Space Squash

Last updated
Space Squash
Virtual Boy Space Squash cover art.jpg
Developer(s) Tomcat System
Publisher(s) Coconuts Japan Entertainment
Platform(s) Virtual Boy
Release
  • JP: September 29, 1995
Genre(s) Sports
Mode(s) Single-player

Space Squash [lower-alpha 1] is a 1995 sports video game developed by Tomcat System and published by Coconuts Japan Entertainment in Japan for the Virtual Boy. The player assumes the role of a robot called Peatron to defeat a group of space pirates that have taken over the planet Animal Star on a intergalactic squash tournament. Its gameplay involves Peatron ricocheting a ball across a three-dimensional court and defeating the opponent on the other side in order to proceed further in the tournament.

Contents

Announced at E3 1995, Space Squash was one of four projects under development for the Virtual Boy by Coconuts Japan. The game was met with mixed reception from critics. The title has not been officially released outside Japan, although an English fan translation exists.

Gameplay

Gameplay screenshot VB Space Squash.png
Gameplay screenshot

Space Squash is a futuristic squash game played from a third-person perspective where the player assume the role of a robot called Peatron to defeat a group of space pirates that have taken over the planet Animal Star on a intergalactic squash tournament. [1] Peatron begins at the area A-1 and each area in the game has six stages filled with opponents. [2] A boss must be faced on every fifth area and finishing each area allows the player to play an extra bonus round, in addition of choosing the next route. [1] [2] The player controls Peatron with the left d-pad, while the right d-pad is used for directional ball shots. Points are won if the opponent misses the ball or his energy is reduced completely. [1] [2] If hit by the ball, an opponent is left stunned and open for scoring. [1] [2] The arena's wall can be used to obtain drifts with the ball. [1] [2] The player can use special power-ups, which are obtained by hitting boxes scattered in the arena, such as walls to protect Peatron's playing field, speed and health. [1] [2]

Release

Space Squash was first announced at E3 1995 as one of the four projects under development by Coconuts Japan Entertainment for the Virtual Boy alongside Intercept, Proteus Zone and a 3D shooter. [3] [4] It was developed by Tomcat System. [5] The game was published by Coconuts in Japan on September 29, 1995. [6] The title was also showcased in a playable state at the 1995 Famimaga Earth World show. [7] Although it was not officially released outside Japan, an English fan translation was released in 2015. [8]

Reception

Space Squash received a mixture of opinions from critics since its release. [10] [11] Famitsu 's four reviewers gave the game an overall mixed outlook. [6] Nintendo Magazine System noted that the title made decent use of the Virtual Boy's 3D effect but stated that it resembled tennis rather than squash. [12] The Japanese book Virtual Boy Memorial Commemorative Guidebook gave it a negative outlook, noting its low difficulty level and unispired character designs but commended the arenas. [13] In contrast, N64 Magazine 's Jason Moore regarded it as a "very playable" game despite the concept, stating that its opponents offer considerable challenge. [9] Nintendo Life 's Dave Frear commended the use of the 3D effect, stage variety, controls, effective audio and hidden settings but remarked that an additional difficulty setting would have been a welcomed addition. [2]

Notes

  1. ↑ Japanese: スペーススカッシュ, Hepburn: Supēsu Sukasshu

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Virtual Boy</span> Video game console by Nintendo

The Virtual Boy is a 32-bit tabletop portable video game console developed and manufactured by Nintendo. Released in 1995, it was marketed as the first console capable of displaying stereoscopic 3D graphics. The player uses the console like a head-mounted display, placing the head against the eyepiece to see a red monochrome display. The games use a parallax effect to create the illusion of depth. Sales failed to meet targets, and Nintendo ceased distribution and game development in 1996, having released only 22 games for the system.

<i>Mario Tennis</i> 2000 video game

Mario Tennis is a 2000 sports video game developed by Camelot Software Planning and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. Following Mario's Tennis, it is the second game in the Mario Tennis series. The game is known for being the introduction of Luigi's arch-rival, Waluigi, and the re-introduction of Princess Daisy and Birdo.

Nintendo Space World, formerly named Shoshinkai and Famicom Space World, was an annual video game trade show hosted by Nintendo from 1989 to 2001. Its three days of high-energy party atmosphere was the primary venue for Nintendo and its licensees to announce and demonstrate new consoles, accessories, and games. Anticipated and dissected each year with hype and exclusivity, it was a destination for the international video game press, with detailed developer interviews and technology demos.

<i>Jack Bros.</i> 1995 video game

Jack Bros. is an action video game developed and published by Atlus for the Virtual Boy, released in late 1995 in Japan and North America. It is a spin-off from Atlus' video game series Megami Tensei, and was the first entry to be released outside Japan.

