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Sturmwind

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Sturmwind
Developer(s)Duranik[a]
Publisher(s)RedSpotGames[b]
Designer(s)Johannes Graf
Programmer(s)Roland Graf
Artist(s)Johannes Graf
Composer(s)Nils Feske
Henrik Jakoby
Platform(s)Dreamcast, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One
ReleaseDreamcast
  • WW: April 24, 2013
Windows
  • WW: September 30, 2019
Switch, Xbox One
  • WW: November 08, 2019
Genre(s)Scrolling shooter
Mode(s)Single-player

Sturmwind is a 2013 scrolling shooter video game developed by German studio Duranik and originally published by RedSpotGames as an independent commercial release for the Dreamcast. It was re-released in 2016 and 2017, without the original RedSpotGames branding. A remastered version titled Sturmwind EX was also released for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch and Xbox One. Controlling a space fighter craft, the player must fight endless waves of enemy forces while avoiding collision with their projectiles and other obstacles. The gameplay consist of vertical-scrolling and horizonal-scrolling stages, with players collecting three different weapon types in the vein of Thunder Force and Axelay.

Sturmwind garnered critical acclaim from reviewers since its release on Dreamcast; praise was given to its presentation, pre-rendered pseudo-3D visuals, responsive controls, accessible gameplay, balanced difficulty, boss encounters, weapon system, unlockable content and avoidance of European shoot 'em up tropes, but reviewers felt mixed regarding its Euro-style techno soundtrack, while criticism was geared towards its prolonged length in Normal Mode, sound design and difficulty to visually distinguish hazard elements on-screen. The EX remaster was also criticized for its lack of multiplayer mode and online leaderboards.

Gameplay

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Dreamcast version screenshot.

Sturmwind is a scrolling shoot 'em up game set in a futuristic science fiction setting.[1][2] Prior to starting, an options menu can be accessed at the game's title screen, where any of the three available difficulty settings can be selected.[2] There are also two game modes to choose: "Normal" and "Arcade".[2] Normal mode has 16 levels and allows the player select any stage reached during a playthrough to resume progress, while Arcade mode only has 6 stages but continues are not allowed. The player takes control of a space fighter craft over a constantly scrolling background, populated with an assortment of enemy forces and obstacles, and the scenery never stops moving until a boss is reached, which must be fought in order to progress further. The game primarily scrolls horizontally, but there are also sections where the scrolling is vertical, and uses various visual effects such as pre-rendered sprites and backgrounds with 3D elements.[1][2]

The weapon system is reminiscent of Thunder Force and Axelay;[2][3] There are three types of weapon units in the game the player's ship can acquire by collecting their respective colors via containers dropped by certain enemies when defeated and alternate between each one at any given time during gameplay, ranging from Lichtblitz (blue), Nordwest (red) and Rudel (green).[2] The weapon containers start as bonus points, and shooting them cycles through the three weapon types instead.[2] Collecting the same weapon type upgrades the player's ship with one of two satellite-like options that add firepower. These options can also be switched between back and forth positions by pressing the left shoulder trigger, as well as block incoming enemy shots.[2]

Each selectable weapon in Sturmwind also operate like shields; The game eschews the standard one-hit-kill model prevalent in space shooters, instead simply disabling the currently selected weapon and reducing the player to a weak default version of that weapon type when hit by an enemy.[2] Sustaining a second hit while using the ship's last available weapon will destroy the player's ship.[2] However, directly colliding into an enemy or an obstacle only disables the selected weapon instead of destroying the ship instantly. Every weapon can be charged for a more powerful attack, but they can also become disabled when overheated.[2]

The scoring system is determined by enemy waves; After defeating an enemy wave, the words "Wave Bonus" appear on screen and shooting every letter before they disappear rewards the player with a star, acting as a score multiplier.[2] Various other items can also be picked up along the way such as 1Ups, smart bombs capable of obliterating any enemy caught within its blast radius and bonus points.[2] Collecting these bonus points are also crucial to reach high scores.[2] By completing certain objectives during gameplay, the player can obtain trophies to unlock additional in-game content.[1] Sturmwind employs a respawn system where the player's ship immediately starts at the location they died at. The game is over once all lives are lost. The player is given a unique code to input their scores via an online leaderboard at the game's official website.[1]

Development

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As Native

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Gameplay screenshot from the demo of Native for the Atari Jaguar and Jaguar CD.

