Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Psychic Force Complete delivers an arcade-style fighting experience that stands out with its unique “arena” concept, where battles take place in a three-dimensional cube. Instead of the typical side-on plane, you float freely in a confined space, using psychic powers to launch devastating ranged attacks or close in for close-quarters combat. This setup creates frantic engagements that reward quick decision-making and mastery of spatial awareness.

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Each of the three titles—Psychic Force, Psychic Force 2012, and Psychic Force 2012-EX—retains the core mechanics of another while refining balance and move sets. The original Psychic Force feels a bit raw, but its fast-paced duels and varied character roster lay a strong foundation. Psychic Force 2012 tightens the pacing, adds new combos, and introduces more defensive options, while the 2012-EX iteration brings in even more characters and customization elements, expanding the strategic possibilities.

Controls are generally responsive, though newcomers may struggle with the dual-stick feel—one stick for movement around the arena’s perimeter and the other for directional attacks. Learning to chain psychic blasts into offensive guards and homing moves is key to dominating matches. For those willing to invest the time, the depth of each fighter’s move list unfolds into a rewarding system of mind games and crowd control.

Multiplayer modes, both local and versus CPU, round out the gameplay. While the absence of online matchmaking is felt, local head-to-head remains a blast, especially when experimenting with all three versions side by side. Optional practice modes help you drill combos or perfect defensive maneuvers, making this compilation a solid training ground for aspiring psychokinetic warriors.

Graphics

Originally powered by Sega’s System 11 and System 12 hardware, the three titles in this compilation still look strikingly vibrant in modern form. Character models pop with bright, anime-inspired designs, and each psychic attack is accompanied by colorful, glowing effects that illuminate the stage. The limited color palettes and low-polygon counts evoke nostalgic charm rather than feeling outright dated.

Background arenas are varied enough—from futuristic urban landscapes to desolate alien worlds—to keep the eye engaged. Though arenas are static and suffer from sparse texturing compared to contemporary fighters, the dynamic camera angles during special moves help mask these limitations and elevate the visual spectacle.

The compilation doesn’t overhaul the original assets, but it does provide stable frame rates and clean resolutions on modern consoles. Character portraits and menus have been slightly reworked to fit widescreen displays, ensuring the UI feels crisp without altering the classic look. Fans of retro aesthetics will appreciate that the visuals stay faithful to their arcade roots.

Overall, Psychic Force Complete strikes a balance between preserving the original arcade sheen and presenting it in a neatly packaged form. While it won’t compete with cutting-edge 3D fighters in terms of technical polish, its energetic art style and fluid animations hold up remarkably well two decades on.

Story

At its core, Psychic Force Complete weaves three interlinked narratives centered on individuals gifted (or cursed) with telekinetic powers. The original Psychic Force introduces the conflict between the normal world and NORA (the organization of psychics), setting the stage for personal vendettas and ideological clashes. It’s straightforward but establishes character motivations clearly.

Psychic Force 2012 expands the lore with a dystopian setback: an organization known as the Phantom Unit seeks world domination using corrupted psychics. The game’s story mode, presented through short animated interludes and character dialogues, raises the stakes and gives deeper context to the protagonists’ battles. New character arcs feel more fleshed out, and the shift to a darker tone adds emotional weight.

The 2012-EX version further diversifies the cast by unlocking hidden personalities and branching endings. Replay value blossoms here, as new matchups and story encounters reveal previously unseen aspects of the world. While not a narrative tour-de-force, the trilogy’s combined storytelling presents an engaging sci-fi anime experience, perfect for those who enjoy episodic battles with light plot exposition.

Each chapter’s brevity means you won’t spend hours reading dialogue—action takes precedence. Yet fans of retro fighting games will appreciate how the game balances story beats with nonstop showdown, letting you dive in quickly while still rewarding repeated playthroughs with hidden scenes and endings.

Overall Experience

Psychic Force Complete stands as an essential package for enthusiasts of niche arcade fighters. By bundling three classics in one collection, it offers substantial content and replayability. Whether you’re nostalgic for the late ’90s Sega arcade scene or a newcomer intrigued by telekinetic battles, this compilation provides a varied roster and evolving mechanics to keep you engaged.

The lack of online play might disappoint competitive gamers, but the robust local versus mode and CPU challenges fill the gap with tense, mind-bending duels. Combined with practice areas and unlockable extras—character bios, artwork galleries, and audio tracks—you’re looking at a well-rounded package that respects its heritage while offering modern convenience.

Physical editions, some bundled with character figures (Won, Wendy, or Emirio), add collectible appeal, making certain versions particularly attractive for display and gifting. For those more concerned with gameplay than box extras, the standalone digital release hits all the right notes at a reasonable price point.

In summary, Psychic Force Complete delivers a unique fighting experience defined by three-dimensional arenas, psychic powers, and anime flair. Though it shows its arcade-age roots, the crisp presentation, diverse modes, and weighty combat mechanics make it a worthwhile addition to any fighter fan’s library. Dive in, pick your favorite psychokinetic warrior, and get ready to rule—or be ruled—by the mind.

Retro Replay Score

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