Project Sylpheed demo on Live

By Tom Bramwell Published 15 June, 2007

Shoot up.

Square Enix and Microsoft's sci-fi shooter Project Sylpheed has popped up on Xbox Live Marketplace in demo form, all set to occupy 613MB of friendly space.

Due out in the US on 10th July and listed by UK retailers for 29th June, Project Sylpheed is a Game Arts-developed single-player shoot-'em-up with a noisy website.

The demo features a tutorial and an intro trailer followed by an entire mission from the full game.

Which, as you might have gathered, we know relatively little about. Microsoft hasn't released much information, despite the game having been out in Japan since September.

What we do know is that you'll pilot a ship in 3D space, barrel-roll and fire lock-on weapons that can overheat if you use them too much, with a Halo-style rechargeable shield to protect you from teh ailerons!

If you've downloaded the demo, why not tell us all what you think? We know you're dying to.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (56) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • sambo_nz #1 5 years ago

    It's fantastic (imho). I've got a real craving for some 'next gen-ish' shmups at the moment, and this has the jamanga style and eye-bleeding particle effects to definitely tie me over until I can get my hands on a copy of Ikaruga.

    I highly suggest actually going through the tutorial missions to get the most out of it.

    Think of this perhaps in the same vein as EDF2017, but slicker and with 100x the production values, and from a Wing Commander / Privateer / Ace Combat perspective.
    Great cutscenes too.

    (Speaking of Ikaruga - anyone got any updates on whether it's coming to Live or not still?)

  • AaronTurner #2 5 years ago

    Microsoft are such cunts when it comes to webpages, they never work in Firefox.

  • DUFFKING #3 5 years ago

    This was the fastest download i've ever had. Probably because it was 1PM yesterday.

    600MB in 15 minutes? I'll have some of that.

  • morriss #4 5 years ago

    Any good Duffking?

  • sambo_nz #5 5 years ago

    Duffking - yes I noticed that as well. Thought it was odd (good, but odd) as I set it up and went away to do other things, then before I had a chance to log into an MMO I heard the achievement sound come from the lounge.. and there it was.

    Would love to know why, exactly.

  • sambo_nz #6 5 years ago

    Anyone wanting to see footage of it can do so here:
    [link url=http ://www.gametrailers.com/gamepage.php?id=2999
    ]http://ww w.gametrailers.com/gamepage.php...[/link]

    ..with footage of the *actual* Xbox Live demo here:
    http://ww w.gametrailers.com/umwatcher.ph...

  • sambo_nz #7 5 years ago

    ..and for a great walkthrough of all the features, from the developer:
    http://ww w.gametrailers.com/umwatcher.ph...

  • Dizzy #8 5 years ago

    Ooo.. 3D space combat? That has been a while since we played something like this. Will have to try it.

  • Xerx3s #9 5 years ago

    I think it's shite. Graphics aren't that much better than the stuff we had years ago on the pc and it's absolutely cluttered! Enemies seem to appear out of nowhere faster than you can kill them and you have no idea what's going on because of a sea of unidentified interface items. Basically:

    I had a hard time separating enemies from friends.

    There is better stuff out there right now (freespace to start with) that doesn't make the battlefield a confusing mess.

    600mb in 15 minutes; that's kinda slow isn't it?
    Edited by 1 at 15/06/07 @ 08:55

  • Xerx3s #10 5 years ago

    Microsoft are such cunts when it comes to webpages, they never work in Firefox.

    Links? I use ff and I have no problems.

  • Moz #11 5 years ago

    just watched intro and I already want the game.

    EDIT/ Now I've played it, and I must say i'm somewhat dissapointed!! You can't see what's going on and while the frame rate would apear to be find the other ships stutter and jump all over the place as though you were playing online with a slow internet connection!!

    I must say i'm bumbed, used to have so much fun with XvT and XWAlliance and nothing has come close since
    Edited by 1 at 15/06/07 @ 09:24

  • sambo_nz #12 5 years ago

    erm Xerx3s:
    actually run through the tutorial missions, moron.
    everything is explained in full..

    (and just a small reminder - the Xbox360 is a *console*.. shock horror!)

    But again, anyone got any news on Ikaruga coming to XBLA like was suggested back in February?

  • morriss #13 5 years ago

    No need to insult people is there?

  • sambo_nz #14 5 years ago

    morriss - re-read the guy's post.
    'insulting' him is the most politically correct (and legal) course of action for a tard like him.

    and just to be clear:

    Xerx3s, you're a fkn moron.

