The Pagemaster (video game)

Last updated
The Pagemaster
The Pagemaster game cover.jpg
Developer(s) Probe Software
Publisher(s) Fox Interactive
Platform(s) Genesis, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Game Boy
ReleaseSega Genesis
Super NES
  • NA: November 23, 1994 [2]
  • EU: 1994
Game Boy
  • NA: November 23, 1994 [2]
  • EU: 1994
Genre(s) Platform
Mode(s) Single-player

The Pagemaster is a platform game released in conjunction with the 1994 film The Pagemaster for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Game Boy, and Sega Genesis. It was developed by Probe Software, published by Fox Interactive and distributed by FoxVideo.

Contents

Gameplay

Richard Tyler can be guided through a selection of literature genre-themed levels, ranging from horror to adventure and fantasy worlds. Magic can be used, and stomping enemies to death by jumping on their heads is permitted. Enemies include bats, flying books, giant hands, ghosts, pirates, and more.

Reception

GamePro gave the SNES version a mixed review. They criticized the poor controls and repetitiveness, but they praised the graphics for their colorful and effective recreations of the settings for famous novels. [11] The four reviewers of Electronic Gaming Monthly also considered it a just above average game. They praised the movie-like graphics and audio, but criticized the controls, saying the character tends to slide around, and felt the game to be generally uninteresting. [8] They held the Genesis version in lower regard, commenting that "this game would be enjoyable, but the control just isn't there". [7] GamePro similarly commented that the Genesis version is good in most respects, but that the poor controls make it an overall mediocre game. [10]

Reviewing the Game Boy version, GamePro praised the diverse gameplay, detailed graphics, and atmospheric music, but remarked that the poor control ruins the entire experience, noting that the game requirea excessive precision and slippery control for the jumps. [9]

Sales

The game shipped more than 100,000 copies. [27]

Notes

  1. ↑ In Electronic Gaming Monthly's review of the Genesis version, three critics scored it 6/10, one 5/10, another 7/10. [7]
  2. ↑ In Electronic Gaming Monthly's review of the SNES version, two critics scored it 6/10, two others 7/10. [8]
  3. ↑ GamePro gave the Gameboy version two 3.5/5 ratings for graphics and sound, and two 2.5/5 scores for control and fun factor. [9]
  4. ↑ GamePro scored the Genesis version 3.5/5 twice for graphics and sound, 2/5 for control, and 3/5 for fun factor. [10]
  5. ↑ GamePro scored the SNES version 3.5/5 twice for sound and fun factor, 4/5 for graphics, and 3/5 for control. [11]
  6. ↑ Nintendo Power, in the early 1990s, scored games based on four factors in reviews: graphics/sound, play control, challenge, and theme/fun. The SNES version was ranked 3/5 in all except graphics, which was rated 3.4/5. [16]

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References

  1. ↑ Nichols, Peter (November 21, 1994). "Games, movies starting to meet in marketplace". The Tampa Tribune . p. 12. Retrieved September 26, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
  2. 1 2 3 "Press release: 1994-11-15: YOU'VE NEVER CHECKED OUT A LIBRARY LIKE THIS: 'THE PAGEMASTER'". Sega Retro. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  3. ↑ "Mean Machines Sega No 27 pg. 80". Sega Retro. January 1995. Retrieved 26 March 2017.
  4. ↑ Weiss, Brett Alan. "The Pagemaster – Review". AllGame. Archived from the original on November 16, 2014. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  5. ↑ Weiss, Brett Alan. "The Pagemaster – Review". AllGame. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  6. 1 2 Lord, Gary; Rad Automatic (December 1994). "Pagemaster". Computer and Video Games . No. 157. pp. 94–95. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  7. 1 2 "Review Crew: The Pagemaster". Electronic Gaming Monthly . No. 65. December 1994. p. 40.
  8. 1 2 "Review Crew: Pagemaster". Electronic Gaming Monthly . No. 65. December 1994. p. 38.
  9. 1 2 "ProReview: The Pagemaster" (PDF). GamePro . No. 65. IDG. December 1994. p. 212.
  10. 1 2 "ProReview: The Pagemaster" (PDF). GamePro . No. 66. January 1995. p. 50.
  11. 1 2 "ProReview: The Pagemaster" (PDF). GamePro . No. 65. December 1994. p. 140.
  12. ↑ Armstrong, Stretch (February 1995). "The Pagemaster". Hyper . No. 15. pp. 44–45. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  13. ↑ Steve; Gus (January 1995). "Page Master". Mean Machines Sega . No. 27. pp. 80–82. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  14. ↑ Noak, Philipp (January 1995). "Pagemaster". Mega Fun (in German). p. 40. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  15. ↑ Noak, Philipp (February 1995). "Pagemaster". Mega Fun (in German). p. 102. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  16. ↑ "Now Playing". Nintendo Power . No. 67. December 1994. pp. 102–107. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  17. ↑ Paul D. (February 1995). "The Pagemaster". Nintendo Magazine System . No. 29. p. 38. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  18. ↑ Paul D. (February 1995). "The Pagemaster". Nintendo Magazine System. No. 29. pp. 36–37. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  19. ↑ Per Mejorie Bros (March 1995). "The Pagemaster". Super Game Power (in Portuguese). p. 37. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  20. ↑ Andy; Atko (February 1995). "The Pagemaster". Total! . No. 38. pp. 30–31. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  21. 1 2 Zengerle, Robert (January 1995). "Pagemaster". Video Games (in German). p. 110. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  22. ↑ Dave; Nick; Nick R; Adrian (January 1995). "The Pagemaster". Games World . No. 7. p. 16. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  23. ↑ "The Pagemaster". GB Action . No. 34. December 1994. pp. 18–19. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  24. ↑ "Pagemaster". Play Time (in German). January 1995. p. 102. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  25. ↑ "The Pagemaster". Play Time (in German). March 1995. p. 115. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  26. ↑ Ryan; Keith (February 1995). "The Pagemaster". Super Gamer . p. 62. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  27. ↑ Gelmis, Joseph (November 22, 1994). "Pagemaster and Kong Look Like Video Game Winners". Newsday . p. 128. Retrieved September 26, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
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