Overview
Fight the next generation with this generation. Vectorman was Sega’s answer to Donkey Kong Country—a pre-rendered 3D visual showcase proving the Mega Drive still had life. The ball-jointed robot hero transformed into vehicles and weapons while blasting through detailed environments. Technical achievement met solid run-and-gun gameplay.
Fast facts
- Developer: BlueSky Software.
- Publisher: Sega.
- Purpose: Compete with DKC/next-gen.
- Protagonist: Orbot (Vectorman).
Visual technology
| Technique | Result |
|---|
| Pre-rendered sprites | 3D appearance |
| Ball-joint design | Smooth animation |
| Detailed backgrounds | Environmental depth |
| Special effects | Explosions, particles |
| Form | Ability |
|---|
| Drill | Burrow underground |
| Bomb | Explosive attack |
| Jet | Flight mode |
| Fish | Underwater navigation |
Weapons
| Power-up | Effect |
|---|
| Machine gun | Rapid fire |
| Bolo | Bouncing shots |
| Triple fire | Three-way spread |
| Pulse beam | Powerful shots |
Level design
| Stage | Environment |
|---|
| Terraport | Industrial |
| Bamboo Mill | Factory |
| Arctic Ridge | Ice world |
| Tidal Surge | Water level |
Technical achievements
| Feature | Implementation |
|---|
| 60fps sections | Smooth gameplay |
| Rotation effects | Software scaling |
| Particle systems | Visual feedback |
| Colour depth | Rich palette use |
Donkey Kong Country comparison
| Aspect | Vectorman | DKC |
|---|
| Platform | Mega Drive | SNES |
| Rendering | Ball sprites | ACM |
| Gameplay | Run-and-gun | Platformer |
| Purpose | Counter-programming | System seller |
Sequel
| Title | Year |
|---|
| Vectorman 2 | 1996 |
| Improvements | More transformations |
| Timing | Very late Mega Drive |
See also