Krazy Ivan

Last updated

Krazy Ivan
Krazy Ivan Coverart.png
North American box art
Developer(s) Psygnosis [lower-alpha 1]
Publisher(s) Psygnosis
Composer(s) Tim Wright, Mike Clarke
Platform(s) PlayStation, Windows, Sega Saturn
ReleasePlayStation
  • EU: 26 January 1996 [1]
  • NA: 23 February 1996 [2]
Windows
  • EU: 1996
  • NA: 20 December 1996 [3]
Sega Saturn
Genre(s) First-person shooter
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

Krazy Ivan is a mecha first-person shooter video game developed and published by Psygnosis. It was released for Windows, Sega Saturn and PlayStation in 1996.

Contents

The player takes the role of Ivan Popovich, a Russian soldier controlling a giant mechanical suit, defending the Earth from robotic aliens. The game consists of five zones: Russia, Saudi Arabia, France, USA and Japan. The game has an interface at the end of each zone allowing the player to spend the game's form of experience points (power cores) on upgrades and weapons.

The game uses full motion video for its intro movie and a cut-scene between each level. The in-game soundtrack was written and produced by Mike Clarke and Tim Wright.

Development

The live action cutscenes were all filmed using the blue screen technique. [5]

Release

Despite being demonstrated at a Sega of America games exhibition in 1996 [6] and reviewed in the major North American gaming magazines of the time, the Saturn version of Krazy Ivan was never released in North America. The North American reviews for the Saturn version ranged from middling to outright negative. [7] [8] [9] THQ planned to release the Sega Saturn version of the game in the US, but later withdrew support for the system due to its dwindling presence in the market. [10]

Reception

Krazy Ivan received generally mixed reviews. Air Hendrix gave the PlayStation version a mixed review in GamePro , saying the gameplay is repetitive and requires little strategy but demands fast reflexes, the controls are tight but conspicuously lack the ability to jump, and the graphics are detailed but suffer from slowdown. He concluded that "Krazy Ivan has some problems, but it stands tall above its Saturn counterpart, Ghen War ." [17] Electronic Gaming Monthly called it the first great mech game for the console and praised the graphics, the cinematics, the controls, and the close guidance through mission objectives, but they criticized the lack of replay value. [11] A Next Generation critic praised the animation, heavy use of distance fog, PlayStation Link Cable support, and FMV sequences which "range from painless to humorous." However, he criticized that the levels, despite being set all around the world, all look the same, and that the game can be beaten in just a few hours. [14] Maximum summarized that Krazy Ivan "is far too limited and, in all honesty, suffers from the perennial problem of presentation over playability." They specifically found that the game offers no motivation for the player to not simply head straight to the boss of each stage and defeat it using the simple strategy of firing while strafing. [15]

Next Generation reviewed the Saturn version of the game and stated that "The gameplay [...] is still as sharp as ever, making this a respectable but unexciting game for the Saturn library." [9] Paul Glancey of Sega Saturn Magazine praised the graphics and premise, but criticized the gameplay as being shallow and overly easy, with the simple strategy of sidestepping and firing working in most situations. [16]

Reviewing the PC version, GameSpot echoed Sega Saturn Magazine by praising the graphics and premise but ultimately dismissing the game for going no deeper than a sidestep-and-fire strategy. [12]

Notes

  1. ↑ Ported to Windows by Tantalus Interactive. Saturn version ported by Perfect Entertainment.

Related Research Articles

<i>Hexen: Beyond Heretic</i> 1995 video game

Hexen: Beyond Heretic is a fantasy first-person shooter video game developed by Raven Software and published by id Software distributed through GT Interactive on October 30, 1995. It is the sequel to 1994's Heretic, and the second game in Raven Software's "Serpent Riders" trilogy, which culminated with Hexen II. The title comes from the German noun Hexen, which means "witches", and/or the verb hexen, which means "to cast a spell". Game producer John Romero stated that a third, unreleased game in this series was to be called Hecatomb.

<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 is the first game in the Virtua Fighter series, and the first arcade fighting game to feature fully 3D polygon graphics. The game has been ported to several platforms including the Sega Saturn, Sega 32X, and Microsoft Windows.

<i>Clockwork Knight 2</i> 1995 video game

Clockwork Knight 2 is a side-scrolling platform video game developed and published by Sega for the Sega Saturn. It was released in Japan on July 28, 1995 and on October 27th of the same year in Europe. The game is a direct sequel to Clockwork Knight, featuring many of the same mechanics as its predecessor.

<i>Battle Arena Toshinden</i> 1995 fighting video game

Battle Arena Toshinden, also transliterated Toh Shin Den, is a fighting video game developed by Tamsoft and published by Takara for the PlayStation. Originally released in 1995, it was released internationally by Sony Computer Entertainment, followed by 1996 ports for the Sega Saturn, Game Boy and MS-DOS. It was one of the first fighting games, after Virtua Fighter in 1993 on arcade and console, to boast polygonal characters in a 3D environment, and features a sidestep maneuver which is credited for taking the genre into "true 3D."

