Software:Sky Odyssey

From HandWiki
Short description: 2000 video game
Sky Odyssey
North American PlayStation 2 cover art
Developer(s)Cross
Publisher(s)
Director(s)Mitsunori Shoji
Producer(s)Yasuhide Kobayashi
Programmer(s)Takashi Iwanaga
Akihiro Terada
Tadao Shohyama
Takayuki Hanamasu
Artist(s)Syuji Ueda
Ryo Yokomizo
Keisuke Izaki
Yoshinori Ikeshita
Composer(s)Kow Otani
Platform(s)PlayStation 2
Release
  • NA: November 17, 2000[1]
  • JP: January 25, 2001
  • PAL: April 27, 2001
Genre(s)Flight simulator
Mode(s)Single-player

Sky Odyssey, known in Japan as The Sky Odyssey (スカイ オデッセイ, Sukai Odessei), is an action/adventure flight simulator for the Sony PlayStation 2. It was developed by Cross and released in 2000. The game's soundtrack was composed by Kow Otani, who also composed the music for Shadow of the Colossus, a variety of Gamera films, and various anime.

The game follows an Indiana Jones-style storyline in which the player character flies through several areas of a fictional world, collecting artifacts as well as pieces of a map. The adventure mode of the game focuses on reaching the hidden tower of Maximus, which is located on one of four uncharted islands which are explored in the game.

Gameplay

The player in the game is given control of 10 different aircraft, 7 of which must be unlocked. These range from real world aircraft (such as the Fairey Swordfish), to prototypes that never saw actual flight (e.g. the Kyūshū J7W), to completely fictional ones. While a few of these are military aircraft, no combat actually takes place in the game. Instead players are given the task of flying complex missions to search for the map pieces needed to find the Tower of Maximus. Most missions involve traversing from one point on the games map to the next, but rarely is this straight forward. The missions often follow a path that requires flight through extreme terrain such as canyons, caves, and mountain peaks.

To further complicate things, rogue weather patterns, rock slides, and other natural phenomena will constantly impede on progress into these areas and will often threaten to destroy the player's aircraft. In addition, several of the game's levels require certain tasks to be completed to advance. Examples of these include mid air refueling with a moving train, or attempting a fuel dump in order to cross a high mountain pass. After the mission is complete, players are given a score ranging from A+ to D and can buy new parts to customize their aircraft. Higher scores lead to more parts being made available for purchase. In addition to the main adventure there are two bonus modes called Target Mode and Sky Canvas Mode.

In Target Mode players must take off and navigate through a series of targets in the shortest amount of time as possible and return to the runway for landing. Sky Canvas Mode requires players to Skywrite different words and symbols before the smoke can be blown away by the wind. There is also a training mode and a Free Flight mode. Training mode introduces players to the controls of the game while Free Flight mode lets players freely fly their unlocked aircraft without the restrictions or dangers found in the main part of the game.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic79/100[2]
Review scores
PublicationScore
AllGameStarStarStarStar[3]
Edge6/10[5]
EGM7.83/10[6][lower-alpha 1]
Famitsu28/40[8]
Game Informer7.75/10[9]
GameSpot8.3/10[10]
GameSpy75%[11]
IGN9/10[12]
Next GenerationStarStarStar[13]
OPM (US)StarStarStar[14]

The game received "generally favorable reviews" according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[2] Kevin Rice of NextGen said, "Sky Odyssey is one of those peculiar games that will have half the people loving it and the other half wondering what the commotion is. It's definitely good, but it won't suit everyone's taste."[13] In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of 28 out of 40.[8] GamePro said in a negative review, "The controls are the game's saving grace, but the other features ground Sky Odyssey indefinitely. Drab environments and incredible amounts of draw-in make up the visuals (the half-point is for the so-so detail on the aircraft). Even more egregious, the awful background symphony doesn't remotely go with the game's ambiance. You'll have more fun cruising third-class on a no-name charter flight than playing this awful flyer."[15][lower-alpha 2]

IGN said that the game "belongs in the software library of every PlayStation 2 owner." It also said that while some may be turned off by the game's lack of violence, "the intensity and adrenaline levels that players will reach while playing this game really surpass what you'll ever likely get in a straight action game."[12] GameSpot praised the game for its wide variety of aircraft and missions. GameSpot also liked the weather effects and physics in the game.[10]

Both sides however noted that the game's graphics were not up to par, and stated that the game was somewhat difficult for newcomers.

Not all reviews were positive however. IGN and GameSpot noted that the game is not for everyone, especially those expecting a "straight up action game."[12][10] Still, GameSpot said in the closing of their review that, "those that are willing to overlook the game's graphical imperfections and can grapple with its relatively steep learning curve will be rewarded with a fully satisfying game experience."[10]

The game won the awards for "Simulation Game of 2000" and "Game No One Played of 2000" at IGN's Best of 2000 Awards,[16][17] and was also a runner-up for Overall PS2 Game of the Year.[18] It was also a runner-up for the "Best PlayStation 2 Game"[19] and "Best Simulation Game" awards at GameSpot's Best and Worst of 2000 Awards.[20]

In an IGN list of top 10 most underrated games, the game came in at number 6 on the list.[21]

Notes

  1. ↑ Two critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the game each a score of 8/10, and the other gave it 7.5/10.
  2. ↑ GamePro gave the game 1.5/5 for graphics, 2/5 for sound, 5/5 for control, and 2.5/5 for fun factor.

