Varth: Operation Thunderstorm
Encyclopedia
Varth: Operation Thunderstorm (occasionally known simply as "Varth") is an arcade game
in the vertical scrolling shooter genre, published by Capcom
in 1992. The game did not see a console port following its initial release, but 14 years later Digital Eclipse Software would port the game onto the PSP
handheld (in the Capcom Classics collection), and later onto the PlayStation 2
and Xbox
.
Varth follows the story of a disaster that befalls a human colony on a planet of the same name. The entire colony is run by a 7th generation supercomputer
which controls the operations of all machinery on the planet. Unfortunately for the residents of Varth, Delta-7 has been possessed by the entity "Duo", thought of as an evil spirit but actually a temporal-spatial consciousness which spontaneously arose within the supercomputer. Duo has come to the conclusion that human existence is inimical to the planet, and has therefore turned the planet's defenses against its own populace. Eighty percent of the planet is laid waste by the event, and this is only the beginning of Duo's cleansing scheme. The colonists' reliance on the supercomputer has caused them to lose the ability to take care of themselves, and thus have no means of fighting back. The only hope for the colony lies in the pilots of two planes equipped with 4th generation computers which Duo cannot control--they are controlled not by machinery, but by humans.
and other games in the 194X series. The goal is to destroy enemy units while avoiding being hit, and reach the end of the level, occasionally ending with a boss fight. One hit from an enemy will cause the player to lose a plane, and at a lengthy 30 levels Varth makes for quite a challenge. The biggest difference between Varth and other games in the genre of its time is the inclusion of items called "Pods". When a player picks up a pod item, a pair of pods will follow the player and carry weaponry of their own to supplement their artillery. Additionally, pods can completely block most (but not all) forms of attacks from enemies, rendering the player almost invulnerable to attack from any direction in which the pods are situated. Players can choose from two formations for their pods - fixed or smart. In fixed mode, both pods remain directly in front of the player to render the planes invulnerable from the front, but leave them open on the sides and from behind. In the smart position the pods will remain separate from each other at a 180-degree angle, and move about according to the direction of incoming fire. If enemy fire manages to slip between the pods before they can react (potentially common in later levels as large numbers of enemies appear on screen), the player is left vulnerable and only has the option of moving in hopes of avoiding a hit.
Varth features three different weapons for the player - a laser (long rate of sustained fire but lowest horizontal range), a shotgun (relatively powerful with a potential range as wide as the player's craft), and multi-directional shot (very wide range but lowest sustained rate of fire). Additionally, three different types of pod weapons are available - homing missiles (weakest weapon but with a useful homing advantage), missiles (more damaging than homing missiles but can only fire forward), and napalm (powerful but with very low range). Like 194X games, Varth also features bombs which allow the planes to perform "mega crashes". The type of mega crash a plane can do is determined by the weapon it is carrying. Lasers will result in an electricity attack that will cover the entire screen. The shotgun will fire missiles which will move from target to target. The multi-directional shot will fire a single large burst that moves directly forward from the player,then emanates many smaller bolts on reaching the top of the screen.
The game also features several items which can help the player in other ways, such as point-yielding icons, items which will increase the power of your arsenal, additionally bombs, and items that will destroy all enemies on a screen. Perhaps the most useful item is the Yashichi, which will instantly upgrade a player's weaponry to its highest level.
Code #: EK-0131S
Engine: J33S-Kinsei thrust 9,032 lbf
(40.18 kN)*1
Wingspan: 31' 9"
Length: 29' 6"
Weight: 9,922 lb
(4,501 kg)
Maximum speed: 553 knots (1,083.8 km/h)
Ceiling: 55,256 ft (16,842 m)
Range: 4096 nmi (7,585.8 km)
Available Arms:
P1 Pilot: Casber Rublan
Age: 29
Gender: Male
Height: 174 cm
Weight: 68 kg
A fighter for the resistance. One-time B+ class pilot. Quite the comedian, his quick wit and unique style are well-loved by his friends. A little on the slim side, he does not fit the stereotypical "soldier" mold. Casber usually wears the liberation bandanna around his head.
P2 Fighter: Dakao/M-2451 Scimitar
Code #: SO-0819HGS
Engine: HRO402-Maximum thrust 6,773 lbf (30.13 kN)*2
Wingspan: 32' 4"
Length: 35' 11"
Height: 10' 3"
Weight: 13,671 lb (6,201 kg)
Maximum speed: 492 kn
Ceiling: 55773 ft (16,999.6 m)
Range: 4128 nmi (7,645.1 km)
Available arms: Same as Saber
P2 Pilot: Felry Carnihum
Age: 22
Gender: Female
Height: 163 cm
Weight: 49 kg
A fighter for the resistance. Former acrobatic flying instructor. The daughter of a pilot, Felry has been flying all her life and piloting her own plane since she was a teenager. She greatly distrusted the complete control man was giving to the machines and her distrust has proven accurate. A talented engineer, she joined the reconditioning team to prepare the two planes. She has no battle experience but sports a unique style of flying.
