Vimana (video game)

Last updated

Vimana
Vimana arcade flyer.jpg
Developer(s) Toaplan
Publisher(s)
Designer(s) Yuichirō Nozawa [1]
Composer(s) Toshiaki Tomizawa
Platform(s) Arcade
Release
Genre(s) Vertically scrolling shooter
Mode(s) Single-player, co-op

Vimana [lower-alpha 1] is a vertically scrolling shooter arcade video game developed by Toaplan and published in Japan by Tecmo and Europe in June 1991. [2] [3] It is notable for being one of the few titles by Toaplan that has not received any official port to home consoles as of date and for its unique combination of science fiction with brief Hindu references. [4] In the game, players assume the role of the titular warriors taking control of powerful ancient space fighter crafts in order to reclaim their home planet by fighting against military machines gone wild. The title received positive reception from critics and reviewers alike after release in regards to the gameplay, but was considered a flop in arcades. [5] As of 2019, its rights are owned by Tatsujin, a company founded in 2017 by former Toaplan member Masahiro Yuge and now-affiliate of Japanese arcade manufacturer exA-Arcadia alongside many other Toaplan IPs.

Contents

Gameplay

Gameplay screenshot ARC Vimana.png
Gameplay screenshot

Vimana is a science fiction-themed vertically scrolling shoot 'em up game where players assume the role of the two titular warriors taking control of powerful ancient space fighter crafts in order to reclaim their planet by fighting against an unknown force as the main objective. [4] [6] [7] Players control their ship over a constantly scrolling background; the scenery never stops moving until the final level is reached. Players have three weapons at their disposal: the standard shot, a charge shot and a bomb weapon.

The standard shot weapon is a twin-shot weapon capable of strengthening in size and power with upgrades, but the players have to tap the fire button to fire rapidly; once the button is held down, the ship charges a stronger version of the normal shot capable of spreading out across the entire screen in twelve directions. A unique gameplay feature is the bomb itself; The Circle Bomb surrounds the ship once activated and seeks out enemies upon an additional tap of the bomb button. [4] [6] [7]

There are four items for the players to pick up: One increases player's shot strength, one increases their bomb stock, one would grant the player various points and the other would grant the player a 1UP. [4] [6] Extends are awarded with every 70,000 points. The game hosts a number of hidden bonus secrets to be found, which is crucial for reaching high-scores to obtain extra lives. Getting hit by enemy fire or colliding against solid stage obstacles will result in losing a live and once all lives are lost, the game is over unless the players insert more credits into the arcade machine to continue playing. Although there is an ending, the game loops back to the first stage after completing the last stage as with previous titles from Toaplan, with each loop increasing the difficulty by enemies being more durable, firing denser and faster bullet patterns and Circle Bomb icons appearing less frequently.

Synopsis

Vimana takes place in the titular planet. Once a lush and prosperous planet, it had been ravaged by a devastating war. After the war the planet had been fragmented, automated machines of war now populate the planet's pieces. The war forced its surviving people to flee their mother planet entirely, but the exiled space colonists are still accosted by their victors who continually remove parts of the planet's surface still containing life force for use as flying fortresses. The inhabitants plot to reclaim their planet with the aid of the Vimana Warriors: pilots capable of handling ancient but powerful space fighter ships. [4] [6]

After fighting strings of relentless battles on fragmented pieces of Vimana planet, liberating them from wicked machines and their 'governors' in the process, the Vimana Warriors flew towards the final fortress where the master of Vimana planet's war machines resided in the deepest section of the fortress. Diving ever deeper into the subterranean sectors of the fortress, the Vimana Warriors fought their ways and finally met the master head-on. Tough as the master was, it was no match for the Vimana Warriors and was eradicated.

Although the Vimana Warriors were victorious, planet Vimana was also annihilated and reduced to dust. All its industries, resources and cultures no longer existed. The surviving inhabitants of the destroyed planet including the Vimana Warriors, had no choice but to search for another habitable planet. Fortunately for them, they eventually managed to find such a planet and worked hard to rebuild their civilization. Over time, the survivors thrived in their new home planet and became prosperous once more. Terrible memories of the war that doomed Vimana planet faded, and people no longer cared to remember the heroism of Vimana Warriors. The ending narration says that the planet retained the memory of this legend. [8]

Development and release

Vimana was released in arcades worldwide in May 1991 by Tecmo and Toaplan. [2] [3] [6] The soundtrack was written by Zero Wing composer Toshiaki Tomizawa. [5] [9] In September 1991, an album containing music from the title and Teki Paki was co-published exclusively in Japan by Scitron and Pony Canyon, featuring an arranged song from the former composed by Tomizawa. [10] [11]

