Kolibri (video game)

Last updated
Kolibri
Kolibri for Sega 32X, Front Cover.jpg
North American cover art
Developer(s) Novotrade International
Publisher(s) Sega
Producer(s) Ed Annunziata
John Pedigo
Designer(s) Ed Annunziata
József Molnár
Programmer(s) Attila Kristóf
Imre Ignácz
József Molnár
Artist(s) András Bakai
Árpád Balku
Zsolt Balogh
Composer(s) Zsolt Dvornik
Platform(s) Sega 32X
Release
  • EU: November 17, 1995 [1]
  • NA: November 1995
Genre(s) Scrolling shooter
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

Kolibri is a 1995 shooting game developed by Novotrade International and published by Sega exclusively for the Sega 32X, a Sega Mega Drive/Genesis add-on console. It was designed by Ed Annunziata and developed by (now known as Appaloosa). Kolibri is the word or root word for hummingbird in several European languages.

Contents

Gameplay

In-game screenshot 32X Kolibri.png
In-game screenshot

The game offers numerous power-ups for the player's kolibri. Each one follows different patterns. Some are spread shots and others will home in on an enemy. This game also features a good number of puzzles which grow increasingly difficult with each level.

Plot

Long ago, a crystal from outer space embedded itself in the earth and started creating life. Soon another similar crystal crashed to earth and started to destroy what the first crystal had created and started to sap away its strength. Before being totally destroyed the crystal gave a lone hummingbird, simply named Kolibri (Hummingbird in some European languages), its power. It is up to this hummingbird to save the earth.

Reception

Kolibri received mostly middling reviews. Electronic Gaming Monthly praised the game's impressive visuals and originality, but highly criticized how the game restarts the player character in a highly vulnerable position each time it dies. [3] Scary Larry of GamePro concurred that the visuals are impressive, but was not convinced of the game's originality, remarking that "Although the concept is unique, the gameplay and FunFactor are standard." He also commented that the power-ups look weak, needing to manually turn the bird around to shoot enemies behind him is cumbersome and frustrating, and the bird often gets lost in the backgrounds. He concluded, "Kolibri isn't awful, just average. You'd expect more from the 32X—something more along the lines of Gradius or R-Type ." [6] A reviewer for Next Generation said the game doesn't have anything which couldn't have been done on the stock Genesis and suffers from "very monotonous" gameplay, though he saved most of his criticism for the "absurd" premise: "Trying to remember why you bought that 32X? Well, Sega is hoping you've been waiting for the ultimate hummingbird simulation game. That's right, in Kolibri you are a hummingbird (not even a wisecracking, zany hummingbird with an attitude, just a hummingbird) and you fly around toasting insects with the guided missile on your beak." [4] Sega Saturn Magazine commented, "Large and complex, Kolibri offers value for money, but a certain dullness and insipidity accompanies it." [5] Italian magazine Mega Console criticized the controls and music, but praised the graphics and parallax, yet giving the game a near-perfect score of 99. [7] In 2001, webcomic Penny Arcade lampooned the game in their 25th anniversary "We're Right Awards," calling it the "Best Hummingbird-based Shooter Available For The 32X." [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">32X</span> Video game console add-on

The 32X is an add-on for the Sega Genesis video game console. Codenamed "Project Mars", it was designed to expand the power of the Genesis and serve as a transitional console into the 32-bit era until the release of the Sega Saturn. The 32X uses its own ROM cartridges and has its own library of games. It was distributed under the name Super 32X in Japan and South Korea, Genesis 32X in North America, Mega 32X in Brazil, and Mega Drive 32X in all other regions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sega CD</span> Video game console add-on

The Sega CD, known as Mega-CD in most regions outside North America and Brazil, is a CD-ROM accessory and format for the Sega Genesis produced by Sega as part of the fourth generation of video game consoles. Originally released in November 1991, it came to North America in late 1992, and the rest of the world in 1993. The Sega CD plays CD-based games and adds hardware functionality such as a faster CPU and a custom graphics chip for enhanced sprite scaling and rotation. It can also play audio CDs and CD+G discs.

<i>Virtua Fighter</i> (video game) 1993 video game

Virtua Fighter is a fighting game created for the Sega Model 1 arcade platform by AM2, a development group within Sega, headed by Yu Suzuki. An early prototype version was location tested in Japan by August 1993, before the complete game was released worldwide in December 1993. It was the first arcade fighting game to feature fully 3D polygon graphics. The game was ported to Sega Saturn as a global launch title in 1994 and 1995, and also received a port to the Sega 32X.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Genesis Nomad</span> Handheld game console by Sega

The Genesis Nomad, also known as Sega Nomad, is a handheld game console manufactured by Sega and released in North America in October 1995. The Nomad is a portable variation of the Sega Genesis home video game console. It could also be used with a television set via a video port. It was based on the Mega Jet, a portable version of the home console designed for use on airline flights in Japan.

<i>NBA Jam</i> (1993 video game) 1993 video game

NBA Jam is a basketball video game developed and published by Midway for arcades in 1993. It is the first entry in the NBA Jam series. The project leader for this game was Mark Turmell.

<i>Ristar</i> 1995 video game

Ristar is a 1995 platform game developed and published by Sega for the Sega Genesis. The game stars an anthropomorphic cartoon star who uses his hands and long, stretchable arms to both move and fight enemies. Reception for the game was generally positive, but the game's initial release was overshadowed due to the imminent ending of the Genesis's lifecycle and the succession of the Sega Saturn and other fifth generation video game consoles.

