Psyvariar: Medium Unit

Psyvariar is a series of vertical scrolling shooters released in arcades in 2000 by Success, with several versions ported to the Sony PlayStation 2 in Japan and later Europe. Medium Unit was the first version to be made, followed by Psyvariar: Revision, and then a compilation titled Psyvariar: Complete Edition. The game contains a variety of stages. For the player to be able to choose harder stages he or she must have reached the required level or higher.

Buzzing is the main gameplay mechanic of this game. The player has a small hitbox at the centre of the fighter ship, and this hitbox is much smaller when rolling. When the player gets hit in the hitbox with either a bullet or an enemy unit they lose a life, but if the player gets hit anywhere else on the ship, a ‘buzz’ occurs. When the player gets enough buzz points he or she will level up, gaining temporary invincibility. When a certain level is reached, the fighter will transform, and its bullet pattern will change.