Difference between revisions of "Powerslave"

From Sega Retro

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===Screenshot===
 
===Screenshot===

Revision as of 13:45, 31 March 2021

n/a

Powerslave title.png

Powerslave
System(s): Sega Saturn
Publisher: BMG Interactive (Japan, Europe), Playmates Interactive Entertainment (US)
Developer:
Original system(s): PC
Sound driver: SCSP/CD-DA (13 tracks)
Peripherals supported: 3D Control Pad, Saturn 6 Player Adaptor (for Death Tank)
Genre: Action[1][2]

















Number of players: 1 (2-6 for Death Tank)
Official in-game languages:
  • English
  • Deutsch
  • Français
  • Español
  • 日本語
    • Release Date RRP Code
    Sega Saturn
    JP     		¥5,800 (5,974)5,800e[3] T-18001G
    Sega Rating: 18 and Up
    Sega Saturn
    US     		$59.9559.95[5] T-13205H
    ESRB: Mature
    Sega Saturn
    EU     		81084-50
    ELSPA: 15+ OK
    Sega Saturn
    PT     		STJSE0328
    Sega Saturn
    UK     		£44.9944.99[7] 81084-50
    ELSPA: 15+ OK
    Sega Saturn
    PL     		219zł219
    Sega Saturn
    AU     		FEXH00SSC
    OFLC: MA15
    Non-Sega versions

    Powerslave, known as Exhumed in Europe and Seireki 1999: Pharaoh no Fukkatsu (西暦１９９９ ファラオの復活) in Japan, is a first person shooter game developed by Lobotomy Software and released for the Sega Saturn in 1996.

    During development the game was known simply as Ruins.

    Gameplay

    Death Tank

    The North American and Japanese versions of Powerslave contain a mini game called Death Tank that can be accessed if you collect all 23 dolls hidden in the game. The mini-game supports up to 6 players, which was increased up to 7 players in it's sequel, Death Tank Zwei, which can be found in Duke Nukem 3D.

    History

    Slave Driver game engine

    The original version appeared on the PC as a Build engine game and featured many mechanics, levels and content that varied differently. This includes linear level design, in-game speech from the main character, and stock lives that once they've run out, the game ends for the player. When the game was brought to the Sega Saturn and PlayStation, the game was rebuilt from the ground up using a proprietary engine called Slave Driver which was able to render more complex levels, including rooms above other rooms, which was not possible on the Build engine. It also went through a major gameplay re-design thanks to the stronger hardware. The PlayStation and Sega Saturn versions put more focus on exploration and allow the player to replay stages. In order to progress, certain permanent power ups (e.g. magic sandals that allow higher jumps) need to be collected. The Slave Driver engine would become a framework for PC to console ports by Lobotomy Software including Duke Nukem 3D and Quake.

    Versions

    Powerslave was released on the Sega Saturn several months before its PlayStation counterpart, and for its time was a technical showpiece for the system. With better 3D performance, the PlayStation is able to add more visual effects, true transparency (negating the need for the checkerboard "mesh" pattern used for water), and performance improvements in some areas.

    While the Saturn version is capped at 30FPS, the PlayStation can reach highs of 60FPS. As was common for 3D games at the time, however, both versions struggle to hold their desired numbers - the Saturn dropping to 20FPS in more hectic scenes, and the PlayStation also dropping to 30 or 20FPS on occasion. The Saturn version, while slower in this regard, is therefore able to output a more consistent frame rate, with its PlayStation counterpart being noticeably more variable as more frames are dropped.

    The PlayStation version is also able to offer better lighting effects, however much of its level geometry has been paired back, with smaller, less complicated rooms being used throughout the experience (and some larger rooms being split up). While a new introduction area is added, several areas lose the sense of scale, to the point where some outdoor areas on the Saturn are indoors on the PlayStation.

    The auto-aiming feature of the Saturn version of Powerslave is less effective on the PlayStation, making it harder to hit smaller targets. Also missing is any form of analogue control - while Saturn Powerslave supports the 3D Control Pad, neither Dual Analog or DualShock controllers are supported on Sony's machine.

    Reportedly the red spiders were changed to blue scorpions to satisfy Sony's desire for PlayStation games to have unique content when ported from other platforms.

    On the PC, Powerslave is an entirely different game, and while many assets are shared between the three versions, the PC has unique levels designed for the Build engine (which on the PC is most notable for powering Duke Nukem 3D, as well as Shadow Warrior and Blood). Powerslave uses an earlier version of the engine than Duke 3D, however, so there are no slopes in the game, and is much more linear in design than is console counterparts.

    Death Tank is exclusive to the Saturn version of Powerslave.