<i>Revolution X</i> 1994 video game

Revolution X is a shooting gallery video game developed by Midway and released in arcades in 1994. The gameplay is similar to Midway's earlier Terminator 2: Judgment Day, but is themed around the band Aerosmith. The oppressive New Order Nation regime and their leader Helga have abducted Aerosmith, and players use a mounted gun to control onscreen crosshairs and shoot enemies. The members of Aerosmith are hidden throughout the game's international locales and must be found in order to receive the game's true ending.

<i>Virtua Racing</i> 1992 racing game

Virtua Racing or V.R. for short, is a Formula One racing video game developed by Sega AM2 and released for arcades in 1992. Virtua Racing was initially a proof-of-concept application for exercising a new 3D graphics platform under development, the "Model 1". The results were so encouraging that Virtua Racing was fully developed into a standalone arcade title.

<i>Primal Rage</i> 1994 arcade video game

Primal Rage is a fighting game developed and released by Atari Games for arcades in 1994. The game takes place on a post-apocalyptic version of Earth called "Urth". Players control one of seven prehistoric beasts, that battle each other to determine the planet's fate. Matches feature many of the conventions of fighting games from the era, including special moves and gory finishing maneuvers. Ports were released for home video game consoles and personal computers. Efforts to perfectly emulate the arcade original have been unsuccessful due to the use of an unusual copy protection method. Toys, comics, a novel and other merchandise tie-ins were produced. More than 1.5 million copies of the game were sold.

<i>Dynamite Headdy</i> 1994 video game

Dynamite Headdy is a platform video game developed by Treasure and published by Sega for the Sega Genesis in 1994. The game follows a puppet named Headdy in his efforts to stop an evil puppet king from taking over his world. Headdy can throw his head at enemies to defeat them and use it to pull himself to various areas and move objects. The player can find a wide variety of "heads" which act as power-ups that provide different effects and alter gameplay.

<i>Corpse Killer</i> 1994 video game

Corpse Killer is a horror-themed rail shooter developed and published by Digital Pictures for the Sega CD, Sega CD 32X, 3DO, Sega Saturn, Windows 95 and Macintosh computers. An interactive variation on the zombie film genre, it utilizes live-action full motion video in a format similar to other games developed by Digital Pictures. Reviews for the game were mixed, generally criticizing the repetitive gameplay and low video quality, though many reviewers enjoyed the campy nature of the cutscenes. Corpse Killer was the first CD game released for the Sega 32X. It was later remastered for Steam, PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sega Genesis</span> Home video game console

The Sega Genesis, known as the Mega Drive outside North America, is a 16-bit fourth generation home video game console developed and sold by Sega. It was Sega's third console and the successor to the Master System. Sega released it in 1988 in Japan as the Mega Drive, and in 1989 in North America as the Genesis. In 1990, it was distributed as the Mega Drive by Virgin Mastertronic in Europe, Ozisoft in Australasia, and Tectoy in Brazil. In South Korea, it was distributed by Samsung Electronics as the Super Gam*Boy and later the Super Aladdin Boy.

<i>WWF WrestleMania: The Arcade Game</i> 1995 video game

WWF WrestleMania is a professional wrestling arcade game released by Midway Manufacturing Co. in 1995. It is based on the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) professional wrestling promotion.

<i>Soulstar</i> 1994 video game

Soulstar is a hybrid rail shooter/third-person shooter video game developed and published by Core Design for the Sega CD in North America in September 1994, Europe in October by Core Design, and in Japan by Victor Entertainment on December 22.

<i>Shadow Squadron</i> 1995 video game

Shadow Squadron is a space combat simulation video game developed and published by Sega exclusively for the 32X add-on first in Japan on 26 April 1995, then in North America and Europe in June of the same year.

<i>Darxide</i> 1996 shoot em up video game

Darxide is a shoot 'em up video game developed by Frontier Developments and published by Sega for the 32X. It was one of the last releases for the console with only a European release in January 1996. Gameplay is similar to that of Asteroids in three dimensions. Players must destroy a number of space rocks in order to complete each level.

<i>Zaxxons Motherbase 2000</i> 1995 video game

Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000, known in Europe as Motherbase and in Japan as Parasquad, is a 1995 isometric-scrolling shooter video game developed by CSK Research Institute and published by Sega for the 32X. The North American version was rebranded as part of the Zaxxon series due to its similar gameplay. Gameplay involves piloting a ship to destroy giant robots and enemy ships, while being able to capture enemy ships and use them as power-ups. Reception to Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000 was negative. While reception of the gameplay was mixed, the visuals were panned as being rough-edged, ugly, and susceptible to slowdown. Most North American critics also said the game is not similar enough to Zaxxon to justify the use of the series name.

References

  1. ↑ Lomas, Ed (December 1995). "CVG Review - 32X - Kolibri". Computer and Video Games . No. 169. Future Publishing. pp. 28–29.
  2. ↑ Christopher Michael Baker. "Kolibri Review". Allgame. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  3. 1 2 "Review Crew: Kolibri". Electronic Gaming Monthly . No. 76. Sendai Publishing. November 1995. p. 46.
  4. 1 2 "Kolibri". Next Generation . No. 12. Imagine Media. December 1995. p.  188 . Retrieved June 5, 2020.
  5. 1 2 "Review: Kolibri". Sega Saturn Magazine . No. 2. Emap International Limited. December 1995. p. 90.
  6. ↑ "ProReview: Kolibri". GamePro . No. 87. IDG. December 1995. p. 82.
  7. ↑ "Mega Console 21". December 1995.
  8. ↑ Holkins, Jerry (December 17, 2001). "Awards Ceremony, Part One". Penny Arcade . Retrieved February 29, 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.