Viewpoint is an isometric shoot em up game, released in 1992 by Sammy for the Neo-Geo arcade platform. It was later ported to the Sega Genesis in North America only and to the Sharp X68000 and Fujitsu FM Towns home computers. A remake was released in 1995 for the PlayStation; this version was also originally going to be released for the Sega Saturn but ended cancelled.[1] A sequel, entitled Viewpoint 2064 was under development for the Nintendo 64 but it ended cancelled as well.[2]
While the game does not have a plot, the PSX version opens up with a CGI sequence showing a mothership under attack by hostile forces, from which one of the player ships makes an escape before it explodes.
Overview
Viewpoint is a shoot 'em up which features an unique isometric perspective, with stages being comprised of tunnel-like areas which scroll diagonally upwards. The game utilizes a checkpoint based system, with both players alternating between each other, though simultaneous play can be enabled in the game's DIP switches, also enabling automatic respawn instead of returning to a checkpoint upon losing a life.
Players control the BP-01 and BP-02 ships respectively, with both of them playing identically. The ships are equipped with a basic plasma gun which can be fired continuously or charged up for a concentrated blast. Along the stages players can find bit devices which move to the sides of the ship, protecting it from damage and shooting along with the ship, as well as shields which protect the player. Players can also carry a stock of three bombs, with three different types of bomb available: Missile, which fires a barrage of homing missiles, Fire, which creates an advancing fire wall, and Wave, which creates a large shockwave that damages all enemies onscreen.
Stages and Bosses
| Stage | Boss | BGM |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Snapping Turtle King | Not All There |
| 2 | Matooba | Un Caillou Ricochet |
| 3 | Moth King | Be Your Age! |
| 4 | Idaho | Ass Backwards |
| 5 | KID | La Nervatura M. |
| 6 | Ruin | Physical Daydream |
Enemies
- Slowlo
- Hayaso
- Glone
- Yagasaki
- Checkta
- Covered
- Well
- Coils
- Destroyer
- Sidehatch
- Richard
- Yoshida
- Orca
- Chappie
- Gongee
- Sea Anemone
- Jellyfish
- Big Turtle
- Marlin
- Hydra
- F-XX
- Hornet
- Centipede
- Green Catterpillar
- Pipu
- Loopa
- Moopa
- Wabi
- Zabi
- Battler
- R-2
- Sadora
- Nejineji
- Gondola
- Kimura
- Himawari Z
- Sukoon
- Kray
- Uka
- Stone
- Kureba
- Pentago
- Terastar
- Tower