Primal Rage
From Sega Retro
Primal Rage | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega 32X, Sega Game Gear, Sega Saturn | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Publisher: Time Warner Interactive Sega Time Warner Interactive (US/EU), Game Bank (JP) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Developer: Atari Games Probe Entertainment | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Original system(s): Arcade boards | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sound driver: Probe/Andy Brock | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Peripherals supported: Six Button Control Pad Gear-to-Gear Cable | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Genre: Action | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number of players: 1-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Official in-game languages: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Primal Rage (プライマルレイジ) is a 1994 arcade fighting game by Atari Games. The following year the game saw ports to the Sega Mega Drive, Sega 32X, Sega Game Gear and Sega Saturn, amongst other platforms, developed by Probe Entertainment and published by Time Warner Interactive, with the exception of the 32X version which, like T-MEK, was strangely published by Sega instead.
The Japanese Saturn release is notable for being the only port of that time to be released under the Midway name, as Time Warner Interactive was absorbed into Midway's home division a few years prior. Said version removes any mention of TWI outright.
A Sega Mega-CD 32X version was planned, but cancelled.
Contents
Story
A Meteor strikes the Earth and causes the continents to shift into the shape of a dinosaur skull breathing fire in an event known as the "Great Cataclysm". Sleeping giants of long ago are awakened from their slumber by these events and become gods for humanity to worship. With old Earth in ruins, humanity now sides with one of six gods and one goddess. From the ruins of old Earth comes the birth of New Urth. (That is indeed the correct spelling for this word in game: Urth.) Now, five dinosaur gods and two great ape gods fight to rule the New Urth. Conquering the others' lands in the total conquest for world domination.
Gameplay
Characters
Sauron | |
---|---|
Talon | |
Vertigo | |
Blizzard | |
Chaos | |
Armadon | |
Diablo | |
History
Release
Home console versions of Primal Rage debuted on the 25th August 1995 in the US (backed by an $8 million USD marketing budget)[2] and Europe; dubbed "Primal Rage Day" by publishers Time Warner Interactive. Across all platforms (Mega Drive, Game Gear, Super NES, Game Boy and PC), 1 million copies were sold worldwide on launch day[9], with higher-end machines (including the 32X and Saturn) having to wait until November 14 for their launches[2].
For subscribers of the US Sega Channel, as a "limited" version of Primal Rage was made available between the 1st and 24th of August, with the full game being made available for 24 hours on the 25th. On the 26th, a different build of the game was put up, which if completed would present players with an 800 number which could lead to players receiving prizes [9]. 24% of subscribers took part in the event[9].
Versions
Mega Drive version
The Mega Drive version of Primal Rage was handled by Probe Entertainment, who had previously produced similar conversions of Mortal Kombat II for home consoles (including the Mega Drive). It is based on version 1.9 of the arcade game.
While Primal Rage on the Mega Drive retains all of the moves from the arcade version (albeit sometimes in slightly altered forms), in order to fit the game onto a 32 megabit (4MB) cartridge, the number of frames of animation were cut drastically. Sauron for example went from 943 frames in total, to around 180[10].
32X version
The 32X version builds on what was seen on the Mega Drive, though uses the new hardware to deliver more colourful character sprites and more arcade-accurate backgrounds (powered by the Mega Drive, but without the need to reserve colours for elsewhere). Sound effects are also improved.
In this version, the "Okay Right? cheat is removed from the cheat menu.
Saturn version
On the Saturn, Primal Rage is far closer to its arcade counterpart, but still makes sacrifices to better suit the hardware. Some frames of animation are missing, as are certain sound effects, and differences in horizontal screen resolution result in slight changes to sprite sizes (the arcade has an internal resolution of 336x240, while the Saturn version opts for 352x240). The Saturn version (as well as its PlayStation counterpart) add a full motion video introductory sequence.
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Mega Drive version
- Limitations and Changes
- The Mega Drive port isn't one of the better ports of the game. While most of the combos from Arcade version 2.3 were carried over, the port is more based upon the older Arcade versions 1.9 or 1.7. This means each character has only two fatalities since the 2.3 fatalities aren't there. Attacks exclusive to version 2.3 were also not included. Also, Talon's Shredder Fatality does what it did in the older versions of the Arcade game. Rather than leaving the opponent standing all mangled and cut up like in Arcade version 2.3, blood just flies everywhere like in the older Arcade versions 1.7 or 1.9. The sprites were scaled to fit the limitations of the Mega Drive hardware, which is often met by harsh criticism. The Color Palletes are also limited as well. Combos work much like that of the 2.3 version but there are some differences. Diablo's Fireball fatality is different than his Arcade rendition. Instead of firing a gigantic but pixelated fireball at his opponent like in the arcade, Diablo fires three small fireballs at the opponent and they spin around the opponent frying them.