<i>Virtual Boy Wario Land</i> 1995 platform game

Virtual Boy Wario Land is a platforming video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Virtual Boy game system in 1995. It stars Wario, a treasure hunter who must find treasure and fight enemies to progress. Wario can jump and charge with his shoulder as basic techniques, and equip special hats to gain things such as fire breathing and bull horns. He has the ability to enter the background at certain points, making use of the console's stereoscopic 3D effect. It was developed by Nintendo R&D1, containing a large portion of its staff, and features the red-and-black color scheme that is standard for Virtual Boy releases.

The Virtual Console is a defunct line of downloadable video games for Nintendo's Wii and Wii U home video game consoles and the Nintendo 3DS family of systems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nintendo Power (cartridge)</span> Peripheral for the Super Famicom and Game Boy

Nintendo Power was a video game distribution service for Super Famicom or Game Boy operated by Nintendo that ran exclusively in Japan from 1997 until February 2007. The service allowed users to download Super Famicom or Game Boy titles onto a special flash memory cartridge for a lower price than that of a pre-written ROM cartridge.

<i>Mario Golf</i> (video game) 1999 video game

Mario Golf is a 1999 sports game developed by Camelot Software Planning and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. Mario, his friends, and his enemies play golf on a variety of Mario-themed courses. Following NES Open Tournament Golf, it is the second game in the Mario Golf series. Camelot also developed a Game Boy Color version, which adds role-playing elements.

<i>Bomberman: Panic Bomber</i> 1994 video game

Bomberman: Panic Bomber is a 1994 puzzle video game developed and published by Hudson Soft for the PC Engine on December 22, 1994. It was later released for the Neo Geo, Super Famicom, Sharp X68000, FM Towns, NEC PC-9821, Virtual Boy, and PlayStation Portable. It saw a re-release for the Wii and Wii U's Virtual Console services. Panic Bomber is a falling block game with the players' goal being to clear matching blocks using bombs, ensuring that their screen does not fill and that their opponents' screens do. It received mixed to positive reception, identified as a decent game by multiple critics. It has been compared to the falling block puzzle game Tetris. The Virtual Boy version received a mixed reception for its handling of the platform's visual capabilities.

<i>SD Gundam Dimension War</i> 1995 tactical role-playing video game

SD Gundam Dimension War is a 1995 tactical role-playing video game published for the Virtual Boy in Japan by Bandai. Being the system's only licensed game in Japan, it is part of the SD Gundam series, a spin-off of the larger Gundam franchise by Sotsu and Sunrise. Players control a fleet of robots and vehicles as they set out to rid the galaxy of enemies, with gameplay involving moving robots towards opponents and engaging in combat sequences.

<i>Virtual League Baseball</i> 1995 video game

Virtual League Baseball is a 1995 baseball video game developed and published by Kemco for the Virtual Boy. A sequel, Virtual League Baseball 2, was planned, but later canceled due to the Virtual Boy console's poor sales.

<i>Space Invaders Virtual Collection</i> 1995 compilation video game

Space Invaders Virtual Collection is a 1995 compilation video game developed and published by Taito in Japan for the Virtual Boy. It includes direct ports of the arcade game Space Invaders (1978) and its direct sequel Space Invaders Part II (1979), alongside 3D remakes that take advantage of the Virtual Boy's hardware capabilities. Both games feature a number of alternative gameplay modes, such as score attack and time attack modes.

<i>Golf</i> (1995 video game) 1995 golf game for the Virtual Boy

Golf is a video game that was released within months of the Virtual Boy console's launch. It was developed and published by T&E Soft in Japan and published by Nintendo in North America. Golf uses standard golf rules and is set in the fictional 18-hole Papillion Golf & Country Club. Hazards include water, sand traps, trees, and deep rough grass. It is displayed in the Virtual Boy's standard red and black color scheme with 3D effects by use of a 3D processor. It was met with critical praise for its controls and physics and mixed reviews for its graphics. Nintendo Power called it the third best Virtual Boy release of its year.

<i>Bound High!</i> Unreleased action-puzzle video game

Bound High! is an unreleased action-puzzle video game that was in development by Japan System Supply and planned to be published by Nintendo on a scheduled 1996 release date exclusively for the Virtual Boy. In the game, players take control of a transforming robot named Chalvo through a series of levels riddled with hazardous obstacles to avoid across multiple worlds, while destroying or knocking out alien invaders off the area. The project was first conceptualized by designer and programmer Hideyuki Nakanishi, who wrote the idea on paper and placed it within a wall inside the offices of Japan System Supply, with his manager eventually greenlighting its development after seeing it.

