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Philosoma

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1995 video game This article is about the video game. For the spiny lobster larva, see Phyllosoma. 1995 video game
Philosoma
North American cover art
Developer(s)G-Artists
Publisher(s)Sony Computer Entertainment
Composer(s)Kow Otani
Platform(s)PlayStation
Release
  • JP: July 28, 1995
  • NA: January 30, 1996
  • PAL: March 1996
Genre(s)Shooter
Mode(s)Single-player

Philosoma is a shooter video game developed by G-Artists and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation. It was released in Japan in July 1995, North America in January 1996 and PAL territories in March 1996. It was re-released on the PlayStation Network in Japan on April 26, 2007. One of the earliest PlayStation games, it was met with mediocre reviews, with most critics assessing its graphics as dull and its gameplay as primitive.

Story

A recently colonized alien planet named Planet 220 reports a devastating attack by an unknown force and requires assistance. Alpha and Bravo teams are called in, but after enemy contact is made, the team fails to respond. The player assumes the roles of D3, a rookie pilot, as well as his commander and Charlie squadron Commander Nicolard Michau. Each are piloting the latest space fighter ships, the F/A-37 Strega, in an attempt to neutralize the unknown threat. However, a horrible secret hidden in the battle awaits them.

Gameplay

Philosoma plays like many scrolling shooters with the noticeable difference of its multiple perspectives. The camera switches several times during various levels from a vertical/top-down perspective to a rail shooter perspective (which is often reversed), to a horizontal scrolling perspective and an isometric scrolling perspective. The player ships have four weapons that can be upgraded thrice as well as side-arms consisting of homing missiles and rockets.

Development

Philosoma was one of the first games announced for the PlayStation. It suffered a prolonged development cycle with its release date being pushed back multiple times, before finally appearing in Japan at the end of June 1995.

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
AllGame
Famitsu27/40
Next Generation
Maximum
CD Player7/10

On release, Famicom Tsūshin scored the game a 27 out of 40. Scary Larry of GamePro criticized the primitive gameplay, saying that "Philosoma tries hard to be a next-gen shooter, but in gameplay it barely surpasses Novastorm." He further remarked that while the FMVs are impressive, the graphics which are most important to the shooter experience - the backgrounds, explosions, and enemies - are all dull. He nonetheless gave the game a mild recommendation for shooter fans. Rich Leadbetter of Maximum made all the same remarks, calling the FMVs impressive but the gameplay visuals "dull", and saying that the "gameplay back to an archaic age". He concluded that even the retro release Gradius Deluxe Pack is a far better purchase. Like GamePro, Next Generation deemed the game a worthwhile purchase for shooter fans but no one else: "The graphics and sound really do nothing to take advantage of the advancing technology. If you want the next great experience in gameplay and graphics, Philosoma wouldn't even make a top 75 list. ... Still, there's plenty of explosions, balanced gameplay, fluid control, timely power-ups, and multiple weapon choices to keep any shooter fan happy." Philosoma was awarded Best Shooter of 1995 by Electronic Gaming Monthly.

Sequel

In 2001, a sequel was released in Japan only for the PlayStation 2 called Phase Paradox. However, it was only a sequel in terms of it being a continuation of the storyline from Philosoma; the game was in the survival horror genre instead of a shooter genre.

Notes

  1. Sony Computer Entertainment Japan assisted on development.
  2. Japanese: フィロソマ, Hepburn: Philosoma

References

  1. "News". June 5, 1997. Archived from the original on June 5, 1997. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
  2. "Philosoma Out This Week". June 6, 1997. Archived from the original on June 6, 1997. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
  3. ^ "Philosoma for PlayStation - GameFAQs".
  4. "JAPANスタジオ作品一覧 1998年～1994年" [List of Japan Studio works 1998–1994] (in Japanese). Sony Interactive Entertainment. 2021. Archived from the original on February 26, 2021. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  5. "Disappointment: Philosoma Emerges from Development Hell". Maximum: The Video Game Magazine (1). Emap International Limited: 127. October 1995.
  6. ^ NEW GAMES CROSS REVIEW: PHILOSOMA. Weekly Famicom Tsūshin. No.346. Pg.34. 4 August 1995.
  7. ^ Leadbetter, Rich (May 1996). "Maximum Reviews: Philosoma". Maximum: The Video Game Magazine (6). Emap International Limited: 123.
  8. ^ "Philosoma". Next Generation (16). Imagine Media: 85. April 1996.
  9. "Philosoma Review". CD Player (in German). January 1996. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  10. Sackenheim, Shawn. "Philosoma Review". Allgame. Archived from the original on November 14, 2014. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  11. "ProReview: Philosoma". GamePro. No. 91. IDG. April 1996. p. 72.
  12. "Electronic Gaming Monthly's Buyer's Guide". 1996. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  13. GameSpot staff (April 19, 2001). "Phase Paradox Hands-On". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved April 10, 2012.
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