Philosoma

"Philosoma is a very unique shooter, fans of the genre won't wanna pass this one up"

Genre: top view / side scroller / 3D / Shooter
NOTE: this game contains \\\\\EXTREME///// difficulty, not recommended for young or average gamers.

Opening:
I've played a lot of shooters, including my favorite shooter Ikaruga, also Graduis, Graduis3 and Gradius5. I also have played R-type1, R-type 2, R-type 3, and even R-type Final (the list goes on). But... Philosoma is by far the most bizarre yet original shooter I have ever played. It's also one of the most difficult, the only more difficult shooter I've played has been R-type Final. If your a big fan of shooters there's no point in reading this review, it's one of the best shooters out there (you don't wanna pass this one up).

Gameplay: 10/10
Philosma has some great gameplay twists that keep the game from becoming repetitive. At first the game begins like the average top view shooter -lots of enemies and obstacles- but then, the game switches to a 3D mode in which you are moving straight into the screen. Then. The screen will move to the side, or even a top/side view (kinda like Sonic3D Blast only more to the side). Sometimes the camera will even move to the front of your ship! this makes the game feel like you have more control. You have a few weapons, including: the "Vulcan" (a spread shot machine gun) a laser beam, a cannon that shoots backwards, and two kinds of missiles (homing and non homing), you also have a beam that can charge its self to become more powerful. Though the game is ULTRA difficult is is still very fun. Philosoma is a unique shooter that is worthy of much recognition, it's gameplay is almost perfect for a shooter.

Story: 10/10!!!!!!!!
Never thought a shooter could have an amazing twist, it's rare that a shooter has such a great story, R-type Final is the only shooter I have ever played with better story than this one's. You and your team are sent in response to a distress signal on a distant planet... but when you get to the city you where going to is devoid of human life. And something horrid awaits you beneath the planets surface, it'll make your jaw drop. And the end has a great little (or rather "big") suprise.

Entertainment: 8/10
Philosoma will have you playing the same levels again and again... and again, AND AGAIN (unless your some kind of video game master with magic powers, or at least read the code section of Philosoma). Each level is delightfully different, the enemies rarely stay the same, and what you must do to survive will change as well. Shooter fans will have a blast with this game, the changing views and rewarding plot will keep any shooter fan happy, and give them the right to say "I have a reason to live". However, there are bound to be those who will think "I'm good at games" and buy Philosoma thinking they won't have a hard time... but then they realize they just bought a game thats waaaaay too hard for them. I warn you: THIS GAME IS HARD! But other than that, it's a very fun game.

Graphics: 8/10
Philosoma's graphics are not amazing but they do have one thing that making them good. The 3D effects that this game has are amazing, at times it almost seems as if your looking through a window and into a real little world. Though the areas may look blocky and not very realistic but they still look like they are actually there at times. When the camera moves behind or in front of your ship the effect of depth is amazing, very few games achieve this great effect. Philosoma's graphics aren't amazing or worth bragging about but there still pretty good.

Sound: 7/10
All great shooters have a down side... this is it. The music isn't fitting. It sounds like something out of a VERY old game, like something for the NES not the PSX. The sound effects also lack, they don't really sound realistic, and they don't always play when they should (sometime (not always) when you destroy something the explosion is delayed). The sound is clear but not as clear as most people like it. The overall sound is perhaps average for a PSX game, but it still needed improvement.

Replay value: 7/10
As with all shooters, once you clear the game there is no reason to play again. But beating the game without codes will take you a long time (it took me about a month, but it only took me a week or two to clear Ikaruga). Your average gamer will have a hard time clearing the game on even easy mode. Expert players will also have there hands full. This game will keep you comming back again and again. It will take most shooter fans around a month to clear Philosoma, and the average gamer a few months.

Overview: 9/10
Philosoma is a great break for shooter fans, if your tired of the common "shoot, dodge, shoot," type of game this will make you happy. Though you may only shoot, the type of dodging you do changes with the camera. The story, bizarrely, is great and has a few good twists! Plus the game is flat out fun. The graphics may lack but the 3D effect it has an amazing. The sound is the only thing that... well... isn't any good. The multiple camera angles also make the game have a great feel of realism despite the fact the graphics are not superb. Overall Philosoma is a great shooter with few flaws. I give Philosoma a nine out of five (the difficulty is the only thing keeping it from getting the perfect ten rating).

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 02/23/05