Space Hulk (computer game)

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Space Hulk
Image:http://www.mobygames.com/images/covers/large/1021589281-00.jpg
Developer(s)	Electronic Arts
Publisher(s)	Electronic Arts
Release date(s)	1993
Genre(s)	First-person shooter, Real-time tactics
Mode(s)	Single player
Rating(s)	N/A
Platform(s)	DOS, Amiga Sega Saturn
Media	Diskette, CD-ROM
System requirements	486 66 MHz 16 MB for DOS
Input	Keyboard and mouse
Arcade sound system(s)	Jason Whitely

Space Hulk is a first-person shooter/strategy computer game based upon the board game of the same name, Space Hulk, and it also incorporated elements from the Deathwing expansion. Unlike the tabletop counterpart, the computer game did not allow control of Genestealers. The game development was started in 1991, and the game was released in 1993 by Electronic Arts for DOS and the Amiga.

The game was one of the first first person shooters, with the following restrictions:

The Terminators, the unit controlled by the player, were only able to turn in 90 degree angles
The Terminators had a restricted number of movements they could perform per turn (much as in the boardgame)
The player had to control up to a maximum of ten units, five per squad.
The Terminators moved independently after 'Freezetime' was over.
The player was able to take control over one of the units to handle the movements and usage of weaponery themselves.
Because of these restrictions the game was not a "real" first-person shooter compared to other true examples like Wolfenstein 3D.

The game sported two time-modes known as "Realtime" and "Freezetime". Realtime was a mode in which the units moved and used their weapons, while Genestealers could roam and attack in close combat. Freezetime was a mode in which the player could plan his strategy and point the Terminators to differents locations or actions. Freezetime was about sixty seconds of time which would run out. After the sixty seconds were over, the game would swich to Realtime in which the units would carry out their orders. By taking control of a specific Terminator the player could influence the cause of action.

During Realtime, the Freezetime timer would replennish and after two minutes the player could Freezetime the game again. This special feature seriously added to the game's atmosphere which was very much like the feature movie Aliens.

With this set of rules the player had to carry out several missions to exterminate the Genestealer infestation on the Space Hulk. Weaponry was the same as in the tabletop game.

[edit] Technical aspects

For the PC version, the game has 256 colors and 320x200 pixels resolution. Notable for its day was digitized speech and sound effects for the PC speaker.

[edit] References

The One Amiga, feb/199?, page 30 (cant remember 1990 or 1991)

[edit] External links

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