Psyvariar: Revision

A danmaku-style shoot-’em-up from the studio behind the Cotton series, Psyvariar features a unique level-up system known as the “BUZZ System”, in which players can level up their ships by both eliminating enemies and grazing past them (and their bullets) in order to receive temporary invincibility, gain new firing patterns, and access more difficult stages. It is also known for its rolling mechanic (used for dodging), “short bombs” (which gives temporary invincibility for use with the BUZZ System), and branching stage paths (based on the player’s level).

The second version of the game was released as Psyvariar: Revision into arcades, then ported a year later for the Sony PlayStation 2. Along with updated graphics and rearranged stages, this version revamps the BUZZ System (now allowing players to buzz the same bullet multiple times), updates the rolling mechanic (allowing the Bomb button to be used to roll easily when the ship is out of bombs), and adds a new “replay mode” (where players can choose a stage and watch its high score replay before starting).