Arcade game
An arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine, usually installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars, and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, and merchandisers...
in the vertical scrolling shooter genre, published by Capcom
Capcom
is a Japanese developer and publisher of video games, known for creating multi-million-selling franchises such as Devil May Cry, Chaos Legion, Street Fighter, Mega Man and Resident Evil. Capcom developed and published Bionic Commando, Lost Planet and Dark Void too, but they are less known. Its...
in 1992. The game did not see a console port following its initial release, but 14 years later Digital Eclipse Software would port the game onto the PSP
PlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
handheld (in the Capcom Classics collection), and later onto the PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
and Xbox
Xbox
The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console...
.
Varth follows the story of a disaster that befalls a human colony on a planet of the same name. The entire colony is run by a 7th generation supercomputer
Supercomputer
A supercomputer is a computer at the frontline of current processing capacity, particularly speed of calculation.Supercomputers are used for highly calculation-intensive tasks such as problems including quantum physics, weather forecasting, climate research, molecular modeling A supercomputer is a...
which controls the operations of all machinery on the planet. Unfortunately for the residents of Varth, Delta-7 has been possessed by the entity "Duo", thought of as an evil spirit but actually a temporal-spatial consciousness which spontaneously arose within the supercomputer. Duo has come to the conclusion that human existence is inimical to the planet, and has therefore turned the planet's defenses against its own populace. Eighty percent of the planet is laid waste by the event, and this is only the beginning of Duo's cleansing scheme. The colonists' reliance on the supercomputer has caused them to lose the ability to take care of themselves, and thus have no means of fighting back. The only hope for the colony lies in the pilots of two planes equipped with 4th generation computers which Duo cannot control--they are controlled not by machinery, but by humans.
Gameplay
Varth's gameplay draws very heavily from 19421942 (arcade game)
1942 is a vertically scrolling shoot 'em up made by Capcom that was released for the arcade in . It was the first game in the 19XX series. It was followed by 1943: The Battle of Midway....
and other games in the 194X series. The goal is to destroy enemy units while avoiding being hit, and reach the end of the level, occasionally ending with a boss fight. One hit from an enemy will cause the player to lose a plane, and at a lengthy 30 levels Varth makes for quite a challenge. The biggest difference between Varth and other games in the genre of its time is the inclusion of items called "Pods". When a player picks up a pod item, a pair of pods will follow the player and carry weaponry of their own to supplement their artillery. Additionally, pods can completely block most (but not all) forms of attacks from enemies, rendering the player almost invulnerable to attack from any direction in which the pods are situated. Players can choose from two formations for their pods - fixed or smart. In fixed mode, both pods remain directly in front of the player to render the planes invulnerable from the front, but leave them open on the sides and from behind. In the smart position the pods will remain separate from each other at a 180-degree angle, and move about according to the direction of incoming fire. If enemy fire manages to slip between the pods before they can react (potentially common in later levels as large numbers of enemies appear on screen), the player is left vulnerable and only has the option of moving in hopes of avoiding a hit.
Varth features three different weapons for the player - a laser (long rate of sustained fire but lowest horizontal range), a shotgun (relatively powerful with a potential range as wide as the player's craft), and multi-directional shot (very wide range but lowest sustained rate of fire). Additionally, three different types of pod weapons are available - homing missiles (weakest weapon but with a useful homing advantage), missiles (more damaging than homing missiles but can only fire forward), and napalm (powerful but with very low range). Like 194X games, Varth also features bombs which allow the planes to perform "mega crashes". The type of mega crash a plane can do is determined by the weapon it is carrying. Lasers will result in an electricity attack that will cover the entire screen. The shotgun will fire missiles which will move from target to target. The multi-directional shot will fire a single large burst that moves directly forward from the player,then emanates many smaller bolts on reaching the top of the screen.
The game also features several items which can help the player in other ways, such as point-yielding icons, items which will increase the power of your arsenal, additionally bombs, and items that will destroy all enemies on a screen. Perhaps the most useful item is the Yashichi, which will instantly upgrade a player's weaponry to its highest level.
Characters and Planes
P1 Fighter: Tanikura F7W SaberCode #: EK-0131S
Engine: J33S-Kinsei thrust 9,032 lbf
Pound-force
The pound force is a unit of force in some systems of measurement including English engineering units and British gravitational units.- Definitions :...
