Line #43 VideoGame/PsychicForce


1	[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rsz_psychic_force_9239.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:300:It's ''ComicBook/XMen''...[[RecycledINSPACE with]] PsychicPowers!]]
3
4	''Psychic Force'' is a {{fighting game}} series by Creator/{{Taito}}, unique in a way that the battle take place in a cubic space enforced with magical energies. Though it opens up for complete 3D battle, it utilizes a 2D battle system, except there's no ground and that your character constantly floats and dashes. Like the later ''[[Franchise/TouhouProject Touhou]]'' fighting games, your character is able to throw projectiles on long range, or get close enough for melee attacks. You can also dash to graze through weak projectiles, but stronger attacks cannot be grazed through (unlike ''Touhou'' fighting games where even the strongest projectile can be grazed).
5
6	The story of ''Psychic Force'' [[FollowTheLeader borrows heavily]] from the ''ComicBook/XMen'' series, except that you replace Mutants with {{Psychic\|Power}}s. These Psychics, called [[DifferentlyPoweredIndividual Psychiccers]] are shunned by normal people in general and that they're forced to face [[FantasticRacism hate and discrimination]] on a daily basis, but an organization of united Psychiccers called NOA, led by a young British Psychiccer man named Keith Evans, rises to make sure that no Psychiccer are forced to face the harshness of the world. Unfortunately, the members of NOA tend to take things to the [[WellIntentionedExtremist extreme]], causing a small group of unaffiliated Psychiccers, among them Keith's close friend Burn Griffiths, to form a resistance against them known as Anti-NOA so that they can oppose NOA's extreme ways. Of course, there are some fighters who are not affiliated with the two groups, yet they still hunt down the Psychiccers, claiming them to be a dangerous threat to the world.
7
8	''Psychic Force'' was then followed by an arcade sequel called ''Psychic Force 2012'', which was ported to the [[Platform/SegaDreamcast Dreamcast]] and later got a Platform/{{PlayStation}} port titled ''Psychic Force 2''. The story takes place two years later after the first ''Psychic Force'', whereas Richard Wong broke away from Keith and formed his own Psychiccer Army, whose ambitions are geared entirely towards [[TakeOverTheWorld world conquest]] compared to the reformed NOA (now called Neo NOA). Three characters: Sonia, Brad, and Genma were removed from the roster but had received their own successors. The three of them would eventually be brought back in ''Psychic Force 2'' as exclusive characters to that specific title. The sequel itself would also sport out a brand new cast of characters with some returning ones. Both games saw a re-release on Platform/{{PlayStation 2}} in 2005 with the ''Psychic Force Complete'' {{compilation\|Rerelease}} that, unfortunately, stayed in Japan. Interestingly, Taito has re-released ''Psychic Force 2012'' for arcades, using the [=NESICAxLive=] system found on many cabinets that utilize their Type X boards, as well as upgraded HD graphics.
9
10	''Psychic Force'', while not commercially successful at the time of its initial release, did manage to gain a strong [[CultClassic cult fanbase]]. It had also spawned a 1998 2-episode {{O\|riginalVideoAnimation}}VA.
11
12	A [[Characters/PsychicForce Character Sheet]] for this game is in works. Contributions are welcome.
13
14	For games with similar gameplay to ''Psychic Force'', compare and contrast to G.rev's ''VideoGame/SenkoNoRonde'' series (developed by Taito's former employees) and Orange_Juice's ''Acceleration of SUGURI'' (a {{spin\|Off}}-off series of ''VideoGame/{{SUGURI}}'').
15
16	----
17	!!Psychic Force features tropes examples of:
18	* AgeIsRelative: In 2010, the other characters tend to treat Emilio like a little kid when in fact he's 14, only a year younger than Wendy. ''Puzzle Taisen'' (see LighterAndSofter) takes this up to eleven for humorous effect, but it makes it all the more shocking in 2012 when he grows out of it with a vengeance.
19	* TheAnimeOfTheGame: It had a two-episode OVA in 1998.
20	* AnimeThemeSong: In the [=PlayStation=] versions of both games. ''Psychic Force''[='=]s opening is "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlvbEs-SsHQ On the Verge of Revival]]" ([[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaGWM2N5S2s full song]]) and ''Psychic Force 2''[='=]s opening is "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MwMaBkbKDc The Legend ~a dying hero's story~]]" ([[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J15fPjA7mXM full song]]). In case you're wondering, that is in fact Hironobu Kageyama, one of Music/JAMProject's founding members performing the vocals, and it is ''AWESOME''!
21	%%* AntiVillain: Most of the NOA members, except Wong, even before the formation of his Army.
22	%%* AttractMode: The games feature them if you wait at the title screen.