  • symmetry #15 5 years ago

    Whoa, chill dude. It's not like he just insulted your family or anything.

    Actually, it's Friday evening where you are right? Have you been on the juice already? :)

  • Moz #16 5 years ago

    sambo_nz I just played the demo, including doing the tutorial and agree with Xerx3s

    Go play XvT (which is over 10 years old now!) And see the difference.

    Sylpheed is just yerky, clutter and unclear. And the controlles suck!

  • Mr_V #17 5 years ago

    Funny how, whenever there's a game I've been breathlessly waiting for for months, Eurogamer "doesn't know much about it". I'm beginning to suspect our gaming tastes differ. :-)

    So yes, nice to see a space sim/shooter done in today's tech. But be warned, this is more Colony Wars than I-War. Still, a definite buy.

    (Working through the tutorial is a must if you want to have the least clue as to what's going on in the mission.)

  • SwedBear #18 5 years ago

    sambo_nz:
    I really like the demo but come on - Xerx3s has every right to express his dissapointment without being flamed. Don't be an asshole.

    I feel that this mission is a mission you probably get after playing the game for some while. So you get thrown into it quite abrubtely. I found the tutorials perfect for telling me how things work and while it certainly is chaos i had no real problems sending my wingmen to target the big ships while dealing with the smaller ships and vice versa.

    I kind of also feel that the chaos feel is fitting. This is how I expect a huge fight in space to be. I've watched to may Battlestar Galactica episodes I think, but I get the same feeling as there - ships flying around everywhere - lots of things happening - you having to try to find targets and stay with them.

    I got a nice XvT/Freespace/Wing Commander wibe which is why I am getting it. I agree that Freespace problably was better but since it's not on the 360 - it doesn't help much.

  • Macross #19 5 years ago

    Guys I think Sambo was a bit harsh but I can see his point of view, something that you are excited about and enthused by and then someone comes along without so much as a blink says its utter shite and crap in to be honest quite a trollish fashion (valid or not). youd be pissed off with him too.

    I think Xerx3s needs a lesson in tact, and sambo needs to chill out :)

  • tesco #20 5 years ago

    Find it hard to find any redeeming features.
    what a messy, tedious, awful game.
    So repetitive, feeels like heatseeker on the wii.
    I'll be surrised if Eurogamer give this any more than a 5 if the demo is anything to go by.
    Still, its Japanese, so i'm sure there will be plenty of people who bum it even if it is shite.

  • Xerx3s #21 5 years ago

    actually run through the tutorial missions, moron.

    I did. This game just features bad interface design. And thanks for the insult.

    Xerx3s, you're a fkn moron.

    Ah yes. It really shows that your argument is so much better than mine. Bravo.

    I think Xerx3s needs a lesson in tact, and sambo needs to chill out :)

    Maybe I need that, never the less: He should defeat me with arguments not insults. The problem however is: There are so many space shooters that defined how an interface should be done properly, there really is no excuse for this poorly designed thing.

    Edit: beating the grammar gestapo to it.
    Edited by 1 at 15/06/07 @ 10:15

  • geepersd #22 5 years ago

    considering how much I really really want a good update / remake of old Atari game Star Raiders and Battle Engine Aquila and that Silpheed is a damn fine Mega CD game I was surprisingly underwhelmed by this. I deleted it to make room for DiRT in the end.

    Anyone else played the Zegapain demo from the jp marketplace? - kinda similar I thought... anyway

  • The-Bodybuilder #23 5 years ago

    I see.....I see 6/10 for this.

  • Xerx3s #24 5 years ago

    That would be....merciful.

  • sambo_nz #25 5 years ago

    oooh sensitive bunch, you poms.
    thought i'd mistakenly logged into a FRENCH site.

    why on earth do any of you think i need to chill? i don't recall typing in caps, or using a plethora of exclamation marks.
    i simply noted that, a member here *stated* that there are 'better' games out there, based upon the fact he couldn't decipher this game (re-read his post).
    then he goes on to troll bout his d/l speeds..

    the guy isn't a moron. hes a fucktardmoron. he's not simply 'expressing his disappointment', he's being a cockwit.

    sorry if my Australian bullish-ness offends your gentle pommy sensibilities.
    welcome to Teh Intehnets.

    watch the videos i posted before you download it, if you are not sure whether a genre called 'shoot em up' is not your cup of tea.