References

  1. ↑ IGN staff (November 17, 2000). "Sky Odyssey Ships". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/11/18/sky-odyssey-ships. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Sky Odyssey". Fandom. https://www.metacritic.com/game/sky-odyssey/. 
  3. ↑ Thompson, Jon. "Sky Odyssey - Review". All Media Network. http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=28009&tab=review. 
  4. ↑ Saltzman, Marc (December 26, 2000). "Sky Odyssey". CNET. http://www.gamecenter.com/Ps2/Reviews/Skyodyssey/. 
  5. ↑ Edge staff (February 2001). "Sky Odyssey". Edge (Future Publishing) (94): 95. https://retrocdn.net/images/8/89/Edge_UK_094.pdf. Retrieved July 23, 2023. 
  6. ↑ Johnston, Chris; Mielke, James "Milkman"; Lockhart, Ryan (January 2001). "Sky Odyssey". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (138): 210. https://archive.org/details/Electronic_Gaming_Monthly_138_January_2001_U/page/n209/mode/2up. Retrieved December 17, 2021. 
  7. ↑ Brooks, Mark (January 12, 2001). "Sky Odyssey". Greedy Productions Ltd.. http://www.elecplay.com/review.html?article=5027&full=1#mr_toppy. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "スカイ オデッセイ" (in ja). Famitsu (Enterbrain). https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=9422&redirect=no. Retrieved July 23, 2023. 
  9. ↑ McNamara, Andy (December 2000). "Sky Odyssey". Game Informer (FuncoLand) (92): 94. http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200012/R03.0806.1508.59235.htm. Retrieved December 17, 2021. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Davis, Ryan (November 21, 2000). "Sky Odyssey Review [date mislabeled as "March 15, 2003""]. Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/sky-odyssey-review/1900-2656999/. 
  11. ↑ Thornton, Ben (February 12, 2001). "Sky Odyssey". IGN Entertainment. http://www.planetps2.com/features/reviews/2001/skyodyssey/. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Zdyrko, David (November 16, 2000). "Sky Odyssey". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/11/17/sky-odyssey. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Rice, Kevin (February 2001). "Sky Odyssey". NextGen (Imagine Media) (74): 73. https://archive.org/details/NextGen74Feb2001/page/n73/mode/2up. Retrieved December 17, 2021. 
  14. ↑ Rybicki, Joe (January 2001). "Sky Odyssey". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine (Ziff Davis) (40): 133. https://archive.org/details/official-u.-s.-playstation-magazine-issue-40-january-2001/page/132/mode/2up. Retrieved July 23, 2023. 
  15. ↑ Four-Eyed Dragon (February 2001). "Sky Odyssey". GamePro (IDG) (149): 68. https://retrocdn.net/images/1/1f/GamePro_US_149.pdf. Retrieved July 23, 2023. 
  16. ↑ IGN staff (January 29, 2001). "Best of 2000 Awards (PS2: Simulation Game of 2000)". Snowball.com. http://ps2.ign.com/news/30690.html. 
  17. ↑ IGN staff (January 29, 2001). "Best of 2000 Awards (PS2: Game No One Played of 2000)". Snowball.com. http://ps2.ign.com/news/30696.html. 
  18. ↑ IGN staff (January 29, 2001). "Best of 2000 Awards (PS2: Game of the Year)". Snowball.com. http://ps2.ign.com/news/30682.html. 
  19. ↑ GameSpot staff (January 5, 2001). "Best and Worst of 2000 (Best PlayStation 2 Game Runners-Up, Part 1)". CNET. http://gamespot.com/gamespot/features/video/bestof_2000/p3_02.html. 
  20. ↑ GameSpot staff (January 5, 2001). "Best and Worst of 2000 (Best Simulation Runners-Up)". CNET. http://gamespot.com/gamespot/features/video/bestof_2000/p4_10.html. 
  21. ↑ Casamassina, Matt (January 30, 2007). "Top 10 Tuesday: Underrated and Underappreciated Games". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/01/30/top-10-tuesday-underrated-and-underappreciated-games-2. 
  • Official website
  • MobyGames is a commercial database website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes over 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms.[1] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It has been owned by Atari SA since 2022.

Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This lengthy approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]

See also

  • IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/. 
  2. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/. 
  3. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  4. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521. 
  8. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media. 
  9. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned. 
  10. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner. 
  11. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games. 
  13. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/. 
  14. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/. 
  15. ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/. 
  16. ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/. 
  17. ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames. 
  • No URL found. Please specify a URL here or add one to Wikidata.

Template:Atari




Retrieved from "https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?title=Software:Sky_Odyssey&oldid=737567"