Psycho-Nics Oscar

Last updated
Psycho-Nics Oscar
Psycho-Nics Oscar arcade flyer.jpg
Developer(s) Data East
Publisher(s) Data East
Designer(s) Akira Sakuma
Programmer(s) Satoshi Imamura
Artist(s) Harumi Nomura
Jun Matsuda
Masayuki Kawaguchi
Composer(s) Azusa Hara
Hiroaki Yoshida
Hitomi Komatsu
Platform(s) Arcade
Release
Genre(s) Run and gun
Mode(s) Single-player

Psycho-Nics Oscar [lower-alpha 1] is a 1987 side-scrolling run and gun arcade video game developed and published by Data East in Japan and North America. Set in the futuristic Ordio City, players assume the role of the titular mecha to fight against enemy invaders. Headed by Akira Sakuma, the title was developed by most of the same team that would later work on several projects at Data East. It received positive reception since its release from critics and has been cited as an influence for Turrican . [2] The rights to the title are currently owned by G-Mode.

Contents

Gameplay

Gameplay screenshot. ARC Psycho-Nics Oscar (Oscar).png
Gameplay screenshot.

Psycho-Nics Oscar is a side-scrolling run and gun game where players assume the role of Oscar to fight against invaders in Ordio City. [3] [4] The controls consists of an eight-way joystick and three action buttons for shooting, jumping and selecting a power-up item. [3] The weapon system is similar to Gradius , where the currently selected power-up items appears highlighted at the bottom of the screen. When a power-up item is highlighted by picking up a "N" capsule, players obtain it by pressing the power-up button but the system returns to its initial state. [3] [4]

Players also have access to satellite options called "P.C.U.", which provides extra firepower for Oscar. [3] [4] Making a full rotation of the weapon system changes the "Gun" power-up to "Armor", giving Oscar an armor to sustain enemy hits while making a full rotation twice provides Oscar a "Quick" rapid fire power-up. [3] [4] A checkpoint system is used to respawn a downed player at the start of a reached checkpoint before dying. [4] Sustaining a number of enemy hits results in losing a live, as well as a penalty of lowering Oscar's power to his original state and the game is over once all lives are lost, unless players insert credits into the arcade machine to continue playing. [3] [4]

Development and release

Psycho-Nics Oscar was created by most of the same team that would later work on several projects at Data East. [5] Its development was helmed by designer Akira Sakuma, who also acted as co-programmer alongside Satoshi Imamura and Takuya Haga. [5] [6] Artists Harumi Nomura, Jun Matsuda, Katsunori Tsujimura, Masayuki Kawaguchi, Tomo Adachi and Yutaka Kadode were in charge of creating the pixel art. [5] The soundtrack was handled by Gamadelic members Azusa Hara, Hiroaki Yoshida, Hitomi Komatsu and Tatsuya Kiuchi. [5] [7] When creating the game, Sakuma thought about how a robot would operate and wanted to introduce more features but they were not implemented due to lack of time. [6]

Psycho-Nics Oscar was first released in Japan by Data East in August 1987 and later in North America in February 1988 by the North American branch of Data East. [1] In 1988, an album containing music from the game and other Data East titles was published exclusively in Japan by G.M.O. Records. [7] The title has since been re-released on the AntStream service. [8] In September 2020, M2 announced a new version of Psycho-Nics Oscar as part of their M2 ShotTriggers publishing label. [9]

Reception and legacy

In Japan, Game Machine listed Psycho-Nics Oscar on their October 1, 1987 issue as being the fifth most-successful table arcade unit of the month, outperforming titles such as Double Dragon . [10] Oscar got an overall rating of 7 out of 10 by Martin Gaksch of German magazine Power Play. Gaksch saw the game in the tradition of Ghosts 'n Goblins , mentioning the unusual three fire buttons and rated the gameplay as "very good". [11]