    < /carefactor >
    Edited by 1 at 15/06/07 @ 10:38

  • peteb #26 5 years ago

    is there an Aussiegamer.net ?

  • menage #27 5 years ago

    "Silpheed is a damn fine Mega CD game "

    MMM, I don't know about that. wasn't it just a kind of Galaga with fancy backgrounds (which looked way better in the hyped screenshots then the actual game, I remember the planet level moving at 5 frames a second in the background).

    It was Sega';s answer to Nintendo's Starfox. I'd pick SF any day of the week.

    I do have an interest in this new version, I'll check the demo this night. I like Japanese crap like this.

  • DUFFKING #28 5 years ago

    "Any good Duffking?"

    Yeah, it's decent. Tutorials are a must and it's a little tough to get the hang of the controls. It's certainly very hectic and there's loads going on, looks nice too but the framerate does take a hit sometimes. Prety exciting to play but it probably won't be to everyone's taste.

  • sambo_nz #29 5 years ago

    hey Richard 'anjin' Usher: racism?? lol
    way to go Mr Sensationalist. you need to get out more, Dick.

  • peteb #30 5 years ago

    @anjin

    Isn't the ignore poster button wonderful!

    i dunno, its kinda funny watching someone get so worked up

  • geepersd #31 5 years ago

    @ menage - I may be guilty of viewing Silpheed with some rose tinting as it made a change from sprite scaling, FMV and Laserdisc games that were the Mega CD's stock in trade.

    and I might give this demo another try as I want to like it

  • Macross #32 5 years ago

    lol well i for one am gonna sit this out from now on, its made the morning more interesting from the usual friday tedium anyway! :)

    Il download the demo and give it a blast when I get home, as I like the genre!

    edit: one more 2p worth first ... when was he racist? honestly chill out with the stress levels guys, whatever happened to "sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me"?
    Edited by 1 at 15/06/07 @ 11:17

  • Xerx3s #33 5 years ago

    sambo_nz: Oh dear. I hope that you will one day turn out alright.

  • menage #34 5 years ago

    @ geepersd

    He, you a right about that, I even convinced myself in the befginning that it was awesome, but then I realized it wasn't. The Mega CD had some awful games though, so in comparisson it was pretty good. Shame that the best game on the system was just a very big megadrive Sonic with cool music and no fancy effects at all. Come to think of it, every game on that system that was any good could've easely been done on a megadrive (bar the music. and some small fx)

    Lunar 2! rocked though.
    Edited by 1 at 15/06/07 @ 11:46

  • NegativeZero #35 5 years ago

    The framerate's not going to get any better either, the game's been done for nearly a year.

    This has to be one of the most painfully awful english dubs I've heard in a while. Quite a departure from the quality of Squenix's localisations of late.

    I was pretty interested in the game, but to be honest after playing with the demo for a bit, I don't think I'll bother. As other people have pointed out, it feels very cluttered. My main gripe was with enemies appearing and it really not being made obvious. I guess I'm mentally comparing it against TIE Fighter, which is still IMO the best overall example of this style of game.

  • thinktank #36 5 years ago

    "sorry if my Australian bullish-ness offends your gentle pommy sensibilities"

    Your posting a comment on a video game website and offending people across the other side of the world who you are very unlikely to ever meet.

    Very "bullish", im impressed.

    (did you spot my pommy sacrasm there?)

  • Xerx3s #37 5 years ago

    Yeh, its about time someone did a new fs game. It has been so long since we had that kind of quality.

  • Penguinzoot #38 5 years ago

    Yep, Freespace was really good, but Xwing/TIE games hold a special place in my gaming heart.

    /fondly remembers

    Actually, I would love an updated XWing with TIEs improved mission structures etc.

    /puts on wish list

  • JayPee #39 5 years ago

    I have to say sambo, you have managed to come across as a bit of a tosser. If that makes you happy I'm happy for you. In his original post xerx3s did not say "this game is shit" he said "I think this game is shit. There is absolutley no way he can be wrong, what with assholes being like opinions and all.

    TBH your "welcome to the internets" comment in a later post does piss me off somewhat, as I do belive we should try to minimise the anonymous name-calling and abusive commentary that can be found at will on the internet, instead of just accepting it and letting it continue. Eurogamer has (on the whole) been pretty good as discussion forums go, and I hope it continues to be this way. Obviously you have different ideas. Not a problem, but I do think you're wrong.

    Anyway, back to the game. Will be trying it out when I get away from the hell called work. Been out of the loop on the space combat sims of late. It's hard to complain really - it's a demo, thus free, thus even if I don't like it at's all good as I got to try it first and not waste my money.

