Phoenix (1980 video game): Difference between revisions
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|title = Phoenix |
|title = Phoenix |
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|image = [[Image:Phoenix arcade flyer.jpg|256px|Phoenix arcade flyer]] |
|image = [[Image:Phoenix arcade flyer.jpg|256px|Phoenix arcade flyer]] |
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|developer = |
|developer = [[Taito Corporation|Taito]] |
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|publisher = [[ |
|publisher = [[Taito Corporation|Taito]], [[Centuri]] |
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|designer = |
|designer = |
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|platforms = [[Arcade game|Arcade]], [[Atari 2600]] |
|platforms = [[Arcade game|Arcade]], [[Atari 2600]] |
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|input = Either [[joystick]] (2-way) with 2 buttons, or 4 buttons (depends on cabinet) |
|input = Either [[joystick]] (2-way) with 2 buttons, or 4 buttons (depends on cabinet) |
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'''''Phoenix''''' is a |
'''''Phoenix''''' is a [[shoot 'em up]] [[arcade game]] created and manufactured by [[Taito Corporation|Taito]],<ref name=allgame>{{allgame|430|Phoenix}}</ref> and licensed to [[Centuri]] for distribution in the [[United States]] in 1980.<ref>{{KLOV game|9004|Phoenix}}</ref> The game is regarded as a direct descendent of Taito's seminal 1978 title ''[[Space Invaders]]''. Bootleg versions of ''Phoenix'' were created by Amstar Electronics and TPN Corporation.<ref name=allgame/> |
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==Description== |
==Description== |
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* '''Rounds 3 and 4''' – Flying eggs float on the screen and seconds later hatch, revealing larger alien birds, resembling [[phoenix (mythology)|phoenices]], which swoop down at the player's spaceship. The only way to fully destroy one of these birds is by hitting it in its belly; shooting one of its wings merely destroys that wing, and if both wings are destroyed, they will regenerate. From time to time the birds could also revert to the egg form for a brief period of time. The birds are blue in round 3, pink in round 4. |
* '''Rounds 3 and 4''' – Flying eggs float on the screen and seconds later hatch, revealing larger alien birds, resembling [[phoenix (mythology)|phoenices]], which swoop down at the player's spaceship. The only way to fully destroy one of these birds is by hitting it in its belly; shooting one of its wings merely destroys that wing, and if both wings are destroyed, they will regenerate. From time to time the birds could also revert to the egg form for a brief period of time. The birds are blue in round 3, pink in round 4. |
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[[Image:Phoenix Stage5.png|thumb|The mothership in ''Phoenix'' is considered the first [[Boss (video gaming)|boss]] to appear in an arcade game.<ref>Sterbakov, Hugh. (2008-03-05) [http://www.gamepro.com/gamepro/domestic/games/features/166668.shtml The 47 Most Diabolical Video-Game Villains of All Time]. [[Gamepro]]. Retrieved on 2008-04-28.</ref>]] |
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* '''Round 5''' – The player is pitted against the mothership, which is controlled by an alien-like creature sitting in its center. To successfully complete this round, the player must first fire away at the hull and a conveyor belt-type shield to get a clear shot at the alien. Destroying the alien – only one shot is required – ends the level. The mothership fires missiles at the player, moves slowly down towards him and has the alien birds (from rounds 1 and 2) protecting the ship. Defeating all of the birds will produce a new wave. |
* '''Round 5''' – The player is pitted against the mothership, which is controlled by an alien-like creature sitting in its center. To successfully complete this round, the player must first fire away at the hull and a conveyor belt-type shield to get a clear shot at the alien. Destroying the alien – only one shot is required – ends the level. The mothership fires missiles at the player, moves slowly down towards him and has the alien birds (from rounds 1 and 2) protecting the ship. Defeating all of the birds will produce a new wave. |
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== Bootlegs == |
== Bootlegs == |
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*''Phoenix'' was released by |
*''Phoenix'' was released by Amstar Electronics (located in [[Phoenix, Arizona]]) in 1980.<ref name=allgame/> |
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*''Phoenix'' was released by |
*''Phoenix'' was released by T.P.N in 1980.<ref name=allgame/> |
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*''Phoenix'' was released by IRECSA, G.G.I Corp in 1980. |
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== Sequels == |
== Sequels == |
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[[Taito]] appears to currently hold the worldwide rights to the game - in 2005, ''Phoenix'' was released on the [[Xbox]], [[PlayStation 2]], [[PlayStation Portable|PSP]] and the [[Personal computer|PC]] as part of ''[[Taito Legends]]'' in the US and Europe, and ''Taito Memories II Gekan'' in Japan.{{Citation needed|date=October 2010}} |
[[Taito]] appears to currently hold the worldwide rights to the game - in 2005, ''Phoenix'' was released on the [[Xbox]], [[PlayStation 2]], [[PlayStation Portable|PSP]] and the [[Personal computer|PC]] as part of ''[[Taito Legends]]'' in the US and Europe, and ''Taito Memories II Gekan'' in Japan.{{Citation needed|date=October 2010}} |
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==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
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== External links == |
== External links == |
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Revision as of 00:57, 29 January 2011
| Phoenix | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Taito |
| Publisher(s) | Taito, Centuri |
| Platform(s) | Arcade, Atari 2600 |
| Release | 1980 |
| Genre(s) | Shoot 'em up |
| Mode(s) | Up to 2 players, alternating turns |
Phoenix is a shoot 'em up arcade game created and manufactured by Taito,[1] and licensed to Centuri for distribution in the United States in 1980.[2] The game is regarded as a direct descendent of Taito's seminal 1978 title Space Invaders. Bootleg versions of Phoenix were created by Amstar Electronics and TPN Corporation.[1]
Description
Like many arcade games of that era, Phoenix is a top-down outer space-themed fixed shooter. The player controls a spaceship that moves horizontally at the bottom of the screen, firing upward. Enemies, typically one of two types of birds, appear on the screen above the player's ship, shooting at it and periodically diving towards it in an attempt to crash into it. In addition to the missiles, the ship is equipped with a shield that can be used to zap any of the alien creatures that attempt to crash into the spaceship. However, the player cannot move while the shield is active, and must wait for a short period (approximately five seconds) before using it again.
