Polybius (2017 video game)
Polybius is a 2017 shoot 'em up video game developed and published by Llamasoft. It was released in May 2017 for the PlayStation 4, with PlayStation VR support available. A version for Microsoft Windows was released December 2018. The game takes its name and inspiration from the fictitious 1981 arcade game Polybius.
Polybius | |
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Developer(s) | Llamasoft |
Publisher(s) | Llamasoft |
Platform(s) | |
Release | May 9, 2017 |
Genre(s) | Shoot 'em up |
Mode(s) | Single-player ![]() |
Gameplay
Llamasoft's Polybius is a fast-paced 3D shooting game with elements of racing games. The game's play was designed to minimize virtual reality sickness[1] by the use of continuous forward motion with limited abrupt changes, and no interruptions to gameplay other than controlled breaks at the end of each level; however, the game does include intense visuals. Although designed as a VR game, Polybius is fully playable in 2D on a standard PlayStation 4, and also includes support for 3D television output.
Development and release
In 2016, Llamasoft announced a game called Polybius for the PlayStation 4 with support for the PlayStation VR.[2] Polybius was added on the PlayStation store on Tuesday May 9, 2017.[3] In early marketing, co-author Jeff Minter claimed to have been permitted to play the original Polybius arcade machine in a warehouse in Basingstoke.[4] He later more realistically stated that the game was inspired by the urban legend, but does not attempt to reproduce its alleged gameplay.[5] He said it was instead based on his interest in the ability of video games to induce the psychological state of flow (also called "being in the zone")[6] and his own observations of positive psychological effects as a result of playing VR games, most notably the unreleased VR version of TxK.[5] Minter also cited influence from multiple other classic games including Space Harrier, After Burner, the 1983 vector game Star Wars, S.T.U.N. Runner, Zarch and quite possibly NanoTek Warrior. .[7]
On July 13, 2017, industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails released a music video for the song "Less Than", featuring a woman playing Polybius.[8] Llamasoft later described the version of the game used in the video, a custom build running on the PC with user configurable effect sequencing.[9]
As of November 7, 2018, the game page on the Steam store is live, with a Q4 release date, playable in VR or non-VR. On December 21st, 2018, the game released for PC.
Reception
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Polybius received positive reviews from game critics. On review aggregator Metacritic, it holds an average score of 84 out of 100, based on 13 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[10] Metro called it "one of the definitive action games of the current generation".[14] Eurogamer awarded it a Recommended trophy, labeling it as "magical" as well as one of Llamasoft's best works.[13] The website also ranked it 44th on their list of the "Top 50 Games of 2017".[15] The game was nominated for the Coney Island Dreamland Award for Best Virtual Reality Game at the New York Game Awards 2018.[16]
See also
- Polybius (urban legend)
- Polybius (ancient Greek historian)
- List of PlayStation 4 games
- 2017 in video gaming
References
- "Polybius Description Page".
- Machkovech, Sam (October 7, 2016). "A video game called Polybius is actually coming out. Will it kill you?". Ars Technica. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
- "Polybius on PS4". PlayStation Store. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
- "Sample the ludic psychedelia of Polybius".
- "Polybius: Early Days".
- "A History of Llamasoft" (PDF).
- "Polybius: Influences".
- Seppala, Timothy J. (July 13, 2017). "Nine Inch Nails' latest video taps into gaming legend". Engadget. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
- Machkovech, Sam (July 13, 2017). "Trent Reznor's cold call led to an awesome game-filled Nine Inch Nails video". Ars Technica.
- "Polybius for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved September 11, 2017.
- Devore, Jordan (May 19, 2017). "Review: Polybius". Destructoid. Retrieved September 10, 2017.
- "Polybius". Edge. August 2017. p. 118.
- "Polybius Review". Eurogamer. Retrieved May 14, 2017.
- "Polybius review – prepare for a trip". Metro. May 12, 2017. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
- Eurogamer staff (December 26, 2017). "Eurogamer's Top 50 Games of 2017: 50-41". Eurogamer. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
- Whitney, Kayla (January 25, 2018). "Complete list of winners of the New York Game Awards 2018". AXS. Retrieved January 27, 2018.