    Localised names

    Also known as
    Language Localised Name English Translation
    English Exhumed Exhumed
    English (US) Powerslave Powerslave
    Japanese 西暦１９９９ ファラオの復活 Seireki 1999: Pharaoh no Fukkatsu

    Screenshot

    Main article: Powerslave/Comparisons.

    Production credits

    Powerslave and Seireki 1999: Pharaoh no Fukkatsu

    TODO: there's a paragraph after the credits row of the Japanese version, translate/check if it's relevant

    • Executive Producers: Brian McNeely, Paul Lange
    • Game Design and Art Direction: Brian McNeely
    • Game Programming: Ezra Dreisbach
    • BREW World Editing Tool: David Lawson
    • Music and Sound Effects: Scott Branston
    • Design Team: Brian McNeely, Dominick Meissner, Ezra Dreisbach, Paul Knutzen, Paul Lange, Mark Coates, Jason Wiggin
    • Texture and Ambient Object Art: Troy Jacobson, Joe Kresoja
    • Creatures and Weaponry: John Van Deusen
    • 3D Modeling: Kevin Chung, William Vallieres
    • Cinema Scene and Map Art: Richard Nichols, John Van Duesen
    • Art Team: Brian McNeely, Troy Jacobson, John Van Duesen, kevin Chung, Paul Knutzen, Richard Nichols, Erik Klokstad, William Vallieres, Joe Kresoja, Jason Wiggin
    • Stage Design: Brian McNeely, Dominick Meissner, Paul Knutzen
    • Object and Ambient Light Editing Tool: Jeff Blazier
    • Peepshow Animation Tool: Paul Schreiber
    • Additional Technical Support: Kurt Pfeifer, John Yuill, Paul Hagerud, John Schwab, Pat Schreiber
    • Instruction Manual: Tom Kristensen
    • Lobotomy Would Like to Thank: Jacqui Lyons, Marjacq Micro, PIE, Tommy Tellarico, Cheryl Hart, SEGA
    Playmates Interactive Entertainment
    • Executive Producer: David Luehmann
    • Producer: Chris Archer
    • Associate Producer: Carlos Rodriguez
    • QA Manager: Rich Frey
    • Lead Tester: Andrew, A. Brown
    • Testers: David Ontiveros, Lee Jones, David Arranaga, James Martinez, Anthony Vasquez, Jose Zatarain, Leland Mah
    • Sales Marketing: David Localio, Kelly Frey
    • Technical Support: Jose Zatarain, Lee Jones
    • PR: Ron Antonette, Nicole Rosenberg, Karen Trachtenberg
    • Special Thanks: Richard Sallis, Thomas Chan, Sue Lucchino, Dabvid L. Hoffman, Scott Herrington, Playmate Toys
    Source:
    In-game credits

    Exhumed

    • Executive Producers: Brian McNeely, Paul Lange
    • Game Design: Brian McNeely
    • Additional Game Design: Dominick Meissner, Mark Coates, Jason Wiggin, Ezra Dreisbach
    • Game Programming: Ezra Dreisbach
    • BREW World Editing Tool: David Lawson
    • Art and Environment: Troy Jacobson, Brian McNeely, John Van Deusen, Kevin Chung, Paul Knutzen, Richard Nichols, Eric Klokstad, Joe Kresoja, Jason Wiggin, Willian Vallieres
    • Creatures and Weaponry: John Van Deusen
    • Music and Sound Effects: Scott Branston
    • Stage Design: Brian McNeely, Dominick Meissner, Paul Knutzen, Jason Wiggin, Mark Coates
    • Additional Technical Support: Jeff Blazier, John Schwab, John Yuill, Paul Hagerud, Paul Schreiber, Pat Schreiber, Kurt Pfeifer
    • Instruction Manual: Tom Kristensen
    • Special THANKS! to: Jacqui Lyons, Marjacq Micro, Ian Mathias, Mike Brown, Ronya, Lonnie, Nasie, and of Course Sega
    Source:
    In-game credits

    Magazine articles

    Main article: Powerslave/Magazine articles.

    Promotional material

    DailyMirror UK 1996-09-19 42.png
    Exhumed UK newspaper print advert
    DailyMirror UK 1996-09-19 42.png
    Logo-pdf.svg
    Print advert in Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #86: "September 1996" (1996-xx-xx)
    also published in:
    Logo-pdf.svg
    Logo-pdf.svg
    Print advert in Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #89: "December 1996" (1996-xx-xx)
    Logo-pdf.svg
    Logo-pdf.svg
    Print advert in Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #91: "February 1997" (199x-xx-xx)
    Logo-pdf.svg
    Logo-pdf.svg
    Print advert in Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) #1996-21: "1996-21 (1996-12-13)" (1996-11-22)
    Logo-pdf.svg
    Logo-pdf.svg
    Print advert in Hobby Consolas (ES) #61: "Octubre 1996" (1996-xx-xx)
    Logo-pdf.svg

