Space Station Silicon Valley

Infobox VG| title = Space Station Silicon Valley


developer = DMA Design
publisher = Take 2
designer =
engine =
released = October 1, 1998
genre = 3D Platformer
modes = Single player
ratings = ESRB: Everyone (E)
platforms = Nintendo 64, Playstation, Game Boy Color
media = 64-megabit
requirements =

"Space Station Silicon Valley" is a platform game released in October, 1998 by Scottish developer DMA Design (now known as Rockstar North, creator of the Grand Theft Auto series). It was initially released for the Nintendo 64, and later in a version for the Game Boy Color. Several glitches were present within the game, but this did not prevent it from attaining considerable critical acclaim. [http://uk.ign64.ign.com/articles/151/151946p1.html] It was ported in the Summer of 2000 in Europe to the Playstation under the title of "Evo's Space Adventures".

toryline

The game's storyline revolves around a space station, home to numerous animals (the station was intended by the designer to be a "technologically advanced amusement park"), which was launched and subsequently lost in the year 2001. Thought to have disappeared forever, it reappears in the year 3000, and its designer, Professor Cheese, mysteriously vanishes upon an excursion to the station. Following this, A duo of "Heroes for Hire", namely Danger Dan and his partner Evo, are dispatched to the station in order to investigate this disappearance. They arrive to find that over 1000 years, the animal cargo had evolved and merged with technology; examples including an electronically-powered fox with motorized wheels and a steam-powered hippopotamus. Throughout the course of the game, the space station is on a collision course with Earth, and it is the player's mission to save all of humanity.

Within the game, the player controls Evo, a robot who is reduced to no more than a microchip during the crash into the station (caused by a fight the heroes were having over which radio station to listen) and must enter the bodies of the animals therein (who each possess their own abilities), in order to solve puzzles and defeat enemies in each level. As this progresses, Dan is trapped in the team's destroyed spaceship and does nothing but assign Evo his missions and watch the player's actions.

As the player progresses through the 5 distinct sections of the space station(including the 4 'environment' based areas and the control centre) he/she collects the scattered remains of Evo's robotic body, eventually re-assembling him for the final battle

Critical reception

"Space Station Silicon Valley" was largely well received due to its intuitive mechanics, innovative level design, and comical concepts, obtaining a cumulative score of 83 on Metacritic. [http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/n64/spacestationsiliconvalley?q=space%20station%20silicon%20valley]

Bugs and glitches

The game has also been known to freeze up, but it is a rare occurrence. Freezes are more common when using the Expansion Pak. In some cases it is impossible to get past the first few start up screens if the Expansion Pak is present.

Another bug (pictured right) makes the player walk through the level bonus souvenir, preventing the player from collecting all the souvenirs in the game. Since this bug occurs, it is impossible for the player to complete the game and witness the proper ending for the game.

Trivia

Scenes from this game are featured in the music video for Mouse On Mars' song "Twift Shoeblade". [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HO1cBHBerUY]

External links

*MobyGames|id=/space-station-silicon-valley|name="Space Station Silicon Valley"