Viewpoint (video game)

Viewpoint
Developer(s) Aicom
Nexus Interact (Genesis)
Visual Concepts (PlayStation)
Publisher(s) Sammy
Electronic Arts (PlayStation)
Platform(s) Arcade, Neo Geo CD, PlayStation, Genesis, FM Towns Marty, Sharp X68000
Release date(s) Arcade
  • JP November 20, 1992
NeoGeo
  • JP December 11, 1992
  • NA December 11, 1992
Neo-Geo CD
  • JP February 25, 1995
  • NA 1992
FM Towns MartyGenesisPlayStation
  • NA November 28, 1995
  • EU June 27, 1996
Genre(s) Isometric shooter
Mode(s) Single-player, 2-player co-op
Cabinet Upright
Display Horizontally oriented, 304 × 224, 4096 palette colors

Viewpoint is an arcade isometric shooter, released in 1992 by SNK for the Neo-Geo arcade platform. By default, 1P and 2P can only play one after another; in the Service Mode though, simultaneous gameplay can be enabled.

Along with the ship's primary weapons, the player also has access to three bombs: one that can make a wave of fire that starts from behind the player's ship and scrolls "up" the screen, one that makes a powerful circular, nova-like blast, and one that shoots several mini-missiles capable of homing in on multiple targets. The game has 6 stages.

Neo-Geo

Viewpoint is Sammy's only game for the Neo-Geo Multi Video System hardware.

Reception

Viewpoint was awarded both Best Graphics and Best Music in a Cartridge Game in Electronic Gaming Monthly's 1992 video game awards.[1] On release, Famicom Tsūshin scored the Neo Geo version of the game a 30 out of 40.[2]

Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the Genesis version a 7 out of 10. Though they noted that it has some severe slowdown and music which fails to approximate the original version's, they rated it as an overall good conversion.[3] GamePro, however, argued that the slowdown and general slowness of the Genesis version ruins the game.[4]

The four reviewers of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the PlayStation version a 7.625 average. They praised the PlayStation version's improved visuals over the Neo Geo version, but most felt that the new soundtrack was inappropriate. All four reviewers concurred that the game is "unbelievably hard", but were divided on whether this was a good or bad thing.[5]

Ports

Viewpoint also saw release on a variety of home platforms, including the Sega Genesis and Sony PlayStation game consoles, as well as the Sharp X68000 and FM Towns computer platforms.

The Genesis version featured a sound and graphical style similar the Neo-Geo arcade game, but has considerably fewer enemies, a lower color palette and suffers from slowdown. The Sony PlayStation version, developed by Visual Concepts, featured re-done visuals and sound while the gameplay itself remains true to the original game with level layouts and boss/enemy patterns remaining the same. The X68000 version, trimmed down like the Genesis version, is very similar to that port in terms of sound and visual style. The FM Towns platform received the truest-to-arcade port, although it suffers the occasional slowdown.

A port for the Sega Saturn was due in 1996;[6] however, it was cancelled.

Sequel

Viewpoint 2064 was planned to be released on the Nintendo 64 in 1998, but Sammy Corporation had development issues, so it was cancelled.

References

  1. ↑ "Electronic Gaming Monthly's Buyer's Guide". 1993.
  2. ↑ NEO GEO GAMES CROSS REVIEW: ビューポイント. Weekly Famicom Tsūshin. No.332. Pg.24. 28 April 1995.
  3. ↑ "Review Crew: Viewpoint". Electronic Gaming Monthly (65) (EGM Media, LLC). December 1994. p. 40.
  4. ↑ "ProReview: Viewpoint". GamePro (65) (IDG). December 1994. p. 100.
  5. ↑ "Viewpoint Review". Electronic Gaming Monthly (78) (EGM Media, LLC). January 1996. p. 44.
  6. ↑ "It Depends on Your Viewpoint". Sega Saturn Magazine (7) (Emap International Limited). May 1996. p. 8.

External links