FantaVision

Infobox VG
title = FantaVision


developer = SCEI
publisher = Sony Computer Entertainment
designer =
engine = Kinetica
released = flagicon|United States October 26, 2000
flagicon|EU November 24, 2000
genre = Puzzle
modes = Single player, multiplayer
ratings = ESRB: Everyone (E)
platforms = PlayStation 2
media = DVD
requirements =
input = DualShock 2
picture format = 480i (SDTV)

"FantaVision" is a PlayStation 2 launch title from Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. It is a real-time puzzle game involving fireworks. It relies on quick colour matching and symbol recognition skills.

FantaVision was at first a test to show the power of the PlayStation 2, but it surprised many as something that actually could be a game, resulting in its release.

Gameplay

In this title, fireworks or "flares" are launched onto the screen, where they hover for a period of time before disappearing. The player controls the direction of a "guideline" ray extending from the circular cursor which allows a flare along the ray to be "captured". The goal is to string together three or more flares of the same colour, and then detonate the flares. More points can be scored by creating a chain reaction, by causing new flares to touch the sparks of detonated flares of the same colour, and by creating a "daisy chain", which allows flares of multiple colours to be detonated at the same time. Flares not detonated within a certain period of time are considered "missed flares", and cause a "Play Meter" on screen to decrease; the game ends when the Play Meter is empty.

tages

During each level or stage, the camera slowly floats through a darkened environment which serves as the backdrop against which gameplay takes place. There are a total of eight stages in four areas.

tarmines

In addition to normal fireworks / flares which can be detonated, white "stars" periodically appear during play. These can be captured and detonated along with an existing set of three or more flares. For each star captured in this fashion, the player earns a letter of the word "Starmine". After collecting all eight letters, a large glowing "Starmine" is launched onto the screen. If the player captures it and detonates it with at least three colored flares, a time-limited bonus mode is entered where a large number of fireworks appear at a rapid pace. The more flares detonated along with the Starmine, the longer the bonus mode lasts.

Versus mode

A two-player versus mode is also in the game. In the mode, players frantically detonate fireworks in a race to a preset total of detonated flares. In this mode, there are additional power-ups which can be captured and detonated to either increase the size of the play area (while decreasing that of the opponent), or switch play areas and undetonated fireworks with the opponent. By using these mechanisms, it is possible to steal flares intended for the opponent's side of the screen, including during an opponent's Starmine bonus.

Trivia

* The US launch version of this title does not properly support the TOSLINK optical audio output of the PlayStation 2. Instead, audio is output only over the standard analog stereo connections.

* The music played during the game differs between the Japanese, US and European versions. The music from the Japanese version consists of elevator music, while the US version uses a mix of techno and new age music, and the European version contains mostly dance music.

* The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa uses FantaVision in the cognitive neuroscience lab of the Psychology Department. Participants in the study play FantaVision and run computer tasks. The research hopes to find a transfer of skill in perceptual task performance.

External links

* [http://www.us.playstation.com/Content/OGS/SCUS-97105/Site/ "FantaVision" Official Site]
* [http://ps2.ign.com/objects/013/013857.html "FantaVision" at IGN]