Fantavision (video game)

Fantavision (Japanese: ファンタビジョン, Hepburn: Fantabijon) is a puzzle video game developed and published by Sony Computer Entertainment, which released as a launch title for the PlayStation 2 in 2000. It is a real-time puzzle video game involving fireworks. It relies on quick color matching and symbol recognition skills.

This article is about the 2000 video game. For the animation program, see Fantavision.
Fantavision
North American cover art
Developer(s)Sony Computer Entertainment
Publisher(s)Sony Computer Entertainment
Producer(s)Katsuyuki Kanetaka
Designer(s)Katsuyuki Kanetaka
Programmer(s)
  • Toshio Fukui
  • Akihiro Taguchi
  • Toshitake Tsuchikura
  • Nobukazu Ohta
Composer(s)
Platform(s)PlayStation 2
Release
  • JP: March 9, 2000
  • NA: October 26, 2000
  • EU: November 24, 2000
Genre(s)Puzzle
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Fantavision originally started out as a tech demo for the PlayStation 2, but it surprised many as it was released as an actual game. Initially, the game was released in Japan, only featuring single-player mode. The American and European (and later the updated version released in Japan called Futari no Fantavision) releases of the game, which were launch titles, were released with two-player mode support. The game was also released for the PlayStation 4 via emulation in December 2015.

Gameplay

Fireworks or flares are launched onto the screen, where they hover for a period of time before disappearing. The player controls the direction of a "guideline" ray extending from the circular cursor which allows a flare along the ray to be "captured". The goal is to string together three or more flares of the same color, and then detonate the flares. More points can be scored by creating a chain reaction, by causing new flares to touch the sparks of detonated flares of the same color, and by creating a daisy chain, which allows flares of multiple colors to be detonated at the same time. Flares not detonated within a certain period of time are considered missed flares, and cause a Play Meter on screen to decrease; the game ends when the Play Meter is empty.

During each level or stage, the camera slowly floats through a darkened environment which serves as the backdrop against which gameplay takes place. There are a total of eight stages in four areas. In addition to normal fireworks / flares which can be detonated, white stars periodically appear during play. These can be captured and detonated along with an existing set of three or more flares. For each star captured in this fashion, the player earns a letter of the word "Starmine". After collecting all eight letters, a large glowing Starmine is launched onto the screen. If the player captures it and detonates it with at least three colored flares, a time-limited bonus mode is entered where a large number of fireworks appear at a rapid pace. The more flares detonated along with the Starmine, the longer the bonus mode lasts.

A two-player versus mode is also in the game. In the mode, players frantically detonate fireworks in a race to a preset total of detonated flares. In this mode, there are additional power-ups which can be captured and detonated to either increase the size of the play area (while decreasing that of the opponent), or switch play areas and undetonated fireworks with the opponent. By using these mechanisms, it is possible to steal flares intended for the opponent's side of the screen, including during an opponent's Starmine bonus.

Development and release

The music from the Japanese version consists of electronic music composed by Soichi Terada, while the North American version uses a mix of electronic and new age music composed by Ashif Hakik, and the European version, composed by Jim Croft, containing mostly dance music. While there are no official soundtrack releases for the American and European soundtrack, both of the Japanese soundtracks were released.

A sequel, Futari no Fantavision, was released in Japan on July 4, 2002. Major differences include the two-player mode and a remixed soundtrack.

Reception

Fantavision received above-average reviews according to the review aggregator Metacritic.[1] Eric Bratcher of NextGen called the Japanese import "A visually arresting cousin of Missile Command masquerading as a puzzle game. What's not to love? If only it was longer."[14] In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of one eight, one seven, and two eights for a total of 31 out of 40;[6][16] it also gave Futari no Fantavision a score of 30 out of 40.[7]

By mid-June 2000, the game had sold 165,437 units in Japan, according to Media Create.[17]

The game was a runner-up for GameSpot's annual "Best Puzzle Game" award among console games, losing to Samba de Amigo.[18] The game did, however, win the award for "Puzzle Game of 2000" at IGN's Best of 2000 Awards for PlayStation 2.[19]

References
  1. "Fantavision for PlayStation 2 Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved November 1, 2016.
  2. Semerad, Jay. "FantaVision - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 14, 2014. Retrieved November 1, 2016.
  3. Edge staff (May 2000). "FantaVision (Japan)". Edge. No. 84. Future Publishing. pp. 78–79. Archived from the original on April 14, 2012. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
  4. Edge staff (December 25, 2000). "FantaVision (US, EU)". Edge. No. 91. Future Publishing. p. 118. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
  5. Dudlak, Jonathan (January 2001). "Fantavision". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 138. Ziff Davis. p. 211. Archived from the original on January 26, 2001. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
  6. "プレイステーション2 - FANTAVISION (ファンタビジョン)". Famitsu (in Japanese). Vol. 915. Enterbrain. June 30, 2006. p. 85.
  7. "プレイステーション2 - ふたりのファンタビジョン". Famitsu (in Japanese). Vol. 915. Enterbrain. June 30, 2006. p. 92.
  8. Helgeson, Matt (December 2000). "Fantavision". Game Informer. No. 92. FuncoLand. p. 99. Archived from the original on February 24, 2005. Retrieved November 1, 2016.
  9. Weitzner, Jason "Fury" (June 2000). "Fantavision (Import)". GameFan. Vol. 8 no. 6. Shinno Media. p. 34. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
  10. Human Tornado (October 25, 2000). "Fantavision Review for PS2 on GamePro.com". GamePro. IDG Entertainment. Archived from the original on February 9, 2005. Retrieved November 1, 2016.
  11. G-Wok (November 2000). "Fantavision Review". GameRevolution. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on September 11, 2015. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
  12. Davis, Ryan (April 18, 2000). "Fantavision Review [Import]". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved November 1, 2016.
  13. Perry, Douglass C. (October 23, 2000). "FantaVision". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved November 1, 2016.
  14. Bratcher, Eric (July 2000). "Fantavision (Import)". NextGen. No. 67. Imagine Media. p. 87. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
  15. Davison, John (January 2001). "Fantavision". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. No. 40. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on April 28, 2001. Retrieved November 1, 2016.
  16. Perry, Douglass C. (March 2, 2000). "Now Playing in Japan, Vol. 19". IGN. Retrieved November 1, 2016.
  17. IGN staff (June 23, 2000). "Japanese Top 30 Charts". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on November 19, 2001. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
  18. GameSpot staff (January 5, 2001). "Best and Worst of 2000 (Best Puzzle Game Runners-Up)". GameSpot. CNET. Archived from the original on February 23, 2003. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
  19. IGN staff (January 29, 2001). "Best of 2000 Awards: Puzzle Game of 2000 (PS2)". IGN. Snowball.com. Archived from the original on February 8, 2001. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
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