    Artwork

    • Powerslave Saturn US Art Cover.jpg

    Physical scans

    Sega Retro Average 
    Publication Score Source
    80 [11]
    60 №416, p32
    86 [12]
    89 №46, p51
    91 [13]
    92 [14]
    93 [15]
    88 [16]
    94 [17]
    89 [18]
    91 №83, p34-37
    92 [19]
    83 [20]
    89 [21]
    86 [22]
    Sega Saturn
    		 87
    Based on
    15 reviews
    Sega Retro Average 
    Publication Version Score
    576 KByte (HU)
    91
    		[23]
    Computer & Video Games (UK)
    75
    		[7]
    Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
    73
    		[24]
    Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
    60
    		[25]
    Freak (IL)
    86
    		[26]
    Fun Generation (DE) PAL
    90
    		[27]
    Gambler (PL)
    87
    		[28]
    GameFan (US) NTSC-U
    86
    		[29]
    GamePro (US) NTSC-U
    100
    		[5]
    GamesMaster (UK) PAL
    89
    		[30]
    Game Informer (US) NTSC-U
    89
    		[31]
    Gry Komputerowe (PL)
    85
    		[32]
    Hobby Consolas (ES)
    91
    		[33]
    Joypad (FR) PAL
    92
    		[34]
    LeveL (CZ)
    86
    		[35]
    MAN!AC (DE) PAL
    85
    		[36]
    Mega Force (FR) PAL
    93
    		[37]
    Mega Fun (DE) PAL
    88
    		[38]
    Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
    94
    		[39]
    Player One (FR)
    89
    		[40]
    Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J
    62
    		[41]
    Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J
    64
    		[42]
    Saturn+ (UK) PAL
    91
    		[43]
    Score (CZ)
    80
    		[44]
    Secret Service (PL)
    80
    		[45]
    Sega News (CZ)
    95
    		[46]
    Sega Power (UK) PAL
    91
    		[47]
    Świat Gier Komputerowych (PL)
    85
    		[48]
    Sega Saturn Magazine (UK) PAL
    92
    		[49]
    Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
    83
    		[50]
    Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
    89
    		[51]
    Total Saturn (UK) PAL
    85
    		[52]
    Total Saturn (UK) PAL
    87
    		[53]
    Video Games (DE) PAL
    86
    		[54]
    Sega Saturn
    		 85
    Based on
    34 reviews

    Powerslave

    Saturn, JP
    PowerSlave Saturn JP Box Back.jpgPowerSlave Saturn JP Box Front.jpg
    Cover
    Powerslave Saturn JP Spinecard.jpg
    Spinecard
    Powerslave Saturn JP Disc.jpg
    Disc
    Seireki 1999 Pharaoh no Fukkatsu Sat JP Manual.pdf
    Manual
    Saturn, US
    PowerSlave Saturn US Box Back.jpgPowerSlave Saturn US Box Front.jpg
    Cover
    Powerslave Saturn US Disc.jpg
    Disc
    Powerslave sat us manual.pdf
    Manual
    Saturn, EU
    PowerSlave Saturn EU Box.jpg
    Cover
    Powerslave Saturn EU Disc.jpg
    Disc
    Saturn, PT
    PowerSlave Saturn PT cover.jpg
    Cover
    Powerslave Saturn EU Disc.jpg
    Disc
    Saturn, AU
    PowerSlave Saturn AU back.jpgNospine.pngPowerSlave Saturn AU cover.jpg
    Cover
    Powerslave Saturn EU Disc.jpg
    Disc

    Technical information

    ROM dump status

    System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
    Sega Saturn
    ✔
    CRC32
    MD5
    SHA-1
    		570,672,816 CD-ROM (EU) 81084-50 V1.000
    Sega Saturn
    ✔
    CRC32
    MD5
    SHA-1
    		524,049,120 1996-10-02 CD-ROM (JP) T-18001G V1.003

    Save data

    To load and save data from the Ram Cart, the save file must be created on the internal battery back-up first, then moved over via the Memory Manager.


    Saturn (NTSC-J) Save Data
    Name Comment Blocks Description
    BMG_1999___ save games 11 Save data for progress.


    Saturn (Powerslave) Save Data
    Name Comment Blocks Description
    POWERSLAVE# save games 11 Save data for progress.


