Apidya

Kaiko

Company type	Private
Industry	Video game development
Founded	1991
Founder	Thomas Hertzler, Lothar Schmitt
Headquarters	Germany
Area served	Europe, International (under different publishing names)
Key people	Thomas Hertzler, Lothar Schmitt, Peter Thierolf, Kai Teuber, Matthias Enzmann, Frank Matzke, Rudolf Stember, Ralf Leonhardt
Products	Apidya, The Adventures of Quik & Silva, Metal Law, Super Gem'Z

Apidya (known in Japanese as ) is a side-scrolling shoot 'em up developed by the German company Kaiko and published by Blue Byte (under the Play Byte label) in 1992 for the Amiga platform. The title was also distributed through the disk magazine Amiga Spiele Disc and later reissued as a budget release by Team17 in 1994.

Gameplay

This title is a side-scrolling shooter reminiscent of traditional shoot 'em ups. The narrative centers on Ikuro, who transforms into a lethal bee to obtain an antidote for his poisoned wife Yuri and to exact vengeance on Hexaä, a sorcerer wielding dark magic.

Players assume control of Ikuro in his bee form, firing projectiles to eliminate foes. The game employs a power-up bar mechanic inspired by Gradius, where defeated enemies drop red and yellow flowers that trigger weapon enhancements and new abilities. Additionally, there is a charged weapon similar to the 'beam' from R-Type—after accumulating enough energy, the bee can unleash a powerful stinger shot capable of clearing enemy waves or inflicting significant damage on bosses.

When struck by enemy attacks or environmental hazards, the player loses a life and restarts the current stage, except for early boss encounters that remain active until all lives are depleted. A cooperative two-player mode allows the second participant to control a smaller drone that provides both offensive fire and defensive shielding but has limited endurance; progression depends on the survival of the main bee. There is also an alternating two-player option.

The game features five distinct environments: meadow, pond, sewer populated with mutated creatures, a bio-mechanical facility, and a final area consisting of five boss battles. Each environment is segmented into stages generally culminating in a boss fight that only resets upon losing all credits. Secret bonus stages offer additional gameplay variety. Early levels showcase natural wildlife, while later ones introduce mutants and mechanical adversaries. In the "Techno Party" level, the bee temporarily gains mechanized abilities. The initial boss is notable for being invulnerable until it exits the screen.

There are four difficulty levels; selecting "easy" bypasses the final stage and ending sequence, leading directly to the credits.

Development

Development of Apidya commenced in 1991 following the success of Gem'X. The project was produced by Thomas Hertzler and Lothar Schmitt, with programming handled by Peter Thierolf, Kai Teuber, and Matthias Enzmann, while Frank Matzke, Rudolf Stember, and Ralf Leonhardt were responsible for graphics. Originally envisioned as a space shooter under the working title Beyond the Planet, the concept evolved into an insect-themed game inspired by Matzke’s fascination with flora and insects. The title "Apidya" is derived from the Greek term "Hexapoda", which denotes six-legged insects. Anime-style intro and ending sequences reflect Matzke's interest in manga. Despite including "II" in its title, this was not a sequel but rather an intentional playful element.

Kaiko encountered financial challenges during production and developed covermount games such as The Adventures of Quik & Silva, Metal Law, and Super Gem'Z to finance completion. The game was self-published within Europe, while international versions were released under the name A.U.D.I.O.S (Art Under Design, Imaginations Of Sound). Although an Atari ST version was planned, it never reached completion. The 1994 budget edition featured cover artwork created by Kevin Jenkins.

The soundtrack was composed by Chris Huelsbeck and issued as a CD album in 1992. Notably, the music from level 4 incorporates samples from L.A. Style's track James Brown Is Dead.

Apidya’s music has been showcased live on several occasions:

• In 2003, a symphony orchestra performed an Apidya suite during the Symphonic Game Music Concert series held in Leipzig.
• The game’s music was featured at Stockholm’s Play! A Video Game Symphony concert in 2006.
• In 2008, tracks from Apidya were performed by the WDR Funkhausorchester at Symphonic Shades – Hülsbeck in Concert, with recordings released on album.
• The soundtrack appeared on the 2020 compilation titled Amiga Power: The Album with Attitude.
• In 2017, it was included on the tribute album Project Paula: Amiga, performed and mixed by Volkor X.

Reception

The title garnered considerable acclaim as a prominent example within the shoot 'em up category. In 1992, Amiga Power praised its exceptional gameplay, assigning it a score of 89%. Similarly, Amiga Format awarded it a 90% rating, underscoring its favorable critical response.

Legacy

In 2002, an unofficial remake of Apidya's initial stage was created for Windows, followed by a technical demonstration for the Game Boy Advance in 2007. Although neither project was fully realized, they reflected sustained enthusiasm for the game.

External links

• Apidya on Lemon Amiga
• Apidya on Hall of Light