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Sylphia[lower-alpha 1] is a 1993 vertically scrolling shooter video game developed by Compile and published in Japan by Tonkin House for the PC Engine Super CD-ROM². The game follows Silphia, a maiden warrior reincarnated as a demigoddess under Zeus after her demise in battle, facing against the evil forces of Hades. Its gameplay is similar to previous shooters by Compile, with the player fighting enemies and bosses, while avoiding collision with their projectiles and other obstacles. Directed by Junichi Nagatsuma and produced by Ikuro Urai, the title was the last shooter by Compile until Zanac X Zanac (2001) and had a limited run. It received mixed reception from critics.

Sylphia
Developer(s)	Compile
Publisher(s)	Tonkin House
Director(s)	Junichi Nagatsuma
Producer(s)	Ikuro Urai
Programmer(s)	Shinichi Nogami
Artist(s)	Kōji Teramoto
Composer(s)	Keiji Takeuchi Satoshi Shimazaki
Platform(s)	PC Engine Super CD-ROM²
Release	JP: October 22, 1993
Genre(s)	Vertically scrolling shooter
Mode(s)	Single-player

Gameplay

Sylphia is a vertical-scrolling shoot 'em up game starring Silphia, a maiden warrior reincarnated as a demigoddess under Zeus after her demise in battle, facing against the evil forces of Hades.[1][2][3] Its gameplay is similar to previous shooters by Compile;[1] The player controls Silphia through eight increasingly difficult stages over a constantly scrolling background taking place in a Greek setting, populated with an assortment of enemy forces and obstacles, and the scenery never stops moving until a boss is reached, which must be fought to progress further.[2][3]

Silphia has a main weapon that can be powered up by collecting power-up items.[1][3] There are also four different special weapons based on the four classical elements she can obtain, which affect her shooting method, and these can be upgraded if the same weapon that is currently being used is picked up or by collecting power-ups.[1][2][3] Silphia can execute a powerful lightning beam attack as well, but must be charged after being unleashed by collecting crystals.[1][3] Getting hit by enemy fire or colliding against solid stage obstacles decreases Silphia' health and the game is over once her health is depleted, though the player has the option to continue,[1][3] but with a penalty of decreasing the Silphia's firepower to her original state.

Development and release

Sylphia was developed by Compile, which had previously created Seirei Senshi Spriggan and Spriggan Mark 2: Re-Terraform Project for the PC Engine, but their name is never mentioned in the credits despite many of its staff members working on the project.[1][4][5] It was directed by Junichi Nagatsuma and produced by Ikuro Urai.[4] Shinichi Nogami served as the game's sole programmer.[4] Kōji "Janus" Teramoto acted as co-graphic artist alongside Aya "Riu" Shimazaki, Hideo Hotta, Neko Koneko, Shōji Mizumoto, Shunsuke Takashima, and Tenji Satō.[1][4] The soundtrack was scored by Einosuke Nagao, Katsumi Tanaka, Keiji Takeuchi (of Spriggan Mark 2), Satoshi Shimazaki (of Robo Aleste), and Tsuyoshi Matsushima.[1][4] Other people also collaborated in its development, including Takayuki Hirono serving as game system adviser.[1][4] The game was first unveiled at the Makuhari Messe convention center in a fifty to sixty percent complete state.[2][6] The title was published in Japan by Tonkin House for the PC Engine Super CD-ROM² on October 22, 1993 under a limited print run, becoming a rare collector's item that commands high prices on the secondary game collecting market.[1][7][8] It was the last shooter by Compile until Zanac X Zanac (2001).[1]

Reception

Sylphia was met with mixed reception from contemporary critics and retrospective commentarists.[9][10][11] Readers of PC Engine Fan voted to give the game a 18.1 out of 30 score in a 1998 public poll.[12] Famitsu's four reviewers noted its "flashy" enemies and stages but labelled it as a "mess" to play.[7] HonestGamers' Zigfried Muhnihausen commended the game's use of Greek imagery and techno soundtrack, but commented that the sound effects were quiet.[13] Nicolas Gilles of Obsolete Tears regarded it as a good shooter, giving positive remarks to its original setting, "classic" gameplay, detailed backgrounds, and lack of slowdown but disagreed with Muhnihausen about the music, finding it to be average.[14] Hardcore Gaming 101's Kurt Kalata highlighted its Greek setting, music, and boss fights. Nevertheless, Kalata opined that "it's a pretty good game, but there's not much else that stands out about it. It lacks the fierce bombast of MUSHA and the weapon variety of Space Megaforce."[1]

Notes

References

External links

• Sylphia at GameFAQs
• Sylphia at Giant Bomb
• Sylphia at MobyGames

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