Novastorm

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Description

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.

Screenshots

Promo Images

Alternate Titles

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

Part of the Following Groups

• Genre: Chase-view / Space Harrier-style shooter
• Live action cut-scenes

User Reviews

The soundtrack elevates this rail shooter to greatness.	DOS	Chris Adderley (4)
The Full-Motion Shooter	DOS	James P. Wong (2448)
Don't let the term 'Interactive Movie' throw you -- this is a very good shooter.	DOS	Trixter (9115)
A solid arcade shooter every gamer should experience...	DOS	Accatone (5321)
A really good game.	DOS	Tomer Gabel (4643)

Critic Reviews

PC Gamer	DOS	Feb, 1995	85 out of 100	85
ASM (Aktueller Software Markt)	DOS	Jan, 1995	10 out of 12	83
Score	DOS	Dec, 1994	80 out of 100	80
Video Games & Computer Entertainment	SEGA CD	Mar, 1995	8 out of 10	80
Gameplay (Benelux)	DOS	Dec 01, 1994	80 out of 100	80
PC Player (Germany)	DOS	Dec, 1994	78 out of 100	78
PC Joker	DOS	Nov, 1994	75 out of 100	75
Génération 4	3DO	Jan, 1995	67 out of 100	67
The Video Game Critic	3DO	Dec 07, 2010	C-	42
The Video Game Critic	PlayStation	Feb 09, 2014	D	25

Forums

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Trivia

Cheat mode

The cheat mode, includes (amongst other jokes) some "techno" theme music sung (quite badly) by the programmers.

Extras

Some versions of the packaging contain an official lapel pin; others contain a small model of the ship.

Packaging

The packaging for Novastorm is of a very high quality. The printing process for the box used a very fine screen for the background matte, and the foreground objects are glossy. Even the inside box is extremely sturdy--and made of recycled, bio-degradable materials.

Video compression

The proprietary video compression method used was surprisingly effective, given that it was tuned for single-speed drives, 15 frames per second, and 8-bit color displays.

Awards

• GameFan
• 1994 "Megawards" (Vol 3, Iss. 1) - awarded the Overall Best Shooter Game of the Year
• 1994 "Megawards" (Vol 3, Iss. 1) - awarded the Best 3DO Shooter Game of the Year

Information also contributed by Big John WV

Related Web Sites

• Wikipedia: Novastorm (Information about Novastorm at Wikipedia)