Psybadek

Last updated
Psybadek
US Psybadek.PNG
North American cover art
Developer(s) Psygnosis
Publisher(s) Psygnosis
Designer(s) Graham Sidwell [1]
Artist(s) Mick Harrison [1]
Composer(s) Mike Clarke [2]
Platform(s) PlayStation
Release
  • NA: November 17, 1998 [3]
  • EU: 1998
Genre(s) Platformer
Mode(s) Single-player

Psybadek is a video game for the PlayStation console. It was designed and released by Psygnosis on November 17, 1998. The game was sponsored by shoe company Vans.

Contents

Plot

The evil Krakken has appeared and causes a rampage at the local "hoverdek" park, where "dekkers" Xako, Mia, and their friends practice their skillz. Using his powers, Krakken kidnaps the "dek kids" and magically transforms them into his minions all to make the place his new home. Now it is up to Xako and Mia to save their friends and stop Krakken's evil, sending him back to where he came from.

Gameplay

The player warps to different worlds, known as time zones [4] from a hub area. Each world is broken down into levels which consist of courses that the player must travel through on their hoverboard. [5] In order to properly complete each world, the player must collect a certain number of stars, obtained along the course or by stomping on the heads of enemies. At the end of each world, the player faces a guardian which lies in wait at the end of the level. [4] Some levels feature a shooting gallery format. Here the player character is positioned in the center and fires a weapon within a time limit.

Player characters have no weapons by default, and must pick them up from drop boxes scattered through the levels. [5]

Development

Psybadek was developed by Psygnosis at its Liverpool Headquarters. The game was designed by Graham Sidwell, [1] and Nick Burcombe was the project lead. [6] Programmer Stephen Balmer came up with the game's original concept of the player free-roaming across landscapes on a board, while concept designer Mick Harrison drew images of characters on hoverboards. According to Sidwell, the game was in development for both the PlayStation and PC, but the latter was scrapped because it "diluted" the design team's focus. [1] Sidwell explained that creating Psybadek involved much trial-and-error, mainly due to the difficulty of melding traditional platform genre obstacles with sports-related "momentum". [1] Sidwell emphasized the difference between Psybadek and other boarding games. "There's obviously the snowboarding feel to this game," he stated, "But unlike most games in which you're racing against the clock and performing tricks on the way down for points, in Psybadek, those tricks actually do something. The stunts themselves are weapons." [7]

Psybadek was officially announced in May 1997, with a tentative release for the last quarter of that year. [8] However, the entire development team was temporarily pulled away from the project in order to work on other Psygnosis games. [9] After their releases, the developer continued work on Psybadek, attempting to improve its character motions, touch up its 3D environments, and expand the number of levels. [10] Like many other Psygnosis titles at the time, Psybadek was created using Softimage 3D. [11] Psygnosis partnered with California-based apparel company Vans to sponsor the game. Psybadek's in-game characters feature Vans clothing in exchange for the game's promotion at the Triple Crown series and the Warped Tour. [3] The characters were designed to have a cute yet cool manga-style look. [6]

Reception

The game received unfavorable reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings. [12] Next Generation said, "As a concept, Psybadek has been dangled in front of gamers for quite a while and created at least some excitement. It's a shame that because of bad designs, controls, and graphics, the potential was never realized." [20] GamePro said that the game was "too annoying for novice gamers and just not entertaining for experts." [23] [b]

GameRevolution listed Psybadek as eighth on their list of the 50 Worst Game Names Ever. [24]

Notes

  1. ↑ Two critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the game each a score of 2/10, and two others gave it each a score of 3/10.
  2. ↑ GamePro gave the game 3/5 for graphics, 4/5 for sound, and two 2.5/5 scores for control and fun factor.

Related Research Articles

Wipeout is a series of futuristic anti-gravity racing video games created by Psygnosis. Sony Interactive Entertainment owns the series and publishes most of the games.

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

Wipeout 2097 is a 1996 racing video game developed and published by Psygnosis for the PlayStation. It is the second installment of the Wipeout series and a sequel to the original game, released the previous year. It was ported the following year to Microsoft Windows and the Sega Saturn, and later also to Amiga and Macintosh.

<i>Fighting Force</i> 1997 video game

Fighting Force is a 1997 3D beat 'em up developed by Core Design and published by Eidos. It was released for PlayStation, Microsoft Windows, and Nintendo 64. Announced shortly after Core became a star developer through the critical and commercial success of Tomb Raider, Fighting Force was highly anticipated but met with mixed reviews.

