Unreal (1990 video game)

Unreal

Cover art by Tim White
Developer(s) Ordilogic Systems
Publisher(s) Ubisoft
Programmer(s) Yann Robert
Yves Grolet
Artist(s) Franck Sauer
Marc Albinet
Composer(s) Maniacs of Noise
Platform(s) Amiga (original)
Atari ST, MS-DOS
Release 1990 (Amiga)
1991 (DOS, ST)
Genre(s) Rail shooter
Platform game
Mode(s) Single-player

Unreal is a 1990 video game released by Ubisoft for the Amiga. The game, divided in 8 chapters, combined two different genres: In five levels, the player controls a pterodactyl-like creature in a pseudo-3D rail shooter environment. Three levels belong to the side-scrolling platform game genre where the player controls a barbarian fighting monsters and solving puzzles. Ports for MS-DOS and Atari ST were released in 1991.

Story

The backstory, as well as an extensive mythology of the fictional world (also called "Unreal") is given in the game manual.

A creator being called Sleeper, sent his servant Fragor to Unreal to create life with some life-giving eggs. Fragor was hit by a comet and fell on Unreal releasing chaotic forces on the planet. While the elements were separated or mixed in uncontrollable ways, the eggs formed life on the planet. Forces of evil dominated the elements while the evil Polymorphe, who has the form of a floating flaming head, became absolute master. Unknown to him, the civilization of the Barbares, created out of a single egg which fell in a secluded valley.

Two Barbares, Artaban and Isolde, befriend a dragon named Dracus who came from the sky. When Dracus did not show up for some time, Isolde was caught by Polymorphe's servants while calling for him. Imprisoned in a dungeon, she was ordered to marry him, or Polymorphe would kill all life in the valley. Dracus and Artaban prepare to go to her rescue, and a mysterious wizard equips Artaban with an ancient sword forged from Fragor's comet.

The objective of the game is to guide Artaban (either on foot or riding Dracus on his back) to the Burning Sea where Polymorphe's Flying Castle is found.

Gameplay

The game combined two different gameplay genres. Both Galaxy Force and Rastan Saga were inspirations for the game.

In five of the chapters, the player (as Artaban) guides Dracus as they fly over a natural landscape (forests, river canyons, glaciers or seas of lava). The gameplay of those levels are of a 3d scrolling shooters, the view being from behind Dracus. The player must avoid obstacles (like trees or spires of rock) and adversaries that come from the distance. Dracus fires fireballs that can destroy some of the monsters or parts of the scenery.

Dracus can fire more and stronger fireballs, when the player collects power-ups that appear on the ground. The player can attain 12 levels of firepower, but whenever the player crashes on the scenery, Dracus loses a level. Other bonuses include restoration of health and some limited invincibility.

The other parts of the game are of the platform arcade-adventure genre. The player guides Artabon on foot traversing forests, swamps and castles. He encounters adversaries which can be killed with the sword. The sword gives some limited interaction with the environment: and can be "charged" by touching fire found at some points of the levels; there are also some kinds of spells that give Artabon the power to hurl water or fireballs with the sword. The sword also is used for some puzzles.

The player has 100 health points. In the beginning of each level, the player is awarded 50 lost health points. There is also the option to save the game in 3 available slots.

Package

The cover artwork, as well as the title screen, is a reproduction of the cover of the 1979 book Lord of The Spiders by Michael Moorcock.[1]

The original artwork is designed by Tim White.[2]

Reception and awards

The January 1991 issue of Amiga Joker named Unreal the second Best Action Game of 1990.

The game was also nominated for the Gen D'or award for best art.

References

  1. ↑ "Cover: Lord of the Spiders". The Internet Speculative Fiction Database. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  2. ↑ "Picture Gallery Page 13 of 17". Tim White Fantasy Art. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
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