    References

    1. ↑ File:PowerSlave Saturn JP Box Back.jpg
    2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 https://sega.jp/fb/segahard/ss/soft_licensee2.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-03-20 23:05)
    3. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "1996-21 (1996-12-13)" (JP; 1996-11-22), page 134
    4. ↑ http://sega-saturn.com/software.htm (Wayback Machine: 1997-01-01 11:35)
    5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 GamePro, "November 1996" (US; 1996-xx-xx), page 120
    6. ↑ File:DailyMirror_UK_1996-09-19_42.png
    7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Computer & Video Games, "September 1996" (UK; 1996-08-11), page 72
    8. ↑ Next Generation, "October 1996" (US; 1996-09-17), page 195
    9. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "October 1996" (US; 1996-xx-xx), page 43
    10. ↑ EGM², "November 1996" (US; 1996-xx-xx), page 67
    11. ↑ Computer & Video Games, "September 1996" (UK; 1996-08-11), page 72-73 (72)
    12. ↑ GameFan, "Volume 4, Issue 11: November 1996" (US; 1996-xx-xx), page 16 (18)
    13. ↑ Hobby Consolas, "Octubre 1996" (ES; 1996-xx-xx), page 68-70 (70)
    14. ↑ Joypad, "Octobre 1996" (FR; 1996-xx-xx), page 98-99 (98)
    15. ↑ Mega Force, "Novembre/Décembre 1996" (FR; 1996-1x-xx), page 36-39 (36)
    16. ↑ Mega Fun, "10/96" (DE; 1996-09-18), page 76-77 (76)
    17. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "September 1996" (UK; 1996-08-05), page 52-54 (52)
    18. ↑ Player One, "Octobre 1996" (FR; 1996-xx-xx), page 92-93 (92)
    19. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1996" (UK; 1996-08-20), page 68-69 (68)
    20. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "1996-21 (1996-12-13)" (JP; 1996-11-22), page 267 (269)
    21. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine (readers), "Final data" (JP; 2000-03), page 9 (11)
    22. ↑ Video Games, "10/96" (DE; 1996-09-25), page 86-87 (83)
    23. ↑ 576 KByte, "Október 1996" (HU; 1996-xx-xx), page 26
    24. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "December 1996" (US; 1996-xx-xx), page 85
    25. ↑ Famitsu, "1996-12-06" (JP; 1996-11-22), page 1
    26. ↑ Freak, "3/97" (IL; 1997-xx-xx), page 1
    27. ↑ Fun Generation, "11/96" (DE; 1996-10-09), page 78
    28. ↑ Gambler, "4/1997" (PL; 1997-xx-xx), page 1
    29. ↑ GameFan, "Volume 4, Issue 11: November 1996" (US; 1996-xx-xx), page 18
    30. ↑ GamesMaster, "September 1996" (UK; 1996-08-01), page 51
    31. ↑ Game Informer, "December 1996" (US; 1996-1x-xx), page 65
    32. ↑ Gry Komputerowe, "1-2/1997" (PL; 1997-xx-xx), page 1
    33. ↑ Hobby Consolas, "Octubre 1996" (ES; 1996-xx-xx), page 68
    34. ↑ Joypad, "Octobre 1996" (FR; 1996-xx-xx), page 98
    35. ↑ LeveL, "Prosinec 1996" (CZ; 1996-12-01), page 82
    36. ↑ MAN!AC, "11/96" (DE; 1996-10-09), page 74
    37. ↑ Mega Force, "Novembre/Décembre 1996" (FR; 1996-1x-xx), page 36
    38. ↑ Mega Fun, "10/96" (DE; 1996-09-18), page 60
    39. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "September 1996" (UK; 1996-08-05), page 52
    40. ↑ Player One, "Octobre 1996" (FR; 1996-xx-xx), page 92
    41. ↑ Saturn Fan, "1996 No. 24" (JP; 1996-11-15), page 188
    42. ↑ Saturn Fan, "1997 No. 2" (JP; 1997-01-17), page 70
    43. ↑ Saturn+, "Issue 4" (UK; 1996-10-24), page 28
    44. ↑ Score, "Prosinec 1996" (CZ; 1996-12-01), page 112
    45. ↑ Secret Service, "Marzec 1997" (PL; 1997-xx-xx), page 67
    46. ↑ Sega News, "Listopad 1996" (CZ; 1996-1x-xx), page 10
    47. ↑ Sega Power, "September 1996" (UK; 1996-08-01), page 34
    48. ↑ Świat Gier Komputerowych, "2/1997" (PL; 1997-xx-xx), page 1
    49. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1996" (UK; 1996-08-20), page 68
    50. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "1996-21 (1996-12-13)" (JP; 1996-11-22), page 269
    51. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "Readers rating final data" (JP; 2000-03), page 11
    52. ↑ Total Saturn, "Volume One Issue Two" (UK; 1996-09-30), page 58
    53. ↑ Total Saturn, "Volume One Issue Four" (UK; 1996-12-29), page 25
    54. ↑ Video Games, "10/96" (DE; 1996-09-25), page 86


    Powerslave

    Powerslave title.png

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    Prototypes: 1996-05-15 | 09-27
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