Psychic Force

:"See also: psychic force in psychology."Infobox VG
title = Psychic Force


developer = Taito Corporation, Acclaim
publisher = Taito Corporation, Acclaim
designer =
release = 10/04/96 (Japan)
10/03/96 (North America)
07/1997 (Europe)
genre = Action, Fighting
modes = One-On-One; Up to 2 players simultaneously
cabinet = Upright
arcade system =
display = Taito FX-1 System
input = 8-way Joystick, 3 Buttons
platforms = Arcade, PlayStation, Dreamcast

Psychic Force (サイキックフォース) is an arcade game created by Taito which was later ported to the PlayStation (this version of which was released by Acclaim in the U.S., and in PAL regions) in 1996. The game was a 3D fighter which combined the normal features of an arcade fighting game with psychic powers. There were eight characters available to choose from in the game, all deemed as 'psychic masters'. The game was released without much hype and failed to sell many copies. In 1999 a sequel was released titled "Psychic Force 2012" also for the arcade, and later for the Sega Dreamcast. This game was later ported to the PlayStation as "Psychic Force 2", featuring downgraded graphics but multiple extra modes and the three characters from "Psychic Force" that didn't make the cut into the sequel (This sequel would be ported to the Dreamcast later under the title "Psychic Foce 2012"). There was also a "Puzzle Bobble" style puzzle game released that was known as "Psychic Force Puzzle Taisen", this game was never released outside of Japan however. In 2006 in Japan, all three games were released together as an anniversary pack for the PlayStation 2.

Story

The plot of "Psychic Force" (presumably) takes place on an earth several years in the future, where select individuals are blessed with the power of psychic abilities. All people imbued with this power also use a specific element (such as Fire, ice or gravity).

Warring over the fate of the earth is a corporations named "NOA" that has its own plans. However, other factions opposed to its regime and a mysterious faction known as Gates fight for their own intentions. Each fighter available to the player pursues their own destiny and may or may not be aligned with a faction.

Characters

*Burn Griffith
*Emilio Michaelov
*Wendy Ryan
*Sonia (Chris Ryan)
*Brad Kilsten
*Richard Wong
*Rokudo Genma
*Gates Oltman
*Keith Evans

Gameplay

The gameplay in "Psychic Force" revolves around the fighting game genre, with the addition of psychic powers and a battleground of cubic space defined by a magical force field. Using the psychic powers of levitation, characters fly about in a two-dimensional plane, despite the possibility of a Z-axis.

The characters are controlled with an eight directional joystick and three buttons which dictate a blocking function, a light attack, and a heavy attack (On the ported PlayStation version these commands were given to the square, triangle and circle buttons). By combining these different commands, the player can make combo attacks, throws, and special attacks which can break the enemy's defenses.

OVA

In 1998, a two-episode anime OVA was released.

The first episode describes Keith's escape from the laboratory where he was being experimented on. Burn almost hits him with his motorcycle, and takes a frightened Keith home. Three men in dark suits come looking for Keith, who uses his psychic abilities to injure two of them, and chase the third out. When Burn tries to help Keith escape, they are ambushed and, despite Keith's best efforts, he is dragged away, leaving Burn lying on the ground, which awakens his powers.

The second episode features Keith and Burn several years later, where Keith has been taken under the wing of Wong, head of NOA. Keith declares his vision of peace to the world, and begins to round up lost psychics. Burn's dormant psychic abilities are detected by Gates, who tries to attack Burn, but Burn is saved by Keith. While Burn is in NOA HQ with Keith, he berates him for trying to start a war between humans and psychics, then leaves with Wendy and Emilio. He eventually turns back to confront Keith, but their fight is interrupted by Wong triggering the self-destruct for the NOA HQ. Keith traps Burn in a cocoon of ice, leaving him as the only survivor.