| Gunmetal | Mad Genius Software | 1998 | |
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Gunmetal is set in the 23rd century, a fairly typical futuristic setting where megacorporations control everything. You begin the game as a new recruit in the service of the Nataka Corporation's Imperial Armored Cavalry. In order to protect Nataka interests on a multitude of planets, you must pilot a series of custom-built hover tanks - or RPVs - via remote control. You begin with a line of credit and the ability to piece together a basic but formidable RPV. After some basic training, your first mission - a routine patrol of a peaceful world - erupts into a nasty firefight as forces of Nataka rival Argus Industrial launch an all-out assault on the planet. The rest of the game unfolds around the ongoing campaign between Argus and Nataka, as the war rages from planet to planet. As you make your way through the 26 missions, you'll uncover more information about the Argus attacks and the reasons behind them. You earn money towards additional equipment and better RPV chassis by accomplishing missions and recovering salvage from enemy units you destroy. Gameplay is reminiscent of the Descent series, with the notable exceptions being that your tank does not move up and down (at least, not of its own accord), and most of the action takes place outdoors. The enemy units in the game are heavily reminiscent of Descent, as are the tactics they employ to make your life miserable. The AI in Gunmetal is impressive - enemy tanks, drones, and gun droids will bob and weave all over the place, making it quite difficult to get a bead on them, and quite necessary to keep moving. For the most part, the level design in Gunmetal is very good. The locations are varied, they include plenty of neutral units and impressive scenery, and most of the maps are just the right size. On the downside, getting the red, blue, or other-colored keys required to finish a level can be frustrating as they are often in the most bizarre, hard-to-reach spots on the map. It includes realistic lighting, spotlights, direct sunlight, and partial reflectivity (for reflections in pools and other details). At the time, very few video games had all these features. | ||
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