<i>Formula 1 98</i> 1998 video game

Formula 1 98 is a racing video game developed by Visual Science and published by Psygnosis for the PlayStation. It is the sequel to the 1997 video game Formula 1 97 and was based on the 1998 Formula One World Championship. It is the first game in the series to not be released for Windows.

<i>Formula One 99</i> 1999 video game

Formula One 99 is a racing video game developed by Studio 33 and published by Psygnosis for PlayStation and Microsoft Windows. Sony Computer Entertainment released the game in Europe on the PlayStation. It is the sequel to the 1998 video game Formula 1 98 and was based on the 1999 Formula One World Championship.

<i>TrickStyle</i> 1999 video game

TrickStyle is a futuristic racing video game developed by Criterion Games and published by Acclaim Entertainment for the Dreamcast and Microsoft Windows. Set in the future, the player takes part in stunt-filled hoverboard races through London, Tokyo, and Manhattan, or inside a massive arena called the Velodrome. AirBlade by Criterion and Namco is a spiritual successor. The game received mixed reviews from critics, who praised its graphics and physics, but criticized its gameplay, animations and sound.

<i>Overboard!</i> 1997 video game

Overboard! is a top-down adventure game, released by Psygnosis for the PlayStation and Microsoft Windows in 1997. It employs a light-hearted, all-ages piratical theme. A relatively low-key release for Psygnosis, the game was met with mixed reviews.

<i>WWF War Zone</i> 1998 professional wrestling video game

WWF War Zone is a professional wrestling video game developed by Iguana West and released by Acclaim Entertainment in 1998 for the PlayStation, Nintendo 64, and Game Boy. The game features wrestlers from the World Wrestling Federation (WWF).

<i>Rogue Trip: Vacation 2012</i> 1998 video game

Rogue Trip: Vacation 2012, also known as Rogue Trip, is a vehicular combat video game developed by SingleTrac and published by GT Interactive for the PlayStation in 1998. The game is set in an apocalyptic fiction alternative history version of the year 2012 where mercenaries fight against each other using vehicles, and various weapons as they pick up tourists, hitchhikers, and passengers paying them fares for bringing them to vacation destinations around the remnants of the destroyed United States, and these mercenaries call themselves "auto mercenaries".

<i>Looney Tunes: Space Race</i> 2000 video game

Looney Tunes: Space Race is a 2000 kart-racing video game published by Infogrames for the Dreamcast and developed through Infogrames' own Melbourne House studio. A version of Nintendo 64 was developed, but it was never released. It was ported to PlayStation 2 in 2002 with a new tournament mode and different soundtrack.

<i>Wipeout 3</i> 1999 video game

Wipeout 3 is a 1999 racing video game developed by Psygnosis and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation. It is the fourth game and third main instalment in the Wipeout series, following Wipeout 64 (1998), and the third on PlayStation following Wipeout 2097 (1996). It is the first game in the series to be released on neither a Sega or Nintendo console nor personal computers. Players control anti-gravity ships and use weapons to force other contenders out of the race.

<i>Rascal</i> (video game) 1998 video game

Rascal is a 1998 platform video game developed by Traveller's Tales and published by Psygnosis for the PlayStation. The main character and several enemies were designed by Jim Henson's Creature Shop.

<i>Colony Wars: Red Sun</i> 2000 video game

Colony Wars: Red Sun is a 2000 space combat simulator video game developed by Psygnosis and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation. Midway Games released it in North America. It is a sequel to Colony Wars in 1997 and Colony Wars: Vengeance in 1998. Instead of being a starfighter pilot for the League of Free Worlds or the Colonial Navy, the player now assumes the role of a civilian miner-turned-mercenary.

<i>Destruction Derby Raw</i> 2000 video game

Destruction Derby Raw is a 2000 racing video game developed by Studio 33 and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation. it is the third main installment in Psygnosis's Destruction Derby series following Destruction Derby 2 (1996), and fourth overall after the Nintendo 64 exclusive Destruction Derby 64 (1999).

<i>Thunder Truck Rally</i> 1997 video game

Thunder Truck Rally is a monster truck racing video game developed by Reflections and published by Psygnosis where players select a monster truck or otherwise 4X4 vehicle equipped with monster truck tires and have the option of either racing or crushing cars in an arena.

