Blue Stinger
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Blue Stinger | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Developer(s) | Climax Graphics |
| Publisher(s) | Sega (Japan) Activision (USA) |
| Platform(s) | Dreamcast |
| Release date |  March 25, 1999 August 31, 1999 September 23, 1999 |
| Genre(s) | Action |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: Mature (M) |
Blue Stinger is an survival horror game released in 1999 for the Dreamcast game console. It's notable for having been released in North America nine days before the Dreamcast, which was required for playing the game. It was localized in North America by Activision, which took away the cinematic style cameras, and used a fixed, behind-the-player third-person view like Tomb Raider. This revamped camera style was met with both critical acclaim and criticism. Some argued that the change took away from the dramatic tension for which the Japanese version had become famous. However, others celebrated the new camera style as a feature that gave the game an edge over survival horror games such as Resident Evil, that utilized fixed angles.
Contents |
[edit] Story
65 million years ago, a meteorite crashes into the Yucatán Peninsula, subsequently wiping out the dinosaurs and paving the way for humans. Now, in 2000, an island emerges where the meteorite is thought to have landed, and is granted the name "Dinosaur Island." A biotech corporation then takes up shop on the island. In 2018, Eliot Ballade, an elite member of the ESER forces, is vacationing near Dinosaur Island when something falls from the sky and leaves the island sealed under a mysterious dome of energy. When a mysterious, ethereal being called Nephilim shows up to chase Ballade, he takes it upon himself to solve the enigma of Dinosaur Island.
[edit] Characters
- Eliot G. Ballade: The game's protagonist, an ESER member on vacation with his friend Tim. He quickly gets wrapped up in the events around Dinosaur Island once his ship (and Tim) get trapped in the energy dome around the island.
- Dogs Bower: Eliot's teammate, Captain of an HMS Sienna. A long time resident of Dinosaur Island who has his share of friends and rivals there. Dogs' design is based (loosely) on Resident Evil's Barry Burton.
- Janine King: A member of KISS, Kimra's security team; both a genius in computers and shooting. Some things remain a mystery about her, but strangely enough, she seems to know a lot about Dogs.
- 'Nephilim': An alien creature that often observes Eliot and Dogs' progress. Although taking the shape of a fictional goddess from a fictional series, Nephilm has no distinct original shape.
[edit] Gameplay
Blue Stinger does offer some unique aspects. For one, the environments are entirely 3D, something that at the time was a rarity for games of its ilk. For another, with the US release, the camera was changed to something more analogous to Tomb Raider.
Players healed themselves in real-time using food and drinks bought from vending machines, forcing players to heal only when it was safe. Combat consisted of purchasing weapons and ammunition in the same manner and the technology of each weapon was very high; players could afford lightsabers, rocket launchers, Napalm launchers and triple-barrelled shotguns. Players could access melee or fire arms in the player's inventory with the press of a trigger and each weapon was exclusive to the character they played as: Eliot started out with a pistol while Dogs started out with a crossbow.
Blue Stinger differs very much from the survival horror game genre. For example, there are absolutely no attempt at atmospherics in the game: the soundtrack is a triumphant and often overly-climactic action score that accompanies every area and the enemies, despite being gruesome and partly amputatable, sprinkle the player with gold coins once killed.
[edit] References
- ^ ^ Bartholow, Peter. Blue Stinger review for DreamCast at GameSpot. GameSpot. Accessed July 17, 2005.