According to Factor 5 co-founder Julian Eggebrecht and Manfred Trenz, the game influenced the design of Turrican, which was released in 1989 and featured a more European aesthetic. [4] [12] [13] Ron Alpert of Gamasutra regarded it as "A solid, fun little game which is said to be the inspiration for the much more memorable Turrican..." [14] Kurt Kalata of Hardcore Gaming 101 stated that "While technically Psycho-Nics Oscar blends into the murky miasma of similar arcade titles from the era, it’s still a fun little game, however, the kind that, like many, probably would’ve obtained more popularity had it been ported to a console." [4] The rights to the title are currently owned by G-Mode and the company expressed interest in developing a sequel if an opportunity arises. [6]

Notes

  1. ↑ Japanese: サイコニクス・オスカー, Hepburn: Saiko-Nikusu Osukā, also known as Oscar in North America

Related Research Articles

<i>Gradius</i> (video game) Sidescrolling shooter video game by Konami

Gradius is a side-scrolling shooter video game developed and published by Konami. The first game in the Gradius series, it was originally released as a coin-operated arcade game in 1985. The player maneuvers a spacecraft known as the Vic Viper that must defend itself from the various alien enemies. The game uses a power-up system called the "power meter", based upon collecting capsules to purchase additional weapons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shoot 'em up</span> Subgenre of shooter game

Shoot 'em ups are a sub-genre of shooter video games, which are in turn a sub-genre of action video games. There is no consensus as to which design elements compose a shoot 'em up; some restrict the definition to games featuring spacecraft and certain types of character movement, while others allow a broader definition including characters on foot and a variety of perspectives.

<i>Kung-Fu Master</i> (video game) 1984 video game

Kung-Fu Master, known as Spartan X in Japan, is a side-scrolling beat 'em up game developed by Irem as an arcade game in 1984, and distributed by Data East in North America. Designed by Takashi Nishiyama, the game was based on Hong Kong martial arts films. It is loosely adapted from the Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung film Wheels on Meals (1984), called Spartan X in Japan, with the protagonist Thomas named after Jackie Chan's character in the film. The game is also heavily inspired by the Bruce Lee film Game of Death (1972), which was the basis for the game's concept. Nishiyama, who had previously designed the side-scrolling shooter Moon Patrol (1982), combined fighting elements with a shoot 'em up gameplay rhythm. Irem and Data East exported the game to the West without the Spartan X license.

<i>Hang-On</i> 1985 arcade racing game

Hang-On is an arcade racing game released by Sega in 1985 and later ported to the Master System. In the game, the player controls a motorcycle against time and other computer-controlled bikes. It was one of the first arcade games to use 16-bit graphics and uses the Super Scaler arcade system board, created with design input from Yu Suzuki, as technology to simulate 3D effects. The deluxe cabinet version also introduced a motion-controlled arcade cabinet, where the player's body movement on a large motorbike-shaped cabinet corresponds with the player character's movements on screen.

<i>Turrican</i> 1990 video game

Turrican is a 1990 video game developed by Manfred Trenz. It was developed for the Commodore 64 by Rainbow Arts, and was ported to other systems later. In addition to concept design and character creation, Trenz programmed Turrican on the Commodore 64. A sequel, Turrican II: The Final Fight, followed in 1991 for the Commodore 64 and other platforms.

<i>Turrican II: The Final Fight</i> 1991 video game

Turrican II: The Final Fight is the second game of the Turrican series. The game, developed by Factor 5 was released in 1991 for the Commodore Amiga. This version was finished before the C64 version, but Manfred Trenz cites the C64 version as the original design. Turrican II was also released for the CDTV, Atari ST, Amstrad CPC and ZX Spectrum, and later for DOS, and also for the Mega Drive/Genesis and Game Boy rebranded as Universal Soldier.

<i>Rayxanber</i> 1990 video game

Rayxanber is a 1990 scrolling shooter video game developed and published by Data West for the FM Towns. It is the first entry in the Rayxanber series, followed by Rayxanber II (1991) and Rayxanber III (1992) for the PC Engine platform. In the game, the player assume the role of a fighter pilot from Earth controlling the RT-X-32 space craft to fight against the biomechanical Zoul Empire. The title was created by Team 50, a group within Data West. The soundtrack was scored by Yasuhito Saito, who composed for other titles such as Layla and The 4th Unit series. It garnered mixed reception from critics.

