During gaming’s golden 16-bit era, Sega released a side-scrolling action-platformer called Vectorman. Players take control of an “orbot” (robot composed of orbs) aptly named Vectorman, with the task of cleaning up Earth and making it habitable again after it has been transformed and polluted by other orbots that have gone insane. Enter Vectorman, a game that had a strikingly unique visual style, smooth action packed gameplay, and a stand out soundtrack that earned it both commercial and critical success when it was released in 1995.

What should change:

Graphical update – Sonic’s Ultimate Gems Collection (Which Vectorman was part of) gave players the choice of playing the compiled titles in their unadulterated original form, or in widescreen. Furthermore, the game also included a “smoothing” option that would essentially “clean up” the graphics so they look better on today’s higher resolution televisions. If Vectorman were to be released on XBLA, the least Sega could do is include these options in the digital download version. Alternatively, a full high definition re-master would be that much better and mark the first time Vectorman would ever been released in HD.

Black bars – Look at any screenshot of Vectorman in action and something will jump out at you; black bars. Along the bottom and left hand side of your display are black bars that contain information such as your number of lives and a timer. Back then, this was a way for developers to provide players with information. In the sixteen years since Vectorman’s release however, user interfaces have come a long way. Sega should either remove the bars altogether and give the game a more eye pleasing UI, or re-work the current one by cleaning it up and bringing it forward a few generations.

What should stay the same:

Graphical style – One of the things that made Vectorman stand out from the crowd when it was released was its graphical style. Using pre-rendered 3D models, the game deployed a graphical approach comparable to Donkey Kong Country or Killer Instinct from Rare and Nintendo. On top of the engine itself, the game just looked unique, period. Set in a future where science and pollution have altered the world, Vectorman just had special look about it. Maybe it was the color palette, maybe it was the technology employed, or maybe it was the setting but to put it plainly, Vectorman is one of those game’s that you’ll recognize twenty years down the road.

Soundtrack – Like its visuals, the soundtrack of Vectorman was unique, well done, and helped create the vibe of the futuristic universe, something that wasn’t really easy to do in 1995. The game’s soundtrack was praised universally by both gamers and critics alike. On the effects side, the game’s sound also holds up very well. The sound of Vectorman shooting, hitting his head, and jumping are just a few that come to mind. It’s amazing how just a few sounds can fill players with feelings nostalgia and joy sixteen years after release. If Vectorman does see release on XBLA, not a single thing needs to be changed about the way the game sounds.

Gameplay – What makes Vectorman a great game is the same thing that is at the core of any triple-A title; The gameplay. The game’s unique visual style and classic soundtrack create a compelling universe, but what ties it all together is the gameplay itself. At its heart, Vectorman is a fast paced side-scrolling action-platformer. You’ll be running around, jumping about collecting white thingy-ma-bobs, and of course shooting every corrupted robot that gets in your way. It’s a good thing Vectorman comes with a weapon built into his hand! You’ll find various weapon power ups throughout the game but what really makes Vectorman a unique character is his ability to transform. Throughout the game you’ll transform into things like drills and bombs that occur on the fly as part of the gameplay. Transforming not only looks and feels cool, it’s an important part of “becoming” Vectorman and progressing through the game.

Why it would succeed:

Vectorman is one of the best games ever released for the Sega Genesis. That’s saying a lot. While Vectorman as a character might not be as iconic as Sonic or Knuckles, both Vectorman and Vectorman 2 are games that should not be forgotten. Sega knows this, and that’s why they have released Vectorman as part of several compilation titles such as Sega Genesis Collection for the PlayStation 2 and Sonic’s Ultimate Genesis Collection for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. It is also available for download on the Wii’s Virtual Console. Until it is released Xbox Live Arcade however, Sega will not have done the game justice. Vectorman is a timeless classic that belongs on Xbox Live Arcade, where both long time fans and a new generation of gamers can discover the greatness it has to offer.