<i>V-Tetris</i> 1995 video game

V-Tetris is a 1995 puzzle video game developed by Locomotive and published by Bullet-Proof Software in Japan for the Virtual Boy. Its gameplay involves the player clearing horizontal lines by moving pieces of different shapes that descend onto the playing field by filling empty spaces in order to make completed lines disappear and gain points across three modes of play.

<i>Virtual Lab</i> 1995 video game

Virtual Lab is a 1995 falling block puzzle video game developed for the Virtual Boy. Its gameplay involves the player moving different shapes that descend onto the playing field. The goal is to erase these shapes by linking and ultimately shutting their open orifices together to make them disappear, which causes the player to gain points across multiple levels.

<i>Virtual Fishing</i> 1995 video game

Virtual Fishing is a 1995 fishing video game developed by Locomotive Corporation and published by Pack-In-Video in Japan for the Virtual Boy. The player participates in a series of fishing tournaments at various different locations by catching a large number of fishes with a high average weight under a time limit. Its gameplay consists of two segments and features two additional modes of play.

<i>Virtual Bowling</i> 1995 video game

Virtual Bowling is a 1995 sports video game developed and published by Athena in Japan for the Virtual Boy. In the game, the player participates in a series of bowling tournaments consisting of four 10-frame matches at various alleys against computer-controlled opponents, in order to obtain a high score and progress further. Its gameplay, featuring three modes of play, is viewed from a first-person perspective.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Space Squash (スペーススカッシュ) Instruction Booklet (Virtual Boy, JP)
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Frear, Dave (June 24, 2009). "Space Squash Review (VB) - Think 3D Pong, and you're halfway there..." Nintendo Life . Nlife Media. Archived from the original on 2020-07-27. Retrieved 2021-08-29.
  3. ↑ "バーチャルボーイソフト最新情報をCHECK! - ココナッツジャパン エンターテイメント" [Check out the latest information on Virtual Boy software! - Coconuts Japan Entertainment]. 3D バーチャルボーイ Magazine[3D Virtual Boy Magazine] (in Japanese). No. 1. Tokuma Shoten. June 16, 1995. p. 34. Archived from the original on 2019-05-30. Retrieved 2021-08-30.
  4. ↑ "E-3 The Biggest And Best Electronic Entertainment Show Ever! — '95 Next Generation Software Listing: Virtual Boy - Bullet-Proof Software". GameFan . Vol. 3, no. 7. DieHard Gamers Club. July 1995. p. 41.
  5. ↑ Tomcat System (September 29, 1995). Space Squash (Virtual Boy) (in Japanese). Coconuts Japan Entertainment. Level/area: Staff roll.
  6. 1 2 3 "NEW GAMES CROSS REVIEW: スペーススカッシュ". Famitsu (in Japanese). No. 355. ASCII Corporation. October 6, 1995. p. 38. Archived from the original on 2017-09-23. Retrieved 2021-08-29.
  7. ↑ Sekai-yusu, Nihon (November 1995). "Super Express - Live From Hell City". Super Play . No. 37. Future Publishing. pp. 24–26.
  8. ↑ Williams, Carl (October 21, 2015). "Space Squash for Nintendo Virtual Boy Now Available in English". Retro Gaming Magazine. Archived from the original on 2017-07-30. Retrieved 2021-08-29.
  9. 1 2 Moore, Jason (November 1998). "Planet 64 News - Retroworld: Space Squash - Coconuts". N64 Magazine . No. 21. Future Publishing. p. 19. Archived from the original on 2021-08-29. Retrieved 2021-08-30.
  10. ↑ Edwards, Benj (February 7, 2019). "7 Forgotten Nintendo Virtual Boy Classics". PCMag . Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 2020-04-25. Retrieved 2024-05-04.
  11. ↑ Parish, Jeremy (2021). "Space Squash: In the court of the crimson swing". Virtual Boy Works. Limited Run Games. pp. 64–69. ISBN   9781955183000.
  12. ↑ "Special Feature - Virtual Boy Update: Space Squash by: Coconuts - It's Just Not Cricket". Nintendo Magazine System . No. 40. EMAP. January 1996. p. 79.
  13. ↑ "世界の絶滅動物シリーズ - バーチャルボーイ 全ソフト一覧 (96年8月現在): スペーススカッシュ" [World’s Extinct Species Series - Virtual Boy List of All Software (As of August 1996): Space Squash]. バーチャルボーイ追悼記念ガイドブック[Virtual Boy Memorial Commemorative Guidebook] (in Japanese) (改訂第ニ版 [Revised Second Edition] ed.). Toyo Baphomet Council. January 31, 1998. p. 7. Archived from the original on 2019-05-29. Retrieved 2021-08-29.
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.