<i>Big Karnak</i> 1991 video game

Big Karnak is a 1991 platform arcade video game developed and released by Gaelco. Taking place in an Ancient Egypt setting, players assume the role of a pharaoh warrior who embarks on a journey to save his wife while fighting against mythical beings and Egyptian gods. The game was a commercial success for Gaelco and garnered positive reception from critics.

<i>R-Type Leo</i> 1992 video game

R-Type Leo is a 1992 horizontal-scrolling shooter arcade game developed by Nanao and published by Irem. It is a spin-off of the R-Type series and the last R-Type entry to be released in arcades. In Leo, players take control of the titular space fighter to travel the man-made mechanical planet Eden and destroy its supercomputer core Major. The game was initially conceived as an original shoot 'em up by Nanao before being retooled into an R-Type project by Irem. The title was met with positive reception from reviewers. It has since been re-released as part of Dotemu's 2010 Irem Arcade Hits compilation.

<i>Blood Bros.</i> 1990 arcade game

Blood Bros. is a 1990 arcade game developed and published by TAD Corporation in Japan and Europe, and later published in North America by Fabtek. It is a spiritual sequel to the 1988 game Cabal, with almost identical mechanics. A bootleg of Blood Bros. is known as West Story.

<i>1941: Counter Attack</i> 1990 video game

1941: Counter Attack is a vertical scrolling shooter arcade game by Capcom, released in February 1990. It is the prequel to 1942, and the third game in the 19XX series. It was ported to the SuperGrafx in 1991 and to GameTap. It was released on Capcom Classics Collection Remixed for the PlayStation Portable and Capcom Classics Collection Vol. 2 for PlayStation 2 and Xbox. It was followed by 19XX: The War Against Destiny in 1996.

<i>Alien Crush</i> 1988 video game

Alien Crush is a pinball video game developed by Compile for the PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16. It was released in 1988. The game is the first installment in the Crush Pinball series. It was followed by three sequels, Devil's Crush, Jaki Crush, and Alien Crush Returns. Alien Crush was later rereleased on the Virtual Console and on the PlayStation Network.

<i>Solar Assault</i> 1997 video game

Solar Assault is a three-dimensional shoot 'em up released by Konami in 1997. A spin-off of the long running Gradius series, the title retains most of the gameplay characteristics of its 2D counterparts including the same powerups and display system.

<i>The Cliffhanger: Edward Randy</i> 1990 video game

The Cliffhanger: Edward Randy, also known as simply Edward Randy, is a 1990 action video game developed and released by Data East for arcades worldwide in 1990. Set during the 1930s in a European region, where an elderly scientist escapes from a Nazi-like army under the leadership of general "Dark Ogre" after being manipulated for his research on a secret mass destruction weapon, players assume the role of Edward Randy on an adventure to rescue the scientist's granddaughter Charlotte, who holds a prism stone that is a key piece for the enemy. Headed by Terra Diver producer Minoru Sano, the game was created by most of the same team that would later work on several projects at Data East. It was influenced films such as Indiana Jones as well as manga and anime such as Lupin the Third.

G-Mode Corporation is a Japanese company that specializes in games for Java-compatible mobile phones. The company also licenses content for mobile telecommunications operators, as well as being involved in the original equipment manufacturing of mobile phone games.

<i>Aliens</i> (1990 video game) 1990 video game

Aliens is a 1990 run-and-gun shooter video game developed and published for arcades by Konami. It is based on the 1986 film of the same title.

<i>Truxton II</i> 1992 video game

Truxton II is a 1992 vertically scrolling shooter arcade video game originally developed and published by Toaplan in Japan and Europe. It is the sequel to Truxton, which was released earlier on arcades in 1988 and later ported to various platforms.

