Powerslave

From Sega Retro

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Powerslave title.png

Powerslave
System(s): Sega Saturn
Publisher: BMG Interactive, Playmates Interactive Entertainment (US)
Developer:
Genre: Action

















Number of players: 1 (2-6 for Death Tank)
Release Date RRP Code

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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. It was ported to the Sega Saturn in 1996.


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 collectedThe Slave Driver engine would become a framework for PC to console ports by Lobotomy Software including Duke Nukem 3D and Quake.

Extra Feature

Death Tank

US version of Powerslave contains 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.

Saving Data

Powerslave makes use of the Saturn's internal battery back-up as well as the Saturn Backup Memory to save data for progress. 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.

Version differences

As mentioned before, the PC version is an almost completely different game. The Playstation and Sega Saturn versions differ in terms of stage design, lighting effects, framerate (higher peak performance on Playstation vs more constant 30 frames per second on Sega Saturn.)etc.

Powerslave Save Data
Name Comment File Size
POWERSLAVE# save games 11

Production Credits

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 Kfesoja, Jason Wiggin, Willian Vallieres
Creatures and Weaponry: John Van Deusen
Music and Sound Effects: Scott Branston
Stage Design: Brian McNeely, Domick Meissner, Paul Knutzen, Jason Wiggin, Mark Coates
Additional Technical Support: Jeff Blazier, John Schwab, John Yuill, Paul Magefud, 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

Promotional Material

  • PowerSlave Saturn US PrintAdvert.jpg

    US print advert

Physical Scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
80 №178, p72/73
89 №46, p51
92 №57, p98/99
88 №1996/10, p76/77[1]
94 №47, p52-54[2]
89 №68, p92/93
91 №83, p34/35/36/37
92 №11, p68/69
Sega Saturn
 89
Based on
8 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
576 KByte (HU)
91
[3]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
75
[4]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
73
[5]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
60
[6]
Freak (IL)
86
[7]
Fun Generation (DE) PAL
90
[8]
Gambler (PL)
87
[9]
GameFan (US) NTSC-U
86
[10]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
100
[11]
GamesMaster (UK) PAL
89
[12]
Game Informer (US) NTSC-U
89
[13]
Gry Komputerowe (PL)
85
[14]
Hobby Consolas (ES)
91
[15]
Joypad (FR) PAL
92
[16]
LeveL (CZ)
86
[17]
MAN!AC (DE) PAL
85
[18]
Mega Force (FR) PAL
93
[19]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
88
[20]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
94
[2]
Player One (FR)
89
[21]
Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J
62
[22]
Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J
64
[23]
Saturn+ (UK) PAL
91
[24]
Score (CZ)
80
[25]
Secret Service (PL)
80
[26]
Sega News (CZ)
95
[27]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
91
[28]
Świat Gier Komputerowych (PL)
85
[29]
Sega Saturn Magazine (UK) PAL
92
[30]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
83
[31]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
89
[32]
Total Saturn (UK) PAL
85
[33]
Total Saturn (UK) PAL
87
[34]
Video Games (DE) PAL
86
[35]
Sega Saturn
 85
Based on
34 reviews

Powerslave

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, 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
  1. ↑ File:MegaFun DE 1996-10.pdf, page 76
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 File:MeanMachinesSega47UK.pdf, page 52 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachinesSega47UK.pdf_p52" defined multiple times with different content
  3. ↑ 576 KByte, "Október 1996" (HU; 1996-xx-xx), page 26
  4. ↑ Computer & Video Games, "September 1996" (UK; 1996-08-11), page 72
  5. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "December 1996" (US; 1996-xx-xx), page 85
  6. ↑ Famitsu, "1996-12-06" (JP; 1996-11-22), page 1
  7. ↑ Freak, "3/97" (IL; 1997-xx-xx), page 1
  8. ↑ Fun Generation, "11/96" (DE; 1996-10-09), page 78
  9. ↑ Gambler, "4/1997" (PL; 1997-xx-xx), page 1
  10. ↑ GameFan, "Volume 4, Issue 11: November 1996" (US; 1996-xx-xx), page 18
  11. ↑ GamePro, "November 1996" (US; 1996-xx-xx), page 120
  12. ↑ GamesMaster, "September 1996" (UK; 1996-08-01), page 51
  13. ↑ Game Informer, "December 1996" (US; 1996-1x-xx), page 65
  14. ↑ Gry Komputerowe, "1-2/1997" (PL; 1997-xx-xx), page 1
  15. ↑ Hobby Consolas, "Octubre 1996" (ES; 1996-xx-xx), page 68
  16. ↑ Joypad, "Octobre 1996" (FR; 1996-xx-xx), page 98
  17. ↑ LeveL, "Prosinec 1996" (CZ; 1996-12-01), page 82
  18. ↑ MAN!AC, "11/96" (DE; 1996-10-09), page 74
  19. ↑ Mega Force, "Novembre/Décembre 1996" (FR; 1996-1x-xx), page 36
  20. ↑ Mega Fun, "10/96" (DE; 1996-09-18), page 60
  21. ↑ Player One, "Octobre 1996" (FR; 1996-xx-xx), page 92
  22. ↑ Saturn Fan, "1996 No. 24" (JP; 1996-11-15), page 188
  23. ↑ Saturn Fan, "1997 No. 2" (JP; 1997-01-17), page 70
  24. ↑ Saturn+, "Issue 4" (UK; 1996-10-24), page 28
  25. ↑ Score, "Prosinec 1996" (CZ; 1996-12-01), page 112
  26. ↑ Secret Service, "Marzec 1997" (PL; 1997-xx-xx), page 67
  27. ↑ Sega News, "Listopad 1996" (CZ; 1996-1x-xx), page 10
  28. ↑ Sega Power, "September 1996" (UK; 1996-08-01), page 34
  29. ↑ Świat Gier Komputerowych, "2/1997" (PL; 1997-xx-xx), page 1
  30. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1996" (UK; 1996-08-20), page 68
  31. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "1996-21 (1996-12-13)" (JP; 1996-11-22), page 269
  32. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "Readers rating final data" (JP; 2000-03), page 11
  33. ↑ Total Saturn, "Volume One Issue Two" (UK; 1996-09-30), page 58
  34. ↑ Total Saturn, "Volume One Issue Four" (UK; 1996-12-29), page 25
  35. ↑ Video Games, "10/96" (DE; 1996-09-25), page 86
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