisher: Sega
Developer:
Sound driver: GEMS
Genre: Action

















Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
US 		$59.9959.99[1] 1577
Sega Mega Drive
US
(Mega Hit Series) 		$19.9919.99
Sega Mega Drive
EU 		1577-50
Sega Mega Drive
AU 		FVEC00SMC
Sega Mega Drive
BR 		046930
Wii Virtual Console
JP ▼ 		600pts600
Wii Virtual Console
US ▼ 		800pts800
Wii Virtual Console
EU ▼ 		800pts800
CERO
Missing Parameter!


Vectorman (ベクターマン) is a platform game developed by BlueSky Software and published by Sega for the Sega Mega Drive. It was released on October 24, 1995 in North America and on November 30, 1995 in Europe.

Story

In 2049, the human population of Earth embarks on a migratory voyage to try to colonize other planets. They leave mechanical "orbots" to clean up the mess they made on Earth through littering and pollution. Raster, a high-level orbot who watches Earth through a planetwide computer network, is accidentally attached to a working nuclear missile by a lesser orbot and goes insane, becoming an evil dictator named Warhead. He declares himself ruler of Earth, and begins preparing to execute any humans who dare return to their planet.

Enter Vectorman, a humble orbot in charge of cleaning up toxic sludge by simply discharging it into the sun. As he lands on Earth after his last trip, he finds chaos and confusion. Because all the other Orbots are controlled by Warhead (Vectorman having not been affected because he was away), Vectorman takes it upon himself to destroy the errant orbot and restore peace to Earth.

Gameplay

The game itself is a straightforward 2D action platformer. Vectorman is an orbot (something like a robot) powered with a ball gun in his hand; powerups include a machine gun, "bolo" gun, and triple-fire guns. A and B both shoot and C jumps. C twice will launch Vectorman into a brief boost.

Vectorman possesses the ability to transform, through the use of powerups, into several different forms: including a drill, to cut through floors; a bomb, to destroy all surrounding enemies or breakable walls; and an aquatic form, useful for swimming underwater. In addition to powerup transformations, 3 levels host unique morphed forms with which to combat bosses in. Overall, the game consists of 16 levels.

History

Development

Vectorman was made partly in response to Nintendo/Rare's Donkey Kong Country, which contained pioneering graphics with pre-rendered 3D models in its level and character designs, giving the game a smooth, computer-generated feel.. Donkey Kong Country's marketing stated that the game was impossible to do on Sega's Mega Drive, and Vectorman acted as one attempt to prove Nintendo wrong.

Release

In North America, special randomly distributed copies of Vectorman have a special "you win" screen at the end of the game, along with a phone number which could be called and an address. If consumers sent these special cartridges back to Sega of America before July 31st, 1996, they would receive prizes - one $25,000 prize (won by Keolamanaokalahuinui "Keola" Kaula of Albuquerque[1]), ten £10,000 prizes or one of ninety Sega Saturn systems[3].

Vectorman was both a critical and commercial success, and was re-released in North America as part of the Mega Hit Series. It was acclaimed for its gameplay, level design and 3d graphics, and a great techno soundtrack.

Legacy

Vectorman was not originally released in Japan, with its debut in the country coming through the PC compilation Sega Archives From USA Vol.1. It was released on the Wii Virtual Console on February 27, 2007 in Japan and April 5, 2007 in Europe, and in North America on September 22, 2008.

Sonic Gems Collection has both Vectorman and its sequel as unlockable games. Vectorman can be unlocked by playing the compilation for at least 5 hours or by having a save file of Sonic Heroes or Sonic Mega Collection on the memory card. Both games were the only bonus titles to be kept on the international versions of the collection.

Sega Mega Drive Collection also features Vectorman and its sequel, this time as games available without the need for unlocking. Sega Mega Drive Ultimate Collection also contains the game.

A sequel, Vectorman 2 was produced for the Sega Mega Drive, and was released in 1996.

