Novastorm

aka: Scavenger 4
Moby ID: 271
FM Towns Specs
Buy on 3DO
$38.00 used on eBay
Buy on PlayStation
$30.00 used on eBay
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Description official descriptions

In the distant future, humans have left Earth, carrying its ecosystem with them. However, the journey to the stars lasted longer than they had thought. Computers took control of navigation, and humans had nothing else to do but sleep, dreaming of a new paradise. When the mysterious Scarab-X forces attacked, the Scavenger 4 squadron became humanity's only hope for survival.

Novastorm is a rail shooter in which players blast enemies against a cinematic backdrop, trying to kill the computer-controlled fighters before they take over the world. Unlike first-generation interactive movies with action, the game has hooks into the environment: if the player-controlled fighter moves into the path of a pre-rendered obstacle, there is a collision and the craft takes damage.

Spellings

  • スカベンジャー 4 - Japanese FM Towns spelling
  • ノバストーム - Japanese spelling
  • 诺瓦风暴 - Simplified Chinese spelling

Groups +

Screenshots

Promos

Credits (FM Towns version)

41 People (38 developers, 3 thanks) · View all

Reviews

Critics

Average score: 67% (based on 32 ratings)

Players

Average score: 3.2 out of 5 (based on 43 ratings with 5 reviews)

The soundtrack elevates this rail shooter to greatness.

The Good
After you've finished playing with the functional menus, right from the beginning this is a very slick production. Although the acting is very much sub-par, the other animations are extremely well executed.

Then once you start the game proper, the music kicks in and you know you're in for a thrilling ride. The game is "on rails" but you still need to keep a mind out for the scenery to avoid losing precious shield to canyon walls, Easter Island style heads, ice barriers, and other obstacles.

Although blocky by today's standards, the landscapes animate well for a mid 90s game, and is some beautiful scenery to fly past. The enemy ships are not so well animated and drawn, but are functional enough to work.

Back to the music. The varied soundtrack moves from rock to Asian-influenced melodies to techno effortlessly, and although at a low bit rate still sounds superb. I would recommend turning off SFX if they weren't so useful in making ship upgrade decisions. The ship's computer lets you know which power ups are available and when.

The difficulty level is about right and once you learn some of the attack patterns you can build up some pretty beefy weapons. You lose your last upgrade and a power level every time you lose a life, so players that plan around this when on low shields can employ strategy to reach the end, which is another dimension that makes this not just another humdrum shooter.

Finally the cheat mode has also been thoughtfully and hilariously implemented. It has to be seen even by those who don't wish to cheat, even if they stop the game at the end if they don't wish to see the final chapter.

Novastorm can be played on today's PCs via Dosbox at full speed.

The Bad
I wonder if your briefing giver, the Star Force Command guy, is a robot. His acting evokes such thoughts as 'wooden' and 'cheesy'. He doesn't detract from the game though, really.

The Bottom Line
The PC version of Novastorm employs superb streamed landscapes, many varied boss enemies, frenetic flying and shooting, and the soundtrack makes the whole thing an immersive fun experience.

DOS · by Chris Adderley (3) · 2008

A solid arcade shooter every gamer should experience...

The Good
I recently played Novastorm again (and finished it --yeah, quite easy) and I enjoyed the game as I did in my first experience. Once again I saw how good Novastorm was (sure it still is).

I didn't play many shooters in front of a motion video backdrop (maybe none, I don't know) but I guess as Trixter says, "Novastorm is a solid example of what an arcade shooter in front of a motion video backdrop should be". The game almost did every element of itself absolutely right to be an adequate reason for this opinion and I still can't easily forget the taste I got from Novastorm...

However unfortunately Novastorm wasn't appreciated by most of the critics and has never earned a place in good games' heaven. Just look at what PC Format was saying in their issue 39 (December 1994), "... Highly unoriginal in both concept and execution, Novastorm is yet another unsatisfaying CD-ROM game with an over-long intro sequence, far too much emphasis on the graphics and not enough on gameplay." Was it? Absolutely not...

The Bad
I like Novastorm so much that I can't find an appropriate flaw for it 8-)

The Bottom Line
Novastorm is still the best Psygnosis game (in PC platform of course, who can forget Agony and their other masterpiece creations made for Amiga?) and sure one of the best shoot'em ups ever made for PC with Raptor, Tyrian and Xenon 2 (Xenon was a good conversion)...

DOS · by Accatone (5191) · 2000

A really good game.

The Good
Most of it - it's very addictive and quite challenging as well. What I particularly liked was the soundtrack - varied, flowing and fits the game like a glove. The graphics are quite good as well.

The Bad
The cutscenes are really dumb and the bosses are usually easier than the preceeding stage. Also, you can't quit the game, which is really annoying. The controls are a bit difficult as well (you'll need a good joystick to play this the way it was intended to be played).

The Bottom Line
A really good 3rd person shoot-'em-up. Get it and play it - you won't regret it (for a while, at least).

DOS · by Tomer Gabel (4539) · 1999

[ View all 5 player reviews ]

Trivia

Amiga version

The game was announced to be released for Amiga CD32 in November 1994. It was previewed in many Amiga magazines of that era, however the game was cancelled.

Awards

The game received two awards in GameFan's 1994 "Megawards" (Vol 3, Iss. 1)

  • Overall Best Shooter Game of the Year
  • Best 3DO Shooter Game of the Year

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  • MobyGames ID: 271
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Contributors to this Entry

Game added by Trixter.

3DO, SEGA CD added by Corn Popper. PlayStation added by Adam Baratz. FM Towns added by Terok Nor.

Additional contributors: Timo W., Big John WV, CaesarZX, DreinIX, mailmanppa, Rik Hideto.

Game added September 14, 1999. Last modified February 8, 2024.