Difference between revisions of "Microcosm"

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'''''Microcosm''''' (マイクロコズム) is an on-the-rails shoot-'em-up game developed for the [[Sega Mega-CD]] by [[Psygnosis]]. It uses full motion video and takes place within the human body. Other versions were released on platforms such as 3DO, Amiga CD 32 and FM Towns, some of these featured a first person view while the [[Sega Mega-CD]] features a 3rd person view.
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'''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' (マイクロコズム) is an on-the-rails shoot-'em-up game developed for the [[Sega Mega-CD]] by [[Psygnosis]].
  
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The game uses simple 16 color video, compared to more advanced video techniques employed by games such as the [[Sega Mega-CD]] version of ''[[Eternal Champions]]''.
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==Gameplay==
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In ''Microcosm'', the player controls a small ship, travelling through the human body to destroy aliens. As an "on-the-rails" shoot-'em-up, the player has control over the ship's horizontal and vertical movements, but movement into the screen along the third axis is dictated by the game. The limitations of the Mega-CD mean a pseudo-3D effect is achieved through [[full motion video]]. While some versions of ''Microcosm'' opt for a first-person perspective, the Mega-CD uses a third-person view at all times.
  
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The player controlls a small ship that has mutliple weapons and an infinite standard shot. Multiple hits can be taken before the ship explodes. The game is quite long considering the genre and features a continue feature (password).
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The ship has mutliple weapons, alongside a standard shot with limitless ammo. Multiple hits can be taken from enemies before the ship explodes. While it can take roughly 40 minutes to complete the game in one sitting, a password system is also offered.
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Unlike other Mega-CD titles, ''Microcosm'' chooses to limit its full motion video sequences to 16 colours (a quarter of the 64 available to the system), presumably as a space saving measure.
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==History==
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===Development===
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''Microcosm'' was first seen in demo form for the Amiga CDTV platform in 1991, but soon became an FM Towns title, with development partially funded by [[Fujitsu]]. The full motion video was rendered using [[Silicon Graphics]] workstations.
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===Versions===
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''Microcosm'' was released for a variety of home platforms, including the 3DO, Amiga CD32, FM Towns and IBM PC. All other versions are able to output higher quality full motion video than the Mega-CD version, and in many cases, at higher resolutions.
  
 
==Magazine articles==
 
==Magazine articles==

Revision as of 16:20, 14 March 2017

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Microcosm title.png

Microcosm
System(s): Sega Mega-CD
Publisher: Psygnosis, Victor Entertainment (JP)
Developer:
Genre: Shoot-'em-Up

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega-CD
JP 		¥8,9008,900 T-60164
Sega Mega-CD
US 		T-113015
Sega Mega-CD
EU 		T-113015-50
Sega Mega-CD
BR 		063170

Microcosm (マイクロコズム) is an on-the-rails shoot-'em-up game developed for the Sega Mega-CD by Psygnosis.

Gameplay

In Microcosm, the player controls a small ship, travelling through the human body to destroy aliens. As an "on-the-rails" shoot-'em-up, the player has control over the ship's horizontal and vertical movements, but movement into the screen along the third axis is dictated by the game. The limitations of the Mega-CD mean a pseudo-3D effect is achieved through full motion video. While some versions of Microcosm opt for a first-person perspective, the Mega-CD uses a third-person view at all times.

The ship has mutliple weapons, alongside a standard shot with limitless ammo. Multiple hits can be taken from enemies before the ship explodes. While it can take roughly 40 minutes to complete the game in one sitting, a password system is also offered.

Unlike other Mega-CD titles, Microcosm chooses to limit its full motion video sequences to 16 colours (a quarter of the 64 available to the system), presumably as a space saving measure.

History

Development

Microcosm was first seen in demo form for the Amiga CDTV platform in 1991, but soon became an FM Towns title, with development partially funded by Fujitsu. The full motion video was rendered using Silicon Graphics workstations.

Versions

Microcosm was released for a variety of home platforms, including the 3DO, Amiga CD32, FM Towns and IBM PC. All other versions are able to output higher quality full motion video than the Mega-CD version, and in many cases, at higher resolutions.

Magazine articles

Main article: Microcosm/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #52: "November 1993" (1993-xx-xx)
also published in:
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Sega Visions (US) #16: "December/January 1993/1994" (1993-xx-xx)
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in GamePro (US) #54: "January 1994" (199x-xx-xx)
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Game Players (US) #0705: "Vol. 7 No. 5 May 1994" (1994-0x-xx)
also published in:
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Computer & Video Games (UK) #146: "January 1994" (1993-12-15)
Logo-pdf.svg