Sturmwind has been in development since 1997.[4] It first surfaced under the name Native, an Atari Jaguar CD demo featuring just one playable level.[5] The graphics were regarded as impressive for Jaguar standards, but the demo had no audio.[6] Development was eventually resumed and shifted for Dreamcast.[5]

As Sturmwind

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Release

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Sturmwind was first unveiled on December 5, 2010, on 3sat's television show neues, as part of RedSpotGames' upcoming plans of reporting news through each Sunday of the month.[7][8] The game's reveal received coverage from gaming publications in the United States,[9] Europe,[10][11][12] and Japan for being on a discontinued console,[13] with German online publication Chip calling its graphical effects as "very amazing" in relation to the Dreamcast's age.[14] In March 2011, Sega of America member Fabian Döhla promoted the title by playing a work-in-progress build on Destructoid's online show Mash Tactics.[15][16][17] It was also showcased at the 2011 Spanish gaming expo "RetroEncounter".[1] In July 15, RedSpotGames announced that its original launch window was postponed to November 11, in response to feedback from the announcement trailer to revise the weapon system and increase the game's quality.[18] On December 19, 2011, the company later announced that the game had been delayed indefinitely due to the disc pressing plant they had contracted to manufacture copies filed for bankruptcy, while a deal was made with a new pressing plant but the release date had then been set as 'TBA'.[19]

During an official press release issued on March 14, 2013, RedSpotGames confirmed that Sturmwind would be launched on April 24 in both regular and limited editions.[4][5][15][20] It is the first original game released for Dreamcast since 2009's Rush Rush Rally Racing and IRiDES: Master of Blocks, as other more recent releases have all been ports such as Fast Striker.[21][22] Between 2016 and 2017, the title was re-released by Duranik, JoshProd and RushOnGame without the original RedSpotGames branding, after the publisher closed its doors.[23][24][25][26] On September 30, 2019, a remastered version titled Sturmwind EX was released for Microsoft Windows via Steam by B-Alive Entertainment Software.[27] The remastered version was later ported to Nintendo Switch and Xbox One by B-Alive Entertainment on November 8.[27] In 2022, publisher Pix'n Love also made the Switch version available as a physical release in two editions; a regular edition and a collector's edition limited to 2000 units.[28]

Reception

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Sturmwind garnered critical acclaim from reviewers since its release on Dreamcast. RedSpotGames' CEO Max Scharl declared that the game gained nearly as many pre-orders as Last Hope.[36] According to VentureBeat's Dan Crawley, both the regular and limited editions were sold out at the official websites of RedSpotGames and PlayAsia.[15] Maximiliano Baldo of Argentinian website Malditos Nerds ranked the original Dreamcast version as number six on their top ten games for discontinued consoles.[37]

Hardcore Gaming 101's Sam Derboo praised the pre-rendered pseudo-3D visuals, accessibility, weapon system, boss fights and techno music but criticized its prolonged length in Normal Mode.[2] Jeuxvideo.com's Dominique Cavallo highly commended visual presentation compared to other homebrew releases on Dreamcast with its use of special graphical effects and background animations, stage and enemy variety, accessible gameplay and unlockable secrets but criticized the uninspired soundtrack and redability of patterns.[31] IGN Italia's Vincenzo Ercole gave high remarks to the presentation reminiscent of Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network titles, backgrounds, gameplay structure and longevity but criticized the visibility of stage and boss elements on-screen, as well as sound design.[30] Carlos Oliveiros of Spanish magazine GamesTribune highlighted its design, technical quality, amount of gameplay content and techno soundtrack but criticized the occasional difficulty to distinguish harmful objects on-screen.[34]

4Players's Michael Krosta regarded Sturmwind as a throwback to titles like R-Type and X-Out, praising the varied backgrounds, weapon system, challenging bosses and level design but criticized its technical performance.[29] Retro Gamer's Darran Jones praised the gameplay mechanics, detailed graphics, imaginative boss encounters and its avoidance of European shoot 'em up tropes but noted that the Euro-style soundtrack does not match the gameplay and occasional difficulty to distinguish stage hazards on-screen.[32] David Borrachero of Spanish magazine RetroManiac commended its Axelay-esque weapon system, use of pre-rendered and polygon graphics, responsive controls, numerous secrets and gameplay content but criticized the sound design.[3]