Cultural references

Vimana carries a few significant cultural references into its presentation, specifically from Hindu culture and Sanskrit epics. The Vimanas are described in various Hindu texts such as the Ramayana as flying chariots and sometimes temples. Early in the game's opening, the take-off sequence features the Vimana ships being energized by two statues resembling the Hindu god Ganesha. [5] [4]

Reception and legacy

In Japan, Game Machine listed Vimana on their July 15, 1991 issue as being the thirteenth most-successful table arcade unit of the month, outperforming titles such as Tecmo World Cup '90 and Burning Fight . [15] In the September 1991 issue of Japanese publication Micom BASIC Magazine, the game was ranked on the number nine spot in popularity. [16] Vimana was met with positive reception from critics and reviewers alike since its release. David Wilson of British gaming magazine Game Zone gave the game a positive outlook. [13] Anthony Baize of AllGame praised the weapon set, accessibility and gameplay, but felt mixed in regards to the graphics and sound. [12] Likewise, Nick Zverloff of Hardcore Gaming 101 gave positive remarks to the weapon set and level design. [4] Despite the reception, the title turned to be a failure in arcades for Toaplan. [5]

In more recent years, the rights to the game and many other IPs from Toaplan are now owned by Tatsujin, a company named after Truxton's Japanese title that was founded in 2017 by former Toaplan employee Masahiro Yuge, who are now affiliated with arcade manufacturer exA-Arcadia. [17] [18] [19] [20] [21]

Notes

  1. ↑ Japanese: ヴィマナ, Hepburn: Vu~imana

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toaplan</span> Japanese video game developer 1979-1994

Toaplan Co., Ltd. was a Japanese video game developer based in Tokyo responsible for the creation of a wide array of scrolling shooters and other arcade video games. The company was founded in 1979 but its gaming division was established in 1984 by former Orca and Crux employees, who wanted to make games, after both companies declared bankruptcy. Their first shoot 'em up game, Tiger-Heli (1985) on arcades, was a success and helped establish Toaplan as a leading producer of shooting games throughout the 1980s and 1990s that would continue to characterize their output.

<i>Tiger-Heli</i> 1985 video game

Tiger-Heli is a vertically scrolling shooter game developed by Toaplan and released for arcades in 1985. It was published in Japan by Taito and in North America by Romstar. Controlling the titular attack helicopter, the player must fight endless waves of military vehicles while avoiding collision with their projectiles and other obstacles. The Tiger-Heli has a powerful bomb at its disposal that can clear the screen of enemies when fired. It was the first shoot 'em up game from Toaplan, and their third video game overall.

<i>Twin Cobra</i> 1987 video game

Twin Cobra, known as Kyukyoku Tiger in Japan, is a vertically scrolling shooter developed by Toaplan and released for arcades in 1987 by Taito in Japan and Europe, then in North America by Romstar. It is a sequel to the 1985 arcade game Tiger-Heli. Controlling the titular attack helicopter, the players must fight endless waves of military vehicles while avoiding collision with their projectiles and other obstacles. It was the fourth shoot 'em up game from Toaplan, and their tenth video game overall. It was ported to multiple platforms, with each done by different third-party developers that made several changes or additions.

<i>Out Zone</i> 1990 video game

Out Zone is a run and gun arcade video game developed by Toaplan and published in Japan by Tecmo, North America by Romstar and Europe in August 1990. Set in a future where an alien race from the fictional planet Owagira are threatening to wipe out humanity after multiple failed attempts to defend Earth against their attacks, players assume the role of cyborg mercenaries recruited by the United Nations in a last-ditch effort to overthrow the invaders.

<i>Truxton</i> (video game) 1988 video game

Truxton is a 1988 vertically scrolling shooter arcade video game originally developed by Toaplan and published in Japan and Europe by Taito, as well as in North America by Midway. Set in a future where the Gidans alien race led by Dogurava invaded the fictional planet Borogo, players assume the role of fighter pilot Tatsuo taking control of the Super Fighter ship on a last-ditch effort to overthrow the alien invaders.

<i>Demons World</i> 1989 video game

Demon's World is a 1989 run and gun arcade video game originally developed by Toaplan and published in Japan by Taito and in North America by Catalina Games. In the game, players assume the role of two ghost hunters to fight against several ghosts and monsters that were unleashed upon Earth by the titular demon king. Initially launched for the arcades, the title was then ported to the PC Engine Super CD-ROM² by NEC Avenue and published exclusively in Japan on 26 February 1993, featuring various additions and changes compared with the original release.