- Exclusive Features and Easter Eggs
- Although the Mega Drive port had it's problems, it had some exclusive features and an exclusive Easter Egg. The main exclusive feature was to be able to customize the six button controller in options to allow two of the buttons to use one of the character's special attacks. There are three special attacks for each character available on the options to choose from but the player can only play with two at a time on the six button controller. The Easter Egg exclusive to the Mega Drive version involved going to the cheat menu and selecting the option "Okay Right?", then selecting Diablo to play as. Diablo's worshipers would be replaced by a devil with a picture of one of the developer's heads on it. The devil will bounce up and down at the end of the battle regardless if Diablo wins or not.
- Controversy
- The Mega Drive version was also controversial. There were reports of the game being removed from the shelves of some stores after a mother caught her 11 year old son playing Primal Rage and executing Chaos' Golden Shower Fatality (which is where Chaos urinates on the opponent with urine so acidic that it melts away the opponent's flesh leaving only the bones.) The mother was so disgusted by this that she not only returned the game but launched a "grass roots" campaign that caused the game to be removed from some stores at various locations, regardless of what system it was on. Even the SNES version which had this fatality censored on it was also removed from store shelves.
Game Gear version
- Limitations and Changes
- The game had to be severely watered down in order to be successfully ported. Only some of the moves and combos are present. Each character has only one fatality and Vertigo was excluded from this port. Most of the changes for this port are identical to those of the Game Boy Version of Primal Rage. However, unlike the Game Boy version of Primal Rage which had Golden Shower replaced with a new acidic puking fatality for Chaos, the Game Gear version still had Golden Shower in it. In addition to that, the Game Gear version was in color (albeit less colorful than some of the other versions though.).
Saturn version
- Exclusive Features and Issues
- The Sega Saturn port is actually nearly the same as the PlayStation port except that it has some exclusive features. The Saturn version featured not only the opening cutscene seen in the PlayStation version but also extra introductory cutscenes for each character. The Character endings are also replaced with FMV's by default. There is an option in the Options menu that turns the FMV's off and makes the game act like other ports. Complete with the Arcade Endings. However, it does not display combo names like the PlayStation version does. It also suffers from long loading times. However, most of the problems relating to music and loading present in the PlayStation version were fixed in the Saturn version and the disc features Redbook audio. (the PlayStation version does as well but the redbook can be rather glitchy at times.) Animations actually work properly and move much faster than the PlayStation port. However, like the PlayStation version, Blizzard's death and win sounds are switched. Some of the sound effects are also missing. The AI is also much closer to the arcade version 2.3. During the final battle, the opponent's skeletons don't stay on the ground after dying for some reason.
- Prototype Dump
- drx of hidden-palace.org released an alpha build of the Sega Saturn port of Primal Rage in May 2010.
Production credits
Game Gear version
- Original Coin Op Development
- Producer and Programmer: Dennis Harper
- Programmer Designer: Frank Kuan
- Art Director: Jason Leong
- Game Designer: J. Cameron Petty
- Audio Designer: Jeanne Parson
- Associate Producer: Steve Riesenberger
- Consumer Development
- Senior Producer: Ken Humphries
- Associate Producer: Thomas MacDevitt
- TWI Testers: Rob Boone, Kevin Filson, Mike Kruse, John Arvay Jr.