A reviewer of German publication Chip Power Play stated that it was "simply impressive what Duranik conjures up out of a 15-year-old console", giving high remarks to the backdrops and balanced difficulty.[33] Mark Bussler of Classic Game Room praised the game's music, level design and presentation, eventually naming it the "2013 Game of the Year".[38][39] Reviewing the Xbox One version of Sturmwind EX, Video Chums' A.J. Maciejewski commented in a positive light about the weapon and scoring systems, detailed visuals, energetic music and length but criticized the generic sound effects, lack of multiplayer mode and online leaderboards, as well as the difficulty to distinguish hazards and obstacles.[35]

Notes

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  1. ^ EX remaster co-developed with B-Alive Entertainment Software
  2. ^ Re-released by Duranik, JoshProd and RushOnGame without the original RedSpotGames branding, EX remaster published by B-Alive Entertainment Software

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Preview: Dreamcast Se Resiste A Morir – Sturwind". RetroManiac Magazine (in Spanish). No. 4. RetroManiac. August 26, 2011. p. 42.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Derboo, Sam (May 29, 2013). "Sturmwind". Hardcore Gaming 101. Archived from the original on October 22, 2020. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c Borrachero, David (August 19, 2013). "Review: Sturmwind (Dreamcast) – El esperado matamarcianos aterriza por fin". RetroManiac Magazine (in Spanish). No. 8. RetroManiac. p. 160.
  4. ^ a b Pinsof, Allistair (May 2, 2013). "Dreamcast shooter Sturmwind released, 16 years later". Destructoid. ModernMethod LLC. Archived from the original on February 20, 2020. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  5. ^ a b c Leray, Joseph (March 21, 2013). "Indie Shoot-'Em-Up 'Sturmwind' was Seven Years in the Making, but Now Dated for April". MTV. Viacom. Archived from the original on July 10, 2019. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  6. ^ "Native – Jaguar CD". illusionware.it. Archived from the original on September 29, 2011. Retrieved November 10, 2011.
  7. ^ "Announcements the whole Advent season!". RedSpotGames. December 1, 2010. Archived from the original on February 9, 2011. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  8. ^ "New Dreamcast game Sturmwind presented in 3sat show neues – now available to pre-order". RedSpotGames. December 6, 2010. Archived from the original on February 1, 2011. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  9. ^ Totilo, Stephen (December 6, 2010). "On German TV, They've Unveiled A New Dreamcast Game". Kotaku. G/O Media. Archived from the original on August 15, 2011. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  10. ^ Pakinkis, Tom (December 6, 2010). "New Dreamcast game revealed — Who cares that the console died a decade ago?". Computer and Video Games. Future plc. Archived from the original on December 10, 2010.
  11. ^ Wildgruber, Max (December 7, 2010). "Neues Shoot 'em Up aus Deutschland: Für Dreamcast! — Münchner Entwickler RedSpot Games lässt Sturmwind los". IGN (in German). IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on July 13, 2011. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  12. ^ "En Bref: Les News". ReVival (in French). No. 46. ABCD Dire. Spring 2011. pp. 27–32.
  13. ^ Ani, Riot (December 7, 2010). "ドイツでドリームキャスト用の新作シューティングゲーム『Sturmwind』が発表". Game*Spark (in Japanese). IID, Inc. Archived from the original on December 16, 2010. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  14. ^ "Sturmwind: Bilder und Trailer vom Dreamcast-Game". Chip [de] (in German). Chip Digital GmbH. December 23, 2010. Archived from the original on December 24, 2010.
  15. ^ a b c Crawley, Dan (May 17, 2013). "Consoles that won't die: The Sega Dreamcast". VentureBeat. pp. 1–2. Archived from the original on February 28, 2021. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  16. ^ King, Jason (March 17, 2011). "Sega shows off Sturmwind Demo on Destructoid Live Stream". Dreamcast Scene. Archived from the original on April 1, 2016. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  17. ^ Mause, Pico (March 15, 2011). "Live show: Sega plays Dreamcast Live on Mash Tactics". Destructoid. ModernMethod LLC. Archived from the original on April 1, 2016. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  18. ^ "Sega Dreamcast 2D/3D Hybrid shoot em up 'Sturmwind' postponed". RedSpotGames. July 15, 2011. Archived from the original on August 4, 2011. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  19. ^ "Production complications: Sturmwind is about to be delayed". RedSpotGames. December 19, 2011. Archived from the original on January 10, 2012. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  20. ^ "Press Release: We are under attack: Sturmwind pilots, fall in for saving the world in April 2013!" (PDF). RedSpotGames. March 14, 2013. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 10, 2019. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  21. ^ Zia, Bilal (December 8, 2010). "redspotgames reveal new Dreamcast game on TV". SEGAbits. Archived from the original on December 17, 2010. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  22. ^ Zia, Bilal (December 23, 2020). "New Trailer for Dreamcast's Sturmwind". SEGAbits. Archived from the original on July 24, 2012. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  23. ^ Trizeal (December 23, 2016). "Duranik réédite Sturmwind !". Shmup'Em-All (in French). Archived from the original on August 11, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  24. ^ Charnock, Tom (July 2017). "4x4 Jam, Flashback & Ganryu Head Up New Dreamcast Releases". The Dreamcast Junkyard. Archived from the original on August 2, 2017. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  25. ^ "Nouveautés Dreamcast Session #2" (in French). RushOnGame. August 15, 2017. Archived from the original on June 18, 2019. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  26. ^ Charnock, Tom (December 2017). "The Dreamcast Games Of 2017". The Dreamcast Junkyard. Archived from the original on December 17, 2017. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  27. ^ a b Romano, Sal (October 25, 2019). "Shoot 'em up Sturmwind EX for Xbox One and Switch launches November 8". Gematsu. Archived from the original on October 26, 2019. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  28. ^ McFerra, Damien (January 21, 2022). "Sturmwind EX Is Getting A Physical Release On Switch — Standard edition also available". Nintendo Life. Nlife Media. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  29. ^ a b Krosta, Michael (June 7, 2013). "Test: Sturmwind (Arcade-Action), Dreamcast". 4Players (in German). Computec. Archived from the original on December 24, 2017. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  30. ^ a b Ercole, Vincenzo (May 19, 2013). "Sturmwind: la sorpresa dell'anno è su Dreamcast – Uno sparatutto indipendente prova a rilanciare il genere nel segno di Sega". IGN Italia (in Italian). Vusumo. pp. 1–2. Archived from the original on June 8, 2013. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  31. ^ a b Cavallo, Dominique (May 9, 2013). "Test de Sturmwind sur DCAST par jeuxvideo.com". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). Webedia. Archived from the original on November 26, 2020. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  32. ^ a b Jones, Darran (August 15, 2013). "Retro Rated – Reviews: Sturmwind – Good Things Come To Those Who Wait (Dreamcast)". Retro Gamer. No. 119. Imagine Publishing. p. 100.
  33. ^ a b "Retro – Dreamcast-Spieletest: Sturmwind". Chip Power Play [de] (in German). No. 3. Chip Communications GmbH. September 2013. Archived from the original on August 15, 2013.
  34. ^ a b Oliveros, Carlos (May 2013). "Análisis – Dreamcast: Sturmwind – Duranik deja el listón más alto". GamesTribune [es] (in Spanish). Vol. 1, no. 51. GTM Ediciones C.B. pp. 116–119. Archived from the original on November 17, 2019. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  35. ^ a b Maciejewski, A.J. (November 17, 2019). "Sturmwind EX Review – A top-notch Dreamcast shmup (Xbox One)". Video Chums. Archived from the original on January 17, 2021. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  36. ^ Barnholt, Ray (May 12, 2011). "Keeping the Dream Alive: The Men Behind Dreamcast Homebrew". Gamasutra. UBM Technology Group. pp. 1–3. Archived from the original on January 11, 2018. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  37. ^ Baldo, Maximiliano (September 29, 2014). "TOP 10: Juegos Tardíos". Malditos Nerds (in Spanish). Vorterix [es]. Archived from the original on January 9, 2021. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  38. ^ Bussler, Mark (November 6, 2013). STURMWIND review for Sega Dreamcast (Classic Game Room). United States: Inecom, LLC. Archived from the original on September 21, 2014. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  39. ^ Bussler, Mark (January 2014). 2013 Game of the Year Awards Show (Classic Game Room). United States: Inecom, LLC. Archived from the original on September 10, 2014. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
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