<i>Sentient</i> (video game) 1997 video game

Sentient is a 1997 first-person adventure game developed and published by Psygnosis for the PlayStation and PC (DOS/Windows).

<i>Lifeforce Tenka</i> 1997 video game

Lifeforce Tenka is a first-person shooter for PC and PlayStation released in 1997 by Psygnosis. It is also known as just "Tenka" in some other forms of release.

<i>Shadow Master</i> 1997 video game

Shadow Master is a video game developed by HammerHead and published by Psygnosis for the PlayStation and Microsoft Windows. It is a first-person shooter in which the player character rides in an armed vehicle. It met with predominantly negative reviews which praised its visuals but criticized it for clunky controls and poorly designed, frustrating gameplay.

<i>Newman/Haas Racing</i> (video game) 1998 video game

Newman/Haas Racing is a racing video game developed by Studio 33 and published by Psygnosis for the PlayStation and Windows in 1998. It has been described as similar to Psygnosis's Formula One series.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Nelson, Randy (September 3, 1998). "Psybadek's Designer Speaks". IGN . Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on July 8, 2023. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Psybadek - Les musiques du jeu". VGMdb. Archived from the original on July 9, 2023. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  3. 1 2 Psygnosis staff (November 17, 1998). "Ride High in Psybadek From Psygnosis". Business Wire . Berkshire Hathaway. Archived from the original on December 13, 2013. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  4. 1 2 "News: Psybadek". PlayStation Plus UK. Vol. 2, no. 9. June 1997. p. 9. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  5. 1 2 Semrad, Ed (August 1997). "Special Feature: Psybadek" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly . No. 97. Ziff Davis. p. 83. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 27, 2023. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  6. 1 2 "NG Alphas: Psybadek". Next Generation . No. 33. Imagine Media. September 1997. pp. 74–75.
  7. ↑ Ward, Trent C. (March 2, 1998). "Colony Wars 2 Shown by Psygnosis". GameSpot . Fandom. Archived from the original on April 22, 1999. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  8. ↑ IGN staff (May 30, 1997). "Decked Out". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on July 8, 2023. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  9. ↑ IGN staff (January 27, 1998). "Psybadek Back on "Trak"". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on July 8, 2023. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  10. ↑ IGN staff (January 28, 1998). "Psybadek Gets Pumped Up". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on July 8, 2023. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  11. ↑ Microsoft staff (June 19, 1997). "Psygnosis Uses Softimage to Create Hot New Games Lineup". PR Newswire . Archived from the original on December 13, 2013. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  12. 1 2 "Psybadek for PlayStation". GameRankings . CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 27, 2019. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  13. ↑ House Michael L. "Psybadek - Review". AllGame . All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 16, 2014. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  14. ↑ Davison, John; Hager, Dean; Hsu, Dan; Williams, Ken "Sushi-X" (January 1999). "Psybadek" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly . No. 114. Ziff Davis. p. 228. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2023. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  15. ↑ Grant, Jules (January 13, 1999). "Psybadek". The Electric Playground . Greedy Productions Ltd. Archived from the original on November 12, 2003. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  16. ↑ "Psybadek". Game Informer . No. 70. FuncoLand. February 1999. p. 57. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  17. ↑ Mielke, James (November 25, 1998). "Psybadek Review [date mislabeled as "May 2, 2000"]". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on December 5, 2004. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  18. ↑ Perry, Douglass C. (November 13, 1998). "Psybadek". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on August 21, 2023. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  19. ↑ lightman (September 28, 1998). "Test: Psybadek". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). Webedia. Archived from the original on January 24, 2022. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  20. 1 2 "Psybadek". Next Generation. No. 49. Imagine Media. January 1999. p. 106. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  21. ↑ Faragher, Steve (December 25, 1998). "Psybadek". Official UK PlayStation Magazine . No. 40. Future Publishing. p. 114.
  22. ↑ Rybicki, Joe (December 1998). "Psybadek". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine . Vol. 2, no. 3. Ziff Davis. p. 143. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  23. ↑ Miss Spell (January 1999). "Psybadek" (PDF). GamePro . No. 124. IDG. p. 122. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  24. ↑ Ferris, Duke (June 12, 2006). "The 50 Worst Game Names Ever". GameRevolution . CraveOnline. Archived from the original on June 2, 2007. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
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.