Hogs of War
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| Hogs of War | |
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| Developer(s) | Infogrammes Studios |
| Publisher(s) | Infogrammes Europe |
| Platform(s) | Sony PlayStation, PC |
| Release date | PlayStation NA 2000-08-05 PAL 2000-06-08 Windows PAL 2000-11-03 |
| Genre(s) | Turn-based strategy, Artillery game |
| Mode(s) | Single player Multiplayer |
| Rating(s) | ELSPA: 11+ ESRB: Teen PEGI: 12+ |
| Media | 1 CD-ROM |
| Input methods | Controller, Keyboard |
Hogs of War is a video game released for the Sony PlayStation and PC in 2000. The game is a turn based strategy title in which First World War-era anthropomorphic pigs engage in combat. As observed by reviewers[citation needed], play proceeds in a similar manner to Worms, with the notable distinctions of 3D graphics, vehicles, a career-based single-player mode, and voiceover work (both narration and for characters) by British comedian Rik Mayall.
The theme tune for the game is Sousa's Liberty Bell March. The design of the game is discussed in the book “The Game Maker’s Apprentice”, which is co-authored by the lead programmer of the game and has a foreword by one of the game’s designers.
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[edit] Teams
The titular "hogs of war" are anthropomorphic pigs, each wearing a coloured uniform to identify its nation. Each team is based around the stereotypes of their particular nation, and they make comments in reference to these when attacking, injured, etc. They are:
- "Tommy's Trotters", based on the World War I British Expeditionary Force, in army green.
- "Sow-A-Krauts" (a pun on Sauerkraut (a sow being a female pig) and the pejorative "kraut") based on World War I Germany, in grey outifts (including pickelhaube for the Heavy Infantry).
- "Sushi Swine", in yellow fatigues, based on Japan.
- "Uncle Ham's Hogs" in light blue, themed after the United States of America
- "Garlic Grunts" in dark blue, ostensibly French.
- "Piggystroika" in red uniforms, who represent Russia.
There is also a secret team from the final level, Team Lard, who represent the game's development team. They wear purple uniforms, but cannot be selected to play without using cheat codes unless playing the Playstation version (by typing in a team name of "MARDY PIGS"). However, they can be unlocked as a 'Survival Bonus' by completing the final level without any of the player's pigs being killed. The player must then reclaim the world for Team Lard from the team that the player originally used to complete the game.
[edit] Gameplay
Control moves from pig to pig in turn. During its turn (which may have a time limit) the pig can move around the level and attack (usually only once) the other pigs. Vehicles and stationary weapon implacements are available for use. Levels may include water hazards (which sap the pig's health while they traverse them) and minefields (which will damage the player, ending their turn, if a mine is triggered). A variety of weapons and items are carried by players or may be picked up in the level, which are themed on the technology available in the First World War setting. Many of these have a similar function, or a similar name, to those in the influential Worms.
[edit] Single-player game
The game's single-player campaign is composed of a series of unique levels, each more difficult than the last. These often contain novel objectives.
The final level contains some "swill drills". It also features unique enemies: a single bombardier in a pillbox to start with, aided later by parachuting Legends.
At the end of each level, the player receives Promotion Points:
- One for completing the mission
- One if all the team's pigs survive
- One for each medal collected
At the start all of the pigs are Grunts. These can then be specialise in different fields by "promotion" using the Promotion Points, and ultimately become Commandos and Heroes, "jack-of-all-trades" units. Computer-controlled units are upgraded to match the player's expected rank throughout the campaign. On the highest difficulty level, Heroes are the only opposition.
| Promotion Points Required | Heavy weapons | Espionage | Engineer | Medic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| None | Grunt | |||
| 1 Points | Gunner | Scout | Sapper | Orderly |
| 2 Points | Bombardier | Sniper | Engineer | Medic |
| 3 Points | Pyrotechnic | Spy | Saboteur | Surgeon |
| 6 Points | Commando | |||
| 8 Points | Hero | |||
| Unavailable | Legend | |||
Legends are only on the opposition on the final level.
There is also a rank, Ace, which was not put into the final version of the game and is the next rank up from Hero. Pigs can be promoted to this rank with the use of hacks. They are the same as Heros but they have a small dot after their rank on the pig promotion screen and have a sniper rifle instead of poison gas and a fire rain airstrike rather than a airstrike.
[edit] Multiplayer game
The game's multiplayer mode features a selection of preset levels, and also a "level generator" capable of creating a vast number of permutations either at random or according to player preferences. These levels which can be "saved" for later use by recording a password. The game progresses in a similar manner to the single-player campaign, with the option of computer-controlled teams. As only one pig can be controlled a time, the game requires only one controller regardless of the number of players.
[edit] Plot
The entry video shows an Edwardian era sergeant-major (with a somewhat blimpish attitude to life) at a recruiting centre preparing his troops for war. He states that his troops must conquer the continent of Saustralasia (in the Pigsific ocean), which is shaped like a pig, to gain access to "swill". There are 5 lands in Saustralasia including Hogshead, Bellyopolis, Trottsville and Arstria, each of which must be captured after 1, 4 or 5 battles (depending upon the size of the contested territory) against other countries. Throughout the game, the player receives updates on their progress (and the progress of the battle as a whole) from Commander IP Grimly.
[edit] Additional Information
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Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones. |
- The title screen is an obvious parody of the film Full Metal Jacket.
- The German band Aerger released a pop record about Hogs of War (or "Frontschweine" as it was known in Germany) in 2000.
- The design of Hogs of War is discussed in the book “The Game Maker’s Apprentice” which is co-authored by the lead programmer of the game and has a foreword by one of the game’s designers.
- Although Hogs of War was often criticised for being heavily based on Worms, Worms was itself based on an earlier DOS game called Scorched Earth (computer game).
[edit] Sequel
On 2008-02-13 Infogrames announced[1] Hogs of War 2 for Nintendo DS, Wii, PS2 and PC. It is planned to be released this fiscal year (ending 2009-03-31).