<i>Teki Paki</i> 1991 video game

Teki Paki is a 1991 puzzle arcade video game developed by Toaplan and published in Japan by Tecmo, Hong Kong by Honest Trading Co. and Taiwan by Spacy Co. Ltd.

<i>Hellfire</i> (video game) 1989 video game

Hellfire is a 1989 horizontally scrolling shooter arcade video game originally developed by Toaplan and published in Japan by Taito and North America by U.S.A. Games. The first horizontal shoot 'em up title to be created by Toaplan, the game takes place in the year 2998 where a space matter known as Black Nebula created by robot dictator Super Mech spreads and threatens to engulf human-controlled galaxies, as players assume the role of Space Federation member Captain Lancer taking control of the CNCS1 space fighter craft in a surprise attack to overthrow the enemies with the fighter craft's titular weapon.

<i>Slap Fight</i> 1986 video game

Slap Fight is a 1986 vertically scrolling shooter arcade video game developed by Toaplan and published by Taito. Set on the colonized fictional planet of Theron in the future, where an alien race led by Gaudy have invaded the human-controlled location, players assume the role of an Allied League of Cosmic Nations (ALCON) fighter pilot taking control of the SW475 space fighter craft in an effort to counterattack the invaders. Initially launched for the arcades, the game was later ported to other microcomputer and console platforms by various third-party developers, with each one featuring several changes or additions compared to the original release.

<i>Fire Shark</i> 1989 video game

Fire Shark is a 1989 vertically scrolling shooter arcade video game developed and published by Toaplan in Japan and Europe, and by Romstar in North America. It is the sequel to Flying Shark, a game released in 1987 on multiple platforms. Set in the year 1991, the game focuses on a mysterious armada launching a worldwide attack from a small island in the Mediterranean Sea. Players take control of the titular biplane to counterattack the enemy forces.

<i>Grind Stormer</i> 1993 video game

Grind Stormer is a 1993 vertically scrolling shooter arcade video game originally developed and published by Toaplan in Japan and North America. It is considered to be the spiritual successor to Slap Fight. Based around a video game within a video game concept, players assume the role of a young secret agent assigned by the government taking control of the NA-00 space fighter craft in an attempt to defeat the titular virtual reality simulator, rescue the abducted players who lost against it and unveil its true purpose.

<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>Knuckle Bash</i> 1993 video game

Knuckle Bash is a 1993 side-scrolling beat 'em up arcade video game developed and published by Toaplan in Japan, as well as North America and Europe by Atari Games. It is notable for being one of the few titles by Toaplan that has not received any official port to home consoles as of date.

<i>Dogyuun</i> 1992 video game

Dogyuun is a 1992 vertically scrolling shooter arcade video game developed and published by Toaplan. Set on the colonized fictional planet of Dino in the future, where an alien race of metallic robots have invaded a police communication center and held its inhabitants as hostages, players assume the role of two fighter pilots taking control of the Sylfers bomber space fighter crafts in an revenge attempt to overthrow the invaders and free the surviving colonists after one of their comrades is killed by one of them during a reconnaissance assignment.

<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.

<i>Ghox</i> 1991 video game

Ghox is an action arcade video game developed by Toaplan and published by Taito in Japan and Europe in November 1991. It is notable for being one of the few titles by Toaplan that has not received any official port to home consoles as of date. Taking place in a fantasy world where the evil magician known as Jagula sealed the goddess Lucia in the netherworld, players assume the role of Axis and Bilious in an effort to defeat both Jagula and the unleashed evil spirits from the netherworld. As of 2019, the rights to the game are owned by Tatsujin, a company founded in 2017 by former Toaplan member Masahiro Yuge and now-affiliate of Japanese arcade manufacturer exA-Arcadia alongside many other IPs from the defunct studio.

<i>Pipi & Bibis</i> 1991 eroge arcade game by Toaplan

Pipi & Bibi's is a 1991 eroge action-platform arcade video game developed and published by Toaplan in Japan and in Europe by Nova Apparate GMBH & Co. It is notable for being one of the few titles by Toaplan that has not received any official port to home consoles as of date. In the game, players assume the role of Pipi and Bibi attempting to place time bombs in buildings filled with enemies who appear from behind closed doors and escape before the location collapses.

<i>FixEight</i> 1992 arcade video game

FixEight is a run and gun arcade video game developed and published by Toaplan in July 1992. The spiritual successor to 1990's Out Zone, it is notable for being one of the few titles by Toaplan that has not received any official port to home consoles as of date. Set in a future where an alien race known as the Gozzu from the fictional planet Fortuna invaded the universe, players are tasked by the Galactic Federation government with an extermination mission against the invaders by assuming the role of one of the eight mercenaries.