Although BlueSky Software, the original developer of both Vectorman games closed in 2001, a Vectorman game for the PlayStation 2 was announced in 2003 but was soon cancelled.

Production credits

BlueSky Software
  • Designers: Richard Karpp, Mark Lorenzen
  • Project Manager: Jennifer Cleary
  • Game Concept By: Dana Christianson, Richard Karpp, Mark Lorenzen, Jason Weesner
  • Lead Background Artist: Amber Long
  • Background Artists: Jeff Jonas, Geoffrey Knobel, Mark Lorenzen, Jeff Remmer
  • Background Assistant: Brandon McDonald
  • Lead Animator: Marty Davis
  • Animators: Ellis Goodson, John Roy
  • Splash Screens: Jeff Remmer
  • Sound: Jon Holland
  • Music: Jon Holland
  • Lead Programmer: Richard Karpp
  • Programmers: Mark Botta, Keith Freiheit, Bonita Kane
  • Special Thanks: Patrick Brogan, Tom Carroll, John Fulbright, Jerry Huber, Matt McDonald, Chuck Osieja, Sam Powell, Rick Randolph, Rick Schmitz, Kim Walsh
Sega

Digital manuals

  • Steam manual

Magazine articles

Main article: Vectorman/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

  • US TV Advert

  • FR print advert

Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in VideoGames (US) #82: "November 1995" (1995-10-24)
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Sega Magazin (DE) #28: "März 1996" (1996-02-14)
also published in:
Logo-pdf.svg

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
44 №11, p140/141[7]
80 №12
85 №48, p108/109[8]
96 №168, p48/49[9]
83 №76, p42[10]
91
90
92 №36, p46/47
82 №84
78 №11/95, p72/73[11]
90 №37, p62-65[12]
90 №58, p126/127
90 №73, p48/49
90 №52, p50/51
90 №1, p89[2]
Sega Mega Drive
 85
Based on
15 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
70
[13]
CD Consoles (FR)
44
[7]
Consoles + (FR)
85
[8]
Cool Gamer (RU)
90
[14]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
96
[9]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
83
[10]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1 (RU)
70
[15]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 5 (RU)
90
[16]
Fun Generation (DE)
80
[17]
Fusion (US) NTSC-U
63
[18]
GameFan (US) NTSC-U
91
[19]
Game Players (US) NTSC-U
90
[20]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
98
[21]
GamePro (UK)
91
[22]
Gamers (DE)
80
[23]
GamesMaster (UK) PAL
82
[24]
Game Informer (US) NTSC-U
89
[25]
Hobby Consolas (ES) PAL
86
[26]
MAN!AC (DE) PAL
80
[27]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
78
[11]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
90
[12]
Player One (FR)
90
[28]
Sega News (CZ)
82
[29]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
90
[30]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
90
[31]
Svet Kompjutera (YU)
90
[32]
Sega Saturn Magazine (UK)
90
[2]
Todo Sega (ES)
87
[33]
Tricks (RU)
89
[34]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
90
[35]
Video Games (DE) PAL
85
[36]
VideoGames (US) NTSC-U
90
[37]
Sega Mega Drive
 84
Based on
32 reviews

Vectorman

Mega Drive, US
Vectorman MD US Box Back.jpgVectorman MD US Box Spine.jpgVectorman md us cover.jpg
Cover
Vectorman md us cart.jpg
Cart
Vectorman md us manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, US (Mega Hit Series)
Vectorman MD US Box Back MHS.jpgVectorman MD US Box Spine MHS.jpgVectormanMHS md us cover.jpg
Cover
Vectorman MD US Cart MHS.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, US
(Mega Hit Series) (Alt)