<i>Wipeout 2097</i> 1996 racing video game

Wipeout 2097 is a racing video game developed and published by Psygnosis. It is the second installment released in the Wipeout series and the direct sequel of the original game released the previous year. It was originally released in 1996 for the PlayStation, and in 1997 for Microsoft Windows and the Sega Saturn. It was later ported by Digital Images to the Amiga in 1999 and by Coderus to Mac OS in 2002.

<i>Hi-Octane</i> 1995 video game

Hi-Octane is a vehicular combat and racing video game published in 1995 for MS-DOS compatible operating systems, PlayStation, and Sega Saturn. It was developed by Bullfrog Productions based upon their earlier Magic Carpet game code.

Gungriffon is a series of video games developed by Game Arts and designed by Takeshi Miyaji. Gungriffon and Gungriffon II originally appeared for the Sega Saturn console in 1996, with more recent appearances in Gungriffon Blaze for the PlayStation 2 and Gungriffon: Allied Strike for the Xbox. The Gungriffon games are focused on piloting mecha—large, usually bipedal military vehicles. This game series refers to these machines as Armored Walking Gun Systems (AWGS). With the exception of the High-MACS design, the mecha in this series have a distinctly realistic design philosophy.

<i>Wipeout</i> (video game) 1995 racing video game

Wipeout is a racing video game developed and published by Psygnosis. It is the first game in the Wipeout series. It was originally released in 1995 for PlayStation and DOS, and in 1996 for Sega Saturn, being a launch title for the PlayStation in Europe. It was re-released as a downloadable game for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable via the PlayStation Network in 2007.

<i>Formula 1</i> (video game) 1996 video game

Formula 1 is a racing video game developed by Bizarre Creations and published by Psygnosis for PlayStation and Microsoft Windows. It is the first installment in Sony's Formula One series.

<i>Loaded</i> (video game) 1995 video game

Loaded is a science fiction-themed top-down multidirectional shooter developed by Gremlin Interactive and published by Interplay Productions. Loaded was released on December 15, 1995 on the PlayStation, and was ported to the Sega Saturn the following year. The game had origins in DC Comics as well as the more adult-orientated Vertigo Comics, and there was a small graphic novel based on the game. The six playable characters of the game are a combination of villains, anti-heroes, psychopaths, perverts, mutants, and flamboyant murderers. They are, however, the best hope to stop the intergalactic supervillain nicknamed F.U.B. and save the universe. The characters were created and designed with contributions from Garth Ennis of Vertigo Comics and Greg Staples of 2000AD.

<i>Madden NFL 97</i> 1996 American football video game

Madden NFL 97 is a football video game released in 1996. It was the first multiplatform Madden game released for the 32-bit consoles, being released on both the PlayStation and Sega Saturn. 16-bit versions were also made for the established Super NES and Genesis platforms, as well as a portable version for the Game Boy.

<i>Alien Trilogy</i> 1996 video game

Alien Trilogy is a first-person shooter video game developed by Probe Entertainment and published by Acclaim Entertainment in 1996 for the PlayStation, Sega Saturn, and MS-DOS platforms. The game is based on the first three movies in the Alien film series. One of the first games developed by Probe following their acquisition by Acclaim, it debuted Acclaim's much-hyped motion capture technology. The game was well-received by critics, who praised its recreation of the films' atmosphere and its gameplay depth compared to other first-person shooters, and was a commercial success.

<i>NBA Jam Extreme</i> 1996 video game

NBA Jam Extreme is a 1996 basketball arcade game by Acclaim Entertainment based on the 1996–97 NBA season. After Midway Games released two NBA Jam games, Acclaim, the publisher of the home versions of NBA Jam, ended up winning the exclusive rights to use the Jam name. NBA Jam Extreme was the first Jam game from Acclaim, as well as the first edition of the game to use 3D graphics. In contrast, Midway's competing NBA game NBA Hangtime featured 2-D visuals similar to the previous Jam games. Extreme also features longtime sports broadcaster Marv Albert doing commentary instead of original commentator Tim Kitzrow. New to the game is the "Extreme" button, essentially a super version of the series' trademark "Turbo" button. The cover features Shawn Kemp of the Seattle SuperSonics, and Hakeem Olajuwon of the Houston Rockets.

<i>Scorcher</i> (video game) 1996 video game

Scorcher is a futuristic racing video game by Danish developer Zyrinx, released in 1996 for the PC and in 1997 for the Sega Saturn. Originally announced under the name "Vertigo", the game focuses on special motorcycles that reach up to 450 km/h racing through dangerous tracks in a dystopian year 2021.