<i>Snow Bros. 2: With New Elves</i> 1994 video game

Snow Bros. 2: With New Elves is a 1994 platform arcade video game developed and published by Toaplan under their Hanafram label. One of the last games to be created by Toaplan, it is the sequel to Snow Bros., which was released earlier in 1990 on multiple platforms. In the game, players assume the role of one of the playable characters to rescue a kidnapped princess from captivity.

<i>Enma Daiō</i> 1993 video game

Enma Daiō is a 1993 hybrid quiz/lie detector arcade video game developed by Toaplan and published exclusively in Japan by Taito. In the game, players answer a number of question. As of 2019, the rights to the title is owned by Tatsujin, a company founded in 2017 by former Toaplan member Masahiro Yuge and now-affiliate of Japanese arcade manufacturer exA-Arcadia alongside many other Toaplan IPs.

References

  1. ↑ Iona; VHS; K-HEX (June 2009). "東亜プラン FOREVER". Floor 25 (in Japanese). Vol. 9. pp. 1–70. (Translation by Gamengai. Archived 2020-10-10 at the Wayback Machine ).
  2. 1 2 3 Yanma (July 1991). "Super Soft Hot Information: Video Game! (ビデオゲーム) - ヴィマナ". Micom BASIC Magazine (in Japanese). No. 109. The Dempa Shimbunsha Corporation. p. 255.
  3. 1 2 3 Akagi, Masumi (13 October 2006). テクモ（テーカン）Tecmo; 東亜プラン (Toa Plan) (in Japanese) (1st ed.). Amusement News Agency. pp. 49, 50. ISBN   978-4990251215.{{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Zverloff, Nick (4 February 2011). "Vimana". Hardcore Gaming 101. Archived from the original on 9 April 2019. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Vimana [TP-019]". arcade-history.com. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Vimana arcade flyer (Toaplan, EU)
  7. 1 2 "VIMANA" (in Japanese). Shooting Star. Archived from the original on 11 October 2019. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  8. ↑ Toaplan (1991). Vimana (Arcade). Tecmo. Level/area: Ending.
  9. ↑ Kiyoshi, Tane; hally (VORC); Yūsaku, Yamamoto (3 February 2012). "東亜プラン特集 - 元・東亜プラン 開発者インタビュー: 弓削雅稔". Shooting Gameside (in Japanese). Vol. 4. Micro Magazine. pp. 41–48. ISBN   978-4896373844. (Translation by Shmuplations. Archived 2019-09-06 at the Wayback Machine ).
  10. ↑ Kotowski, Don (1 August 2012). "Vimana & Teki Paki". vgmonline.net. Video Game Music Online. Archived from the original on 20 September 2014. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  11. ↑ "PCCB-00071 | VIMANA・TEKI-PAKI". vgmdb.net. VGMdb. Archived from the original on 23 March 2017. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  12. 1 2 Baize, Anthony (1998). "Vimana (Arcade) - Review". AllGame . All Media Network. Archived from the original on 17 November 2014. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  13. 1 2 Wilson, David (November 1991). "Kill Zone - Vimana". Game Zone. Vol. 1, no. 1. Dennis Publishing. p. 83.
  14. ↑ Stokes, Doris (November 1991). "Dosh Eaters: Vimana". Zero . No. 25. Dennis Publishing. p. 86.
  15. ↑ "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - テーブル型TVゲーム機 (Table Videos)". Game Machine (in Japanese). No. 407. Amusement Press, Inc. 15 July 1991. p. 33.
  16. ↑ Yanma (September 1991). "Super Soft Hot Information: Video Game! (ビデオゲーム) - Hot 20". Micom BASIC Magazine (in Japanese). No. 111. The Dempa Shimbunsha Corporation. p. 257.
  17. ↑ "ライセンス事業" (in Japanese). TATSUJIN Co., Ltd. 2019. Archived from the original on 25 December 2018. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  18. ↑ Bravo, Roberto (12 September 2018). "Nueva compañía "Tatsujin" asegura tener gran parte de las IPs de la extinta Toaplan" (in Spanish). Gamercafe. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  19. ↑ "Tatsujin". exA-Arcadia. 2019. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  20. ↑ Bravo, Roberto (25 January 2019). "Tatsujin, los dueños de Toaplan, anuncian que están trabajando para exA-Arcadia" (in Spanish). Gamercafe. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  21. ↑ "［JAEPO2019］TATSUJINやナツメアタリの参入が発表されたexA-Arcadia。出展コーナーの模様を紹介". 4Gamer.net (in Japanese). Aetas Inc. 26 January 2019. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
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.