Vectorman MD US Cart MHS Alt.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, EU
Vectorman md eu cover.jpg
Cover
Vectorman MD EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, AU
Vectorman MD AU cover.jpg
Cover
Vectorman MD EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Vectorman MD AU manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, BR
VectormanMDBrCover.jpg
Cover
VectormanMDBrCartTop.jpg
VectormanMDBrCart.jpg
Cart
Vectorman md br manual.pdf
Manual

External links

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Press release: 1996-01-12: 12-year-old gamer wins $25,000 cash grand prize in Sega's videogame contest
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 File:SSM UK 01.pdf, page 89 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SSM UK 01.pdf_p89" defined multiple times with different content
  3. ↑ File:EGM US 077.pdf, page 22
  4. ↑ Sega Magazin, "Juni 1996" (DE; 1996-05-08), page 99
  5. ↑ Sega Magazin, "Juli 1996" (DE; 1996-06-12), page 99
  6. ↑ Sega Magazin, "August 1996" (DE; 1996-07-10), page 99
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 File:CDConsoles FR 11.pdf, page 140 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CDConsoles FR 11.pdf_p140" defined multiple times with different content
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 File:ConsolesPlus FR 048.pdf, page 108 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:ConsolesPlus FR 048.pdf_p108" defined multiple times with different content
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 File:CVG UK 168.pdf, page 48 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CVG UK 168.pdf_p48" defined multiple times with different content
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 File:EGM US 076.pdf, page 42 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:EGM US 076.pdf_p42" defined multiple times with different content
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 File:MegaFun DE 1995-11.pdf, page 72 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MegaFun DE 1995-11.pdf_p72" defined multiple times with different content
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 File:MeanMachinesSega37UK.pdf, page 62 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachinesSega37UK.pdf_p62" defined multiple times with different content
  13. ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 255
  14. ↑ Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 231
  15. ↑ Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 366
  16. ↑ Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 5, "" (RU; 200x-xx-xx), page 251
  17. ↑ Fun Generation, "06/95" (DE; 1995-0x-xx), page 64
  18. ↑ Fusion, "Volume 1, Number 6: January 1996" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 100
  19. ↑ GameFan, "Volume 3, Issue 11: November 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 22
  20. ↑ Game Players, "Vol. 9 No. 1 January 1996" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 57
  21. ↑ GamePro, "November 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 72
  22. ↑ GamePro, "December 1995" (UK; 1995-10-28), page 50
  23. ↑ Gamers, "November 1995" (DE; 1995-10-11), page 48
  24. ↑ GamesMaster (UK) "Series 5, episode 5" (1995-10-19, 24:00) (+9:40)
  25. ↑ Game Informer, "November 1995" (US; 1995-1x-xx), page 26
  26. ↑ Hobby Consolas, "Noviembre 1995" (ES; 1995-xx-xx), page 98
  27. ↑ MAN!AC, "12/95" (DE; 1995-11-08), page 92
  28. ↑ Player One, "Novembre 1995" (FR; 1995-1x-xx), page 128
  29. ↑ Sega News, "Listopad 1996" (CZ; 1996-1x-xx), page 27
  30. ↑ Sega Power, "December 1995" (UK; 1995-10-19), page 48
  31. ↑ Sega Pro, "December 1995" (UK; 1995-11-02), page 50
  32. ↑ Svet Kompjutera, "April 1996" (YU; 1996-xx-xx), page 78
  33. ↑ Todo Sega, "Noviembre 1995" (ES; 1995-1x-xx), page 48
  34. ↑ Tricks, "Vypusk 8" (RU; 1996-xx-xx), page 32
  35. ↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 27
  36. ↑ Video Games, "11/95" (DE; 1995-10-25), page 92
  37. ↑ VideoGames, "November 1995" (US; 1995-10-24), page 89



Games in the Vectorman Series
Vectorman (1995) | Vectorman 2 (1996) | Vectorman 3 (unreleased) | Vectorman (PlayStation 2) (Unreleased)
Vectorman related media
Music
 Sega Tunes: Vectorman (1996)
Retrieved from "https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=Vectorman&oldid=395670"