Vortex (video game)

For the 1989 video game, see Vortex (Amiga video game).

Vortex is a 3D shooter game developed by Argonaut Software and released by Electro Brain for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in September 1994.^[1] Titled Citadel during development, it is one of a few games designed to use the enhanced graphics of the Super FX powered GSU-1.

Vortex
North American cover art by Roger Loveless
Developer(s)	Argonaut Software
Publisher(s)	NA: Electro Brain JP: Pack-In-Video PAL: Sony Imagesoft
Producer(s)	Neil Jackson
Designer(s)	Nic Cusworth Michael Powell
Programmer(s)	Michael Powell
Artist(s)	Alistair McNally
Composer(s)	Justin Scharvona
Platform(s)	Super Nintendo Entertainment System
Release	NA: September 1994 JP: December 9, 1994 PAL: 1995
Genre(s)	3D shooter
Mode(s)	Single-player

Gameplay

Gameplay screenshot

The player pilots an experimental mech called the Morphing Battle System against the five worlds of the Aki-Do Forces.^[2] The player enters the Vortex, to save the Deoberon system, retrieving the core from the fierce forces, the Aki-Do. The MBS can transform between four different modes: The Walker, Sonic Jet, Land Burner, and Hard Shell.

Development and release

The overall concept of Vortex fueled unconfirmed speculation that the project may have been derived from an unreleased game based on Transformers,^[3] but in a 2015 interview with Retro Gamer, programmer Michael Wong-Powell confirmed that Vortex and Transformers were entirely separate projects, with the latter being cancelled during development.^[4]

In March 1994, Argonaut Software was signed as a third-party developer by Atari Corporation to develop games for the Atari Jaguar platform.^[5] A port of Vortex for the Jaguar was announced at Spring ECTS '94, but it ultimately was never released.^[6][7][8]

Reception

Review scores

Publication	Score
AllGame	2.5/5[9]
Computer and Video Games	89/100[10]
Electronic Gaming Monthly	6/10[11]
Famitsu	22/40[12]
Game Informer	7.5/10[13]
GameFan	79%, 72%, 70%[14]
GamePro	13.5/20[15]
Nintendo Life	7/10[16]
Nintendo Power	3.55/5[17]
Total!	85%[18]
Super Gamer	92%[19]
VideoGames	8/10[20]

Reception

Vortex was criticized for its difficulty and its lag, which was common for Super FX games of its type. Electronic Gaming Monthly's five reviewers remarked that the pace is slow, but complimented the unique concept and high challenge.^[11] GameFan's three reviewers scored it 79%, 72%, and 70%.^[14]