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
56 №14, p79
83 №28, p94/95/96
91 №16
79 №17, p26/27
89 №9, p38/39
60 №25
60 №16, p80/81[5]
69 №38, p122
60 №2, p108[6]
69 №51, p50/51
81 №27, p34/35
Sega Mega-CD
 72
Based on
11 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Ação Games (BR)
81
[7]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
75
[8]
Consoles + (FR)
83
[9]
Digitiser (UK)
65
[10]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
54
[11]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
68
[12]
Game Players (US) NTSC-U
60
[13]
Gamers (DE)
40
[14]
GamesMaster (UK)
56
[15]
Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J
70
[16]
Hobby Consolas (ES)
40
[17]
Hyper (AU)
83
[18]
Joypad (FR) PAL
83
[19]
Mega (UK) PAL
79
[20]
Mega Action (UK) PAL
89
[21]
Mega Force (FR)
89
[22]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
65
[23]
MegaTech (UK) PAL
60
[24]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
60
[5]
Player One (FR)
69
[25]
Sega Magazine (UK) PAL
60
[26]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
69
[27]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
81
[28]
Sega Zone (UK) PAL
54
[29]
Sega Force (SE)
52
[30]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
75
[31]
Super Juegos (ES)
59
[32]
Video Games (DE) PAL
56
[33]
VideoGames (US) NTSC-U
90
[34]
Sega Mega-CD
 68
Based on
29 reviews

Microcosm

Mega-CD, US
Microcosm MCD US Box Back.jpgMicrocosm MCD US Box Front.jpg
Cover
Microcosm MCD US Disc.jpg
Disc
Microcosm mcd us manual.pdf
Manual
Mega-CD, EU (Big)
Microcosm MCD EU Box Back Big.jpgMicrocosm MCD EU Box Front Big.jpg
Cover
Microcosm MCD EU Disc.jpg
Disc
Mega-CD, EU (Small)
Microcosm MCD EU Box Back.jpgMicrocosm MCD EU Box Front.jpg
Cover
Microcosm MCD EU Disc.jpg
Disc
Mega-CD, JP
Microcosm MCD JP Box Back.jpgMicrocosm MCD JP Box Front.jpg
Cover
Microcosm MCD JP Spinecard.JPG
Spinecard
Microcosm MCD JP Disc.jpg
Disc
Mega-CD, BR
Microcosm MCD BR Box Back.jpgNospine.pngMicrocosm MCD BR Box Front.jpg
Cover

References

  1. ↑ Press release: 1994-01-06: PSYGNOSIS INTRODUCES 'INTERACTIVE CINEMA' WITH THE DEBUT OF MICROCOSM
  2. ↑ Game Players, "Vol. 6 No. 12 December 1993" (US; 1993-1x-xx), page 152
  3. ↑ GamePro, "January 1994" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 188
  4. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "June 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 142
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 File:MeanMachinesSega16UK.pdf, page 81 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachinesSega16UK.pdf_p81" defined multiple times with different content
  6. ↑ File:SegaMagazine UK 02.pdf, page 108
  7. ↑ Ação Games, "Março 1994" (BR; 1994-03-01), page 26
  8. ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "March 1994" (JP; 1994-02-08), page 21
  9. ↑ Consoles +, "Décembre 1993" (FR; 1993-1x-xx), page 160
  10. ↑ Digitiser (UK) (1994-02-22)
  11. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "March 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 38
  12. ↑ Famitsu, "1994-03-04" (JP; 1994-02-18), page 1
  13. ↑ Game Players, "Vol. 7 No. 4 April 1994" (US; 1994-0x-xx), page 69
  14. ↑ Gamers, "Mai/Juni 1994" (DE; 1994-05-06), page 41
  15. ↑ GamesMaster, "February 1994" (UK; 1994-01-20), page 79
  16. ↑ Hippon Super, "April 1994" (JP; 1994-03-03), page 60
  17. ↑ Hobby Consolas, "Junio 1994" (ES; 1994-xx-xx), page 136
  18. ↑ Hyper, "February 1994" (AU; 199x-xx-xx), page 54
  19. ↑ Joypad, "Février 1994" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 94
  20. ↑ Mega, "February 1994" (UK; 1994-01-20), page 26
  21. ↑ Mega Action, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-12-30), page 38
  22. ↑ Mega Force, "Décembre 1993" (FR; 1993-12-10), page 120
  23. ↑ Mega Fun, "05/94" (DE; 1994-04-20), page 109
  24. ↑ MegaTech, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-12-21), page 60
  25. ↑ Player One, "Janvier 1994" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 122
  26. ↑ Sega Magazine, "February 1994" (UK; 1994-01-10), page 109
  27. ↑ Sega Power, "February 1994" (UK; 1994-01-06), page 50
  28. ↑ Sega Pro, "Xmas Special 1993" (UK; 1993-12-02), page 34
  29. ↑ Sega Zone, "February 1994" (UK; 1994-01-27), page 42
  30. ↑ Sega Force, "6/94" (SE; 1994-09-14), page 30
  31. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 85
  32. ↑ Super Juegos, "Abril 1994" (ES; 1994-0x-xx), page 116
  33. ↑ Video Games, "5/94" (DE; 1994-04-27), page 91
  34. ↑ VideoGames, "April 1994" (US; 1994-0x-xx), page 82
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