Blob Wars

Blob Wars is a series of open source cross-platform video games by Parallel Realities.

Blob Wars: Metal Blob Solid

Blob Wars: Metal Blob Solid is an open source 2D arcade platform game developed by Parallel Realities. It plays a lot like New Zealand Story whilst also borrowing elements from Ape Escape. The main character is a Blob named Bob.

The aim of the game is to rescue Blob MIAs lost while fighting a battle against alien invaders led by their leader, Galdov (the Metal Blob). Metal Blob Solid features numerous different weapons, locations, boss battles and around 9 hours total gameplay. Despite its cute appearance the game does contain blood perhaps making it unsuitable for younger gamers. The blood can, however, be switched off.

The game also contains an in-game "Medal" service, which allows players to receive award notifications for performing certain tasks, not unlike the trophy and achievements system found on PlayStation Network and Xbox Live.

The title of the game is a play on Metal Gear Solid, the popular video game series by Konami. Originally the lead character of the game was to be a Blob called Solid.

The game is written in C++ and uses SDL for its input, graphics and audio control.

It is available for GNU/Linux, Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Amiga, BeOS, GP2X, PlayStation Portable, Xbox and Dreamcast.

Plot

When a number of his friends become missing in action, Bob takes it upon himself to enter into enemy territory and rescue them. Along the way he infiltrates a number of Biomech strongholds and discovers information pertaining to a number of crystals hidden within several Ancient Tombs. The crystals are said to hold vast magical powers.

Bob retrieves three of the four before Galdov beats him to the fourth, granting the alien leader supernatural powers. Bob pursues Galdov to his space station, where he plants a number of bombs and battles Galdov for control of the fourth crystal. Winning the fight Bob flees the space station, leaving Galdov to be destroyed along with it.

Sequel

A sequel, Blob Wars : Blob And Conquer, was released in 2008.

Blob Wars: Blob And Conquer

Blob Wars: Blob and Conquer
Developer(s)	Parallel Realities
Designer(s)	Stephen J Sweeney, Richard Sweeney
Platform(s)	Cross-platform
Release date(s)	August 2008
Genre(s)	Action-adventure
Mode(s)	Single-player

Blob Wars : Blob And Conquer is a game written by Parallel Realities, the latest produced by the two programmers.^[1] It is a 3D action-adventure game and a direct sequel to the 2D platform game, Blob Wars: Metal Blob Solid. Again, the name is a play on a popular game franchise, this time Command & Conquer.

Unlike the previous game, this sequel is fully 3D and Blob is now accompanied on his missions by a number of other Blobs, mostly a sidekick known as Teeka. The game features a much more intricate plot than the previous game and contains a number of static and real time cutscenes.

The game was developed over a period of around two years, is written in C++, and uses SDL for its input and audio control and OpenGL for rendering its graphics.

Plot

The game begins eight months after the events of Metal Blob Solid.

Since the defeat of Galdov, Bob has rallied the Blob troops together and they have begun to fight back to liberate their planet. Bob then plans to strike the enemy bases themselves, but one day one of his close friends, a Blob named Teeka, does not return from a scouting mission. Bob searches for him, but is lured into a Biomech trap. Nevertheless he escapes and rescues Teeka in the process. The pair return home only to find their base under attack by Biomech forces. Bob fights back against the invaders and then turns his attention to the enemy bases.

After destroying the Biomech Supply Depot and the Communications Base, Bob stumbles across a map that is said to reveal the location of a 5th Ancient Tomb and the Life Crystal. Terrified as to what may happen should it fall into enemy hands, Bob sets off to the tomb hoping to get there first. However, he is once again tricked and discovers that Galdov survived the destruction of his space station and orchestrated the entire event. Bob battles Galdov and escapes, before leading an attack against the Biomech Assimilator.

Finally Bob leads a huge army of Blobs to the Biomech headquarters and a titanic battle begins in the tower's courtyard. Bob leaves his fellow Blobs to take out the enemy whilst he ascends the tower in his pursuit of Galdov. Finding him on the roof, the two battle until Galdov lies defeated. The tower, however, begins to collapse and Galdov taunts Bob that this time he has nowhere to run and that the two will perish together. At that moment, Teeka teleports onto the roof and whisks Bob to safety. The tower then falls, taking Galdov down with it.

Investigating the rubble, the Blobs discover that Galdov once again survived, but now the Biomech leader only wishes to talk. He reveals, to the shock of the Blobs and Bob himself, that Bob is over 1000 years old and was charged with protecting the Blobs by the race's Elders. It becomes apparent that the Blobs did not originate on the world they now live on, but fled there many years ago when threatened by Galdov and his army. All this happened so long ago that Bob forgot his charge. Galdov releases all the Blobs from his control before telling Bob that their destinies are intertwined and they are destined to meet for one last time. Galdov then departs the planet, telling Bob that he will "await him at the beginning".

The game ends with Bob looking onward into a cave in an unknown location, the final narrative revealing Galdov to be a fallen god; Bob's destiny to destroy him.^[2]

Sequel

Although the ending of the game leaves the series open for another game, the developers have not confirmed whether one is in development.

Blob Wars: Attrition

Blob Wars : Attrition is a game written by Parallel Realities, for Android. Unlike the previous two entries in the series, Attrition is a commercial game and is not Open Source (although some of its assets are available under Creative Commons).

The game is a 2D platformer, like the original Metal Blob Solid, with Bob retaining the jetpack and aqualung from the first game. Both the jetpack and aqualung now draw from a "Power" meter, which depletes upon use. The meter recharges slowly over time, or can be topped up more quickly by collecting batteries from fallen enemies.

Like Metal Blob Solid, the game is non-linear, allowing the player to select the next mission to tackle, and returning to other missions to fully complete. A new gameplay element sees the player retaining unused keys they have picked up, for use in other missions. For example, the one mission might contain a gold key, but have no use for it. The player can return to another mission where a locked gold door could not be passed at the time, and use the key to unlock it.

Plot

The game takes place between Metal Blob Solid and Blob and Conquer, seeing Bob attacking BioMech outposts, to plant bombs and take them down. Upon destroying the bosses and destroying the outposts, Bob receives a distress call from Teeka, the scout. However, upon reaching the location of the broadcast, Bob discovers that he has been lured into an ambush. The game ends where Blob and Conquer begins.

See also

• Project: Starfighter
• The Honour of the Knights

References

External links

Metal Blob Solid

• Blob Wars: Metal Blob Solid Homepage
• Making of Metal Blob Solid Homepage
• Parallel Realities Homepage
• Game tips and cheats menu on the PSP version
• GP2X port
• Linux.com Article and Interview

Blob and Conquer

• Blob Wars : Blob And Conquer on fossfor.us
• Blob Wars : Blob And Conquer Homepage
• Making of Blob And Conquer Homepage
• Linux Got Game: Blob Wars (Blob And Conquer)
• Blob And Conquer review at Penguin Sightings

Attrition

• Blob Wars: Attrition Homepage