- Programmer: Cameron Sheppard
- Artist: Terry Ford
- Musician: Andy Brock
- QA Manager: Gary Patino
- Testers: Nick McGee, Mike Movell, Mark Viccary, James Brown, Cliff Ramsey
- Producer: Robert O'Farrell
- Assistant Producers: James Stewart, Tim Bradstock
- Thanks to: Balor Knight, Keith Burkhill
32X version
- Original Coin-Op Development
- Producer/Programmer: Dennis Harper
- Programmer/Designer: Frank Kuan
- Art Director: Jason Leong
- Game Designer: J. Cameron Petty
- Audio Designer: Jeanne Parson
- Associate Producer: Steve Riesenberger
- Consumer Development
- Senior Producer: Ken Humphries
- Associate Producer: Tom MacDevitt
- Testers: Rob Boone, Kevin Filson, Mike Kruse, John Arvay Jr., Brian Fritts
- Test Manager: Curtis Soldano
- Product Marketing
- Manager: John Golden
- Manual: Jon Mongelluzzo
- Special Thanks: John Fisher and Derryl DePriest
- Probe Entertainment
- Producer: Robert O'Farrell
- Assistant Producers: James Stewart, Tim Bradstock
- Programmer: Cameron Sheppard
- Artist: Terry Ford
- Musician: Andy Brock
- QA Manager: Gary Patino
- Testers: Nick McGee, Mike Movell, Mark Viccary, James Brown, Cliff Ramsey
- Special Thanks: Ralor Knight and Keith Burkhill
- Sega Special Thanks To: Steve Ackrich, Joy Sneer, Jane Chaney, J. Tony Smith, Brian Paw, Steve Goodale, Jeff Gregg, Earl Malit, Curtis Clarkson
Magazine articles
- Main article: Primal Rage/Magazine articles.
Promotional material
also published in:
- GamePro (US) #73: "August 1995" (1995-xx-xx)[12]
- VideoGames (US) #79: "August 1995" (1995-0x-xx)[13]
also published in:
- VideoGames (US) #81: "October 1995" (1995-09-19)[14]
- Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #75: "October 1995" (1995-xx-xx)[15]
- VideoGames (US) #82: "November 1995" (1995-10-24)[16]
Physical scans
Mega Drive version
74 | |
---|---|
Based on 33 reviews |
Game Gear version
Sega Retro Average | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
76 | |
---|---|
Based on 13 reviews |
32X version
Sega Retro Average | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
77 | |
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Based on 6 reviews |
Saturn version
Sega Retro Average | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
62 | |
---|---|
Based on 14 reviews |
Technical information
ROM dump status
System | Hash | Size | Build Date | Source | Comments | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
? |
|
4MB | Cartridge (EU/US) | |||||||||||
? |
|
512kB | Cartridge (US/EU) | |||||||||||
? |
|
374,219,664 | CD-ROM (EU) | T-4802H-50 V1.000 | ||||||||||
? |
|
370,980,960 | CD-ROM (JP) | T-18614G V1.300 | ||||||||||
? |
|
595,168,896 | CD-ROM (US) | T-4802H 301108-0120 V1.000 |
||||||||||
? |
|
1996-02-12 | Page |
References
- ↑ Games World Magazin, "" (DE; 1995-0x-xx), page 15
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Press release: 1995-08-25: TIME WARNER INTERACTIVE'S HIT ARCADE TITLE, 'PRIMAL RAGE(TM)' AVAILABLE FOR THE FIRST TIME ON HOME VIDEO-GAME AND COMPUTER SYSTEMS
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Game Players, "Vol. 8 No. 9 September 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 46
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Mean Machines Sega, "September 1996" (UK; 1996-08-05), page 84
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Mean Machines Sega, "October 1995" (UK; 1995-08-25), page 84
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 GamePro, "August 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 91
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Mean Machines Sega, "March 1996" (UK; 1996-01-28), page 86
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 GamePro, "February 1996" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 68
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Press release: 1995-09-11: Time Warner Interactive's Primal Rage(TM) pulls in heavy hits on Sega Channel
- ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "June 1995" (UK; 1995-04-28), page 22
- ↑ File:Primalrage_32x_us_manual.pdf
- ↑ GamePro, "August 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 16
- ↑ VideoGames, "August 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 24
- ↑ VideoGames, "October 1995" (US; 1995-09-19), page 59
- ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "October 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 135
- ↑ VideoGames, "November 1995" (US; 1995-10-24), page 33
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Consoles +, "Novembre 1995" (FR; 1995-1x-xx), page 158
