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Vectorman (Sega)

Vectorman is a 2D action platformer video game developed by BlueSky Software and published by Sega. Released for the Sega Genesis in late 1995 in North America and Europe, it was both a critical and commercial success. The game helped sustain interest in the aging Sega Genesis platform amidst the rise of next-generation consoles and provided competition to Nintendo’s popular Donkey Kong Country. Over the years, Vectorman has been re-released in various Sega-themed compilations and on platforms such as the Wii Virtual Console, Steam, and the Sega Forever mobile line. A sequel, Vectorman 2, came out in 1996, but despite several attempts, Vectorman 3 was never completed.

Gameplay

Vectorman is a 2D action platformer where players control the titular character through 16 levels by running, jumping, and attacking enemies with projectile attacks, similar to games like Gunstar Heroes, Contra, and Mega Man. The goal is typically to traverse from point A to point B within a time limit, although levels are open-ended with multiple paths. Vectorman can shoot “laser pulses” in eight directions by default. A significant part of the game involves collecting power-ups that change his weapons to drills, bombs, or other forms that can affect enemies or terrain. Collecting “multipliers” increases attack damage, while other power-ups allow Vectorman to transform, gaining new abilities like flying or increased speed. Vectorman’s health is monitored by a life bar of four orbs, which decreases with damage but can be replenished with “health orbs”. If all health is lost, a life is lost, and the player must restart the level. The game also offers an easier difficulty setting if the player fails a level, though this comes with a mocking message calling them “lame”.

Plot

Set in a future where Earth has been devastated by pollution, humanity temporarily relocates to outer space, leaving “orbots” (a combination of “orbs” and “robots”) to clean up the planet. One of these robots, Raster, is accidentally fused with a nuclear warhead, transforming him into the malevolent WarHead, who seizes control of all robots and plans to wage war on humanity upon their return. Vectorman, who had been on a mission in outer space and thus unaffected by WarHead’s control, decides to stop WarHead’s plans and save humanity.