<i>Gunlord</i> 2012 video game

Gunlord is a 2012 single-player run and gun video game developed and published by German indie NG:Dev.Team for the Neo Geo MVS. It is the first run and gun title from NG:Dev.Team and their third game overall. Taking place after the events of Last Hope, the player assume the role of Gordian Gaiden facing against an evil lord called "The Master" on planet Kairos II while searching for his wife Vanessa, who went missing after defeating the evil empire. Inspired by 16-bit titles such as Turrican, the game originally started development in 2003 but was postponed for various years until the project was resumed in 2010, lasting eighteenth months in production.

<i>Guardian</i> (1986 video game) 1986 video game

Guardian is a 1986 side-scrolling beat 'em up arcade video game developed by Toaplan and published in Japan by Taito and North America by Kitkorp. In the game, players assume the role of a robot fighting against a multitude of enemies and bosses across six locations on a futuristic science fiction setting. It is notable for marking the debut of Twin Cobra and Hellfire artist Kōetsu Iwabuchi in the video game industry, serving as its graphic designer.

Hardcore Gaming 101 is an online video game magazine founded by Kurt Kalata. Kalata established the site after graduating college, when he noticed the overabundance of game strategy guides, and felt that someone should create more books about gaming history. In its formative years, Hardcore Gaming 101 focused especially on games from Japan. The site has become known for its in-depth coverage of classic games and the history behind them.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Akagi, Masumi (13 October 2006). データイースト (Data East); Data East USA; O. アーケードTVゲームリスト 国内•海外編 (1971-2005) (in Japanese) (1st ed.). Amusement News Agency. pp. 48, 115, 160. ISBN   978-4990251215.
  2. ↑ Tobaños, Curro Gómez (January 2013). "Arcades Olvivados: 10 Joyas De Los Recreativos Que Deberias Jugar". RetroManiac Magazine (in Spanish). No. 7. RetroManiac. pp. 102–111.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Psycho-Nics Oscar arcade flyer (Data East, JP)
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Kalata, Kurt (November 19, 2010). "Psycho-Nics Oscar". Hardcore Gaming 101. Archived from the original on December 31, 2019. Retrieved 2020-07-02.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Data East (1987). Psycho-Nics Oscar (Arcade). Data East. Level/area: Staff.
  6. 1 2 3 CRV (10 January 2013). "Blog:Five with Akira Sakuma". Game Developer Research Institute. Archived from the original on 2016-10-09. Retrieved 2020-07-09.
  7. 1 2 Fuentes, Edgar S. (21 June 2017). "Vandal Game Music: 'Gamadelic' Data East Sound Team - Repasamos el legado de Gamadelic, la brillante formación de músicos de Data East". Vandal (in Spanish). El Español. Archived from the original on 2020-07-05. Retrieved 2020-07-05.
  8. ↑ Brehme, Marc (17 January 2019). "Antstream: Wir haben das Netflix für Retro-Spiele ausprobiert". PC Games (in German). Computec. Archived from the original on 2020-07-05. Retrieved 2020-07-05.
  9. ↑ Romano, Sal (September 16, 2020). "Data East shoot 'em ups Zaviga, B-Wings, Metal Clash, Last Mission, Psycho-Nics Oscar M2 ShotTriggers re-releases announced - Five new titles join the lineup". Gematsu. Archived from the original on 2020-09-17. Retrieved 2020-09-16.
  10. ↑ "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - テーブル型TVゲーム機 (Table Videos)". Game Machine (in Japanese). No. 317. Amusement Press, Inc. 1 October 1987. p. 21.
  11. ↑ Gaksch, Martin (March 1988). "Power Automatenspiele - Tests: Oscar". Power Play (in German). No. 3. Future Verlag. p. 108.
  12. ↑ Stürmer, Andreas (2001). "Amiga Future Interview: Interview mit Factor 5". Amiga Future (in German). Archived from the original on 2020-07-25. Retrieved 2020-07-02.
  13. ↑ "The Making of: Turrican". Retro Gamer . No. 21. Imagine Publishing. February 2006. pp. 70–73.
  14. ↑ Alpert, Ron (May 26, 2010). "Retro Game of the Day! Psycho-nics Oscar". Gamasutra . UBM Technology Group. Archived from the original on 2020-07-05. Retrieved 2020-07-05.
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.