(40.18 kN)*1
Wingspan: 31' 9"
Length: 29' 6"
Weight: 9,922 lb
Pound (mass)
The pound or pound-mass is a unit of mass used in the Imperial, United States customary and other systems of measurement...
(4,501 kg)
Maximum speed: 553 knots (1,083.8 km/h)
Ceiling: 55,256 ft (16,842 m)
Range: 4096 nmi (7,585.8 km)
Available Arms:
- V61K 30 mm Vulcan
- HLC-5 Zoom-Laser Gun
- WR-7 A.A. Rocket Missile
- Smart Pods
- Front Pods
P1 Pilot: Casber Rublan
Age: 29
Gender: Male
Height: 174 cm
Weight: 68 kg
A fighter for the resistance. One-time B+ class pilot. Quite the comedian, his quick wit and unique style are well-loved by his friends. A little on the slim side, he does not fit the stereotypical "soldier" mold. Casber usually wears the liberation bandanna around his head.
P2 Fighter: Dakao/M-2451 Scimitar
Code #: SO-0819HGS
Engine: HRO402-Maximum thrust 6,773 lbf (30.13 kN)*2
Wingspan: 32' 4"
Length: 35' 11"
Height: 10' 3"
Weight: 13,671 lb (6,201 kg)
Maximum speed: 492 kn
Ceiling: 55773 ft (16,999.6 m)
Range: 4128 nmi (7,645.1 km)
Available arms: Same as Saber
P2 Pilot: Felry Carnihum
Age: 22
Gender: Female
Height: 163 cm
Weight: 49 kg
A fighter for the resistance. Former acrobatic flying instructor. The daughter of a pilot, Felry has been flying all her life and piloting her own plane since she was a teenager. She greatly distrusted the complete control man was giving to the machines and her distrust has proven accurate. A talented engineer, she joined the reconditioning team to prepare the two planes. She has no battle experience but sports a unique style of flying.
Cameos
Despite Varth itself seldom being referred to in other games, a number of Capcom titles cross over into Varth in some way.- Items that increase weapon power and effectiveness exist in the form of orange icons with "POW" written across them. The POW icon is a staple of many Capcom games, originating with its first title, VulgusVulgusis a vertically scrolling shooter developed and published by Capcom in Japan in 1984, and was later released in North America by SNK the same year. The word "Vulgus" comes fom Latin and means "common people", people of lower layers of society. The game has the distinction of being Capcom's debut...
. - There are many parallels to 19421942 (arcade game)1942 is a vertically scrolling shoot 'em up made by Capcom that was released for the arcade in . It was the first game in the 19XX series. It was followed by 1943: The Battle of Midway....
and its sequels in the game. The three main weapons featured in the game, as well as the presence of a mega crash, originate with 19431943: The Battle of Midway1943: The Battle of Midway, known in Japan as , is a vertical scrolling shooter arcade game released by Capcom in June .-Gameplay: The game is set in the Pacific theater of World War II, off the coast of the Midway Atoll...
. Additionally, the presence of five red aircraft which follow each other in a formation and will drop power-ups when destroyed, as featured in Varth, is a staple of the 194X series. - The player one character from Side Arms Hyper DyneSide Arms Hyper Dyne, also known as Side Arms: Hyper Dyne, is a side-scrolling shoot-'em-up originally released by Capcom as a coin-operated video game in The game was also released to the TurboGrafx-16, as well as to various home computer platforms. In Side Arms the player takes control of a flying mecha suit who...
appears as an item that will destroy all on-screen enemies when collected. - Perhaps the most well-known cameo in Varth is in the fourth level. By a section of grass and pipes on the Satellite's lower-right section, Ryu from the Street FighterStreet Fighter, commonly abbreviated as SF, is a series of Fighting Games developed in Japan in which the players pit the video games' competitive fighters from around the world, each with his or her own unique fighting style, against one another...
series will appear and perform a shoryuken. Continuing to fire on Ryu until he disappears will yield a large amount of power-ups. Beating the game will also yield several synchronized-ShoryukeningSynchronized swimmingSynchronized swImming is a hybrid form of swimming, dance and gymnastics, consisting of swimmers performing a synchronized routine of elaborate moves in the water, accompanied by music....
Ryus during the credits roll. - Capcom's signature yasichi power-upPower-upIn computer and video games, power-ups are objects that instantly benefit or add extra abilities to the game character as a game mechanic. This is in contrast to an item, which may or may not have a benefit and can be used at a time chosen by the player...
, originally of Vulgus, makes an appearance in Varth as an item which will raise a plane's weaponry to its maximum level.