Viper Phase 1

Viper Phase 1
Arcade flyer
DeveloperSeibu Kaihatsu
Publishers
  • JP: Seibu Kaihatsu
  • NA: Fabtek
SeriesRaiden
PlatformArcade
Release
  • JP: May 1995
  • NA: October 1995
GenreScrolling shooter
ModesSingle-player, multiplayer

Viper Phase 1 is a 1995 vertically scrolling shooter video game developed and published by Seibu Kaihatsu for arcades. It was released in Japan in May 1995 and in North America by Fabtek in October 1995. It is a spin-off in the Raiden series set in space. Hamster Corporation released the game as part of their Arcade Archives series for the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 in December 2024.

Gameplay

The game is set in outer space. Players pilot their space fighter through eight stages of enemy space fleets and bosses. Enemies include small space fighters, space cruisers, space frigates, and entire space installations.

A bonus is assessed at the end of each stage taking into account the number of medals collected, the number of enemies destroyed, the number of bombs in stock, and the total kill percentage. At the end of the game, a grand tally is assessed. Factors taken into account are the number of continues used and the number of lives lost. The American version gives the player permanent access to all secondary weapons instead of having limited ammunition, though they deal considerably less damage to compensate.

Reception

In Japan, Game Machine listed Viper Phase 1 on their July 1, 1995 issue as being the ninth most-successful arcade game of the month. In North America, RePlay reported Viper Phase 1 was the sixth most-popular arcade game at the time. A critic for Next Generation praised the game's beautiful visuals and increasing level of difficulty, but added that "like all shooters, unless your hand-eye coordination is really solid, the fun will pass you right by". He gave it three out of five stars.

Notes

  1. ↑ Japanese: バイパーフェイズ1, Hepburn: Baipā Feizu Wan

References

  1. ↑ Akagi, Masumi (October 13, 2006). アーケードTVゲームリスト国内•海外編(1971-2005) [Arcade TV Game List: Domestic • Overseas Edition (1971-2005)] (in Japanese). Japan: Amusement News Agency. pp. 34, 117. ISBN 978-4990251215.
  2. ↑ Desmond, Mike (October 1995). "Arcade Action - Viper Phase 1 by Fabtek". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 75. Sendai Publishing. p. 72. Archived from the original on July 24, 2020. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  3. ↑ Yarwood, Jack (December 11, 2024). "Raiden Spin-Off 'Viper Phase 1' Is Finally Getting An Official Release On Consoles". Time Extension. Archived from the original on July 30, 2026. Retrieved July 30, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - TVゲーム機ーソフトウェア (Video Game Software)". Game Machine (in Japanese). No. 498. Amusement Press, Inc. July 1, 1995. p. 25.
  5. ↑ "Player's Choice - Top Games Now in Operation, Based on Earnings-Opinion Poll of Operators: Best Video Software". RePlay. Vol. 21, no. 1. RePlay Publishing, Inc. October 1995. p. 6.
  6. ↑ "Viper Phase 1". Next Generation (11). Imagine Media: 191. November 1995.