Viper: Phase 1

Viper Phase 1 seems to be a spin-off leading to the Raiden Fighters series (the two ships in this game reappear in some or all of the Raiden Fighters games). It was made in 1995 and was picked up for USA distribution by Fabtek. There was a second version of Viper Phase 1, subtitled 'New Version,' which was released the same year with minor gameplay changes. In the original version, some of the special weapons you pick up will only last for a certain amount of shots. You'll see a weapons meter on-screen when you collect a secondary weapon. Each weapon lasts for about 4-5 seconds. In the new version, the special weapons last until you die. Also, in the original version, there are no level ups for the secondary weapons (they are always in full power) and they are far more powerful than in the New Version. Additionally, the soundtrack order is different between the two versions of Viper Phase 1. Also, the 'medal egg pods' are extremely rare in the original version. They only start appearing in later stages, around stage 5 or 6.

The setting of the game is exclusively in outer space. You battle through 9 stages of outer space action. Stage 5 takes place in an asteroid belt. You battle over a space colony in Stage 7. In that stage, you will encounter two huge mid bosses, each of which will emerge through from under a green force field that protects the space colony. In Stage 8, you have to destroy an enormous missile in 20 seconds! The Stage 8 Boss is too easy to be the final boss...

The graphics in Viper Phase 1 are impressive. There is a great amount of detail. In stage 1, for example, you can see personnel flagging ships for take off and many ships in port (which you can destroy!). Destroying enemies creates shrapnel and residual explosions. There are some impressive looking space battleships you encounter in Stage 2 and in Stage 6. They explode in a satisfying way, where flaming sections of the battleships break off from each other, and then finish off with a giant explosion.

After defeating the Stage 8 Boss, you will have completed the first mission. (Each mission is referred to as a 'Viper Phase' in this game. So, that means your first mission is called 'Viper Phase 1,' mission 2 is 'Viper Phase 2,' etc.) You receive a 1 million point mission clear bonus. In addition, you are given statistical information on your performance in the first mission. You are scored on the number of times you died, the number of bombs you used, and the number of enemies you killed. I have heard that you receive a huge bonus if you use no bombs at all in an entire mission, called the 'No Bomb Bonus.' When you begin Viper Phase 2, you will be sent back to Stage 2, the first Battleship Armada. This time around, enemies shoot faster and at a more rapid rate. I am guessing that you can only reach Stage 9, if there is one, in missions past Viper Phase 1 (the farthest I have gotten before running out of quarters is Stage 2-3).

The sound is a step up from Raiden 1/2/DX. Viper Phase 1 uses the Seibu SPI System hardware. Sound and music is no longer exclusively Frequency Modulation Synth based, like those in Raiden 1/2/DX. Sound effects are largely sampled, with tons of pounding explosions. Viper Phase 1's music uses sampled instruments, and is composed in a different style than Raiden 1/2/DX and the Raiden Fighters games. I'd describe the music style as Futuristic Industrial Rock, using tons of synthesized instruments and electronic synth percussion. The Viper Phase 1 soundtrack is even included as bonus material on the Raiden DX conversion for PSX (released in Japan only). In Raiden DX for the PSX, you can unlock and play the game using one of three soundtracks: the arcade original, a PSX-exclusive original soundtrack, and the Viper Phase 1 Soundtrack.

Here are the stages you will play through in Viper Phase 1:

- Stage 1: Enemy Spaceport
- Stage 2: Battleship Armada 1
- Stage 3: Space Station
- Stage 4: Storage Facility
- Stage 5: Asteroid Belt
- Stage 6: Battleship Armada 2
- Stage 7: Space Colony
- Stage 8: Giant Missile Silo
- Stage 9: (Is there a stage 9?)

# 2007-01-05 00:05:41

software: Emulated on MAME,

hardware: Seibu STI System arcade hardware,

display: raster