G-Police
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| G-Police | |
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| Developer(s) | Psygnosis Wheelhaus |
| Publisher(s) | Psygnosis SCEE |
| Release date(s) |  November 4, 1997 |
| Genre(s) | Action |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
| Rating(s) | USK: 12+ ELSPA: 3+ |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation, Microsoft Windows |
| Media | 2 CD-ROMs (PS1) 1 CD-ROM (WIN) |
G-Police is a vehicle-based shooter developed by Psygnosis and Wheelhaus and published by Psygnosis in 1997 for the PlayStation and the PC[1][2]. Set in the year 2097, the player takes the role of a "Havoc" Gunship pilot named Slater who joins the titular G-Police after the death of his sister. Believing her murder was covered up, he manages to get himself into her old unit to uncover the truth.
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[edit] Plot
[edit] Backstory
In 2057, Earth's resources are completely depleted. A race to claim every ore-bearing rock in the solar system begins. By 2079, tension grows as opposing nations compete for ever-declining resources and expand their military capabilities in space.
In 2085, EuroFed deep space survey ship Argo is impounded by SDR-AF coalition forces. Three ships are destroyed in the ensuing police action. Negotiations fail and war breaks out. Fighting continues until 2087, when the final fleet action takes place at Nereus Harbor, orbiting Neptune. Within days the battle is finished. Damaged and badly irradiated, the flagship Damocles is the only cruiser to survive the conflict. The war is over. Powerful multi-national corporations unite to take control and restore order to the tatters of society. With little remaining military or financial resources, Earth's governments are stripped of their powers and are forced to demilitarise. The construction of capital-class armed spacecraft is outlawed.
By 2089, the corporations continue the exploitation of space, making vast profits to further strengthen their position. Earth's coalition government is allowed to create a multinational force to keep order in the colonies. The Government Police are born.
[edit] Start of the game
Slater is introduced in the second part of the intro movie:
"I never intended to join the G-Police. A lot of vets did after the collapse. But I'd seen enough killing. And killing's what it's all about. When they first hit the colonies, the G-Police operated like any other Earth-based force--they got slaughtered by the truckload. And it was clear that the frontiers required more forceful policing. Close air support was introduced in the shape of the AG-60 Havoc. I'd flown these babies on Mars during the war, and they were past their prime even then. Lack of funding from Earth means that these ships are still on the frontline's service. Second-hand machines flown by second-hand crews, which doesn't make the job any easier. G-Police are supposed to represent government authority in the colonies. But I knew the score. Most smart cops did now. Keep the population under control and try to turn a blind eye to any shady corporation deals. G-Police are all volunteers, usually vets with time on their hands. There's a few high-minded idealists who think they can make a difference, but the majority are just running from problems back on Earth. The G-Police ask no questions; if you're willing and you're up to it, you're in. Elaine Slater was one of the idealists. She was on her fourth tour as a Havoc pilot on Callisto. And now, she's dead. Another good cop among many. They don't keep count anymore. But Elaine Slater was different; she was my sister. The inquiry gave a verdict of suicide, linked to stress and depression. I didn't buy that. Elaine had won commendations for closing a couple of big cases, and she even hinted at a new romance. Depression just didn't fit the picture. If I didn't believe the suicide verdict, that left only one option--someone murdered her and went to the trouble of covering it up. I had to know the truth. With a couple of street contacts and most of my savings, I'm on a new identity and signed up as a Havoc pilot in the colonies. My military record got me a post into the main hot spot, Callisto, to Elaine's old unit. I knew I'd have to watch my back out there. If anyone found out I was Elaine's brother, I was as good as dead."
An interesting aspect is when Slater is being briefed for the first time by his commanding officer, Slater realises that the CO, Commander Horton, is the last great fleet commander, from Naras.
[edit] Middle and end of game
As Slater progresses through the story, he discovers that Elaine crashed into a tower, and one of his wingmen, Lieutenant Tachikawa, also dies under the same circumstances. It is later revealed halfway through the game by a G-Police officer named Reese that the cause of the suspicious crash-landings was a microprocessor that was used by the war veterans. This particular chip downloads the pilot's brainwave functions and causes equipment malfunctions. This causes Slater and Reese to work together and call for an Internal Affairs investigation. After investigation by Internal Affairs Officer Speak, a video recording shows that Lieutenant Ricardo, one of Slater's wingmen, shoots Commander Horton. Ricardo was responsible for both Elaine and Tachikawa's deaths. While shutting down the Krakov and Nanosoft corporations, Slater eventually kills Ricardo in a ship-to-ship duel, and also destroys the core of a deactivated capital ship. Slater permanently stays with the G-Police after avenging Elaine's death.
[edit] Characters
[edit] Slater
Slater is the protagonist of the game. He is an army veteran who joins the G-Police in order to investigate the suicide of his sister after he suspects foul play and a cover-up. He uses fake ID papers to avoid being identified as her brother (which he believes would put his life at risk).
[edit] Elaine Slater
Slater's sister, she was a G-Police pilot. Her apparent suicide is what drives Slater to join the G-Police and find the truth.
[edit] Commander Horton
Slater's commander, he immediately becomes suspicious of Slater when he realises that his ID is fake at the start of the game. He is a veteran of the last battle of the war (the commander of the only surviving ship). Half-way through the game, Horton was suspicious of Nanosoft and Krakov participating in illegal activities and has the G-Police shut down the corporations one at a time. Horton is murdered by G-Police pilot Lieutenant Ricardo, in order to download Horton's brainwaves.
[edit] Gameplay
The game is played from the first or third person perspective and consists of piloting aircraft or driving vehicles (cars available in bonus missions only). The ships the player pilots are equipped with a 3D radar (which shows the altitude of targets as well as their position) and a shield. The shield recharges over time and is depleted by enemy fire. Enemy ships do not recharge their shields, allowing the player to wear down their foes slowly, but in many missions time is of the essence, rendering this tactic inviable.
Throughout the game, the player has a choice of 14 different weapons to use, from cannons and lasers to plasma blasts, missiles and bombs - whenever the ammunition of one weapon is depleted, the game automatically switches back to the main cannon (which has infinite ammo). A lock-on mode allows players to near a target, acquire a lock-on and then retreat to bombard them with missiles.
The enemy units range from nimble fighters to laser-equipped mining droids on caterpillar tracks, from artillery tanks and rapid-firing turrets to the huge, well-armed gunships. The 35 missions are linear, with the player being given objectives to complete in order, with cut-scenes explaining the twists in the plot after every five missions. While most are simple "seek and destroy" missions, some are slightly different — disarming a bomb-carrying land train before it reaches a tunnel entrance, or escort a high-ranking official's limo through the domes towards their company's base.
[edit] Sequel
The sequel to the game is G-Police: Weapons of Justice.
