Microcosm

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Microcosm title.png

Microcosm
System(s): Sega Mega-CD
Publisher: Psygnosis, Victor Entertainment (JP)
Developer:
Original system(s): PC
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
AU 		$109.95109.95[6]
Sega Mega-CD
BR 		063170
Non-Sega versions

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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.

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 prior to the game being ported to other platforms. The full motion video was rendered using Silicon Graphics Indigo workstations alongside life action footage[7].

Live action footage was recorded at night with an S-VHS recorder, and features members of the team as opposed to paid actors[8]. 2D graphics (and textures) were drawn on Amigas[8].

In total the game's raw data amassed over 6GB[9], with image data being stored in 24-bit colour before being compressed for the various platforms[10]. Initial development cost between $600,000 and $750,000 USD[11].

Legacy

While Microcosm was considered a financial success, the game is not held in high regard, with even Pygnosis treating it more as an experiment for the CD-ROM format than a good video game[12].

Feedback from Microcosm led to a spiritual successor, Novastorm having a greater focus on gameplay.

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

Main article: Microcosm/Promotional material.

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
75 [13]
75 [14]
68 №272, [1]
56 №14, p79
70 №1994-04, p60
83 [15]
91 №16
79 №17, p26/27
89 №9, p38/39
60 №25
60 [16]
69 №38, p122
60 [17]
69 №51, p50/51
81 №27, p34/35
Sega Mega-CD
 72
Based on
15 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Ação Games (BR)
81
[18]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
75
[19]
Consoles + (FR)
83
[20]
Digitiser (UK)
65
[21]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
54
[22]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
68
[23]
Game Players (US) NTSC-U
60
[24]
Gamers (DE)
40
[25]
GamesMaster (UK)
56
[26]
Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J
70
[27]
Hobby Consolas (ES)
40
[28]
Hyper (AU)
83
[29]
Joypad (FR) PAL
83
[30]
Mega (UK) PAL
79
[31]
Mega Action (UK) PAL
89
[32]
Mega Force (FR)
89
[33]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
65
[34]
MegaTech (UK) PAL
60
[35]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
60
[1]
Player One (FR)
69
[36]
Sega Magazine (UK) PAL
60
[37]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
69
[38]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
81
[39]
Sega Zone (UK) PAL
54
[40]
Sega Force (SE)
52
[41]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
75
[42]
Super Juegos (ES)
59
[43]
Video Games (DE) PAL
56
[44]
VideoGames (US) NTSC-U
90
[45]
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

Technical information

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sega Mega-CD
 ?
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
468,948,816 CD (EU) T-113015-50
Sega Mega-CD
✔
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
468,948,816 CD (JP) T-60164
Sega Mega-CD
 ?
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
468,948,816 CD (US) T-113015

Track list

Curiously the Mega CD version contains redbook audio tracks from the PC version along with an extra song from that version, although they are never used in-game instead the game has a module-based soundtrack by Tim Wright

  • Tracks 2-9 are composed by Rick Wakeman.
  • Tracks 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, are from the PC version.
1. data track (25:55) 
2. The Sun (1:58) 
3. Callhinor (2:08) 
4. Egoniaga (2:03) 
5. Quiggin (3:23) 
6. Bodor (2:18) 
7. Healey-Kae (2:08) 
8. Ouida (2:03) 
9. Kallum koll (2:13) 
► Running time: 44:09

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Mean Machines Sega, "February 1994" (UK; 1993-12-28), page 81
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Mega, "February 1994" (UK; 1994-01-20), page 27
  3. ↑ Mega Power, "December 1993" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 29
  4. ↑ Press release: 1994-01-06: PSYGNOSIS INTRODUCES 'INTERACTIVE CINEMA' WITH THE DEBUT OF MICROCOSM
  5. ↑ Video Games, "9/93" (DE; 1993-08-25), page 43
  6. ↑ Megazone, "February 1994" (AU; 1994-01-26), page 34
  7. ↑ Edge, "October 1993" (UK; 1993-08-19), page 71
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Edge, "October 1993" (UK; 1993-08-19), page 73
  9. ↑ Edge, "October 1993" (UK; 1993-08-19), page 72
  10. ↑ Edge, "October 1993" (UK; 1993-08-19), page 74
  11. ↑ Edge, "October 1993" (UK; 1993-08-19), page 77
  12. ↑ Next Generation, "April 1998" (US; 1998-03-17), page 47
  13. ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "March 1994" (JP; 1994-02-08), page 19 (21)
  14. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 83 (85)
  15. ↑ Joypad, "Février 1994" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 94-96 (94)
  16. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "February 1994" (UK; 1993-12-28), page 80/81 (81)
  17. ↑ Sega Magazine, "February 1994" (UK; 1994-01-10), page 108
  18. ↑ Ação Games, "Março 1994" (BR; 1994-03-01), page 26
  19. ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "March 1994" (JP; 1994-02-08), page 21
  20. ↑ Consoles +, "Décembre 1993" (FR; 1993-1x-xx), page 160
  21. ↑ Digitiser (UK) (1994-02-22)
  22. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "March 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 38
  23. ↑ Famitsu, "1994-03-04" (JP; 1994-02-18), page 1
  24. ↑ Game Players, "Vol. 7 No. 4 April 1994" (US; 1994-0x-xx), page 69
  25. ↑ Gamers, "Mai/Juni 1994" (DE; 1994-05-06), page 41
  26. ↑ GamesMaster, "February 1994" (UK; 1994-01-20), page 79
  27. ↑ Hippon Super, "April 1994" (JP; 1994-03-03), page 60
  28. ↑ Hobby Consolas, "Junio 1994" (ES; 1994-xx-xx), page 136
  29. ↑ Hyper, "February 1994" (AU; 199x-xx-xx), page 54
  30. ↑ Joypad, "Février 1994" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 94
  31. ↑ Mega, "February 1994" (UK; 1994-01-20), page 26
  32. ↑ Mega Action, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-12-30), page 38
  33. ↑ Mega Force, "Décembre 1993" (FR; 1993-12-10), page 120
  34. ↑ Mega Fun, "05/94" (DE; 1994-04-20), page 109
  35. ↑ MegaTech, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-12-21), page 60
  36. ↑ Player One, "Janvier 1994" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 122
  37. ↑ Sega Magazine, "February 1994" (UK; 1994-01-10), page 109
  38. ↑ Sega Power, "February 1994" (UK; 1994-01-06), page 50
  39. ↑ Sega Pro, "Xmas Special 1993" (UK; 1993-12-02), page 34
  40. ↑ Sega Zone, "February 1994" (UK; 1994-01-27), page 42
  41. ↑ Sega Force, "6/94" (SE; 1994-09-14), page 30
  42. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 85
  43. ↑ Super Juegos, "Abril 1994" (ES; 1994-0x-xx), page 116
  44. ↑ Video Games, "5/94" (DE; 1994-04-27), page 91
  45. ↑ VideoGames, "April 1994" (US; 1994-0x-xx), page 82
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