

Novastorm, by Psygnosis
3DO version
1 player.
Psygnosis' third 3DO release, Novastorm, is essentially a sequel to their previously released Microcosm- in more ways then one. It utilizes exactly the same graphics engine as Microcosm and takes place mere days after it's conclusion. Novastorm brings the warfare out of the body and onto alien worlds with sometimes stunning results. 
	Instead of warring corporations, the whole solar system is being overrun by an artificial intelligence hell-bent on wiping out humanity. The AI, originally created by the corporations, was supposed to be the ultimate war machine. Unfortunately, it did it's job too well and managed to infect itself into every system in the Bator Solar System. So, as usual, you and a prototypical new fighter craft have been called in to deal with this virtual nightmare. 
	If you've played Microcosm, then you already know whether or not you'll like Novastorm- gameplay is exactly the same. For those who aren't familiar, Novastorm is a game that bares more similarities to targeting games like Burning Soldier and Starblade then traditional shooters like Total Eclipse and Shock Wave. Your ship is stuck on a pre-set course over the computer generated landscape. So, all you do is move your small craft around the screen and blow away anything that happens to get in the cross fire. Like Microcosm, both the player's fighter and the enemy ships tend to have a sort of pasted-on, flat, 2 dimensional look in relation to the background. 
	Like Microcosm, Novastorm has fantastic computer rendered, realistic backdrops, lots of great looking intermissions and incredible bosses. In fact, Novastorm has some of the best looking landscapes I've ever seen in a game. There are breathtaking ice lands, fire rivers, incredible techno-cities and wicked tunnel chases. The game even allows some interaction with the landscape- you can hit it if you aren't careful.
	And really, the graphics in this game are the whole appeal of it. It's linear path and extremely basic, point 'n shoot controls are, by now, getting very obsolete. Even if Novastorm does pour on the punishment, offer lots of power-up items and move along at breakneck speeds, it still feels out of date. Of course, it was originally an FM Towns Marty game- which was a Japanese CD-ROM console system that has been around for a few years now. 
	Oddly enough, and totally unlike Microcosm, Novastorm's opening sequence is really boring and pointless. At times, the game has a tendency to switch to cinema intermission at awkward moments. The end sequence( also unlike Microcosm's) is pretty poor as well. On the up side, however, the exact same scenery used in the cinemas is also used for the actual game. There are mistakes in the manual about the levels, by the way. You never fly in space, or through any asteroid fields. And the final level is another planet- not a spacecraft. Maybe on the PC version... Neither the cinemas nor the game itself use the whole screen, either( just like Microcosm), which is unfortunate and Novastorm has occasional slowdown as well. 
	Despite it's aging game play and flaws, Novastorm is involving and entertaining- But, only if you like this sort of game. The levels- especially the final world- are absolutely incredible looking and make the whole game. In the end, Novastorm comes off as more of a wild, sci-fi thrill ride, then it does a good shooter. Overall, a great looking game with so-so, totally linear gameplay. Still though, it beats the pants off of Rebel Assault.