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Joypad, "Octobre 1995" (FR; 1995-xx-xx), page 77
- ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "October 1995" (UK; 1995-08-25), page 78-80 (78)
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 Player One, "Octobre 1995" (FR; 1995-xx-xx), page 126
- ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 179
- ↑ Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 162
- ↑ Digitiser (UK) (1995-08-29)
- ↑ Electronic Games (1992-1995), "June 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 86
- ↑ Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 348
- ↑ GamePro, "September 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 50
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 GamePro, "November 1995" (DE; 1995-10-04), page 54
- ↑ Game Informer, "August 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 30
- ↑ 29.0 29.1 Joypad, "Octobre 1995" (FR; 1995-xx-xx), page 76
- ↑ MAN!AC, "10/95" (DE; 1995-09-13), page 76
- ↑ Mega Force, "Octobre 1995" (FR; 1995-xx-xx), page 92
- ↑ 32.0 32.1 Mega Fun, "09/95" (DE; 1995-08-23), page 38
- ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "October 1995" (UK; 1995-08-25), page 78
- ↑ Next Generation, "October 1995" (US; 1995-09-19), page 125
- ↑ Players, "Dez 95" (BR; 1995-1x-xx), page 20
- ↑ Power Up!, "Saturday, September 09, 1995" (UK; 1995-09-09), page 1
- ↑ Secret Service, "Październik 1996" (PL; 1996-10-01), page 72
- ↑ Sega Magazin, "September 1995" (DE; 1995-08-16), page 30
- ↑ Sega Magazine, "October 1995" (UK; 1995-09-12), page 90
- ↑ Sega Power, "September 1995" (UK; 1995-07-20), page 42
- ↑ Sega Pro, "October 1995" (UK; 1995-09-07), page 50
- ↑ Sega Mega Drive Review, "2" (RU; 1996-01-03), page 97
- ↑ Sega Megazone, "August 1995" (AU; 1995-0x-xx), page 32
- ↑ Super Juegos, "Octubre 1995" (ES; 1995-xx-xx), page 116
- ↑ Todo Sega, "Septiembre 1995" (ES; 1995-0x-xx), page 32
- ↑ Top Consoles, "Octobre 1995" (FR; 1995-xx-xx), page 76
- ↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 139
- ↑ Videogame Advisor, "Volume 1, Number 3: July 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 28
- ↑ Video Games, "9/95" (DE; 1995-08-30), page 110
- ↑ VideoGames, "September 1995" (US; 1995-08-22), page 78
- ↑ File:Buka Price list 1997-06-30 RU.pdf, page 6
- ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "October 1995" (UK; 1995-08-25), page 84/85 (84)
- ↑ 53.0 53.1 VideoGames, "August 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 89
- ↑ Digitiser (UK) (1995-09-05)
- ↑ Game Players, "Vol. 8 No. 10 October 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 81
- ↑ GamePro, "November 1995" (UK; 1995-09-xx), page 37
- ↑ Sega Magazin, "September 1995" (DE; 1995-08-16), page 86
- ↑ Sega Magazine, "October 1995" (UK; 1995-09-12), page 96
- ↑ Sega Pro, "November 1995" (UK; 1995-10-05), page 66
- ↑ Todo Sega, "Noviembre 1995" (ES; 1995-1x-xx), page 58
- ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "March 1996" (UK; 1996-01-28), page 86/87 (86)
- ↑ 62.0 62.1 Sega Pro, "May 1996" (UK; 1996-03-21), page 24
- ↑ GameFan, "Volume 3, Issue 11: November 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 22
- ↑ Sega Power, "May 1996" (UK; 1996-03-14), page 54
- ↑ VideoGames, "December 1995" (US; 1995-11-21), page 92
- ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "September 1996" (UK; 1996-08-05), page 84/85 (84)
- ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "August 1996" (UK; 1996-07-20), page 76/77 (76)
- ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "1998-10 (1998-04-03)" (JP; 1998-03-20), page 193 (195)
- ↑ Famitsu, "1998-04-03" (JP; 1998-03-20), page 1
- ↑ Fun Generation, "08/96" (DE; 1996-07-10), page 85
- ↑ GameFan, "Volume 4, Issue 6: June 1996" (US; 1996-xx-xx), page 18
- ↑ GamePro, "July 1996" (US; 1996-xx-xx), page 74
- ↑ Hobby Consolas, "Diciembre 1996" (ES; 199x-xx-xx), page 120
- ↑ Mega Fun, "08/96" (DE; 1996-07-17), page 72
- ↑ Saturn Fan, "1998 No. 6" (JP; 1998-03-13), page 152
- ↑ Saturn Fan, "1998 No. 10" (JP; 1998-05-15), page 116
- ↑ Secret Service, "Październik 1996" (PL; 1996-10-01), page 21
- ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "August 1996" (UK; 1996-07-20), page 76
- ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "1998-10 (1998-04-03)" (JP; 1998-03-20), page 195
- ↑ Total Saturn, "Volume One Issue Four" (UK; 1996-12-29), page 43
- ↑ VideoGames, "June 1996" (US; 1996-05-21), page 61
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