<i>NBA Live 97</i> 1996 basketball video game

NBA Live 97 is the third installment of the NBA Live video games series. The cover features Mitch Richmond of the Sacramento Kings. The game was developed by EA Sports and released in 1996. The MS-DOS, Sega Saturn and PlayStation versions featured polygonal models for the on-court players, thus marking it as the first 3D EA Sports Basketball sequel for the series. It was also the first NBA Live released for the Sega Saturn. The game received mostly positive reviews for its advanced graphics and wide array of available moves and plays, though the Saturn conversion was reviled for numerous technical deficiencies. NBA Live 97 is followed by NBA Live 98.

<i>Defcon 5</i> (1995 video game) 1995 action-adventure video game

Defcon 5 is an action-adventure video game developed by Millennium Interactive. It was released for MS-DOS in 1995, and ported to PlayStation, Sega Saturn and 3DO Interactive Multiplayer in 1996. The name refers to the condition used to designate normal peacetime military readiness under the DEFCON system, but which is commonly misused in popular fiction to indicate a state of emergency. The game was originally announced under the title Incoming.

<i>Golden Axe: The Duel</i> 1995 video game

Golden Axe: The Duel (ゴールデンアックス・ザ・デュエル) is a fantasy-themed fighting game produced by Sega based on their Golden Axe series. It was originally released as a coin-operated arcade game in 1995 and later ported to the Sega Saturn. It is the third coin-operated installment in the series, following the original Golden Axe and Golden Axe: The Revenge of Death Adder.

<i>ESPN Extreme Games</i> 1995 video game

ESPN Extreme Games is a game released for the PlayStation in 1995. A version was released for MS-DOS a short time later. The game featured all the sports included in the Summer X-Games of 1995, but it did not feature events such as the half pipe in skateboarding. It was similar to Road Rash, which was a game published by Electronic Arts. The game was followed by two sequels, 2Xtreme and 3Xtreme.

<i>Johnny Bazookatone</i> 1996 video game

Johnny Bazookatone is a platforming video game developed by Arc Developments and published by U.S. Gold for the 3DO, PlayStation, Sega Saturn, and MS-DOS computers in 1996. Some releases also came equipped with a music CD based on the game's musical score. The game follows the protagonist, Johnny Bazookatone, trapped in the year 2050 in Sin Sin Prison by El Diablo, lord of the underworld. His guitar, known as "Anita" is taken from him, and so Johnny must travel to reclaim it.

<i>Andretti Racing</i> 1996 racing video game

Andretti Racing is a video game developed by American studios High Score Productions and Stormfront Studios and published by EA Sports for the PlayStation and Sega Saturn in 1996, and for Windows in 1997. The game's title refers to legendary racing drivers Mario Andretti and Michael Andretti.

References

  1. ↑ Leys, Alex (January 24, 1996). "Full of Eastern Bloc Promise". Evening Telegraph . p. 12. Retrieved January 30, 2024. Krazy Ivan//by: Psygnosis//out: Friday
  2. ↑ "Krazy Ivan™ Boasts First Person 3-D, Open Area Robot Combat". Psygnosis . February 23, 1996. Archived from the original on October 22, 1996. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
  3. ↑ "Online Gaming Review". February 27, 1997. Archived from the original on February 27, 1997. Retrieved April 16, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  4. ↑ "File:CVG UK 187.pdf" (PDF). Sega Retro. January 30, 2024. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
  5. ↑ "You've Got to Be Krazy Ivan". Maximum: The Video Game Magazine. Emap International Limited (2): 111. November 1995.
  6. ↑ "Sega Gamers' Day". Electronic Gaming Monthly . No. 87. Ziff Davis. October 1996. p. 112.
  7. ↑ "Review Crew: Krazy Ivan". Electronic Gaming Monthly . No. 88. Ziff Davis. November 1996. p. 74.
  8. ↑ "ProReview: Krazy Ivan". GamePro . No. 99. IDG. December 1996. p. 142.
  9. 1 2 3 "Krazy Ivan". Next Generation . No. 24. Imagine Media. December 1996. pp. 262, 266.
  10. ↑ "Sega Third Party Support on the Retreat" (PDF). Ultra Game Players . No. 100. August 1997. p. 14.
  11. 1 2 "Krazy Ivan Review". Electronic Gaming Monthly . No. 81. Ziff Davis. April 1996. p. 34.
  12. 1 2 Kujawa, Kraig (February 4, 1997). "Krazy Ivan Review". GameSpot . Retrieved August 16, 2014.
  13. ↑ Wildgoose, David (March 1996). "Krazy Ivan". Hyper . No. 29. pp. 42–43. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
  14. 1 2 "Krazy Ivan". Next Generation . No. 17. Imagine Media. May 1996. p. 91.
  15. 1 2 "Maximum Reviews: Krazy Ivan". Maximum: The Video Game Magazine. No. 4. Emap International Limited. March 1996. p. 148.
  16. 1 2 Glancey, Paul (January 1997). "Review: Krazy Ivan". Sega Saturn Magazine . Emap International Limited (15): 82–83.
  17. ↑ "ProReview: Krazy Ivan". GamePro . No. 90. IDG. March 1996. p. 50.
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.