23	* BittersweetEnding[=/=]DownerEnding:
24	** [[spoiler:Needless to say, nobody gets a happy ending in this series. Their stories always end on either a sad or tragic note, for them or for the world. Wong does get a happy ending, [[TheBadGuyWins for his own]], but the world is doomed.]]
25	** [[spoiler:In ''2012'', two bittersweet endings stand out. In Might's ending, he kills Wong for good in their FinalBattle, but then suffers a HeroicRROD right after remembering that he also killed his creator/mother and best friend, Patty. In Wendy's ending, she had succeeded in saving Burn, but in the process, she had tragically killed a BrainwashedAndCrazy Emilio and she swore to change the world for good as an exchange.]]
26	* CastFromHitPoints: In ''Psychic Force 2012'', players can perform a Hyper Charge that not only refills Psy but also sacrifices life for Power.
27	* CompilationRerelease: ''Psychic Force Complete'' as mentioned above.
28	%%* CrucifiedHeroShot: Emilio does one in the opening of the first ''Psychic Force''.
29	* ElementalPowers: Each member of the roster controls a specific element of nature.
30	%%** PlayingWithFire: Burn and Regina.
31	%%** ShockAndAwe: Sonia and Might.
32	%%** AnIcePerson: Keith.
33	%%** BlowYouAway: Wendy.
34	%%** DishingOutDirt: While not exactly their main forte, Brad and Gudeath seem to utilize rocks in their arsenal.
35	%%** MakingASplash: Carlo.
36	%%** LightEmUp: Emilio.
37	%%** CastingAShadow: Setsuna.
38	%%** MakeMeWannaShout: Patty.
39	%%** GravityMaster: Brad and Gudeath.
40	%%** TimeMaster: Wong.
41	* GivingSomeoneThePointerFinger: In the first game's character select screen, Sonia's portrait depicts her pointing to the player.
42	* TheGoodTheBadAndTheEvil: Anti-NOA is Good, NOA is Bad, Wong's Army is Evil. The monk/priest magicians (Genma/Genshin) don't take sides. Gates also used to be not taking sides, until Keith captures, reprograms and drafts him into NOA.
43	* IKnowYoureInThereSomewhereFight: Burn only wishes he was having one with Keith, but in ''Psychic Force 2012'', Wendy has two of them: with Emilio and, oddly, with Gates.
44	* LighterAndSofter: ''Psychic Force Puzzle Taisen'', a ''Psychic Force''-themed version of ''[[VideoGame/BubbleBobble Puzzle Bobble]]'' in which the ''2010'' characters appear as SuperDeformed versions of themselves and their issues are much more innocuous. ''Puzzle Taisen'' also contains examples of:
45	** CloudCuckoolander: Brad's good side (notable in the only installment of the series where his good side gets appreciable screentime).
46	** CorruptCorporateExecutive / TheScrooge: Wong, because it turns out that [[FreudianExcuse no one bought him any toys when he was a child]].
47	** GreenAesop: More green than aesop, but there is a notable theme of energy crises. [[spoiler:Keith's LighterAndSofter plan is for Psychiccers to save the planet by volunteering their powers as a clean, renewable energy source.]]
48	** NeverSayDie: Surprisingly averted (especially in Wong's story), but unlike in the canon games, no one ever seems to be KilledOffForReal.
49	** RunningGag: Emilio cries "It's all because of this power!" at the ''slightest'' provocation. In his Story Mode something triggers it ''every single round'', until by the end it's hard to take the line seriously ever again.
50	* LethalLavaLand: Both games feature a volcanic arena. In the first game has a stage above a volcano and in the second game there's a stage taking place by a volcanic ravine.
51	* LifeMeter: Of course, this is expected, being a Fighting Game. The Life Meter appears as vertical bars on each side of the screen to indicate the characters' remaining health.
52	* ManaMeter: Your Psy Meter. In the first game you have fixed amount but in the second game, the more life you lose, the more Psy you can use. You can also trade life for Psy and Power with a Hyper Charge.
53	* RingOut: It's possible in ''Psychic Force 2012'' by hitting your opponent into walls of the arena hard enough so they break through it.
54	* RPGElements: ''Psychic Force 2'' featured a "Psy-Expand" mode where you can level-up your characters and give them custom move-sets by using moves from the other fighters.
55	* ShoutOutThemeNaming: Burn and Keith are named after the player characters from ''Riding Fight'', a previous Taito game made by the same developers.
56	* UpdatedRerelease: The [=PlayStation=] version of ''Psychic Force 2012'', titled ''Psychic Force 2'' had degraded visuals and a lower frame-rate, but makes up for it with an exclusive Psy-Expand mode while also bringing back Sonia, Brad, and Genma from the first game as unlockable hidden characters.
57	* VictoryPose / VictoryQuote: Present in both games after beating your opponent.

Context VideoGame / PsychicForce