  • sambo_nz #40 5 years ago

    /bow

  • JayPee #41 5 years ago

    I'm glad that you have so much to do on a Friday evening.

  • sambo_nz #42 5 years ago

    spoken like the true Kameo player you are, Jimmy.
    (kudos for figuring out that it's the evening over here in Australia though)

    and what, prey tell, is it that you are doing that is so much more productive than I?
    (for the record, i'm still at work. a night of music, women, alcohol and other mind-altering ingredients awaits.. it's called The Outside, Jimboy. You should try it one day, if you can rip yourself away from trying to angle the in-game camera to see up Kameo's skirt..)

  • RexRunti #43 5 years ago

    Well looking at the comments on here I'll definetly download it tonight. And considering there has been only one remotely decent space fighter in the ten years or so since Freespace 2 (Starlancer) buying games like this should increase the market and perhaps we'll get a Freespace 3 or X-Wing vs TIE Fighter 2

    Edit: For the record I like Kameo
    Edited by 1 at 15/06/07 @ 13:02

  • sambo_nz #44 5 years ago

    @ thinktank:

    "(did you spot my pommy sacrasm there?) "
    yes i sure did Mick. awesome sacrasm (sic).

    i also spotted it in your profile:
    "Newcastle aka 'Party City', United Kingdom"


    /bored now. night all. =)

  • JayPee #45 5 years ago

    I'm stuck at work too.

    My company does a lot of stuff internationally, so that's how I figured out it was evening there.

    You must have a wicked job to still be at work at 8pm or whatever zone you're in.

    I am glad you have a great evening planned. It must distract you from the utter tosser it seems you become when you go on-line.

  • Xerx3s #46 5 years ago

    And the insults continue. France, Australia and some here...all in one thread. I think you managed to break a new record there. Keep it up.

  • Machetazo #47 5 years ago

    Swedbear wrote: "I feel that this mission is a mission you probably get after playing the game for some while. So you get thrown into it quite abrubtely."

    I thought that, as well. It seemed the most rational explanation for all those unlocks before I'd even left space-port, lol. It certainly accounted for the mayhem, too.

    Has anyone found an effective use for "Padlock" view? How can you fight effectively from that bizarre perspective? (In my case, during the tutorial, camera locked below the fuselage, with the target at eleven o' clock...)

  • Xerx3s #48 5 years ago

    It IS a mission from later on, it says so in the demo.

  • davisorle #49 5 years ago

    Guys is it actually good? or not even try downloading it?

  • Xerx3s #50 5 years ago

    See for yourself. It's free.

  • Machetazo #51 5 years ago

    davisorle: It's definitely worth at least downloading, if you're interested enough so far, to do so. It's put together well, has no real technical issues, and is a good, if frantic space shooter. Run through the tutorials, then see if it's for you, or not.

  • Xerx3s #52 5 years ago

    At worst you loose an hour or so.

  • Xerx3s #53 5 years ago

    Had no problems like tearing or framerate.

  • ProtoformX #54 5 years ago

    I've just played this and I'm pretty disappointed too. I played through the tutorials and was really impressed because the game has a lot of depth to it. But then I just couldn't get the hang of the actual mission. How the hell do you take on those green cruisers? The second I turn my attention to them, *snaps fingers* my shield is gone and I have to go repair. I used the ramming special move and asking my wingmen to attack the thing to but no luck. It's a bit of a shame because I can see why it could be a good game, but I just don't have the patience for a game where there first mission is that tricky. Oh and yeah, it's too cluttered IMO too.

  • scummyhawker #55 5 years ago

    Use the torpedo beam weapon - grey head, something like that. Charge it to full, line up a hardpoint, then launch. Switch to the 120mm cannon or rockets and strafe the hardpoints as you fly by. Once you've got a fair bit of distance, repeat. Take down the destroyers before the 2 large cruisers.

    I'm the opposite, this demo has knocked me for 6, I can't wait for the full game.

  • davisorle #56 5 years ago

    @Xerx3s
    "See for yourself. It's free."

    DUH. You wasted time on posting this so smart of an answer and you couldnt just say your opinion? for asking if its good or not instead of seeing for myself there mast be and actual reason. &%*&$#@ smartass. Be usefull for once.

    @Machetazo

    Thanks a lot man. Then I think its worth checking out for myself. :) Thanks again ( Hope I can do so by tonight )