Moon Diver
{{Short description|2011 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Moon Diver
| image = Moon Diver logo.png
| caption = Moon Diver logo
| developer = feelplus
| publisher = Square Enix
| producer = Andou Takehiro
| director = Koichi Yotsui
| released = PSN
{{vgrelease|JP/NA|March 29, 2011|PAL|March 30, 2011{{cite web | url=https://www.engadget.com/2011-03-08-moon-diver-strides-to-psn-march-29.html | title=Moon Diver strides to PSN March 29 | last=Fletcher | first=J.C. | date=March 8, 2011 | website=Engadget (Joystiq) | publisher=Yahoo | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110312014935/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/08/moon-diver-strides-to-psn-march-29/ | archivedate=March 12, 2011 | url-status=live | accessdate=March 6, 2023}}}}XBLA
May 4, 2011{{cite web | url=https://www.destructoid.com/square-enix-drops-moon-diver-on-xbla-today/ | title=Square Enix Drops Moon Diver on XBLA Today | last=North | first=Dale | date=May 4, 2011 | website=Destructoid | publisher=Gamurs | accessdate=March 6, 2023}}
| genre = Side-scroller, platformer
| modes = Single-player, multiplayer
| platforms = PlayStation Network, Xbox Live Arcade
}}
{{nihongo|Moon Diver|ムーンダイバー|Mūndaibā}}, formerly known as Necromachina, is a side-scrolling platforming video game developed by feelplus{{cite magazine | url=https://www.famitsu.com/game/coming/1236150_1407.html | title=『MOON DIVER(ムーンダイバー)』近未来忍者アクションが登場 | language=ja | date=June 21, 2010 | magazine=Famitsu | publisher=Enterbrain | accessdate=October 29, 2010}} and published by Square Enix. It was released in 2011 for the PlayStation Network in March, and for the Xbox Live Arcade on May 4.
Plot
{{cleanup rewrite|section=yes|date=September 2013}}
It is the dawn of the 22nd century on the third planet from the sun. Humanity, broken free from its eschatological thralls, now watches as a lone boy stands before it. Within his hands, he controls the power of Mephistopheles – a force which can breathe life into that which has none. Animated machines devour the helpless; buildings shower the streets with storms of glass; cups, trains, bridges, whole towns – the remnants of civilization are transformed into bloodthirsty beasts whose only purpose is to wield the hammer of judgment.
The boy's name is Faust, and he will not stop until he has cleansed the planet of humankind and claimed it as his own. Centuries have passed since his advent, and the world now holds its breath as the End of Days draws ever closer, yet hope is not lost. Hidden among humanity's last remaining survivors, an elite unit of specially trained ninja known as Moondivers have been lying in wait for orders from their Shogun to embark on one final mission to reclaim the planet. Today, those orders arrived.
Development
Koichi Yotsui directed the four-player side-scroller, with gameplay reminiscent of the Strider game series, which was also helmed by Yotsui.{{cite web | url=https://www.eurogamer.net/father-of-strider-talks-moon-diver | title='Father' of Strider talks Moon Diver | last=Yin-Poole | first=Wesley | date=March 30, 2011 | website=Eurogamer | publisher=Gamer Network | accessdate=March 6, 2023}}
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| PS3 = true
| X360 = true
| na = true
| MC_PS3 = 60/100{{cite web | url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/moon-diver/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-3 |title=Moon Diver for PlayStation 3 Reviews | website=Metacritic | publisher=Fandom}}
| GI_PS3 = 7.25/10{{cite magazine | url=https://www.gameinformer.com/games/moon_diver/b/ps3/archive/2011/04/04/moon-diver-review-feelplus-falls-just-short-of-the-strider-legacy.aspx | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110407071921/http://www.gameinformer.com/games/moon_diver/b/ps3/archive/2011/04/04/moon-diver-review-feelplus-falls-just-short-of-the-strider-legacy.aspx | url-status=live | archive-date=April 7, 2011 | title=Moon Diver Review (PS3) | last=Vore | first=Bryan | date=April 4, 2011 | magazine=Game Informer | publisher=GameStop | access-date=March 6, 2023}}
| GamePro_PS3 = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine | url=http://www.gamepro.com/article/reviews/218667/review-moon-diver-psn/ | title=Review: Moon Diver (PSN) | last=Wolinsky | first=David | date=March 30, 2011 | magazine=GamePro | publisher=GamePro Media | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110402042457/http://www.gamepro.com/article/reviews/218667/review-moon-diver-psn/ | archivedate=April 2, 2011 | accessdate=March 6, 2023}}
| GSpot_PS3 = 6.5/10{{cite web | url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/moon-diver-review/1900-6307856/ | title=Moon Diver Review (PS3) | last=Johnson | first=Jeremiah | date=April 11, 2011 | website=GameSpot | publisher=Fandom | accessdate=March 6, 2023}}
| IGN_PS3 = 7/10{{cite web | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2011/04/04/moon-diver-review-2 | title=Moon Diver Review (PS3) | last=Moriarty | first=Colin | date=April 4, 2011 | website=IGN | publisher=Ziff Davis | accessdate=March 6, 2023}}
| OXM_X360 = 4.5/10{{cite magazine | url=http://www.oxmonline.com/article/reviews/xbox-live-arcade/m-r/moon-diver | title=Moon Diver | last=Lewis | first=Cameron | magazine=Official Xbox Magazine | publisher=Future US | date=May 2011 | page=71 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510122802/http://www.oxmonline.com/article/reviews/xbox-live-arcade/m-r/moon-diver | archivedate=2011-05-10 | accessdate=March 6, 2023}}
| PSM_PS3 = 5/10{{cite magazine | title=Review: Moon Diver | magazine=PlayStation: The Official Magazine | publisher=Future plc | issue=46 | date=June 2011 | page=75}}
| rev1 = 411Mania
| rev2 = Metro
| rev2_PS3 = 6/10{{cite news | url=https://metro.co.uk/2011/04/04/moon-diver-review-648461/ | title=Moon Diver review – platforming for four (PS3) | last=Hargreaves | first=Roger | date=April 4, 2011 | newspaper=Metro | publisher=DMG Media | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110406121734/http://www.metro.co.uk/tech/games/859946-moon-diver-review-platforming-for-four | archivedate=April 6, 2011 | url-status=live | accessdate=March 6, 2023}}
}}
The game received "mixed" reviews on both platforms according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. IGN called it fun but inconsistent and flawed. Official Xbox Magazine praised the co-op mode but criticized the unnecessary long stages and called the solo mode a hopeless grind. Game Informer said that the multiplayer component was more enjoyable and polished than the single player.
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References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{moby game|id=/87041/moon-diver/}}
Category:Cooperative video games
Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games
Category:PlayStation Network games
Category:Side-scrolling role-playing video games
Category:Side-scrolling video games
Category:Video games about ninja
Category:Video games developed in Japan
Category:Video games featuring female protagonists
Category:Video games set in Spain
Category:Video games set in the 22nd century
Category:Video games set in the United States