Volfied (Japan) - MAME machine

Arcade Video game published 35 years ago:

Volfied © 1989 Taito Corp.

Volfied is an abstract action shoot-em-up and is an update of Taito's 1981 classic, "Qix". Set in a distant galaxy, a space pilot returns to his home world of Volfied to find it under attack by an unknown alien force. The planet's few remaining inhabitants are hiding underground and have managed to get a signal through to the pilot asking for his help. The pilot must eliminate the alien threat and save his people.

The player controls a craft (called 'The Monotros') that can move around the edges of a rectangle. Holding down the draw button allows the craft to move into unclaimed territory and draw lines in an attempt to create a closed rectangle. If completed, the captured area changes to a different background graphic.

Each stage features a large enemy and several smaller enemies and when the player's spaceship succeeds in claiming a rectangular section, the side in which the main enemy is located is considered to be the 'outside'. Any smaller enemies ending up on the 'inside' are killed, resulting in point bonuses. Players are only in danger from enemies while they are actually drawing a line, although each level must be completed within a tight time limit.

Grey boxes sometimes appear on the field that award a random power-up when collected (by being trapped 'inside' a completed rectangle). These range from extra speed or upgraded weapons, to a temporary enemy freeze.

TECHNICAL
Prom Stickers: C04

Main CPU: Motorola 68000, Zilog Z80
Sound Chips: YM2203

Players: 2
Control: 8-way joystick
Buttons: 1

TRIVIA
Volfied was released in July 1989.

UPDATES
The US version has the "Winners Don't Use Drugs" screen.

STAFF
Game designer: Fukio Mitsuji (MTJ)
Software: Yoshinori Kobayashi (Y.K), Tsukano (TKN), OKI (OKI)
Character designers: Fukio Mitsuji (MTJ), Taira Sanuki (T.S), Genya Kuriki (KRK), Iwabuchi (IWB), TEC Team (TEC), V.P Team (V.P)
Sound: Hisayoshi Ogura (OGR)
Hardware: Ohara (OHR)
Instruction: Hiroyasu Nagai (NGI)

PORTS

• CONSOLES:

[JP] NEC PC-Engine (dec.27, 1989) "Volfied [Model TP01005]"
[US] Sega Genesis (1991) "Ultimate Qix"
[JP] Sega Mega Drive (jan.25, 1991) "Volfied [Model T-11103]"
Sony PlayStation (dec.20, 2001) "Simple 1500 Series Vol.80 - The Jintori - Volfied 1500 [Model SLPM-86971]"
[US] Sony PlayStation (dec.1, 2003) "Qix Neo [Model SLUS-01561]"
[EU] Microsoft XBOX (oct.14, 2005) "Taito Legends"
[EU] Sony PS2 (oct.14, 2005) "Taito Legends [Model SLES-53438]"
[US] Microsoft XBOX (oct.25, 2005) "Taito Legends"
[US] Sony PS2 (oct.25, 2005) "Taito Legends [Model SLUS-21122]"
[KO] Sony PS2 (jul.18, 2006) "Taito Legends [Model SLKA-15056]"
[JP] Sony PS2 (mar.29, 2007) "Taito Memories II Gekan [Model SLPM-66713]"

• COMPUTERS:

FM Towns PC [US] (1991)
[US] Commodore C64 [EU] (1991)
[EU] Sinclair ZX Spectrum (1991): advertised but never released.
[EU] Amstrad CPC (1991): advertised but never released.
Commodore Amiga [US] (1991)
Atari ST (1991)
PC [MS-DOS, 5.25"] [US] (1991)
[EU] PC [MS Windows, CD-ROM] (oct.14, 2005) "Taito Legends"
[US] PC [MS Windows, CD-ROM] (nov.10, 2005) "Taito Legends"

CONTRIBUTE
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