Phoenix was one of the first full color arcade games, along with Galaxian, so at the time it stood out. Also, it has distinctive shooting sounds that have become very familiar to fans of the genre. Most importantly, the Phoenix mothership was the first video arcade game boss where the boss was presented as a separate challenge.
Phoenix is a 3 to 6 lives game, depending on the settings.
Gameplay
Each level has five separate rounds. The player must successfully complete a round before advancing to the next one.
- Rounds 1 and 2 – The player must destroy a formation of alien birds. While in formation, some of the birds fly down kamikaze style, in an attempt to destroy the player's spaceship by crashing into it. Hitting a bird flying diagonally awarded a bonus score. The birds are yellow in round 1, pink in round 2. The player's spaceship is given rapid fire for round 2, where the birds fly somewhat more unpredictably. These rounds are highly reminiscent of Galaxian.
- Rounds 3 and 4 – Flying eggs float on the screen and seconds later hatch, revealing larger alien birds, resembling phoenices, which swoop down at the player's spaceship. The only way to fully destroy one of these birds is by hitting it in its belly; shooting one of its wings merely destroys that wing, and if both wings are destroyed, they will regenerate. From time to time the birds could also revert to the egg form for a brief period of time. The birds are blue in round 3, pink in round 4.
- Round 5 – The player is pitted against the mothership, which is controlled by an alien-like creature sitting in its center. To successfully complete this round, the player must first fire away at the hull and a conveyor belt-type shield to get a clear shot at the alien. Destroying the alien – only one shot is required – ends the level. The mothership fires missiles at the player, moves slowly down towards him and has the alien birds (from rounds 1 and 2) protecting the ship. Defeating all of the birds will produce a new wave.
The game continues, with the difficulty increasing per level. The main increase in difficulty centered on the increasing speed and unpredictability of the bird and phoenix flights.
Music
There are two pieces of music featured in the game:
Clones
- Griffon was released by Videotron in 1980.
- Falcon was released by BGV. in 1980.
- Vautour was released by Jeutel in 1980 in France.
- Condor was released by Sidam in 1981.
- Various games titled Phoenix are available for many graphing calculators.
Bootlegs
- Phoenix was released by Amstar Electronics (located in Phoenix, Arizona) in 1980.[1]
- Phoenix was released by T.P.N in 1980.[1]
- Phoenix was released by IRECSA, G.G.I Corp in 1980.
Sequels
The official sequel to Phoenix was called Pleiads (onscreen) or Pleiades (on the Centuri manufactured marquee) and was developed by Tehkan in 1981, and licensed to Centuri for US distribution. Pleiades featured more enemies attacking at once, balanced by the fact that the player could now have an unlimited number of shots on the screen at one time.
The Flagship level in the Midway game Gorf has been compared to the boss stage in Phoenix.
Hardware
Most Phoenix games will be in a standard Centuri woodgrain cabinet, but several other cabinets exist, due to this game being sold by multiple companies at the same time. These use sticker sideart (which covers the upper half of the machine), and glass marquees. The control panel is made up entirely of buttons, no joysticks are present. The monitor in this machine is mounted vertically, and the monitor bezel is relatively unadorned. Phoenix uses a unique wiring harness, which isn't known to be compatible with any other games.
cpu 8085A @ 2.75 MHz
audio TMS36XX @ 0.000372 MHz
audio Custom
audio Discrete @ 0.12 MHz
Records
Mark Gotfraind holds the official record for this game with 987,620 points recorded on the 17th of March 1983 at Cloverleaf Golf N Game / N. Miami Beach, FL [citation needed] Reference: Originally published in the 1987 Twin Galaxies Video Game & Pinball Book of World Records by Walter Day and maintained on-line at [1] and [2]
Ports
Atari later bought the home video game console rights to Phoenix. The Imagic game Demon Attack closely resembled Phoenix, so Atari sued Imagic, who settled out of court. The home version of Phoenix is one of the more accurate arcade ports of the time.[citation needed]
Taito appears to currently hold the worldwide rights to the game - in 2005, Phoenix was released on the Xbox, PlayStation 2, PSP and the PC as part of Taito Legends in the US and Europe, and Taito Memories II Gekan in Japan.[citation needed]
References
- ^ a b c d Template:Allgame
- ^ Phoenix at the Killer List of Videogames
- ^ Sterbakov, Hugh. (2008-03-05) The 47 Most Diabolical Video-Game Villains of All Time. Gamepro. Retrieved on 2008-04-28.
External links
- Template:StrategyWiki
- Phoenix at the Killer List of Videogames
- Arcade History Database entry
- Phoenix entry at the Centuri.net Arcade Database
- Java Version (pseudo SFX and too-fast gameplay) (broken applet)
- Twin Galaxies High Score Rankings for Phoenix